Vista 64 bit vs. 7 32 bit

[CrossLOPER]

It's going to be sometime before I can justify purchasing a new laptop. I am experimenting with operating systems and I have two choices for the moment. The laptop in question currently has an HP version of Vista 32 bit, which is inefficient. So of the two choices that I have, which do I choose. I don't really care which one I choose, I just want this laptop to run just slightly better for a while longer.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

How much RAM you got in there, and can it be upgraded, and if so, by how much?

If you've got less than ~3.2 GB of RAM and it can't go higher, 32 bit 7 is a no-brainer. If you've got more RAM (or can upgrade to more) then you'd need a 64-bit OS to take advantage of it. However 7 is better anyway so if you've only got a little more RAM it might still be the way to go.

[CrossLOPER]

I have hardware that does not have drivers for 7, so that makes the problem a little more difficult to deal with. I've had people tell me that 64 bit Vista is simply more efficient, so I was hoping that I could squeeze a little bit more from it. I don't really plan on spending more money on it since I am may very well replace it in about 2 years.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

What hardware? If it's got drivers for vista you can usually use them with 7 as well.

The "more efficient" thing is probably in regards to memory usage, which as I said doesn't matter if you have less than ~3.2 gigs.

[LeftEyeNine]

Comparing Vista and 7 is a no-brainer.

It's like "should I ask a zombie politely with the appropriate gestures to leave my skull alone or bash the :daisy: out of him ?".

:bow:

[Lemur]

What hardware? If it's got drivers for vista you can usually use them with 7 as well.
Quoted for truth. I have run Vista drivers under 7 and they generally work like a charm. There is no real reason to go with Vista. If you have 2 gigs of RAM or less, go with Windows 7 32-bit. If you have 3 gigs of RAM or more, go with Windows 7 64-bit.

[Xiahou]

Or just go with Win7 64-bit, period. It's not like 32bit Win7 is cheaper or anything.

[Papewaio]

Only problem with Windows 7 is that it can be difficult to play Fallout 3 on... or in my case impossible.

Otherwise much like Star Trek, Microsoft has a tendancy to make every 2nd release really terrible... Windows Vista is in the same catergory as Windows ME.

[LeftEyeNine]

Why play F3, Pape-san ? I liked you.

:stare:

[Tellos Athenaios]

If this is a choice between two OS'es you happen to have lying around, I'd go with 32bit 7 not because it's so much better than 64bit Vista but because I expect it will receive support (i.e. security fixes and so on) for a lot longer than Vista will.

If however, you just want to get more life out of your hardware, I'd go for a 64bit Linux based OS. Or if you insist on Window, I'd agree with Xiahou for a change and go with a 64bit version of Windows 7 instead.

[Papewaio]

Why play F3, Pape-san ? I liked you.

:stare:

Because I played F2 and it was heavily discounted so why not?

[Lemur]

Why play F3
Load it up with mods (http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/categories.php) and it ain't all bad.

[LeftEyeNine]

Because I played F2 and it was heavily discounted so why not?

We all played Fallout 1 & 2 and could die should Ron Perlman slip into our dreams and say "War...War never changes...I want you dead as soon as you wake up" but F3 is just a different story to Fallout gamers.

Fallout New Vegas is as close as new-gen games could get. You should try that out and beg Enclave to forgive you for your sins.

[a completely inoffensive name]

Fallout New Vegas is as close as new-gen games could get.

Tbh, F3 and F:NV with the right enhanced texture mods look more aesthetically pleasing than most brand new games.

[Drunk Clown]

Fallout 3 is great, period. Combat is a bit boring.

[LeftEyeNine]

Let's discuss about FNV and F3 in The Arena.

:bow:

[Papewaio]

Problem is I can't with my own machine play F3 to make a judgement call. :(

[Lemur]

Pape, I suspect you're having some other issue, since I've been able to play F3 on a Win7 64-bit machine without problem. Potential vectors of trouble: video card and/or video driver; sound card and/or sound driver. You aren't trying to game on a Quadro (http://www.nvidia.com/page/quadrofx_family.html), are you?

