Windows 7: Newbie Qs

Hello! I've just finished setting up a new desktop PC with windows 7.

Please move me/this, if it's in the wrong place.

I love it! Everything has gone well, I installed 7 pro and added my existing XP profession-related programs (no need for XP mode).
My last desktop did 7 years sterling service on XP (with only 1 clean install, 3 years in).

I am really pleased my old hardware works so well and can only breathe a huge sigh of relief that I didn't need to install XP to save my old apps.



Only two issues have come up.

1) the Nvidia (Asus Geforce 210 HDMI) control panel often fails to respond (swapping from monitor to TV), surprising it's windows 7 cert?

2) I attempted to install ubuntu (on a partition) and it failed, but lost 30gb of drive space. Windows can't find it, nor can a third party partition manager?

3) Dos anyone wish to comment on my cheap (free) add-ons?

Avast!
ccleaner.
inSSider (to help with wifi).
auslogics disk defrag.

I have gone with these after using AVG/Iobit/inSSider/windows!! on my Vista laptop.

That's it.

I love it, congrats to Microsoft for making it far more pleasurable than Vista, and just as a final goodbye.....(to XP), thanks for the service!

RGDave

RDG

Glad things are working so well


1-It may just need an updated video driver. Download the newest version and use this to remove the current and install the new.

When upgrading your graphic driver you MUST remove all traces of the current driver. In order to do that we recommend using Guru3D - Driver Sweeper

When it is removed then download and install the fresh copy.

2-Paragon disk suite home trial will see it and the trial is free.

3-As someone who does BSOD's (Blue Screens Of death--crashes) I would remove Avast and replace with Microsoft Security Essentials. It is more stable, uses less resoures, and usually doesnt crash.

CCleaner. Win 7 doesnt usually need a cleaner and they can cause many more problems than they fix. Ccleaner is one of the better ones but I can tell you from personal experience it can cause trouble.

Auslogics does a decent job.

Let us know if you need further assistance.

Good luck

ken J

Thanks Ken, helpful stuff.

1-It may just need an updated video driver. Download the newest version and use this to remove the current and install the new.

Driver checked....it's the latest.

2-Paragon disk suite home trial will see it and the trial is free.

great idea. I'll try it...maybe I should have double checked the exact size of the drive first off!

3-As someone who does BSOD's (Blue Screens Of death--crashes) I would remove Avast and replace with Microsoft Security Essentials. It is more stable, uses less resoures, and usually doesnt crash.

Consider it done.

CCleaner. Win 7 doesnt usually need a cleaner and they can cause many more problems than they fix. Ccleaner is one of the better ones but I can tell you from personal experience it can cause trouble.

I will follow this advice....never considered this.

Auslogics does a decent job.

Good, not that it's going to need much maintenance.

Thanks again.

I use the file cleanup part of CCleaner on my Windows 7 pro system all the time, no problems. I think "problems" may arise (though I've not seen any yet) using the Registry cleaner tool. Even here though, if you allow CCleaner to make a backup, if something doesn't work right after using it, restore the saved registry data.

I personally have never had a problem with CCleaner on Windows 7, nor XP before that. (Of course I also have full image backups ). And also use Avast with no issues either. I guess any application can cause issues (just helped a person who has MSE and windows wouldn't recognize it in action center). A Guy

As I understand, there has been some ongoing tiff between Guru3D, who were hosting Driver Sweeper and Phyxion who are the software authors/originators.

It would appear that Phyxion objected to Guru3D "adding annoying ad-ware installers inside the Driver-Sweeper setup"
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=331125
http://forum.phyxion.net/viewtopic.php?id=5

If I remember correct, Phyxion broke with Guru3D and decided to go alone making newer versions of Driver Sweeper available only on Phyxion.

It is appropriate to note that the current download from Guru3D is v2.6 whereas the one at Phyxion is v2.9.

IMO, it is always better to download Driver Sweeper from the originator Phyxion.net - Downloads

Thankfully at this moment, I'm not needing to remove any drivers.

But should I need to, thanks for the input on this thread.

Now I'm just waiting, and waiting, and....um....waiting for the MSE to update and start running.

1 hr and counting....

I have used CCleaner since the days of WinXP. It can cause problems but only if I delete things from my registry without knowing what I am deleting. I have it installed but think not to use it in the future. I am finding that I can get along fine without the use of the many 3rd party softwares that I used in the past. Actually, I probably didn't need them even then.

As for security, I wil continue to use something like Norton Internet Security or Kaspersky.

Hmm,

1. CCleaner is OK - just stay off the registry

2. Strange idea to replace Avast with MSE which is not that hot. I would use Avira for a free option.

3. Your disk space is there - do the following:

a) run WinDirStat - that will tell you how much your system and user files use
b) open an elevated Command Prompt and run vssadmin list shadowstorage - look for Allocated. That is the amount your restore points use.

Add a+b and it should make the full count.

Be aware, Avira Free does not include web or e-mail scanning capabilities, this is only available in the paid version. A Guy