If you install to a blank hard drive, it will create a 100MB partition in front of your main partition. The only way to prevent this is to prepartition the Hard Drive.
Unlike previous versions of windows installs, you can not create extended partitions with logical drives. It seemed like it was all or nothing. There was an extended option, but it wouldn't let me carve up the drive.
I just loaded XP back up and created the partitions I wanted. A quick google search confirmed this was the suggested work around or to use a partition software.
Windows 7, like Vista before it, doesn't like you making manual Swap File settings. From what I've read, it's recommended to let the system handle this. Old school OSer's may disagree and want to do it manual. I wanted to, but from what I read, it seems those days are over.
I ceased with XP, I found in my experience that while defining a swap file manually worked, that it resulted in less stability when doing more math intensive applications (GIS, CAD).
The reg key was already '1' and the other step did not reboot the computer and boot into an activation window. Upon looking at system info I can still see 'activate this copy' link however.
Since I'm leaning towards putting this home version on wife or daughters computer I didn't 'try' the activation yet.
FYI, I didn't have to use any sort of work around and I didn't have to provide my XP Key. XP was on another drive and I'm wondering if it simply recognized that and moved on.
Atomm wrote:FYI, I didn't have to use any sort of work around and I didn't have to provide my XP Key. XP was on another drive and I'm wondering if it simply recognized that and moved on.
Yup if XP or Vista are on a drive it just works. You could install vista and then reinstall 7 over it.
Here's one for ya. Import files and settings from an older install.
Why the hell does MS rename old windows windows.old and then not see it when you want to import settings and files?? Or am I missing something?? All I see is the usual drives or network or peer to peer cable option. I guess I can peck and copy, but wtf? 😛
I also cannot figure out how the hell to xfer my wsftp pro settings from XP to 7.
However... use Xmarks to save your passwords and bookmarks/favorites, save them to the central server, and at least you can re-load all that crap into FF easily enough. Xmarks now will work with Explorer in 7 as well.
I have been using lastpass and it is the best password manager I have found. It also does forms and it is better than Roboform IMHO. It offers bookmarkletts and online access as well. It is zero knowledge, keeps a local and server copy of the encrypted DB.
As soon as I got the new system up and running, I installed that and xmarks (best bookmark manager for FireFox) my FF was back just like it always was.
Ok, this is a biggie. In the past, you always went to the vendors website and downloaded the latest drivers. However, it appears windows 7 is designed to download drivers for you. Everywhere I read said to let windows update take care of the driver.
The driver I installed directly from NVidia was causing the issue. Once I cleaned it up and let Windows 7 install the driver, things improved.
I don't know if I like this, but it seems to have done the trick.