Windows 7

Pretty much. I intend on keeping it until the retail version comes out (unless there is another beta which I don't think there will be or a release candidate).

And since it's just a beta Microsoft doesn't really give a crap as they don't really hold much responsibility for what happens on it. It's beta. Torrent the fuck out of it.

Ciao.

Alternatively you can download it outright from Microsoft's website

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win...-download.aspx

Cheers.

I think people just like Torrenting stuff. I swear, I think I once came across a torrent of Cave Story.

Ciao.

Well eventually they'll run out of beta keys to hand out. Maybe.

In any case I've been running on the leaked beta 1 which is the same thing as they're offering.

Cheers.

Something I'm wondering and perhaps one of you could tell me.

If you right-click on a shortcut on the Desktop, go to Properties and the 'Shortcut' section, there are options to change the path of the shortcut and to change the Icon. This normally is selectable (Examples: Firefox, AVG, even the "Send Feedback" that's defaulted on the desktop) but for some reason when I try Steam, its greyed out. Any known reason for this?

Ciao.

Probably something they built into their shortcut for Steam. Try making your own shortcut. Go to Program Files and find the steam executable file. Copy. Paste Shortcut somewhere. Then see if you can change those properties.


Oh and here's something cool to look at.

Tim Sneath : The Bumper List of Windows 7 Secrets

Some nice keyboard shortcuts and features you might like to fool with.

Cheers.

I'm just reading a preview of Windows 7 in the Guardian and it mentions that you can now "pin" applications and stuff to the taskbar. Is this in any way different to just dropping shortcuts on to the quicklaunch toolbar in every other version of Windows or is it just that this particular journalist never realised the quicklaunsh toolbar existed or fails at creating shortcuts?

Ciao.

It basically acts as an integrated dock of sorts. It's like quicklaunch but it also has specific application specific functions you can perform as well (although that's part of the superbar in general regardless if you pin things to it). So yeah it's kind of like combining quicklaunch with the taskbar to a certain extent.

Cheers.

Your method worked, Acer. For whatever reason the shortcut that appeared on the desktop after I installed steam decided not to allow it to be changed. Although if you change the icon via the method I described above, you'll need an .ico file.

I mean Icon, not Yorda and the Summoner

Thanks for that Bumper List, that "Drag the window to the side" method of Docking will REALLY help me out, I think (First on the list).

Another feature I discovered is that if you go and try to rename a file, the filename and NOT the extension will be highlighted. Very small detail, but it will make renaming files go much faster (Because now all I have to do is start typing or hit backspace and start typing)

Ciao.

There's some pretty neat [not that I use them] keyboard shortcuts now, too. For example...

Win+Up Maximize
Win+Down Restore / Minimize
Win+Left Snap to left (pressing again will jump over to the next monitor)
Win+Right Snap to right
Win+Shift+Left Jump to monitor on the left
Win+Shift+Right Jump to monior on the right

Win+Home Minimize / Restore all other windows

Win+T Focus the first taskbar entry
(pressing again will cycle through them, you can can arrow around)

Win+Space Peek at the desktop
Win+G Bring gadgets to the top of the z-order

Win + # key Launches a new instance of the application in the Nth slot on the taskbar.
Example: Win+1 launches first pinned app, Win+2 launches second, etc.

Plus a bunch more, though I think this is the bulk of the 'new' ones.

Then there's the eye candy. I'm not sure if anyone has noticed, but you know how when you start a program via the taskbar, it sort of 'fwooshes' a glow across the icon? It seems the glow colour is totally dependent on the main colour in the icon.

The 'glow' also follows the mouse cursor around. Fun!

Originally Posted by AcerBandit

Well eventually they'll run out of beta keys to hand out. Maybe.

Well, technically they only have 3625 keys before they run out, using their current form for product keys. Then again, if it ever got to that point, you could just type in whatever you wanted and the key would work.

Cheers.

Originally Posted by Dark Nation

Another feature I discovered is that if you go and try to rename a file, the filename and NOT the extension will be highlighted. Very small detail, but it will make renaming files go much faster (Because now all I have to do is start typing or hit backspace and start typing)

Yeah that was in Vista too. Very useful.

Ciao.

I've encountered some odd problems with installing stuff, specifically the windows installer crashed. Several times in fact. Running the program in compatibility for Windows XP didn't work either. At least though, I was able to send off a report about the crash. I highly suspect it won't do diddly squat regarding getting the problem solved, but hey its something.

Cheers.

Did you try Vista compatibility. Also what program was it?

Ciao.

Vista compatibility? No I haven't tired that yet. I'm back on XP for the moment anyway since the program installed fine on here. It was the installer for Autodesk 3ds Max Design 2009 (3D Modeling program).

Cheers.

Oh here's something for those who are running Windows 7 and have UAC turned off. You probably can't use any sidebar widgets, right?

Fix Windows 7 Sidebar with UAC Off issue

An easy registry fix will get you with dem gadgetwidgetthings again. =)

Ciao.

I finally got an error code for the installation errors I was getting, but I have yet to actually pinpoint the problem... I went to technet to see but nobody's posting there.

Cheers.

I have a few places I like but here's the latest one I've come across.

win7vista.com - Index

Ciao.

Originally Posted by AcerBandit

I have a few places I like but here's the latest one I've come across.

win7vista.com - Index

Thanks for that link, I came across this tid-bit on there which I think warrants a mention:

Originally Posted by Windows 7 News

The OEM of Windows 7 is aiming for an autumn release while the final retail release is expected to be available at the beginning of the Christmas season.

Well well, looks like we'll have the full thing within the year. Nice!

Cheers.

Thanks Acer.

this is the link to the topic I made on technet, btw.

Ciao.

Originally Posted by Zergrinch

I am a staunch Windows XP user who doesn't want anything to do with Vista. What can you early adopters tell me about Windows 7's speed and reliability, that might just win me over vis-a-vis XP SP3? Just curious.

Once you use the real admin account, disable uac and all the other crap, Vista=XP. Vista's audio stack alone justifies the change. It uses more resources, that's nothing if you have a real pc. The dpc latency is probably a bit higher in vista, but I hear windows 7 is the same as xp in terms of speed. Not going to 7 until it's released and there's a bios hardmod or other crap-free retail crack.

Can't wait for Windows 7 to come out.
Is it too much to ask for them to dump 32 bit? It needs to die so people start coding for 64bit

Cheers.

Originally Posted by Cam

Is it too much to ask for them to dump 32 bit? It needs to die so people start coding for 64bit

Yes, it's too much. There are still tons of computers out there which do not support 64bit. Heck, I don't think we have a single computer at work which does (out of some 50+ computers the most advanced stuff there are Semprons and maybe a p4).

Server 2008 R2 (the server release of win7) will only work on 64bit, though.

Ciao.

I am somewhat skeptical that any company that can't be arsed upgrading its hardware more than once a decade is immediately going to run out and buy dozens of copies of Win7 anyway, though.

Cheers.

Exactly.

On top of that, virtualization has come a long way in the past few years, so at least on the software side, they could have handled all the legacy compatibility issues with older Windows versions and 32 bit via a virtual machine. They are actually working on some sort of XP VM, but so far its only been announced for the big-time corporate versions of Win7 and obviously, the OS itself still runs on 32 bit hardware. Maybe next time.

Ciao.

Windows 7 is the last Windows that runs on 32bit

Cheers.

Given that MS is likely to continue trying to flog software to developing nations full of legacy computers, I seriously doubt that.

Ciao.