Ibwebb, some good info., thanks.

Dragon, I don't necessarily disagree with anything you've said. I used simplified because that was the impression that MS wanted to convey. That was really the primary - though, as you say, hardly the only - negative impression caused by Vista that they were trying to combat. And, after all, removing bloat is a powerful way to simplify. Probably 10% of the bloat in Vista was all the usually unnecessary services they added. As I'm sure you're aware, but for our new "listeners" (I've done some DJing :) ), more than one good resource sprang up on the internet to advise XP users which unnecessary services they could turn off to get back more RAM - providing, of course, you kept track in case you needed to turn some back on later. And those sites eventually tackled Vista, too, which, as you said, was even worse. I got back 10% of my RAM that way.

I also agree with you about the driver issue, but, regardless of that issue, I believe that every MS OS since Win 95 was rushed out before it was ready. 7 may or may not be the exception. I believe in the "good Microsoft, bad Microsoft" theory, which says that there are a lot of good people in Redmond, but they're constantly sabotaged by the minions of the Evil Empire. And guess what glasses wearing weasel is considered the head of "bad Microsoft". They've never had the courage to hold something until it was ready if there was an extra penny to be made. Darth Bill wouldn't let them.

Actually, I think we're pretty much in agreement here Paul (nice name ;) ). 7 is probably an overhaul, I'm just saying, I don't think it's a wholesale reversion to XP. I think we were just approaching the discussion from different angles. My emphasis was with the unnecessary complexity, rather than the bloat, because MS has conditioned us to buy bigger hardware all the time. But you make a very good point about MS forcing many to consider buying new machines, when what they really want is a better OS. As you say, hopefully, 7 is a step away from this madness.

Hello MissTeek,

These might help you understand and actually make it happen for Dual-Boot:

1) How to dual boot Windows XP and Windows 7 (XP installed first)

2) How to Do a Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

3) The definitive dual-booting guide: Windows 7, Linux, Vista and XP step-by-step

This might do the same for Virtualization:

The ULTIMATE guide to virtualization: XP, Vista, Linux, Mac OS X -- step-by-step

@watcher13:

IMHO 7 is NOT Vista "simplified" which for me means you lose some powerful tools, it is Vista "overhauled" keeping the power but losing the weight thus making it leaner and simpler.

Vista in regards to 7 (like Windows Millenium Edition in regards to XP) was a failure because of Microsoft's arrogance of shooting products out too fast trying to grab your money "again".

In their nose-up attitude, they said to hell with hardware makers having drivers prepared and got the same kind of fiasco they had with ME.

Now in 2009, with people hanging to XP, moving to Mac or Linux, even people still using older Operating System and more enemies massing at the gates, they have to be more careful.

Xp was (and still is) a success but it took a couple of service packs to get to where it is.

Vista is an irritating frustrating bloated system that never really took off.

7 was tested extensively and that is a good thing.

Let's hope they have learned more from their failures than from their successes.

Anyway, I hope the links will help.

Quantum Dragon AKA Paul

@watcher13:
I just wanted to let you know that I agree with you completely about Vista. TBH I have most of the bells and whistles turned off because they are nothing I want/will use. Therefore, I seem to have less problems then several I know. Though, I was a bit excited with Win 7 because they also fixed the insatiable appetite for resources that the OS have been having. Vista virtually made it a buy a new computer or be left behind to a lot of people and that is (imho) what chopped it off at the legs before it even got started. I think that many people forget that XP had a huge amount of problem with it as well and it wasn't until service pack two that people were really liking it (as I remember).

Anyway, thanks for the opinion and hope that Win 7 is a winner. OH, I have seen and like that they are offering a 'Home pack' that you can buy that offers 3 codes for upgrading or full installs. I know several people that have multiple computers that were ticked off at having to buy them at full price each (here's one at Amazon to show what I am talking about). Not cheap, but cheaper than buying them separately.

Jeez, I feel like an idiot, Bently! I forgot all about virtualization. You should definitely look into that MissTeek. That's really the "deep, dark secret" way to retain your GOTDs.

MissTeek, I don't want to give you the wrong idea here. I have Vista and I don't agree with some of it's critics. In some ways - more features, better stability (believe it or not), and better security - I feel it's better than XP. The problem is - and I think has always been - is that Microsoft doesn't understand the value of simplicity. MS has always been into bells and whistles and bloat. In fact, that's where I feel Vista falls down. The extra complexity makes it harder to get used to for novices and, in some ways, to maintenance when it gets messed up. I think 7 could be a big breakthrough for MS. I think they finally realize that you can get too complex. If you create too much confusion - including in your own ranks (Mr. Left Hand let me introduce to Mr. Right Hand. Have you met?) - you're gonna turn people off.

I don't want to scare you about 7. I haven't installed it, yet, but I think it's got the best initial press of any Windows version ever. You can see more than one person here, and in the comments section that has it and isn't complaining. However, it still might be a good idea to just do one computer first to see if YOU like it. Remember, official support for XP stops next year - although that won't initially be as bad as it sounds.

Happy, you have to look at it from the developers point of view. Of course, they want to avoid giving you a perpetual license, they need your money. Remember, most GOTD developers are small, often beginning operations. If they're going to give too much away for free, how are they ever going to be profitable? Of course, they can entice you with updates, but still, that's the attraction of the current GOTD structure for them: that, if you really like it, someday you're going to buy it. So why give you any more than needed to win you over? Folks gotta make a living.

