I have had my brand new copy of Windows 7 for a couple of days now but was holding back on installing it as I wanted to finish with the old computer on which I was testing Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala). This computer will be going back to a Windows Vista home network and I need to make sure that all is well with file and printer sharing with Vista. I have been using my main computer for these tests.
Patience is not one of my virtues however. As I have Vista on my Mac Book I could see no reason to wait any longer so I went ahead with the Windows 7 installation.
Backing up for a clean install is not a big deal for me as I keep everything backed up on external drives and, in any case, all of my data is saved on separate internal hard drives. As a result, it was just a matter of copying my IE favourites and the .pst file for Outlook to another drive and I was good to go.
This is how long it took:
7:50 am booted to the Win 7 DVD
Including a quick format of the C drive I was finished the installation and was downloading the updates by 8:09 am – 19 minutes. There were not many updates and, even including a download of Windows Live Essentials (which is one of the updates), I was finished by 8:40am – 50 minutes all up.
The new “Libraries” feature of Win 7 makes attaching photos, music etc to the correct “Library” trivial. (Right Mouse \ Include in Library). This is far easier that re-locating the old My Documents etc folders and it means that you can save stuff anywhere and attach it to the appropriate library.
Everything just worked. All drivers came down from Windows Update except the driver for the scanner in my Canon MP610 ‘all in one” printer. A quick visit to the Canon site soon fixed this minor issue.
After I re-installed my copy of office the usual large volume of updates needed to be downloaded but, as there has been a recent Office Service Pack, even this did not take long. Setting up my somewhat complicated Outlook arrangements took the most time but I was smart and have “how to” instructions, so by about by 9.30am I was finished.
I was a little worried about the software program for my Logitech Harmony Remote. This program would not install on the pre-release versions of Windows 7 but , once again, there was no problem with the retail copy of Win 7.
My general impressions so far ( after 1 day) is that it seems to be faster (but I have just done a clean install and I had everything including the kitchen sink installed on Vista).
It looks “pretty” and works with a minimum of fuss. Many things particularly home network set up have been made much easier.
Windows Media Centre has been updated and I can now get an Electronic program guide for my area. There is also an FM radio section for TV Tuner cards that support this (mine does).
My Only complaint is that the free Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) was not an optional update. I went ahead and downloaded MSE so I forgot to see if it was offered in the “Action Centre” – The Action Centre” takes the place of “Security” Control Panel.
I will keep playing and report on major differences (with Vista) that I notice.
by 8:05 I was at the Desktop to change from Sydney to Brisbane time and the Device Manager showed no exceptions.
Windows Live Essentials was an Optional Update (and it is needed as you don’t get any of these programs as you did with Vista).
In summary – “Very Slick”.