Anti Spyware/Adware Software Recommendations?

[colchar]

That's great - thanks again.

[colchar]

I just called the campus computer store and they only sell Windows 7 Professional. If I switch to that from Vista Home Premium I cannot do an upgrade - I must do a clean install. That being the case, I will lose everything that is on that system so it seems that I'll just have to take it in to be repaired in the hope that the repair does not cause me to lose everything. If I can get it repaired without losing everything then I doubt I will bother switching to Windows 7 because, even though I can back up my desktop and then do a clean install, I don't think that will be as easy to do with my laptop as Toshiba has a very involved process just for upgrading and I don't even want to think of how tough it will be to do a clean install on a Toshiba laptop!

[CameronBornAndBred]

That being the case, I will lose everything that is on that system...

You will and you won't. There will be a folder created called oldwindows or something that has your previous user folder in it. The home to professional is the upgrade route I went, and while I was able to do the easy transfer first (because my Vista was working), I would still have the option of moving my data later from that folder. I need to delete, it's like 20GB and I don't need it anymore, but I was hanging on just incase something didn't transfer over. As far as the install itself, you will be surprised how easy it is. When you do the install, make sure you choose "custom (or advanced, can't remember)", and it won't format your disk. IF you don't, then your drive will be formatted, and all that stuff I said above won't matter.

[colchar]

That being the case, I will lose everything that is on that system...

You will and you won't. There will be a folder created called oldwindows or something that has your previous user folder in it. The home to professional is the upgrade route I went, and while I was able to do the easy transfer first (because my Vista was working), I would still have the option of moving my data later from that folder. I need to delete, it's like 20GB and I don't need it anymore, but I was hanging on just incase something didn't transfer over. As far as the install itself, you will be surprised how easy it is. When you do the install, make sure you choose "custom (or advanced, can't remember)", and it won't format your disk. IF you don't, then your drive will be formatted, and all that stuff I said above won't matter.

Cool, so you did a clean install rather than an upgrade and you still had the old windows folder? Awesome news, thanks for that as it gives me some hope that I won't lose everything.

[CameronBornAndBred]

Cool, so you did a clean install rather than an upgrade and you still had the old windows folder? Awesome news, thanks for that as it gives me some hope that I won't lose everything.

Yup, had to because they don't support upgrading from home to pro. Can't upgrade from XP either, which is gonna suck when my clients start upgrading their workstations. Half those people have no idea where their software CD's are.

[colchar]

I picked up a copy of Windows 7 Pro today but they were out of the 32 bit versions so I had to grab one of the 64 bit versions. According to all of the info on the Microsoft website I should lose everything because I am going from a 32 bit version of Vista to a 64 bit version of Windows 7. However, I'm installing it now and chose the custom install option and, when I did so, I got a message saying that it would create a an old Windows folder so I might get lucky here! It wouldn't be the end of the world if I were to lose what was on my system but it would be a real pain in the ass. Luckily though, it looks like I might just get away with this.

My desktop just makes the minimum requirements for Windows 7 but I'll upgrade to 2GB of RAM in a couple of weeks and everything should be fine. My laptop easily exceeds the minimum requirements for Windows 7 so I'll think about upgrading it later on (assuming I can install this copy on two computers). There are extensive instructions on how to upgrade on the Toshiba website so I hope it isn't too difficult to do. If it is, I'll just stick with Vista on that computer.

By the way, am I right in assuming that when Windows 7 installs it will get rid of all the old Vista files thus freeing up a bunch of resources that were previously being used up? For those who have already switched, have you noticed an improvement in performance?

[colchar]

Shit!!!!

Everything seemed to be going fine and then my system shut down. I didn't think anything of it because I expected that to happen a few times during the process. However, when it started up again it went right back to the start and I had to begin the whole process again. I think I might be screwed here.

ETA: It seems to be working now. Every time it restarts it asks me what type of boot from disc I want to do (1 or 2) which is a little strange but everything seems to be going along as it should.

[DukeUsul]

Shit!!!!

Everything seemed to be going fine and then my system shut down. I didn't think anything of it because I expected that to happen a few times during the process. However, when it started up again it went right back to the start and I had to begin the whole process again. I think I might be screwed here.

Did you verify that you have a 64-bit processor? I would assume that the installer would yell at you pretty early if you didn't.....

[colchar]

Shit!!!!

Everything seemed to be going fine and then my system shut down. I didn't think anything of it because I expected that to happen a few times during the process. However, when it started up again it went right back to the start and I had to begin the whole process again. I think I might be screwed here.

Did you verify that you have a 64-bit processor? I would assume that the installer would yell at you pretty early if you didn't.....

From what I remember from when I checked my system previously, it could handle a 64 bit version.

[colchar]

It looked like everything was going fine as it went through and said it was completing the installation but when it restarted it went right back to the beginning again.

I'll try it again and see how it goes.

