I am currently using WIN XP Pro x64 and considering updating to Windows 7. Any tips or advise based on the same experience?
I am currently using WIN XP Pro x64 and considering updating to Windows 7. Any tips or advise based on the same experience?
what do you hope to accomplish by the upgrade? I am running SW10, XP x64 on workstation, and have W7 ultimate 64 on notebook since November, I still am not at the point where I'd take W7 over XP. How uSoft sees the new GUI & "features" as an improvement escapes me. Obviously everyone will have their own opinion on that. If all you are going to do is upgrade OS, I don't see the point.
Win 7 = present and future
XP = Past and no longer supported (regardless of the date that ms gives for support, xp x64 fell off their radar a long time ago I'm sure)
"W7 - it is the present and the future"
a simplistic response that means absolutely nothing, worse, it is incorrect in that XP is supported by both SW & uSoft
W7 - if you are buying new, putting a new computer together, or a major upgrade, yes, it is the way to go, paying for XP today, or worse paying for a downgrade to XP, would be foolish
I am only saying that if you are upgrading OS only, save your money and wait to upgrade the rest of the computer or for when you get a new one
Solidworks 2011 is being released probably in 4 to 5 months time. I'm willing to bet it will work/perform best on Win 7. Also, every other software developer in the world will be catering to Win 7 as well.
Another simplistic response....
As you probably remember, I already discussed the enhancements to Windows 7 that apply to SolidWorks users here:
Re: The benefits of Windows 7 Over XP are exhaustive
Windows 7 is more secure, too. This sounds flimsy, but here is some recent news to show this:
http://steve.grc.com/2010/06/11/hcp-0-day-quick-fix/
Note that it only applies to WinXP users.
Charles, I love your quote in that post!
"Windows XP is a 32 bit operating system. They pretended to make a 64 bit version, but it is junk."
This is exactly what mean with support. They 'say' they do but they have to say that. They don't!
that's all fine and dandy but you don't even know what his hardware is, what is the point of upgrading the OS if the hardware isn't up to snuff?
yes, your response is simplistic in that you don't even know what problem he is trying to cure/improve, or indeed if there even is a problem. Until that is identified, to say to upgrade is doing him a dis-service
Letting him use xp x64 is a dis-service. Chances are very good if he's using xp x64 he can install Win 7 x64 without issues. Does any cad designer have an x64 machine with less than 4 gigs of ram!?
But maybe your right so lets find out. Les, what are your system specs on that x64 box?
OK, I'll play
How do you know he doesn't have other applications that cannot run, or perhaps is difficult or even impossible to install on W7?
thought about that yet genius? and don't say running XP virtual mode will solve the problem unless you are prepared to actually get a specific application up and running that users have found difficult to install and get running on W7. that would be simplistic
Again, chances are VERY good if the app runs on xp x64 in will work fine with win 7 x64. Also, if you right-click on an .exe in win 7 you can choose to run that app in compatibility mode which should solve most issues.
I'm not looking to debate you but 99.9% of the time only computer specs are given when people use this forum for things like this. Nobody knows any underlying IT issues or what ERP system their using, or whether or not they have specialized, custom software.
The bottom line is this, Win 7 is worth the upgrade and is far better for many reasons (which Charles posted a great thread on). I can't visit his location to know all the other nuances of their business.
In response to your query Mark. I have a second desktop still running XP and a laptop also running XP
so no problem with any application that doesn't run in WIN 7.
Les
Thanks for the responses from everyone. To add some detail my system spec:
Intel Core2 quad CPU
2.67GHz 8GB RAM
NVIDIA QUADRO FX1700
I've been running XP Pro x64 for a couple of years and have mostly been satisfied with the way it performs.
There have been a number of issues using photoworks rendering and after many attempts to rectify with
some service assistance I decided to just live with the problem.
I am looking at a new workstation and I am sure the sensible thing to do would be to have WIN 7 as OS in
view of the tapering down of the almost laughable Microsoft support for XP x64.
I see some more people here with a similar gripe.
Many Thanks
Les
Hey Les, sorry to hear about your issues with photoworks. And speaking of unsupported software, just so you know, Solidworks is doing away with photoworks in the next version (2011) in favor of photoview 360. So now you have two lack of support tiers working against you.
It sounds like you would be able to upgrade your machine, but yea, it may just be easier to get a new one if you're planning on that soon.
Hi Don, I have found Photoview 360 very lacking in its ability with material texture and also in adjusting the background. Most of my design issues revolve around small cast and forged parts and my main customers require presentation graphics for all their products. This is for their use in advanced advertising and packaging images so I'm stuck with it. Photoworks is easy to make these adjustments but so far (maybe my lack of expertise) I have had no good results from Photoview 360. The biggest issue I have with photoworks is that for some reason unknown to support, many colours and textures have changed in existing models and converted to just a grey colour. As you can imagine, this causes a great deal of rework to already finished images when asked for any additional images by my customers.
Hi Les,
I upgraded two machines with almost identical specs from xp x64 to 7 x64. I found that SolidWorks loaded more than twice as fast and crashed less. I did not see a real difference when modeling other than fewer crashes. I do not have a lot of other software on these machines so I cannot speak to what issues you may run into there. If you want the exact specs I can post them tomorrow when I am at work.
Mark, that is the crux for me too.
I tried an install of win7 on the weekend and found no noticable difference over XP32, but my computer is limited to 4GB of ram. When it's time to upgrade the hardware it's a logical choice. But until then there's no reason to change.
Pro W7 here, get 8 GB of ram if you can, regardless W7 is more stable than the Vista before release release
Brian
Win7 FTW. Seriously, whenever I hear someone say Vista or XP is better than Win 7 they lose ALL credibility. Ive installed Win 7 on machines that came with WinXP, ran just fine. Tried the same with Vista when it came out, couldnt even run it. Does that mean that all machines can run Win 7 just fine, no. As far as apps running on Win 7, sure you may have some legacy apps (10+ years old) that may have issues but chances are they will work just fine. Would I upgrade a WinXP machine to Win 7? Depends on what I am using the machine for.
Now, I'm using OS Win 7 prof 64bit. It isn't problem.