Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate Upgrade
by Microsoft Software
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Category: Software
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Software Summary
Manufacturer: Microsoft SoftwareBrand: Microsoft
Format: DVD-ROM
Release Date: 2009-10-22
Platform: Windows Vista, Windows XP
Model: GLC-00184
Product features:
- Includes 32 & 64-bit versions cd-room Combines remarkable ease-of-use with the entertainment features of Home Premium
- And the business capabilities of Professional--get it all with with Windows 7 Ultimate
- Make the things you do every day easier with improved desktop navigation; start programs faster and more easily,
- Easily create a home network and connect your PCs to a printer with HomeGroup;
- Help protect data on your PC and portable storage devices against loss or theft with BitLocker
- Microsoft Office Home & Business 2010 - 2PC/1User (Disc Version)
- Microsoft LifeCam Cinema 720p HD Webcam - Black
- Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 6000 - Black
- Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 3000 - Black
- Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3000
Software Reviews of Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate Upgrade
Customer Review: Modest Performance Enhancement - Questionable Investment of Time and Money
Summary: 3 Stars
The big question for many users is "will the 200+ dollar investment and several hours of time justified by the actual and perceived benefits of the upgrade?" From my perspective, the answer is *possibly* as general performance is incrementally improved. Personally, it may be many months, however, before I get a suitable payback for the time I have invested during the upgrade process. Sadly, there are some annoying bugs in Windows 7 Ultimate that are having an immediate impact on my productivity.
To its credit, Microsoft did do an excellent job with its upgrade process technology that allows users to keep all of their programs and files. Basically, everything should be as you left it except for various task bar and star menu links. It reminds me of a comment made by a construction contractor faced with gutting the Pentagon in the 1990's who suggested the job was like changing a black-and-white television to a color set with no interruption in programming. This must have been no small feat for Microsoft.
My goal for the upgrade was merely to increase the performance of my already fast HP Elitebook mobile workstation with an X9100 dual-core processor and 4GB of RAM running Vista 64 bit. I wasn't a Vista hater to begin with but I am always looking for a speed boost. Various IT personnel with whom I have spoken and who tested Windows 7 for months before its release raved about its speedy performance. As I continuously run a real-time full-text search application on my notebook called X1, I have taken the approach that any performance enhancement is worth the investment.
After installing Vista and then subsequently installing the graphics drivers for my Nvidia Quadra graphics card, I can say that Windows 7 is visibly faster in some aspects. Oddly, my one performance benchmark, the 3DMark06 (below), didn't conclusively demonstrate a performance bump.
The biggest improvements thus far appears to be with opening various Microsoft applications. While I have not timed this scientifically, the launch process appears to be about twice as fast. Other actions, such and launching a new tab in IE Explorer (i.e. new iexplorer.exe process) appears to be dramatically faster (> 3X). In all, Windows just seems to be running faster when under high stress environments.
Some of the new window manipulation features do allow the user to save a couple of steps. For example, one can drag an application window to the top border of the screen to have that window application maximize and fill the screen. Similarly, one can drag a window to the right or left, causing that application window to fill ½ of the screen on that particular side of the desktop.
Yet, it seems that overall, Microsoft seems to be focusing more on mouse usage and less on keyboard shortcuts. Power users who work on Wall Street are trained to use keyboard shortcuts instead of the mouse in virtually all possible circumstances. Once learning a few dozen of these keyboard shortcuts, one's productivity can increase significantly. For some odd reason, Microsoft seems to be moving away from providing such capabilities to power users as evidenced in their release of Office 2007 where many of the most important hotkeys were changed or removed. Likewise, in Windows 7, there are changes to the hotkey functions that will IMPEDE power users.
Some of the aesthetic features are a matter of taste. The Personalization functionality allows for a collection of high resolution desktop pictures to change throughout the day. Corresponding to a particular theme are system sounds so, for example, when you select American scenes them, a banjo will sound when you have an alert whereas in previous versions of Windows a beep would sound. Vindows7 adds additional transparency capabilities to the user interface. Yet, many of these such as the transparent application window frames have dubious value as they give a cluttered appearance.