[Papewaio]

Worse a six core.

[Lemur]

Worse a six core.
No, no, that's your CPU; I was referring to your GPU. The Nvidia Quadro (http://www.nvidia.com/page/quadrofx_family.html) is a CAD-certified card that isn't really meant for gaming. I was wondering if you were running something like that and wondering why you are having trouble running some titles. Just, you know, musing out loud.

[Drunk Clown]

Quadro not Quatro.

[CrossLOPER]

Just a follow-up:

I Installed Win7 32-bit. Works great. Much better than Vista. GPU temps went down by 10C. Boot and application startup is more consistent. Identifying drivers was a bit of a pain, but the laptop now works better than ever before.

[a completely inoffensive name]

I am trying to upgrade my desktop's 32 bit Vista to 64 bit Windows 7. I have no idea what I am doing here.

[CrossLOPER]

I have no idea what I am doing here.

Quick version:
1.Put disc in drive.
2.Follow instructions on screen.

Long version:
1. Mark select data for backup. Scan with MSE and Malwarebytes.
2. Save to external drive.
3. Place windows disk into drive.
4. Restart. Boot from drive when prompted to do so.
5. Select partition of Vista 32 and reformat.
6. Select formatted partition for installation for 7 64.
7. Follow the instructions on your screen.

You. Must. Reformat.

YOU MUST REFORMAT.

[a completely inoffensive name]

Quick version:
1.Put disc in drive.
2.Follow instructions on screen.

Long version:
1. Mark select data for backup. Scan with MSE and Malwarebytes.
2. Save to external drive.
3. Place windows disk into drive.
4. Restart. Boot from drive when prompted to do so.
5. Select partition of Vista 32 and reformat.
6. Select formatted partition for installation for 7 64.
7. Follow the instructions on your screen.

You. Must. Reformat.

YOU MUST REFORMAT.

I did the quick version. It asked me what I wanted to partition so I clicked on the C: drive and hit next. Did I do it right?

[CrossLOPER]

I did the quick version. It asked me what I wanted to partition so I clicked on the C: drive and hit next. Did I do it right?
If it windows works and does not BSOD every five minutes, then yes.

EDIT: Actually, it depends if you reformatted.

I put the short version up as a joke. The long version covers the fact that while migration is possible from one Windows OS to another, the fact that you are going from 32 bit to 64 bit means that you must reformat since you can't just add another 32 bits. I never upgrade, only fresh install, so I can only assume that the installer rebooted and gave you the option of reformatting. You should probably reformat anyway since this purges anything that could possibly be on the hard drive, or at least the partition that you chose, which in your case, sounds like the entire drive.

I'm really sorry for the confusion.

[a completely inoffensive name]

If it windows works and does not BSOD every five minutes, then yes.

Oh yeah, no BSOD or anything like that so far.

[CrossLOPER]

Oh yeah, no BSOD or anything like that so far.
Alright, well I guess the autoinstaller is actually good. Glad to hear using it worked out.

[a completely inoffensive name]

Alright, well I guess the autoinstaller is actually good. Glad to hear using it worked out.

Yes, thank you very much.

Now onto the problem I have just run into, my LCD tv monitor for some reason has the outer edges of the display beyond the scope of the tv itself. I can't see where the start button is I just have to move my mouse all the way down to the left and click. Everytime I change the resolution I will see a brief flash where I can see the buttons but then the tv monitor changes its resolution as well and everything becomes unviewable except the big windows background logo.

[a completely inoffensive name]

OH ****! I restarted my computer and now I am getting BSOD....

[CrossLOPER]

OK, the first problem is probably related to the fact that you need to install new video drivers for your computer. Windows 7 does a good job of getting the drivers you need, but sometimes you need to go into device manager and force it to update them. Personally, I would install the video drivers directly from the video card vendor's website, namely nvidia or amd. Doing this will also likely resolve any issues you may have related to missing coprocessor drivers.

Now, on to your main problem. This one is no where near as easy to deal with. First thing's first, post your specs. If your computer came with Vista, it can probably handle 7, but let's not leave this area unexplored. If you can upload a photo of the bluescreen with the error code, that might help, too.

