Some Xp-Win7 questions

Hi,

I'm about to install Windows 7 (from XP) and have a couple of questions.

Should I use the 64 or 32 bit version? I have 4 GB of RAM.

How bad really is the thing that asks all the time if so and so can make a change? Can you have nominated programs that can do what they like (or how they do in XP?)

Will Office 97 run ?

Will PowerToys run? I think this is a Windows 95 vintage but has a very useful Send any file to the clipboard as Name.
Does Win7 have another way to do that (if Powertoys won't work)?

And finally, how good is it's XP Mode? Will it save the day for things that don't work in Win 7 ?

Thanks for any answers. I have Googled around for answers but no real hits. Almost as many for Windows 7 as there are who say keep XP. Hmmm....

Regards, kirkm

about your programs and their capability to work in win7, hey, its 2013!! and you still using programs from 95 versions..
shameful
use Microsoft office 2013 which can even work fine in win8
about PowerToys it seems to work fine in winxp but about win7 im not sure, there must be an alternative software for that to use in win7. would you describe what you do with that?
about 64 bit or 32 bit, you should see if your cpu support that

You may want to transition over by installing a Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP. The installer should be booted to choose the space you shrink from XP partition, then create your partition and format during install in Steps 6/7 of Clean Install Windows 7 .

Many programs can be installed in XP Compatibility Mode or using XP Mode from Ultimate or Professional versions.

To get a firm fix on how Win7 will react to you hardware run Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor

When you're ready to get rid of XP, follow the steps in Partition Recover Space Used by an Older OS

If there are any questions about partitioning post back a screenshot of the maximized Disk Mgmt drive map with listings using Screenshot with Paint
then Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums - Windows 7 Forums

gregrocker said:

You may want to transition over by installing a Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP. The installer should be booted to choose the space you shrink from XP partition, then create your partition and format during install in Steps 6/7 of Clean Install Windows 7 .

Many programs can be installed in XP Compatibility Mode or using XP Mode from Ultimate or Professional versions.

To get a firm fix on how Win7 will react to you hardware run Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor

When you're ready to get rid of XP, follow the steps in Partition Recover Space Used by an Older OS

If there are any questions about partitioning post back a screenshot of the maximized Disk Mgmt drive map with listings using Screenshot with Paint
then Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums - Windows 7 Forums

thanx that's perfect idea

In addition read over these Best Practices for Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which also apply for retail and assure you will get and keep a perfect install. Note the differences with XP: Win7 is driver-complete, uses new tools and methods to keep working best.

Breaking XPired habits will be hard to do but is essential. So arm yourself by understanding these Best Practices.

I am still in the learning phase on my new computer using Win 7 after having been on XP Pro for more than a decade. But, I can answer a few of your questions.

kirkm said:

How bad really is the thing that asks all the time if so and so can make a change? Can you have nominated programs that can do what they like (or how they do in XP?)

I have not found that to be obtrusive. Sometimes you have to right-click on the program icon and say "run as administrator" to get it to realize that it can make changes. This is true even if your main user has administrator privileges. In most cases for me, that has cured the popup for that particular program.

Will Office 97 run ?

I installed office 97 from the original disks. I need Acess database program, and never saw the need to upgrade that. I also installed Office 2003 student & teacher edition to get Word 2003. Those are the only two office programs I use -- and both work fine on Win7.

Will PowerToys run? I think this is a Windows 95 vintage but has a very useful Send any file to the clipboard as Name.
Does Win7 have another way to do that (if Powertoys won't work)?

I had used that in the past, and have not tried to install it here on Win7. There is a tool that I can recommend that has a lot of neat tweaks -- ultimate windows tweaker. Don't have a link for it but you can do a search on this forum to find it.

In addition to that tweak set, there are two other things I have discovered here that make life better (i.e. more like the XP I was used to). One is Shell Folder Fix. It lets you make settings for the size and shape of individual folders. Not as good as you could have done in XP, but better than the default Win7. Again -- just search for it here -- there is an very long thread discussing it.