Be aware, the setup - even from Vista it is time consuming. I have excluded steps that I felt were necessary but not critical to complete the install such as the 45 minutes needed to backup 20 GB of data on the drive.
Time required for the setup (HP Elitebook Mobile Workstation):
1) 3.0 hours of research (reading reviews, speaking with IT personnel)
2) 0.5 hours choosing the appropriate version and purchasing the software
3) 0.5 hours backing up data (as a precaution)
4) 0.75 hours uninstalling conflicting HP Protect software and turning back on needed processes that I disabled
5) 1.5 hours installation time
6) 0.5 installing Windows updates immediately after installation
7) 0.5 hours installing Nvidia Quadra drivers (suggested by Windows 7 installation process
8) 1.5 customizing layout of taskbars, start menu, visual effects and other Windows setting
9) TBD - learning curve
So, in total, this took up 8.75 hours of my time, which hopefully will pay off at some point.
The X1 real-time search application is my biggest processor hog by a long margin. It is one of the reasons I purchased a very high end notebook and decided to invest in the Windows 7 Ultimate upgrade. I can't say there is a big performance boost from that perspective. It does seem that there are fewer hang-ups in Windows 7 than with XP or Vista, but it still happens. Yet, when a program does hang ("application not responding") - any program, the user finds the same annoying messages "are you sure you really want to close the application, really?" It is still mystifies me why there isn't a more aggressive kill function, much like what exists in old-school Unix.
In all, I would say the upgrade is worth it. Windows 7 does appear to slightly improve performance and many enjoy the new aesthetics.
BUGS
*Conflicts with Adobe Acrobat - can't move/ resize windows in some strange instances - seems to be getting better after Adobe upgrade
*iTunes controls (top of window) don't work on a second monitor when the screen is full screen
*Adobe controls (top of window) don't work on second screen when the screen is full screen
*Window jumps around, can't move properly when there is an alert windows
*Front panel/activity pane gets stuck
Design Flaws
*Icon spacing on Task Bar is too large
*Links on Windows menu have a less control
*Still no way to aggressive kill stubborn applications
Performance Benchmarks 3DMark06 - As you can see, the CPU subscore is much LOWER in Vista. However, I can't say I have seen anything slow down. It may to do with the benchmark code.
HP Elitebook - X9100, 4GB Ram, Quadro FX 770M
********Windows Vista*********
5/30/2009
many process on,both monitors on
4831 3DMarks
1849 SM2.0
1829 HDR/SM3.0
2731 CPU
5/30/2009
several processes off,both monitors on
4828 3DMarks
1840 SM2.0
1832 HDR/SM3.0
2733 CPU
5/30/2009
sim to #2 w/ nb mon off
4862 3DMarks
1849 SM2.0
1853 HDR/SM3.0
2730 CPU
5/30/2009
On battery power
4904 3DMarks
1866 SM2.0
1868 HDR/SM3.0
2752 CPU
5/30/2009
On battery power
4903 3DMarks
1867 SM2.0
1866 HDR/SM3.0
2753 CPU
5/31/2009
Plugged in, many services disabled
4858 3DMarks
1845 SM2.0
1850 HDR/SM3.0
2751 CPU
6/3/2009
Plugged in, Standard services enabled
4954 3DMarks
1887 SM2.0
1892 HDR/SM3.0
2740 CPU
*******Switched to Windows 7*********
11/1/2009
4767 3DMarks
2098 SM2.0
1894 HDR/SM3.0
1521 CPU
11/1/2009
4869 3DMarks
2110 SM2.0
1963 HDR/SM3.0
1607 CPU
11/2/2009
4949 3DMarks
2092 SM2.0
1906 HDR/SM3.0
1874 CPU
11/2/2009
4924 3DMarks
2093 SM2.0
1900 HDR/SM3.0
1829 CPU
11/2/2009
4889 3DMarks
2085 SM2.0
1902 HDR/SM3.0
1765 CPU
11/2/2009
4997 3DMarks
2173 SM2.0
1939 HDR/SM3.0
1727 CPU
11/2/2009
Updated Nvidia Drivers for Windows 7
4986 3DMarks
2180 SM2.0
1932 HDR/SM3.0
1705 CPU
Description of Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate Upgrade