[CameronBornAndBred]

I picked up a copy of Windows 7 Pro today but they were out of the 32 bit versions so I had to grab one of the 64 bit versions. According to all of the info on the Microsoft website I should lose everything because I am going from a 32 bit version of Vista to a 64 bit version of Windows 7. However, I'm installing it now and chose the custom install option and, when I did so, I got a message saying that it would create a an old Windows folder so I might get lucky here!

That is correct, and that's the route I took, I went 64 (had to reinstall it all anyways, so might as well go the full monty). As far as performance difference..it's huge.

[colchar]

I just realized what the problem must be. The 64 bit version requires 2GB of RAM and my desktop only has 1GB. I'll get more RAM thrown in there when I am next on campus Wednesday and then I'll install Windows 7 after that.

[CameronBornAndBred]

I just realized what the problem must be. The 64 bit version requires 2GB of RAM and my desktop only has 1GB. I'll get more RAM thrown in there when I am next on campus Wednesday and then I'll install Windows 7 after that.

Nice thing about 64bit is that you can add more than 4GB if you choose. (Not much reason to unless you're running some heavy shit, but you can.) I didn't realize it required 2GB though. That's goofy.

[colchar]

I just realized what the problem must be. The 64 bit version requires 2GB of RAM and my desktop only has 1GB. I'll get more RAM thrown in there when I am next on campus Wednesday and then I'll install Windows 7 after that.

Nice thing about 64bit is that you can add more than 4GB if you choose. (Not much reason to unless you're running some heavy shit, but you can.) I didn't realize it required 2GB though. That's goofy.

I didn't realize it either. I honestly had no idea until I was looking at the upgrade advisor on my laptop and realized what it said. Oh well, I had been meaning to upgrade the RAM in my desktop anyway so now I'll just have to do it earlier than planned. I'll take it up to 2GB and that should be enough for my needs.

Just out of curiosity, if it says 2GB is the minimum requirement does that mean there might be performance issues if I only have 2GB or should everything be fine with that?

[CameronBornAndBred]

I just realized what the problem must be. The 64 bit version requires 2GB of RAM and my desktop only has 1GB. I'll get more RAM thrown in there when I am next on campus Wednesday and then I'll install Windows 7 after that.

Nice thing about 64bit is that you can add more than 4GB if you choose. (Not much reason to unless you're running some heavy shit, but you can.) I didn't realize it required 2GB though. That's goofy.

I didn't realize it either. I honestly had no idea until I was looking at the upgrade advisor on my laptop and realized what it said. Oh well, I had been meaning to upgrade the RAM in my desktop anyway so now I'll just have to do it earlier than planned. I'll take it up to 2GB and that should be enough for my needs.

Just out of curiosity, if it says 2GB is the minimum requirement does that mean there might be performance issues if I only have 2GB or should everything be fine with that?

You'll be fine.

[colchar]

I just went into my desktop's BIOS to check things out. It lists my processor as:
Intel Core 2 CPU
6400@2.13GHz
Intel EM64T Capable

To me (with my limited understanding of computers) this indicates that my processor is 64 bit capable.

I do have a question about memory though.

In the BIOS it lists the following information:
Memory Mode - Single Channel
Memory Channel A - 1024MB
Memory Channel B - Not Installed

Does this mean that I have a memory slot free? The fact that it lists two memory channels seems to indicate that is the case but the 'Memory Mode - Single Channel' has me confused. Can one of the experts here let me know what the memory information means? I'm hoping I have a slot free so that I can buy 1GB of memory. If I only have one channel, and therefore none free, I would have to buy 2GB of memory.

Thanks everyone (for this and all the other help/advice in this thread).

[CameronBornAndBred]

It does mean you have a slot free. You can verify this by opening the case and looking.

[OZZIE4DUKE]

It does mean you have a slot free. You can verify this by opening the case and looking.

Cochar, memory is cheap. If you're going to the trouble and expense of buying another 1 Gig, splurge and get more. I'm pretty sure the two slots don't have to have an equal amount in each (CB&B?), but I don't think so. Be sure to get whatever "speed" RAM you already have (ie, 533 MHz or 800 MHz); whatever the slowest speed you have the other will match, so you don't gain anything by buying "faster" RAM. While 2 Gig is "enough", more will be faster, a lot faster. The 32 bit version will only use 3 Gig, but the 64 bit version can use whatever you have.

[Miles]

It does mean you have a slot free. You can verify this by opening the case and looking.

Cochar, memory is cheap. If you're going to the trouble and expense of buying another 1 Gig, splurge and get more. I'm pretty sure the two slots don't have to have an equal amount in each (CB&B?), but I don't think so. Be sure to get whatever "speed" RAM you already have (ie, 533 MHz or 800 MHz); whatever the slowest speed you have the other will match, so you don't gain anything by buying "faster" RAM. While 2 Gig is "enough", more will be faster, a lot faster. The 32 bit version will only use 3 Gig, but the 64 bit version can use whatever you have.

Unless pigs can fly, you do not need to pair memory of the same size in different slots.

[colchar]

It does mean you have a slot free. You can verify this by opening the case and looking.

My computer is screwed up enough as it is ;)