This is a continuation of the laptop saga I've been posting about.

This afternoon hubby has the afternoon off for the holiday, so he was going to start up the new laptop that just arrived.

It comes with a little insert with a warning, that once you try to start up the Windows 7 sequence you cannot stop for any reason or it will corrupt the whole thing..... Now this has totally freaked him out. He is afraid to do it.

Any comments? So far we are going to take it with the router to my son's and let him do it. He has some experience with Windows 7 at his job.

I am wondering also if the backup with XP on it will work with Windows 7. Are we going to run into a problem with that?

hi Mrs. D,

As with every Windows, they all have their issues...

what has become standard with Windows 7 in the newer computers are the "one key" access backup feature.

what that means is that they now can back themselves up instead of you inserting that nagging CD to reformat the whole thing.

The good thing about it is that you no longer have to go look for that CD if you shall need it.

The bad thing is that it is now ALL one tool...

It is like making a copy of yourself...cloning...

that warning is basically saying that "don't touch anything" when you first start the puter...

and keep it PLUGGED in...

but there IS a way to salvage it if something was to happen to it. You just might have to call tech support but I think those incidences are very low...

basically, keep it plugged in the whole time and just don't touch anything.

But it should have a backup button if it should mess up.

This is the new format that will become standard with most laptops and desktops as Windows 7 get cranked out...

I am not sure what model your hubby's got...but it is usually near the power button or on the very top of your keypad (on the left or right).

It is a one button backup.

Hope this helps

Is Win7 installed on the laptop already? Or are you installing it?

If it is installed already it should be more or less turn it on and set it up the way you want it. but I'm just going by how dd & my aunts new Vista laptop were when we got then & set them up.

Maybe that insert just means don't turn it of in the middle of booting up???

will XP backup work with Windows 7= results
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&c...&aq=f&oq=&aqi=

We are up and running on my son's DSL for now. This is one FAST baby! Very NICE..

Haven't tried to move stuff yet. But so far so good!

We are moving files off the backup, slowly. Hubby got a lesson in how to do it. My son says for files, there is no problem, but reloading a "clone" to Windows 7 might be an issue, because of set up things. So we are not going to try downloading everything.

This new way of accessing files with the "library" is going to take getting used to. But in general it seems nice so far. It is not my main machine anyway... I'll let hubby do the tough stuff!

Mrs D thanks for this thread.

Some of my friends are advising me to update from Vista home to windows 7. (I’m sure Microsoft would be happy).

Before I do anything I’m going to keep a close look on these threads.

I need to understand why I would want to upgrade in the first place. I’m not working so I have limited need for the computer.

For years I belonged to a local computer, club now I come here for my information.

Thanks

BOB

I am having mini-lessons with Windows 7, here and there.

The screensavers are very nice. I love the bubbles! They are tranparent and you can see your last file beneath them!
I like the transparency of the headers on each file too. Very nice!

There is a "fun" aspect which seems missing on regular older Windows applications (don't know what Vista looks like), the latter of which are rather cut and dried and just plain functional.

Next year we might get the upgrade for this computer!
(when we recover from our recent bills!)

Update on dead old laptop: My son got a new drive for it and he just sent us a mail: "It Lives".... success! Now we have a backup I can use!

I don't know why anyone would make the switch unless they needed to for some reason.
If what you have still works for you why make the change or spend the money?

If I want to dabble with other operating systems I play around with the free Linux distributions.
You can get them in Linux PC magazines in bookstores, or even in libraries.
Some have Live CD's that can boot and play from the cd/dvd drive so you can get a feel for if you like it with out having to install anything.
Then if you do like it you just click the install button.
And if you have a windows product on the hard drive already it can set you up with a dual boot system.

But I suggest reading up on dual boot systems before doing it - especially if you have files on windows that you do not want to chance loosing.
I have set mine up both as a dual boot on 1 drive and now I have the Linux {mepis}on my second drive.

Some of the Linux distro's are easier to work with and some are more challenging.
The fairly easy to use and install ones that I have found are -
Mepis {or simply mepis} my fav so far
Ubuntu /Kubuntu

Linux info if interested -
http://www.linux.org/
http://www.linux.org/dist/
http://distrowatch.com/
https://www.mepis.org/
http://www.ubuntulinux.org/

Jo*mar

You are correct. Why spend the time and effort if a change is not needed.

I see all the good new products coming out and I want it all.

My friends at Microsoft have enough money so I’ll just come here and look at the threads.

Thanks for the heads up.

BOB