Update or Clean Install of any New OS. What about my Files, Applications and Drivers ??

This post is for Single OS users, not for dual OS users. Feel free to read though.

When switching from Operating Systems one question that is always asked is : ” What about my files and applications, will they still be there ?” Well in theory when switching keep this in mind; you can switch from “X” OS to “X” OS if you want to definately keep your files but to switch from “X” OS to “Y” OS you can’t always be to careful, e.g, X = Windows, Y = Linux.

Lets just say you were switching from Windows to Linux and you wanted all your applications from Windows to be on your new Linux OS. That can’t happen by default. You first have to install Wine onto your Linux distro by going to the Add/Remove Programs option. It is impossible, to my knowledge to use Linux applications on Windows, this is mainly because Linux installers are .tar.bz files. Whilst Windows installers are .exe files.

Now that you understand more slightly about the installation files for Windows etc. I can go on.

If you were moving from Windows to Windows its very easy. For example, in the Windows Seven installation you can choose to just update and this will keep all your files and drivers.

Thats All Well and Good.

BUT. If you wanted to install cleanly (If you are like me and have two OS’ on your PC and just want one) then this will get rid of everything …. EVERYTHING … on your PC except from your new OS. You will then really miss your old files and cool apps you have downloaded. Well your answer is you have to Backup your files, before you off to your start menu and copy the Program files onto a disc …. STOP !!! It doesn’t work and probably never will. What you need to do, to save downloading more installers, is from now on keep all your installation files, if you haven’t, check your recycling bin, you probably haven’t emptied it in ages. Just restore the Installation files and put them onto a disc. As well as this put your valuable photos and other text documents onto the disc. Then when you are finished with all the Installation of your New OS you have these installation files ready. Easy Peasy.

Now for Drivers,

CLEAN INSTALL : You should know that Windows should automatically detect your devices etc and install the required drivers. IF however you have installed your drivers with a disc, for example your Network Connection could be one.  You may need to salvage your discs which contain these drivers. Otherwise if you have some trouble with installing your drivers you can search for them on the Internet.  You may be able to copy the .dll file of the drivers onto a CD but this is not a garauntee. I have heard online of software that can do all this for you and put your Drivers on a Disc. I haven’t seen proof though.

UPDATE : Windows should obviously keep your files.

When it comes to Linux and Drivers,  From my experience Linux can’t so easily pick up Drivers as easily as Windows. This is the only problem I have had with Linux. The Only Driver that has failed me is the Microphone Driver.

Hope this helped slightly,

Will Zam You Later,

Jack

Windows Seven Release is …. Today!!! Microsoft Release ads.

windows seven

I woke up this morning and thought immediately about Windows Seven being released today ….. Well no not really my first thought was food but Windows Seven was up in the Top ……. 70 things I was thinking when I got up.

Take a look at one of my previous posts about Windows Seven for new features.

In this post I will talk about The Release and where to get it.

Well. The Place you can get it is obviously http://www.microsoft.com . From there you can choose offers on PC’s with Windows Seven pre-installed or you can view the Upgrade Package.

The List of Upgrade’s is as shows :

• Windows Seven Home Premium = $199.99
• Windows Seven Home Premium (Family Pack) = $149.99
• Windows Seven Professional = $199.99
• Windows Seven Ultimate = $219.99

Now obviously compared to the price of the Mac OS X Snow Leopard Update, Windows Seven is Skin Crawlingly Expensive.

One thing I noticed was …. no Windows Seven Home Basic ? Well Microsoft only shows the OS’s with better Spec’s and Possibly chose the ones that puts more money in their pockets. In fact there is a Windows Seven Standard, Windows Seven Home Basic and Windows Seven Enterprise.

So why don’t they put the other three on their website? On further investigation I found out that for Europeans Microsoft Ships out N versions of Premium, Prefessional and Ultimate. the N versions mean that Windows Media Player is not installed. Big deal. You will more than likely be able to download it from the Microsoft website after upgrading.

Also Microsoft have released Advertisements for TV. Hopefully it will be on more than that pesky Yahoo! ad. Or the iPhone ad for that matter.

Windows put this advertisement on Youtube.

Take a Look for Yourself :

Will Zam You Later,

Jack

Windows Seven : Finally an OS That Microsoft Can Be Proud Of

I write this now just three days before the release of the Windows Seven upgrade pack.

I am also writing this in one of the many Windows Seven RC’s .

Windows Seven is finally an operating system that Microsoft can be proud of. Why do I say this ?

Well firstly for a while Windows has been way, way, way,way, waaaaayyyyyy …. inferior to Apple’s Macintosh OS. We all know it, and I ( an avid windows user) am not afraid to admit it. Windows Seven now has a lot more features compared to the disapointment we recieved when Vista was given no new features apart from a slightly new look.

But. With Seven, those who don’t have an RC can expect a load of new fun a cool features. The Magnify Tool has been altered slightly so that you can zoom in and it will also follow your mouse now.

We Will also see a lot of change to the taskbar; it has become a lot more thicker than previous operating systems. It has a nice new quick launch feature which now dominates the taskbar. As well as larger icons you can expect to see a modified preview feature. Which is quite difficult to explain.

Have you ever got confused on which desktop to choose ? Well Windows Seven has answered your pleas and given us the Slideshow Desktop effect. You just have to right click on the desktop (note : Microsoft have now moved the Screen Resolution Settings to the right-click on the desktop) and click on personalize you will be taken to a cool new looking window which you will be able to choose a them and customize it to have more pictures. You can then click on the interval between each change ( I prefer 10 seconds).

Windows Seven Is Also a Lot Faster. Even though My RC is running on a Partioned 25 gigs, it has still got about 30 seconds faster bootup time. Instead of the Microsft loading bar. We now have a nicer looking Boot Up Screen (See Picture Above).

Will Zam You Later,

Jack