I am one who does not like to have anything on my C: drive other than native windows system programs. I like to have other virtual drives for various purposes. In XP, the program Partition Magic was very good at helping me do what I wanted to do. The version I had will not work in Win7, BUT I found a freeware version that does everything I might want. It is MiniTool Partition Wizard. You should be able to find it using a search here -- or at least via Google.

And finally, how good is it's XP Mode? Will it save the day for things that don't work in Win 7 ?

I am using XP mode in a virtual environment as downloaded from Microsoft. Many of my programs would install and run in Win7, but there were a few 16-bit programs (or DOS programs) that would not run in Win7. They run just fine in the XP Mode. You may have difficulty because of having only 4 gig memory to share between Win7 and XP Mode. The XP Mode install only gives it 512Meg of memory which makes it fairly sluggish. I upped that to 2Gig and it runs fine -- but I have 8Gig total on this computer.

If you have DOS programs you want to run, you could also consider a program called DOSBOX. It would not be as fully featured as XP Mode, but could work. It is a program/project developed with the retro-gamer in mind.

Thanks for any answers. I have Googled around for answers but no real hits. Almost as many for Windows 7 as there are who say keep XP. Hmmm....

Regards, kirkm

In my case, it was a matter of needing a newer computer -- which I barely managed to buy while I could still get Win7 and not be forced into Win8. But, I am fairly comfortable with the move even though there are a few XP features I miss.

Hi Guys,

Many thanks for all the replies. Lots to read, think about, and plenty to worry about ! Dale, your reply really helped and I'll certainly be referring back to it.... likewise to the others. I didn't agree with mmkarimi's 'Shameful' but it made me smile. I'm pretty sure there's some 16 bit code in an Access 97 mdb I use. Upgrading to 8 GB is tempting but would cost more then the OS did. Maybe yes, if w7 really shines. Dale, what are the 'few XP features you still miss'?

Addram, I have 64 but capability. Gigabyte GA-M56S-S3, Athlon 64 X2 4600+, and the Graphic are GeForce 9600 GT.
I do not play any games at all except Solsuite and have many home made VB6 bits and pieces, and Office macros.

Have had Win7 here for a few weeks while pondering.... so will take in all the advice next. My plan (which might change now) was to use Seagate Disc Wizard to clone C: to a spare drive, and disconnect it. The install Win 7 to C: which is a SSD and (so I'm told) will work much better in 7. Then if all turns to custard, I should be able to reconnect the XP drive, change the BIOS boot order and restore XP. I'm sure this will be necessary even to remember what I haven't installed.

Should I keep using MSE or does w7 do better. (Have seen something about Protector or Defender?)

Thanks again for all the advice,

Rgds, kirkm

kirkm said:

Dale, your reply really helped and I'll certainly be referring back to it.

Thanks -- I've gotten a lot of help here, and thought that I could pass on some shared experience since I am only a step or two ahead of you.

I'm pretty sure there's some 16 bit code in an Access 97 mdb I use.

I am running Access 97 data base in Win7, no problems seen. I had to install it from the original disks, and then it worked fine.

Dale, what are the 'few XP features you still miss'?

Mostly the ability to make my folders behave. I have always detested the Start Menu, and rarely use it. I much prefer to have shortcuts to related programs inside of a folder on my desktop. Sometimes folders within folders. In XP, I could size them and position them and they would stay the way I wanted them to be. In Win7, that does not happen without the add on program I mentioned -- and even with that ShellFolderFix, they still seem to forget where they are supposed to be. Another feature I miss is the use of 4NT command files -- with its fairly powerful scripting language. Of course, I could upgrade to current versions instead of my 10+ year version, but I have a lot of scripts I have created to do various jobs. Many of those scripts will only run in XP.

There are features that I am getting used to and like. The "hidden icons" of Xp have been replaced with a little window that you can open of inactive icons. You can keep some programs pinned to the task bar. One that is pinned for me is MSIE. When I hover over that icon, I am shown transparent small windows representing the various web pages I have open -- and I can choose any one with a simple click.

Good luck on your new journey.