[a completely inoffensive name]

OK, the first problem is probably related to the fact that you need to install new video drivers for your computer. Windows 7 does a good job of getting the drivers you need, but sometimes you need to go into device manager and force it to update them. Personally, I would install the video drivers directly from the video card vendor's website, namely nvidia or amd. Doing this will also likely resolve any issues you may have related to missing coprocessor drivers.

Now, on to your main problem. This one is no where near as easy to deal with. First thing's first, post your specs. If your computer came with Vista, it can probably handle 7, but let's not leave this area unexplored. If you can upload a photo of the bluescreen with the error code, that might help, too.

I think it might be a hardware issue. I am not getting a picture after the initial 5 seconds of rebooting. Screen either turns into graphic pixelated mess or the screen just turns dark.

EDIT: Will try to get a video up of it later tonight.

[a completely inoffensive name]

Actually I am just gonna make a separate thread for my computer problems. Will make one either tonight or tomorrow.

[Papewaio]

No, no, that's your CPU; I was referring to your GPU. The Nvidia Quadro (http://www.nvidia.com/page/quadrofx_family.html) is a CAD-certified card that isn't really meant for gaming. I was wondering if you were running something like that and wondering why you are having trouble running some titles. Just, you know, musing out loud.

Sorry, my bad. I had already tried the multi-core solution. It is essentially a mix of hardware based on the budget (http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/guides/2011/03/ars-system-guide-march-2011-edition.ars/2) version of the Ars Technica guide with a few components from the medium one. Tower and hardware cost under $1k Aus (we have a bit of a markup on most goods here, so I'm sure people could have done it even cheaper in the US). I upgraded the core because there weren't any X3's or 4's available.

Video Card:
Card name: AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip type: ATI display adapter (0x6739)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_6739&SUBSYS_21F81458&REV_00
Display Memory: 751 MB
Dedicated Memory: 1008 MB
Shared Memory: 3838 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (85Hz)

Other Hardware:
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.110622-1506)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
System Model: GA-880GM-USB3
BIOS: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Phenom(tm) II X6 1090T Processor (6 CPUs), ~3.2GHz
Memory: 8192MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 8190MB RAM
Page File: 2205MB used, 14171MB available

=][=
Runs Shogun 2 and TF2 very well... haven't updated my LCD monitor in 6 years... small but keeps it tucked away.

[Lemur]

Okay Pape, doing some Googling, I see that others with that model video card have had driver-based gaming problems. Here's a solution that was posted at HardOCP (http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?p=1037142740) that worked for some users:

Go here, download this:

http://www.guru3d.com/category/driversweeper/

Firstly, go to your device manager, find the display adapter listing for your card, click on it, go to the "driver" tab, and use the bottom radio button to uninstall your drivers there. It WILL bork up your display (icons may double, you'll be at godawful resolution, etc), but it's natural for that to happen.

When your drivers are uninstalled, BEFORE you reboot, also run that program. Run it twice to be sure. Make sure that you select "ATI drivers" in the menu, then click "Analyze," then "Clean/Sweep/Whatevercommandisheretoexecute."

Then reboot, cold boot preferably, ie total shutdown, wait 5 seconds, power on (clears laggy ram and capacitors). Boot up, install your drivers, reboot.

This has solved 80% of driver issues with ATI cards (and some nVidia cards) that I know of. The other 20% mostly deals with registry values and, in absolute worst case scenarios, hardware issues or a complete Windows reinstall.

[Papewaio]

Sounds like a baby with the bathwater scenario. I'll have to give it a shot, I'm using the AMD Vision Engine Control.

Must do full backup before trying this though...

[Papewaio]

Well still OT but I got Fallout 3 to virtually work. I'm up to the escape scene in the vault.

Issues so far:
Some of the cut scenes preload and then pause a bit continue, pause and continue.
The Gene scene at the start... could not see any of the options.

Solution:
I virtualised it. Used VirtualBox and loaded a Windows XP Pro image. Then a lot of playing around with settings and the mouse!!!. Now all looks good... just need to see if it works out of the vault.