Windows 7 upgrade worth it?
 
 
		 	
	 
 
	
	
		
	
		
	
				
			
			 
			10-28-2009 at 02:53 PM
			
						
		 | 
		
			 
			
			#1
			
 | 
	
 
	| 
			
			
 
 Elite Member 
			
		
	
		
				
				
				
				Join Date: Apr 2008 
				
		
			Posts: 452
		 
 
	
Thanked: 
		
			
				26 Times
			
		
	 
 
Liked: 
		
			
				115 Times
			
		
	  
				
								
		
			 
 
 
  
	 | 
	
	
		
			
			 
				Windows 7 upgrade worth it?
			 
			
		
		
		I'm currently using Windows Vista and I have a free upgrade to Windows 7.  
 
Is Windows 7 worth the upgrade? Is it that much better? 
		
	
		
		
		
		
		
  
	 | 
 
 
	 
	
		 	
	 
 
	
	
		
	
		
	
				
			
			 
			10-28-2009 at 03:23 PM
			
						
		 | 
		
			 
			
			#2
			
 | 
	
 
	| 
			
			
 
 Elite Member 
			
		
	
		
				
				
				
				Join Date: Aug 2007 
				
		
			Posts: 1,851
		 
 
	
Thanked: 
		
			
				227 Times
			
		
	 
 
Liked: 
		
			
				470 Times
			
		
	  
				
								
		
			 
 
 
  
	 | 
	
	
		
		
		
	Quote: 
	
	
		
			
				
					Originally Posted by  Allan
					 
				 
				I'm currently using Windows Vista and I have a free upgrade to Windows 7.  
 
Is Windows 7 worth the upgrade? Is it that much better? 
			
		 | 
	 
	 
 Isn't free anything worth it? 
 
Its free.
 
Seriously though I don't use Windows anymore but I had my Vista laptop for 2 years and Vista was pretty annoying. From what I've heard Windows 7 is a major upgrade from that crap.  
		
	
		
		
		
		
			
				__________________ 
				-Stefanie Walsh- 
 4th Year Multimedia 2010-2011
			 
		
		
		
		
  
	 | 
 
 
	 
	
		 	
	 
 
	
	
		
	
		
	
				
			
			 
			10-28-2009 at 03:26 PM
			
						
		 | 
		
			 
			
			#3
			
 | 
	
 
	| 
			
			
 
 MSU VP Education 2012-2013 
			
		
	
		
				
				
				
				Join Date: Jul 2008 
				
		
			Posts: 1,743
		 
 
	
Thanked: 
		
			
				287 Times
			
		
	 
 
Liked: 
		
			
				360 Times
			
		
	  
				
								
		
			 
 
 
  
	 | 
	
	
		
		
		 How do you have a free update? 
		
	
		
		
		
		
			
				__________________ 
				Huzaifa Saeed 
BA Hon, Political Science & Sociology, Class of 2013 
 
MSU Vice President Education '12/13 
   
			 
		
		
		
		
  
	 | 
 
 
	 
	
		 	
	 
 
	
	
		
	
		
	
				
			
			 
			10-28-2009 at 03:30 PM
			
						
		 | 
		
			 
			
			#4
			
 | 
	
 
	| 
			
			
 
 Elite Member 
			
		
	
		
				
				
				
				Join Date: Aug 2007 
				
		
			Posts: 1,851
		 
 
	
Thanked: 
		
			
				227 Times
			
		
	 
 
Liked: 
		
			
				470 Times
			
		
	  
				
								
		
			 
 
 
  
	 | 
	
	
		
		
		
	Quote: 
	
	
		
			
				
					Originally Posted by  huzaifa47
					 
				 
				How do you have a free update? 
			
		 | 
	 
	 
 If you bought a computer with Vista between a certain period (I think it was June up until the release of Windows 7) than you were eligible for a free upgrade to Windows 7. A few computer manufactures are charging a small fee for the s&h of the OS but other than that its free. 
 
I have to remember to fill out the form for my sister. She bought a laptop with Vista around July. She bought a Toshiba so she has to pay $19.99 for s&h but that is it. She gets the actual Windows 7 edition that lines up with which version of Vista she originally paid for with her computer for free. So in this case she got Vista Home Premium so she gets Windows 7 Home Premium as a free upgrade.  
		
	
		
		
		
		
			
				__________________ 
				-Stefanie Walsh- 
 4th Year Multimedia 2010-2011
			 
		
		
		
		
 
 huzaifa47
					says thanks to sew12 for this post.
				
