Windows 7 and XP

[Farmers Machine]

Went to Office Max and saw display for upgrading your pos Vista to the new windows 7 operating system. If you get the Windows 7 professional or the ultimate version they are very proud to allow you to download the upgrade to Windows XP for free. This will allow you to use older XP specific software that you already own. Here's the question? If you buy Windows 7 and load the 32 bit disk then download the XP, will it cause problems like Vista or is it the old time workhorse XP.
Thank You
The Farmer

[Karl_T]

I guess you'll have to find out.

I know I'm not trying it

I buy this particular computer.
http://cgi.ebay.com/HP-Compaq-D530-T...item3f004dc76c

Solid tower case, good components, and comes with a windows COA. I install XP service pack 1, no virus, no internet, almost no other software. This unit boots up to Camsoft in a few seconds and shuts down just as fast.

I have spare hard disks all cloned and ready to go. Complete spare computer on the shelf with galil and I/O cards for that matter. A complete brain transplant can be done in five minutes.

Karl

[DareBee]

I would use Win 7 Pro instead and do only a fresh install.
Upgrade installs have a habit of leaving anomalies behind to make your life miserable.
Win 7 Pro has a built in XP mode to use for your old programs.

[CNCRim]

5 Tips Before Upgrading to Windows 7

YouTube- 5 Tips Before Upgrading to Windows 7

[amishx64]

I assume this machine is for CNC use.

I think you are are misunderstanding the whole Windows 7, get XP free thing. XP is 'free' with windows 7, but only as an emulation. In other words you have your computer running Windows 7 and when you download you XP image, it run on top of Windows 7. Emulated machines do not always save explicit hardware rights like a normal native OS, which may not be good for interfacing a parallel port with Mach3. Also, an emulated OS just means more software and processing power needed to run two OS's at once, which is not good when you need to send realtime streams to the CNC hardware.

It would be better to get a used machine, which is cheaper, and put XP on it to run your CNC stuff. that way you won't be itching your head when your circle ends up looking like an ellipse.

---------
By the way, it is ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS better to do a complete, fresh install of any new OS. Thinks always work better (faster, more stable, etc.) that way.

[Typed on Windows 7]

Hope that helps at least a little bit.

- amishx64

[mcphill]

I run 64-bit Win7 Pro, and I have loaded the XP virtual machine on it as well. The XP version works great, and you can use all your USB elements. Note that in order to be able to do this, your CPU must support it as well. Most newer CPUs are fine, but some oddballs are not. I forget what the "feature" is call in the CPU, but search for it and you should be able to find it. I can rum some software in the 32-bit XP "Window" that is NOT supported by Win7. It is an integrated circuit USB programmer. It works flawlessly in the virtual machine.