Another option would be to use something like Paragon Virtualization Manager, given away early last month, to create a copy of your computer that you could run inside Windows 7. If you check the first post from that day there's another free option if you don't want to shell out for Virtualization Manager. I haven't yet decided whether I'm going to dual boot or completely wipe XP, but this is one option I have in reserve.

Watcher sez: And, of course, you probably remember that some of those GOTDs weren't designed to even run on Vista, much less 7. I hope you haven't bought into the internet talk that 7 is XP improved and that all the architecture - including the latest .net framework - of Vista has been dumped. 7 is really Vista simplified more than XP improved.

Thanks, Watcher..........I was all excited about Windows 7 but I am glad to hear your thoughts on how it is really just a simplified version of Vista. XP, IMO, was an excellent program, as evidenced by the fact that it was almost 9 years between it and Vista. The more I think about this, the more convinced I am to leave XP on the desktop and just load Win7 on the laptop.

Maybe, one day, there will be a solution for this issue.

Maybe, GOTD can come up with a new process, whereby GOTD members will be able to retain their ability to reinstall/reuse free giveaways (including games) on a "forever basis."

Wow, wouldn't that be wonderful? Well, one can always dream and hope :)

(blushes) sometimes I do.

I should mention, although discussing why is sort of a gray area, most GOTD games can be transferred to your new drive or run from the old drive without it being the boot OS. They'll either work or they won't, but the only ones that won't work aren't compatible with 7 anyway, even if you had registered them on a 7 drive in the first place. The only bug you ocassionally run into is that sometimes the player profile data doesn't reside in the game's folder, so if you transfer it, you may lose your profiles unless you dig the file out from the folder it's in and transfer it to the corresponding 7 folder, too. For example: the recent Mysterious City games. But most don't even have that problem.

I was debating on whether to mention it, and I don't mind if the moderators remove this post. But I hate to give a technically incorrect explanation, and since many are migrating to 7 and will be wondering.... The games are mostly of a type known as standalones, as are portables. So any software that you have that fits into that category can be transferred to your new drive. Whether those programs will run on 7 is another issue, although 7 has the compatibility modes that Vista does, so any software that doesn't initially run in 7 can likely be set to run in 7. If anyone needs instructions on that, please post.

@HOSS: Thanks. I think someone else told me that too and I had forgotten.

@MissTeek: *drool* Sounds VERY nice! Enjoy. (BTW, Watcher13 knows his stuff so I won't even try to give anymore of an answer.)

@watcher13: That is what I was afraid of...I am really starting to wonder if I should have gone Apple and make the duel boot on it for the few games I would miss.

Possible, but you might have to dual boot into it when you want to use certain programs. If you launch them from the XP drive while working from 7, you're probably aware that some of them will be able to draw on the modules they need from inside 7, but others will have to have the modules and registry settings that can only be accessed when you boot from the XP drive. And, of course, you probably remember that some of those GOTDs weren't designed to even run on Vista, much less 7. I hope you haven't bought into the internet talk that 7 is XP improved and that all the architecture - including the latest .net framework - of Vista has been dumped. 7 is really Vista simplified more than XP improved.

Thanks for your replies. Well, I'll start off by saying I know my puter is Windows 7 ready. I just built it in March........I have a AMD Quad-core 9850 processor, running 4 GB of RAM (expandable to 8GB ram) with a Seagate 500 GB HDD. I'm like a 5 year old with a Harley! LOL

On a more serious note, I just had a thought.........I figure I could add another HDD and run Windows 7 on that........and keeping my GOTD programs on the HD with XP and use that as needed.

What do you all think about that idea?

There is a program you can download that will tell you if your machine is ready for Windows 7. It is called Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor (google it), it comes right from Microsoft. It will tell you if you have enough processor and RAM and such. I have an older machine as well and it told me my machine lacks enough RAM and processor for '7'. I am considering buying a bigger refurbished machine at geeks.com but it will have to wait for now.

I believe that your question(s) make perfect sense, but I am afraid that you may not like the answer you will get. I know that many of us have been through this or similar instances (hard drive crash, problem leaving a fresh install as the only option, etc). Most (remember that word; most) of the things that you have downloaded from GOTD have something listed in the reg files that makes them active; so, a fresh install will cause you to lose them. As far as I know, no one has found a way to transfer them like you are wanting. That is why so many get excited when a particular repeat comes around. I hope that WhiteRabbit, Wiz, rO, or one of the more tech smart ones read this and can help you more. I also am not exactly sure how to tell which ones you can transfer over and have still work without actually doing it.. or moving it to a flash drive and try running it from that.

Honestly, I guess I am really not much help at all and I am sorry. I just wanted to try and answer some for you. I know that there are a lot of games/software that I miss and keep waiting and looking for them to be repeated. Good luck, I hope someone else has a better answer for you, and when you do the upgrade, (if you wouldn't mind) drop a few lines and let me know how it runs for you and if they are living up to their promise of making things right. BTW, what processor and how much RAM do you have? I have an older laptop that my youngest daughter uses and I am trying to decide if I should upgrade it from XP Pro to Win 7 as well.

Best Regards,
ibwebb

Ok, so I am looking to upgrade my Windows XP to Windows 7 Ultimate - good deal, right? The problem comes in the fact that I have all these wonderful GOTD programs on XP. I've cloned by XP and all programs on a Seagate FreeAgent but I am afraid that if I do a fresh install of Win 7 (which is the only way I can load Win 7 on the puter), I'll lose all of my GOTD programs. Is there anyway I can load Win 7 and put the programs from the cloned HD onto Win 7?

(I hope my question made sense. It is late and I am crazy tired.)

Thanks for any assistance you can give!