September 2009

Do You Want to be a Guinea Pig for Microsoft Windows 7?

Here are some things you can do to prepare for Microsoft’s release of the Windows 7 operating system before the time for choices runs out. Currently,when working with a beta version of Microsoft Windows 7, if you have a lot of time and energy to donate to the project, you can learn a lot.

My conclusions are the same as before:

• Unless you are into pain, Windows 7 is not ready.
• It took Microsoft three years before XP worked.
• Microsoft now needs some more money, and they’ve trotted out a pile of software that is merely a rewrite of Vista—which had its own problems.

The facts speak for themselves:

• About 50% of corporations are still on Windows 2000. It may be obsolete, but it works for the people whose livelihood depends on getting things done, not fooling around with the computer. No working computer at a small company, no bread on the table. No frills. Just work.
• About 40% of the corporate world has shifted to XP because --- it works! It took four years to get XP to work to the extent that corporate America was willing to shift away from Windows 2000.

Compiled Core? NOT in Windows 7!!

For all of these years, Microsoft has never been able to design the operating system in such a manner that the core of the program would be invulnerable to viruses and the like. Apple is a compiled core. Linux is a complied core. Because Microsoft does not have a compiled core, Windows 7 is going to have the same problems as earlier versions and will be subject to outside influences (viruses). IBM insisted on compiled core, Microsoft’s refused, and that’s what broke down their alliance. However, Microsoft still has 90% of the operating system market and that’s hard to beat.

Linux is the biggest threat to Microsoft because Linux has a compiled core and is cheaper. A Linux-based operating system can provide the look and feel of Microsoft’s interface.

Just two things are missing in Linux:

1. Human interfaces similar to Microsoft’s for the support functions, to allow Windows users to deal with the Linux operating system;
2. A general accounting package that can take data from programs like Quick Books and present a similar interface. When those two things happen, Microsoft is toast.

Assuming you are currently using Windows XP, there are three “non-destructive” ways to install Windows 7—

• Install Windows 7 on a new computer.
• Install Windows 7 on a new hard disk in your current computer, separate from the disk containing your Windows XP installation 
• Install Windows 7 as a Virtual operating system on your current computer. Refer to Bill Young’s presentation for more information.

—and one “destructive” way—

• Install Windows 7 by writing over your Windows XP system.

If you’re still committed to trying Windows 7 now, here are some caveats before you begin:
General

1. There is a Windows 7 hardware/software compatibility program. You ought to download and run it. The program probably will not give you any surprises (mine didn’t), but checking for potential problems is one step to assure no later compatibility problems. Learn more about Windows 7 compatibility via < http://tinyurl.com/ku53yg >.
2. Windows 7 is a beta version right now— no one expects it to work. It is called RTM (Release to Manufacturing), but it is still virgin software.
3. The beta version will expire sometime in the spring of 2010, so you should get it now, to keep your financial investment $0. You’ll have to get your beta version from someone who already has it, since it is gone from Microsoft’s website.
4. The cleanest way to migrate to Windows 7 is to buy a new computer and then use a special USB cable to transfer the settings and data from your old computer.
5. Another way to not have to buy a new computer is to add a new HDD (hard disk drive) to your present computer and use the new drive as “C” and make the old drive as “D”. This makes your settings and data quickly available when necessary. 
6. Using an initial beta key and a technique, you may reset the 30-day timeout for three more times.
7. Finally, you will either have to dump the beta or pay. I suggest buying the HOME PREMIUM level of Windows 7.

Windows 7 and Windows XP

1. There is no way to install Windows 7 over XP.
2. You will have to reinstall all of your applications, including Office. It is not clear whether your old Office key is valid on a Windows 7 computer while still being active on your XP computer. I’ll wager not.
3. The way XP users must get the product installed is to install Windows 7 onto a new computer or onto a new HDD within their current computer, and then reach back to the original XP computer and move over the data a piece at a time.
4. It is clear that you can do a parallel install onto your present XP computer but the restrictions are hard to handle.
5. You can install into a VMWare-created partition, but run time will be a bit sluggish as Windows is being simulated. A simulated new key may be required.
6. Various support packages are available to help migrate the settings and data from your XP computer to Windows 7. As time goes on, the tool(s) will be refined. More than one is expected to explode onto the scene.
7. You cannot install Windows 7 “over” XP and expect that any of your programs will magically be operable at all. Everything must be reinstalled. 
8. You can install Windows 7 onto your XP computer by dong a parallel install. 
9. You can install Windows 7 over your XP (destructive).

If you go ahead with Windows 7 beta, please let me know your problems and successes, so I might share them with others.