Windows 7, another step backwards

[BeechV35Pilot]

Thi boxis unchckd already

Some more ideas: Try booting Win7 into Safe mode to see if the problem is related to an add-on program or driver instead of the base OS. Here is this forum's tutorial on how to do that:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/666-advanced-boot-options.html

One other question: Do you have any external hard drives (MyBook, for example), USB flash/thumb drives, MP3 players, or any other USB or Firewire devices attached to your computer? If so, try unplugging all of them and rebooting Windows.

 

[whs]

Johnston7, there is no need to be disturbed. If we did not want to help, we would not be here. But those of us who spend a lot of time on the forums know that many people just don't want to move. 99% of "system" problems are user error or the fact that the user did not take the time to study the new system. An operating system like Vista or Win7 with 55 million lines of code is no appliance - nor was XP. It just happens that people got used to XP over the years and were able to do their little things. The same will happen with Win7 - give it a little time and study.

 

[rgauchey]

XP is the Gold Standard. Unless your needs exceed XP's capabilities...............Stick with XP. I've used Vista and now 7 for a week. I have 7 on my desktop. I will keep using XP on my laptop. It is my rock. Everything works. Never a problem. Stable.

 

[Jordus]

...
By saying that you are a novice user, you arent really qualified to decide which is better.

I could ramble off a couple hundred reasons why Vista and 7 are better than XP but you probably wouldnt understand them anyway.

The humility is only surpassed by the bedside manner

I disagree, the fact that novice's like myself could work and operate XP without any major problem, but struggle with Vista/7 is exactly where it's gone wrong. Microsoft should be making things easier for the home user not more complicated.

No, the problem is that people like yourself are upset at change and just because windows 7 is slightly different, navigationally speaking, you throw up your arms and call it quits and blame it on Microsoft.

 

[Sbrideau]

With regards to the comments made by the original poster....after working briefly with my inlaws this weekend who purchased a new laptop computer that comes with Windows 7....I can understand where he is coming from.

My inlaws have a computer that came with Windows XP. Prior to that, I think their home computer had either 98 or ME. They are in their 60's, aren't very technical and often get themselves into trouble with the computer. They aren't the types that are going to buy a book or read websites to learn how to use their computer. They are going to just sit there and click around and hopefully figure it out.

After 2 days with the computer
--They couldn't even remotely come close to getting their wireless network connected
--The UAC prompts confuse them
--They don't understand the superbar or where their open programs have gone.

Adding insult to injury, their new computer came with 4GB of RAM (which they didn't know), and it also came with Windows 7 64-bit (which they don't have any idea whatsoever that 32-bit or 64-bit even mean anything). I cannot even wait to see what issues they start running into when they try to install drivers for the printer, camera, etc. Or when they download applications from the web and don't run the 64-bit equivalents. For example, with 7zip you don't get Windows explorer context menus if you load the 32-bit version on a 64-bit Windows 7 host.

They aren't really complaining yet...but I know that it frustrates them that the things they actually know how to do, they cannot do as locations and such of these things have changed. And I'm not trying to say that we need to keep everything exactly how it was in Windows XP.......but for those who don't really enjoy their computers and aren't hobbyists...these changes are not always more intuitive for them.

Windows XP will be supported with updates and such from Microsoft until 2014.

You could costumize it for them, you can set it that in the taskbar at the bottom it shows the programs like it did on Vista and XP.



I don't know if that guy is going to come back to this thread though, since he is not the one that started the topic.

 

[harpua]

XP is the Gold Standard. Unless your needs exceed XP's capabilities...............Stick with XP. I've used Vista and now 7 for a week. I have 7 on my desktop. I will keep using XP on my laptop. It is my rock. Everything works. Never a problem. Stable.

7 is my stable rock and has been since about last December. Very stable even as a RC. The only place I'm ever likely to meet up with XP again after I eventually get around to upgrading my wife's laptop is in the virtual world. And whenever I do, I feel like I'm driving a Model T Ford. RIP XP.

Btw, I still have some unopened XP tee shirts they gave out at the launch event for XP. Maybe I should try to put them up on Ebay.

 

[1Bowtie]

I agree with harpua, when i did the clean install of Win 7 Home Premium over my dual boot XP Pro and Win 7 Ultimate thats the last time i'll see XP. I loved it for years and it worked great, but it's time to move on. Support will run out sooner than later so you best get ready now.

Smitty

 

[pparks1]

You could costumize it for them, you can set it that in the taskbar at the bottom it shows the programs like it did on Vista and XP.

Nah...I don't want the tech support going forward. I generally speaking don't do anything on family members PC's. I used to build computers for family members in the past, but no more.

 

[s0c9]

sOc9 I'm 50 next birthday. Not exactly vintage, and certainly not a troll. Ive been rattlin my brains out to sort this and logged on here as a last resort.
You have taken the time to help, which is appreciated, but take a chill pill. You can be rude, and we all have our various skills, experience and feetime.

I asked the forum for help not insults.

