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Post by Lynnrose on Dec 2, 2009 18:37:55 GMT
Microsoft and The Black Screen Of Death
"It would be easy to imagine that Microsoft was cursed. Early adopters of Windows 7 have been told by geeks, experts and journalists alike that the new operating system they’d just bought was safer, faster, better and shinier than anything in the company’s history. Then news emerged of the Black Screen of Death." Click above for more information
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Post by ken on Dec 2, 2009 19:32:52 GMT
Win7 was built for new hardware, but a lot of people took advantage of the cheap pre-order version and have installed it on older machines. Older graphics cards seem to be the weak link in the hardware chain. If you install it on an older machine, at least set the Windows Updates to inform you of what they are before installing. Dont install any graphics updates without checking up on them. When you first install, Windows will put in a satisfactory graphics driver. If you allow the Updates to install automatically, you might get a shock when Windows tries to boot. The only cure is to boot in Safe Mode, roll back the graphics driver and turn off the Automatic Updates. Obviously Microsoft dont read the same techie news sheets as me, some of us have know about the flaw in the system since the RC version came out.
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Post by mikkh on Dec 2, 2009 20:49:11 GMT
The end bit bought a wry smile to my lips And as moving from one bit of technology to another becomes ever easier, don’t companies need to do a lot more to hold on to their customers? As the article is about Windows, how is holding on to customers even an issue? I may preach the gospel of Linux, but even I know it falls on deaf ears most of the time and people won't move outside their comfort zone by trying an alternative OS (usually) They're happy to pregnant dog and moan about Bill and his billions, but they're also the ones continuing to fund him year in year out. I was happy to see Vista bring a wobble to the Redmond empire, but it saddens me to say that they're back on solid ground with '7' and these silly panic mongerers are barking up the wrong tree. I've yet to see an article about what has been in my mind for a while though. If '7' is basically Vista done the right way - which it is, couldn't the changes have been incorporated into a service pack without making people pay for a whole new OS? There were rumours that XP SP2 was going to be released as a new OS, but obviously that never happened, probably because Mr Gates thought he wouldn't get away with it. I have to wonder if he has got away with it this time though
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Post by mikkh on Dec 2, 2009 20:52:48 GMT
LMAO don't you just love censors
I'd love to pregnant dog about them, but I think they're all humourless fatherless children with solid waste matter for brains !
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Post by nocky2 on Dec 2, 2009 21:39:42 GMT
Well I was going to get myself a Crissy present,and upgrade the hardly used Vista laptop I have lying doing nothing, but I think I'll hold fire for a bit. Anyway there's no rush, I'm quite happy to plod along with old faithful XP for now. ;D
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Post by ken on Dec 3, 2009 1:42:54 GMT
As long as your laptop was built during the Vista era, you are pretty safe Nocky. If the laptop model was around in the XP era and sold as a Vista laptop when it came out, you might have difficulties. The people who are getting into trouble are people who hung on to their XP computers, in my eyes they are pretty much past their sell by date anyway. If you don't try and upgrade them, you could run them into the ground. You cant make a silk purse out of a sows ear, one of the truest things thats ever been written. There are still people using W98 and ME machines. When people have tried to run XP on the same machines, they have had nothing but trouble. Nobody blamed XP for that, because of the big leap in technology.
The other big difference, Windows only used to upgrade the system and your drivers were all down to you. Now the updates contain hardware driver upgrades. It would be impossible to cover every driver thats been written, so Win7 only covers the latest hardware. When it comes to borderline graphics, thats when things go wrong. You would be better off with and old card that Windows doesn't recognise, if it works in the first place. Thats where a builder with stuff laying around, can get away with murder. The average user doesn't have the stuff to experiment with.
A 54 quid brand new OS seemed like a bargain and a big percentage of users can competently install it. Just like drivers who can drive excellently, but don't have a clue about whats under the lid.
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Post by elvisuk on Dec 3, 2009 2:16:27 GMT
H! KC,
"A 54 quid brand new OS" is that for W7 Home? if so wear do i get one from?
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Post by ken on Dec 3, 2009 2:49:29 GMT
You can't get them now Elvis, that was what Tescos were selling them for pre-release. That was about 3 months before it came out and they sold out in a couple of days. Micro$oft only allowed so many to be sold pre-release world wide.
That was for Home Premium, which is about £120 now. Them packs contained both a 32 bit disk and a 64 bit disk, but you can only install one or the other. You can use the disks to install on as many computers as you like, but you have to buy a licence for each machine and change the number before registering it. My multiple licences costs me £384 a year from Micro$oft Technet.
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Post by computing50yrs on Dec 3, 2009 10:33:42 GMT
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Post by elvisuk on Dec 3, 2009 11:34:26 GMT
H! KC,
Yes i new about the Pre release for £50 for home, I have seen the some wear for £70 i think i will leave it till after Xmas ;D
Thanks
H! computing50yrs,
Yes £112 for 3 computers seems OK but Upgrades i don't like and i only have 2 computers one with XP and one with W& RC ;D
Thanks
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Post by Lynnrose on Dec 3, 2009 17:31:54 GMT
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Post by nike on Dec 4, 2009 2:30:01 GMT
Elvis, there is no need to worry about the "Update" disc. All W7 discs have the complete, full version, "Ultimate" files on them. The different versions are unlocked by using a "key" specific to the version you are installing/updating to.
To do an upgrade from XP, you need to do a complete reformat and full install to W7. You can't upgrade from XP to W7. However, from Vista to W7, you can do an upgrade. The old files from Vista are saved in a folder called "Windows Old".
Also, to upgrade to W7 RTM from W7 RC, you also need to do a full re-install.
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Post by ken on Dec 4, 2009 2:38:57 GMT
So there's 10 reasons it can happen now; if you cant give people a straight answer, confuse the issue until they get fed up with asking. Malware is the easy answer, as there will always be someone with malware.
Boot into Safe Mode and scan for nasties. Roll back the graphics driver and if it wont roll back, uninstall it to get Windows to reinstall it. If it still happens, get a more up to date graphics card or go back to XP. Job done one way or another.
Dont believe all that you read, do your own experiments and draw your own conclusions. Thats the best way.
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Post by elvisuk on Dec 4, 2009 13:15:33 GMT
OK Nike,
Yes well £112 sounds a lot better now ;D thanks for the info.
I don't use Vesta never have i gave it a miss and stayed with XP, my mate wanted too give me Vesta with a S/N i said no (after i stoped laughing)
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