Dual Booting Windows 7 & 8 - Warning

[jackspratt]

Given that W8 will be released in October, I have had the trial version set up in dual boot with W7 on my lappy for a little while (legit W7).

However, until I got hard drive partitioning issues sorted out on my PC yesterday, it wasn't able to load W8 there. The process was easy enough, but lo! and behold!, the first time I booted back into W7 (of dubious provenance ), I got the dreaded black screen, and "This Copy of Windows is Not Genuine" message.

Given I have been using the same W7 version for at least 1 year, I think it is too great a coincidence that Bill chose last night (at the same time I had installed W8) to decide my OS was a fake.

So the warning is - be aware of the potential problem(s) of installing W8 alongside your dodgy W7.

[BobHelm]

Thanks for the heads up Jack..
Personally I am not going anywhere near Windows 8. I will stick with 7 on my laptop for now, but will eventually migrate that to Linux of some flavour.
My desktop is already only running (happily) Ubuntu 12.04 & I will continue to upgrade that along the Ubuntu route as new versions come out.
I thought Windows 7 was a step back in the right direction for Microsoft (howbeit a massive set of programs) but I think they have lost their way with Windows 8 by trying to be all things to all people & failing on the PC front.
Comparing Windows 8 to Windows 7 on a PC base I can't think of 1 positive thing to say about it..

[trubrit]

Interesting comment that Bob. I have two computers mine running XP and I have downloaded Ubuntu 12.04. I have the choice on boot up wwhich I use. Unfortunately despite the blurb saying my granny can use it I find Ubuntu rather confusing. Maybe I am too stuck in my way with folders for everything, but I am persisting .Now my other computer which is soley for my son and my wife to use is loaded with XP but after he recently downloaded yet another game I am stuck with a malware that prevents me opening various programmes, Picasa and CC cleaner being the most important. I simply get a flash of the programme then it dies. I sometimes get a message "floating point support not loaded ". Checking on line this appears to be a virus that can only be removed by scubbing and reloading a new version of windows. I was thinking of Windows 7. A genuine version loaded by 108 shop, about 3,00bht, but with the new W8 coming out I am thinking should I get that . Yours and Jacks comments have made me wonder about that. I am as you can possibly tell, not a wizard and all I want is a simple system to communicate with .Nothing fancy. I also note that Microsoft are now offering upgrades from 7 to 8 at just 40 $. So I will have the chance to change later but I really don't want to do that. What do you think?

[jackspratt]

My suggestion for what it is worth Val:

The difference between XP and W7 is not that great - there are a few things that you will see, but if you are fairly intuitive about getting around in XP, W7 shouldn't be a problem.

On the other hand, W8 is hugely different, and Bob has alluded to this. I consider myself pretty competent when using Windows (and computers in general), but I am having some difficulties adapting to the big changes in W8.

W7 is a very stable and usable operating system - I would suggest you (and anyone still on XP) go there, and think about W8 in a couple of years.

[BobHelm]

I would agree with the advice that Jack gives TB...
If you are use to using Windows XP then you will not like Windows 8, unless you are also very used to using Smart phones. The concept is very similar to that & a mile away from XP. You have 'tiles' for nearly everything & so the desktop is a completely new adventure.
Windows 7 is a better version of XP & anyone who is used to using XP will be happy if they convert within a few days.
I believe that Microsoft have agreed that they will support 7 until something like 2015. That means that they will continue to investigate & release 'patches' & updates to solve security issues. It is just, from October on, anyone who buys a new piece of Windows kit with an Operating System on it will get Windows 8 as standard.

Stick with Ubuntu, it is not perfect but it is far, far closer to XP than Windows 8 is!!!
If you want any advise at any time then just drop a question on here & I will be more than happy to help if I can... or find out if I can't!!

[trubrit]

Thanks Bob and Jack. I will take your advise and install Windows 7, possibly on both computers. As for updates until 2015 that will suit me. I am not planning to be around much longer than that anyway As for W8 being similar to a smart phone, I can't even use my basic 900bht model without consulting my 14 year old son, who works away merrily on a blackberry all the time . A task far beyond my capabilities, so W7 it is .Thanks guys .

[BobHelm]

I came across this while looking around the net & thought that it might interest you TB..

Windows XP SP3: April 8, 2014
Windows Vista SP2: April 11, 2017
Windows 7 SP1: January 14, 2020
Windows 8: January 10, 2023

Those are the dates that Microsoft has agreed to have as end-of-support dates for it's products.
Microsoft is very specific about how it refers to things. Windows 7 will be mainstream supported until January 2015.

Generally, the minimum bar for something to be considered supported is that we provide at least one type of assisted support option and no-charge security updates. This means that, at a minimum, the customer will have some avenue to contact Microsoft for assistance and Microsoft will continue to provide security updates through channels like Windows Update and the Download Center.

[BobHelm]

Some other factors are emerging concerning Windows 8.
Microsoft is including a 'Microsoft Store' in the software. well that is fair enough, all the other operating systems do similar, however it has now emerged that with some versions of Windows 8 the Store will be the only way that users will be able to get downloadable programs, such as Games.
Microsoft will get 30% of the sale of any item made through the store, but it means the end of freeware add ons for Microsoft.
The Valve software games company are worried that its' Steam Store where games are available will become redundant. Also as the Microsoft Store is linked to the Microsoft's Xbox Live online game service then it will automatically guide customers there, rather than to any rivals.
Valve are not taking the prospect of losing business lying down though. It is currently converting all its' 2,500 games to ensure that they are Linux compliant & will sell through that stream as well.

Microsoft has already upset the OEMs with the release of its' competing 'Surface' equipment as well as appearing to play hard ball with its' pricing structure to them for Windows 8.
It could well be that there will be people other than the Linux community stressing the advantages of their group of operating systems come October & the release of 8...