 
   
	 | 
 
 
	 
	
		 	
	 
 
	
	
		
	
		
	
				
			
			 
			10-28-2009 at 03:35 PM
			
						
		 | 
		
			 
			
			#5
			
 | 
	
 
	| 
			
			
 
 Jedi IRL 
			
		
	
		
				
				
				
				Join Date: Jul 2009 
				
		
			Posts: 1,782
		 
 
	
Thanked: 
		
			
				105 Times
			
		
	 
 
Liked: 
		
			
				557 Times
			
		
	  
				
								
		
			 
 
 
  
	 | 
	
	
		
		
		 Im more of a Mac guy, but from what I've heard from people more "in the know", Windows 7 is the shit.  Definitely better than Vista. 
 
Again, this is what I hear, not my experience.  I still run XP, cuz I fear change. 
		
	
		
		
		
		
			
				__________________ 
				Mark Reeves 
Humanities I Victory Lap!
			 
		
		
		
		
  
	 | 
 
 
	 
	
		 	
	 
 
	
	
		
	
		
	
				
			
			 
			10-28-2009 at 03:36 PM
			
						
		 | 
		
			 
			
			#6
			
 | 
	
 
	| 
			
			
 
 Member 
			
		
	
		
				
				
				
				Join Date: Jul 2008 
				
		
			Posts: 13
		 
 
	
Thanked: 
		
			
				0 Times
			
		
	 
 
Liked: 
		
			
				0 Times
			
		
	  
				
								
		
			 
 
 
  
	 | 
	
	
		
		
		 I also got Windows 7 free, so I tried it, not realizing that my computer apparently wasn't compatible with it (I couldn't get the internet to work), so I soon had to go back to Vista. 
 
However, I did get to try it, minus the internet, and I definitely loved it. It was really fast and organized and from my experience it seemed more stable. 
I'd say it's worth it, just make sure there wont be compatibility issues. 
		
	
		
		
		
		
		
  
	 | 
 
 
	 
	
		 	
	 
 
	
	
		
	
		
	
				
			
			 
			10-28-2009 at 03:39 PM
			
						
		 | 
		
			 
			
			#7
			
 | 
	
 
	| 
			
			
 
 Jedi IRL 
			
		
	
		
				
				
				
				Join Date: Jul 2009 
				
		
			Posts: 1,782
		 
 
	
Thanked: 
		
			
				105 Times
			
		
	 
 
Liked: 
		
			
				557 Times
			
		
	  
				
								
		
			 
 
 
  
	 | 
	
	
		
		
		
	Quote: 
	
	
		
			
				
					Originally Posted by  bblizzard
					 
				 
				I also got Windows 7 free, so I tried it, not realizing that my computer apparently wasn't compatible with it (I couldn't get the internet to work), so I soon had to go back to Vista. 
 
However, I did get to try it, minus the internet, and I definitely loved it. It was really fast and organized and from my experience it seemed more stable. 
I'd say it's worth it, just make sure there wont be compatibility issues. 
			
		 | 
	 
	 
 What was the problem with the internet?  I have issues with the internet every time I reinstall Windows, and have to reinstall the ethernet/wireless drivers from the manufacturer.  May be all you have to do too.  
		
	
		
		
		
		
			
				__________________ 
				Mark Reeves 
Humanities I Victory Lap!
			 
		
		
		
		
  
	 | 
 
 
	 
	
		 	
	 
 
	
	
		
	
		
	
				
			
			 
			10-28-2009 at 03:41 PM
			
						
		 | 
		
			 
			
			#8
			
 | 
	
 
	| 
			
			
 
 Elite Member 
			
		
	
		
				
				
				
				Join Date: Aug 2007 
				
		
			Posts: 1,851
		 
 
	
Thanked: 
		
			
				227 Times
			
		
	 
 
Liked: 
		
			
				470 Times
			
		
	  
				
								
		
			 
 
 
  
	 | 
	
	
		
		
		
	Quote: 
	
	
		
			
				
					Originally Posted by  bblizzard
					 
				 
				I also got Windows 7 free, so I tried it, not realizing that my computer apparently wasn't compatible with it (I couldn't get the internet to work), so I soon had to go back to Vista. 
 
