Windows 7 laptop - Not all that or a bad laptop?

[Richardk]

Got a new laptop for my daughter with 3 GB RAM, plenty of disk, some dual core something fast CPU and Windows 7 Home Premium. (I didn't pick it out but it looks OK)

I'm disappointed so far. I suspect there's something wrong with it since it lags and I can't even look at the event logs. First it wouldn't go at all then it was trying to install the snap-in but not getting anywhere. Also she's very unhappy that some of her programs (eh, games) that she paid for won't run. "It's windows, why won't it run?" I wonder if that's what the general population thinks as well?

[Her Games - I wonder how virtual box would run on it? Could we just transfer her old Win XP to it and be back in business?]

Also I can't find anything in the Control Panel in Category view but I think the icons view isn't complete. Also where are the other views?

Too early to tell but it looks like the same old windows so far. Right now the performance is so bad that I can't really say much. Also there's a small amount of crapware that needs removing as well. I really hope this is more than a Vista 2.0.

[The Gorn]

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/12/14/workaround-to-install-windows-xp-mode-in-windows-7-home-premium-and-home-basic/

Normally only the Professional version of Windows 7 directly supports Windows XP mode. This article describes how to get around this.

I have used Win XP Mode on Windows 7. It is based on a preconfigured Windows XP disk image that is run by Virtual PC.

This is free, it avoids having to activate or pay for a separate copy of Windows XP to run in a VM.

[PhilFromNY]

Are you sure that the laptop isn't loaded down with crapware from the laptop vendor?

I updated a desktop with a similar configuration as your laptop. I changed it from XP to Windows 7 Professional and for me 7 is actually faster. The most likely difference is that I did a clean install.

As to the games, I haven't installed any but I believe what you're saying. It may be to much for her to work with but have you tried VMWare Server? Its free and runs an XP virtual machine nicely on the given configuration.

When you open Control Panel you will see an address bar at the top of the window. It sought of looks like a URL. Immediately at the end of the address you will see a right facing arrow head. If you click on that the first item in the menu that pops open will be "All control panel items".  That will show you the missing items.

[Richardk]

Thanks for the Control Panel tip and the link, though I wish there was an easier way, like install VM, grab pre-made VM OS and you're good to go.

This would have been easier if they asked me about which version of the OS before the purchase. Hmm, what do I know since they know it all?

Yes, there is crapware but I don't think it's causing the issues. My gut is saying bad hard disk.

[DarkHumour]

Thanks for the Control Panel tip and the link, though I wish there was an easier way, like install VM, grab pre-made VM OS and you're good to go.

This would have been easier if they asked me about which version of the OS before the purchase. Hmm, what do I know since they know it all?

Yes, there is crapware but I don't think it's causing the issues. My gut is saying bad hard disk.

Is it 32 or 64 bit ?  Games may (probably do not) work in 64 bit versions without some shoehorning I'll bet.

I believe you have downgrade "rights" to use XP on certain Windows 7 installations (I do not remember which ones offhand) but you first install Windows 7, scavenge any legit xp key, agree to something, delete Windows 7, and then install xp.

DarkHumour

[Richardk]

It's 64 bit. I'm guessing it's more to do with the OS than the processor but isn't the 64 bit version a superset of the 32 bit version? So wouldn't all 32 bit code work OK? I know that's not the case but I'm betting it's not a hardware issue with 32 bit vs. 64 bit.

We'll see what happens with this. I'm still betting bad hard disk.

[DarkHumour]

It's 64 bit. I'm guessing it's more to do with the OS than the processor but isn't the 64 bit version a superset of the 32 bit version? So wouldn't all 32 bit code work OK? I know that's not the case but I'm betting it's not a hardware issue with 32 bit vs. 64 bit.

We'll see what happens with this. I'm still betting bad hard disk.

You can run either O/S (32/64) on 64 bit processors.  I've never tried to run a 32 bit game on a 64 bit o/s.  Maybe there is a "compatibility mode" available ? 

Also, people tend to set their hard drive controller to "compatible(ide)" rather than sata or ahci which makes it easier to set up older operating systems without native drivers but the performance suffers.

DarkHumour

[benali72]

The Performance Monitor or the newer Resource Monitor will enable you to quickly isolate which resource (ram, cpu, vm, disk i/o, other) is causing your performance problem. You can nail it for certain rather than guessing. Just run the tool when your system is slow and see where the bottleneck is.

G0ddard, could you elaborate on how you don't have to pay for an XP license to run it under Windows 7 XP mode?  I couldn't follow you (you're way ahead of me here).  Thank you.

[Richardk]

The Performance Monitor or the newer Resource Monitor will enable you to quickly isolate which resource (ram, cpu, vm, disk i/o, other) is causing your performance problem. You can nail it for certain rather than guessing. Just run the tool when your system is slow and see where the bottleneck is.

That's the easy solution but then I wouldn't be posting here. Nothing is being a resource hog or causing a bottleneck. It just runs between slow and next to non-responsive with moments of being OK. Everything checks out with disk, ram, cpu, etc. with the one exception that it seems like parts of the OS aren't installed with things like "installing snap-in" but no BSOD or other major errors.

Strange but it doesn't matter since I was able to swap it out for a new one today and it runs perfectly.

I might have to get one too since my "new" laptop (now going on 2) feels like a boat anchor compared to this one.

[The Gorn]

G0ddard, could you elaborate on how you don't have to pay for an XP license to run it under Windows 7 XP mode?  I couldn't follow you (you're way ahead of me here).  Thank you.

Windows 7 (rather, the editions, such as Professional) that support Windows XP Mode are essentially *bundled* with a virtual machine image of Windows XP that *only* runs under those editions of Windows 7. That's what you are paying for with Windows 7 Pro et al., the ability to drop down to Windows XP for whatever applications you wish. 

Although, it's not physically bundled, rather, it's bundled in a licensing and being-able-to sense. The Windows XP image is not on the installation DVD for Windows 7. But it is available for download from Microsoft Update. I don't know why they made this choice - probably, the Win XP image could not be fitted onto the distribution DVD.

That Windows XP virtual machine image is "locked" to Windows 7. It's preactivated, so you do not see activation take place for Windows XP. Once it is installed into a Virtual PC image it just starts up all happy and everything.

[benali72]

G0ddard -- thanks for the explanation... I thought you actually had to buy another XP license to run it under Windows 7. Good to know otherwise.

RichardK -- glad you were able to trade for a new machine!  Great!

[Richardk]

benali72 - You don't need an XP license if you get the Pro level and up. Unfortunately many of the 'consumer' machines have Home premium, which does not have the XP feature.

Yes, it was nice that they allowed a trade. That's one machine where I said just take it back. There was nothing that you could point to hardware wise and say "this is what is broken" but it just wouldn't run. Looked like a bad install but no OS crashes either, just s-l-o-w.

[benali72]

RichardK -- thanks for the info about XP under Windows 7.

Also, reading over my earlier post to your original posting, the tone didn't sound quite right. I apologize if it sounded condescending or unintentionally sounded the wrong way. Thanks.

[Richardk]

benali72, it was probably me just having a bad day trying to figure out what the heck was going on. Thanks for the heads up and the information. Tips are always good to have.

[unix]

I want to install 7 Professional edition onto this Dell Inspiron E1705. 
It only has 1GB of RAM, any suggestions how to upgrade to 2GB or so?