Like I stated, no offence intended, and FWIW, I'm OLDER than you are !!
As was stated by someone else, there are MANY, MANY folks who will NOT help themselves with simple things... sometimes it grates

 

[whs]

With regards to the comments made by the original poster....after working briefly with my inlaws this weekend who purchased a new laptop computer that comes with Windows 7....I can understand where he is coming from.

My inlaws have a computer that came with Windows XP. Prior to that, I think their home computer had either 98 or ME. They are in their 60's, aren't very technical and often get themselves into trouble with the computer. They aren't the types that are going to buy a book or read websites to learn how to use their computer. They are going to just sit there and click around and hopefully figure it out.

After 2 days with the computer
--They couldn't even remotely come close to getting their wireless network connected
--The UAC prompts confuse them
--They don't understand the superbar or where their open programs have gone.

Adding insult to injury, their new computer came with 4GB of RAM (which they didn't know), and it also came with Windows 7 64-bit (which they don't have any idea whatsoever that 32-bit or 64-bit even mean anything). I cannot even wait to see what issues they start running into when they try to install drivers for the printer, camera, etc. Or when they download applications from the web and don't run the 64-bit equivalents. For example, with 7zip you don't get Windows explorer context menus if you load the 32-bit version on a 64-bit Windows 7 host.

They aren't really complaining yet...but I know that it frustrates them that the things they actually know how to do, they cannot do as locations and such of these things have changed. And I'm not trying to say that we need to keep everything exactly how it was in Windows XP.......but for those who don't really enjoy their computers and aren't hobbyists...these changes are not always more intuitive for them.

Windows XP will be supported with updates and such from Microsoft until 2014.

Tell your inlaws that there is no reason not to learn about the system because they are in their 60's. I got my first PC in 2007 and I am in my 70's. And it was fun to explore and learn about it. It's never too late to learn. A friend of mine started going to university in his 60's and is now nearly done completing his PHD. He did it just for the fun of it.

 

[H2SO4]

Tell your inlaws that there is no reason not to learn about the system because they are in their 60's. I got my first PC in 2007 and I am in my 70's. And it was fun to explore and learn about it. It's never too late to learn. A friend of mine started going to university in his 60's and is now nearly done completing his PHD. He did it just for the fun of it.

Well said. Age should not be allowed to become a barrier, nor a detriment to self-confidence.

My grandad's brother was in his late 80s when he took up computing for the first time in his life. Within a couple of years he was running "How To Email Your Grandlings" workshops for "silver surfers". He eventually became a minor community celeb for his efforts, to the point where the ISP awarded him a year's free subscription. During the inevitable interview, he quipped along the lines of: "thank you very much for your generous award, and I sincerely hope I'm going to be able to make use of all of it"

 

[harpua]

"Computing" is such an enabling activity, especially for people with handicaps or who have age related limitations. After many years, I still find it fairly amazing that I can sit at my desk in my room and instantly communicate with people all over the world with shared interests essentially free of charge.

 

[Johnston7]

I understand where you guys are coming from, but beieve me I have tried and this problem of the explorer window appearing at start up still has me beat.

 

[kanehi]

hmmmm...

Vista is a fine OS and never had a problem with it. Win7 is based on the Vista kernel so I don't understand why XP users who detested Vista suddenly liked Win7! XP will be supported until 2014 so there's no reason to rush. In 3-4 years Windows 8 will be out. If everything is working in XP then no need to change. The old adage.. 'if it ain't broke....' applies. If the OP really wants to learn it'll be on his own terms and we can't force him to change.

 

[BeechV35Pilot]

I understand where you guys are coming from, but beieve me I have tried and this problem of the explorer window appearing at start up still has me beat.

Did you try to boot to safe mode to see if the problem occurs within that mode? I didn't see a follow-up.

 

[Johnston7]

Peter, I wouldn't know how to boot in safe mode, my IT skills don't stretch that far.

 

[BeechV35Pilot]

Peter, I wouldn't know how to boot in safe mode, my IT skills don't stretch that far.

Apparently you missed my previous post within all those age-questioning comments going back and forth yesterday.

Here is a copy of my post again, with a link to the tutorial on how to boot to safe mode. Launching Windows into safe mode is actually very easy and nothing to fear:

-------------------------- start copy -----------------------

Some more ideas: Try booting Win7 into Safe mode to see if the problem is related to an add-on program or driver instead of the base OS. Here is this forum's tutorial on how to do that:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/666-advanced-boot-options.html

One other question: Do you have any external hard drives (MyBook, for example), USB flash/thumb drives, MP3 players, or any other USB or Firewire devices attached to your computer? If so, try unplugging all of them and rebooting Windows.

 

[Johnston7]

Thanks Peter, I'll try that when I get home as I am at work now, (UK resident).

Nothing attached to computer other than printer.

Will reply in 4/5 hours.

 

[Johnston7]

Peter, yes it still appears when starting in safe mode.
And nothing but printer attached.

 

[whs]

Have a look at this. Seems to solve the problem. How to solve: Explorer window reappears on startup