However, I did get to try it, minus the internet, and I definitely loved it. It was really fast and organized and from my experience it seemed more stable. 
I'd say it's worth it, just make sure there wont be compatibility issues. 
			
		 | 
	 
	 
 If the internet didn't work it probably isn't your whole computer that isn't compatible with it, just the card that allows you to connect to the internet (either wirelessly or otherwise) may not be compatible with Windows 7. It could be you need a different one, or just an updated driver to make it work. Its probably the drivers.  
		
	
		
		
		
		
			
				__________________ 
				-Stefanie Walsh- 
 4th Year Multimedia 2010-2011
			 
		
		
		
		
  
	 | 
 
 
	 
	
		 	
	 
 
	
	
		
	
		
	
				
			
			 
			10-28-2009 at 03:42 PM
			
						
		 | 
		
			 
			
			#9
			
 | 
	
 
	| 
			
			
 
 Member 
			
		
	
		
				
				
				
				Join Date: Jul 2008 
				
		
			Posts: 13
		 
 
	
Thanked: 
		
			
				0 Times
			
		
	 
 
Liked: 
		
			
				0 Times
			
		
	  
				
								
		
			 
 
 
  
	 | 
	
	
		
		
		 The drivers were working fine, though I'm wondering if I needed a different one for Windows 7. I'm not the most familiar with how drivers work. 
 
The problem was that the services WLAN autoconfig wouldn't turn on.  I tried a lot of potential solutions for a couple days, but nothing worked, so I gave up since I needed a computer and went back to Vista.   
I also checked the Dell site and my computer was not on the list of compatible computers, which I probably should have checked before installing 7. 
		
	
		
		
		
		
		
  
	 | 
 
 
	 
	
		 	
	 
 
	
	
		
	
		
	
				
			
			 
			10-28-2009 at 03:43 PM
			
						
		 | 
		
			 
			
			#10
			
 | 
	
 
	| 
			
			
 
 Member 
			
		
	
		
				
				
				
				Join Date: Jul 2008 
				
		
			Posts: 13
		 
 
	
Thanked: 
		
			
				0 Times
			
		
	 
 
Liked: 
		
			
				0 Times
			
		
	  
				
								
		
			 
 
 
  
	 | 
	
	
		
		
		 I also couldn't find a new driver to download to make it compatible. 
		
	
		
		
		
		
		
  
	 | 
 
 
	 
	
		 	
	 
 
	
	
		
	
		
	
				
			
			 
			10-28-2009 at 04:24 PM
			
						
		 | 
		
			 
			
			#11
			
 | 
	
 
	| 
			
			
 
 Senior Member 
			
		
	
		
				
				
				
				Join Date: Sep 2008 
				
		
			Posts: 240
		 
 
	
Thanked: 
		
			
				3 Times
			
		
	 
 
Liked: 
		
			
				33 Times
			
		
	  
				
								
		
			 
 
 
  
	 | 
	
	
		
		
		 I upgraded to winodws 7 ultimate last weekend and all drivers seem to be working fine. 
 
my wlan driver is being a bit of a problem. It works fine for all the internet (mac, friend's house) but at my off campus house it just says limited access (idk why). But i had vista and downgraded to xp then went to 7 (maybe thats why), so i will reset it this weekend (recov. disc) then go to 7 and hopefully it will be fine. 
 
Windows 7>>>>>>>>>>> vista by a mile tho! 
		
	
		
		
		
		
			
				__________________ 
				Asad Tirmizi 
Computer Engineering and Management. 
Level III
			 
		
		
		
		
  
	 | 
 
 
	 
	
		 	
	 
 
	
	
		
	
		
	
				
			
			 
			10-28-2009 at 04:30 PM
			
						
		 | 
		
			 
			
			#12
			
 | 
	
 
	| 
			
			
 
 Senior Member 
			
		
	
		
				
				
				
				Join Date: Jul 2009 
				
		
			Posts: 241
		 
 
	
Thanked: 
		
			
				11 Times
			
		
	 
 
Liked: 
		
			
				33 Times
			
		
	  
				
								
		
			 
 
 
  
	 | 
	
	
		
		
		 got windows 7 ultimate the day it came out... 
its not too much of an improvement from vista although it is better. 
 
make sure all your major programs work with 7.  
i had to get a new virus software, and Maple (which we use for Calculus Labs) doesnt seem to work anymore 
		
	
		
		
		
		
			
				__________________ 
				Former McMaster Student 
Would be Electrical Engineering II
			 
		
		
		
		
  
	 | 
 
 
	 
	
		 	
	 
 
	
	
		
	
		
	
				
			
			 
			10-28-2009 at 04:34 PM
			
						
		 | 
		
			 
			
			#13
			
 | 
	
 
	| 
			
			
 
 Elite Member 
			
		
	
		
				
				
				
				Join Date: Apr 2008 
				
		
			Posts: 452
		 
 
	
Thanked: 
		
			
				26 Times
			
		
	 
 
Liked: 
		
			
				115 Times
			
		
	  
				
								
		
			 
 
 
  
	 | 
	
	
		
		
		
	Quote: 
	
	
		
			
				
					Originally Posted by  ice8
					 
				 
				I upgraded to winodws 7 ultimate last weekend and all drivers seem to be working fine. 
 
my wlan driver is being a bit of a problem. It works fine for all the internet (mac, friend's house) but at my off campus house it just says limited access (idk why). But i had vista and downgraded to xp then went to 7 (maybe thats why), so i will reset it this weekend (recov. disc) then go to 7 and hopefully it will be fine. 
 
Windows 7>>>>>>>>>>> vista by a mile tho! 
			
		 | 
	 
	 
 What's better about it?  
		
	
		
		
		
		
		
  
	 | 
 
 
	 
	
		 	
	 
 
	
	
		
	
		
	
				
			
			 
			10-28-2009 at 04:55 PM
			
						
		 | 
		
			 
			
			#14
			
 | 
	
 
	| 
			
			
 
 Pro Lurker. 
			
		
	
		
				
				
				
				Join Date: May 2008 
				
		
			Posts: 115
		 
 
	
Thanked: 
		
			
				10 Times
			
		
	 
 
Liked: 
		
			
				19 Times
			
		
	  
				
								
		
			 
 
 
  
	 | 
	
	
		
		
		 I've been using it for a few weeks now on my laptop and so far I'm liking it. I haven't encountered any of the problems I had in Vista with programs randomly stopped working and the new taskbar is pretty useful. A lot of things seem "cleaner" compared to previous versions. The installation was painless for me and it handled all the drivers on its own so everything pretty much worked right away. There's still some small things that bug me but those are just me being picky. If it works on your computer, I don't think there's a reason to avoid it. 
		
	
		
		
		
		
			
				__________________ 
				 
			 
		
		
		
		
  
	 | 
 
 
	 
	
		 	
	 
 
	
	
		
	
		
	
				
			
			 
			10-28-2009 at 05:03 PM
			
						
		 | 
		
			 
			
			#15
			
 | 
	
 
	| 
			
			
 
 Senior Member 
			
		
	
		
				
				
				
				Join Date: Jul 2009 
				
		
			Posts: 241
		 
 
	
Thanked: 
		
			
				11 Times
			
		
	 
 
Liked: 
		
			
				33 Times
			
		
	  
				
								
		
			 
 
 
  
	 | 
	
	
		
		
		
	Quote: 
	
	
		
			
				
					Originally Posted by  Allan
					 
				 
				What's better about it? 
			
		 | 
	 
	 
 its a bit faster than vista, but not by a whole lot 
it takes up less memory than vista
  
i like the redesigned taskbar. it shows only the icons, so u see more running program at once. u also have new, more useful functions available to u, when u right click on an icon.
  
windows media player is waaay better than previous versions. i used to have to use VLC to play movies and whatnot, but WMP can do that now.
  
nicer MS paint, calculator for those who care
  
and i like the new themes they have available  
		
	
		
		
		
		
			
				__________________ 
				Former McMaster Student 
Would be Electrical Engineering II
			 
		
		
		
		
  
	 | 
 
 
	 
	
		 	
	 
 
  
	
		
	| Thread Tools | 
	Search this Thread | 
 
	| 
	
	
	
	
	
	 | 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	 | 
	
 
 
	
		 
	
		 
		Posting Rules
	 | 
 
	
		
		You may not post new threads 
		You may not post replies 
		You may not post attachments 
		You may not edit your posts 
		 
		
		
		
		
		HTML code is Off 
		
	  | 
 
   
	 | 
	
		
	 | 
 
 
		 	
	 
 
 
 McMaster University News and Information, Student-run Community, with topics ranging from Student Life, Advice, News, Events, and General Help.
 
Notice: The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the student(s) who authored the content. The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by McMaster University or the MSU (McMaster Students Union). Being a student-run community, all articles and discussion posts on MacInsiders are unofficial and it is therefore always recommended that you visit the official McMaster website for the most accurate up-to-date information. 
 
 |     |