Offers everything Home Premium and Professional offers plus added security features and the flexibility to work in multiple languagesSoftware Sub Type: ClientHelp prevent theft or loss of data Use BitLocker and BitLocker To Go to better protect your valuable files even on removable drives such as USB devicesAutomatically back up your files: Protect your data from user error hardware failure and other problemsFind virtually anything on your PC from documents to photos to e-mailSave time and money resolving IT issuesGet remote services with DirectAccess Access corporate resources seamlessly when you're on the Inter without having to initiate a VPN connectionConnect multiple PCs with or without a serverWork in the language of your choice Switch between any of 35 languages as easily as logging off and back on againLicense type: Upgrade packagePlatform Support: PCRequires 1GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processorRequires 16GB (32-bit) or 20GB (64-bit) hard driveRequires 1GB RAM (32-bit) or 2GB RAM (64-bit)Requires DirectX 9 graphics processor with WDDM 1.0 or later driverUpgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate. Windows 7 Ultimate is the most versatile and powerful edition of Windows 7. It combines remarkable ease-of-use with the entertainment features of Home Premium and the business capabilities of Professional, including the ability to run many Windows XP productivity programs in Windows XP Mode. For added security, you can encrypt your data with BitLocker and BitLocker To Go. And for extra flexibility, you can work in any of 35 languages. Get it all with Windows 7 Ultimate.
 Windows 7 is designed to make your PC simpler--to be more reliable, more responsive and to make the things you do every day on your PC easier. Click to enlarge. |
Upgrade to Windows 7
All editions of Windows XP and Windows Vista qualify you to buy an upgrade license.1. Choose your edition of Windows 7
Explore key features and choose the edition that's best for you. Be sure to check the expanded list of extended features in Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, and Windows 7 Ultimate. System requirements vary for each edition of Windows 7 because some features might require special hardware.
2. See if your PC has what it takes to run Windows 7
In general, if your PC can run Windows Vista it can run Windows 7. To make sure, download and run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to do a quick check. If you want certain features, such as HomeGroup or Windows Media Center, check to see if your PC has the hardware that's needed.
3. Check which operating system your PC is currently running
How you make the move to Windows 7 depends on your current operating system.
- Windows Vista
The transition to Windows 7 should be pretty smooth, although you may need to update your system to the latest service pack first.
- Windows XP (or any other operating system)
Windows 7 is best experienced on a new PC with the latest hardware, but if your computer meets the minimum specifications, you can install Windows 7 on a PC running Windows XP. Windows 7 must be "custom" installed (also known as a "clean" installation) over Windows XP. Before beginning the installation, you'll need to copy your files and settings to an external drive. After Windows 7 has been installed you will need to re-install all of your programs using the original installation media and then copy over the files and settings you backed up to your external drive. Because Windows 7 requires a custom installation, we strongly recommend that you get help with this process from your local computer service provider.
 More work, more play, and more of everything in between. Click to enlarge. |
 Manage lots of open programs, documents, and browser windows easily with thumbnail and full-screen previews of open windows. Click to enlarge. |
 With Snap you can arrange two windows side-by-side just by dragging them to opposite sides of your screen. Click to enlarge. |
 Open files you use regularly in just two clicks with Jump Lists on the improved taskbar. |
Designed for people who want it all
Easiest Windows to use ever
- Simplify your PC with new navigation features like Aero Shake, Jump Lists, and Snap.
- Customize Windows to look and feel the way you like by changing themes and taskbar programs.
- Easy to network (with or without a server).
- Back up your complete system over a network.
- Help protect data on your PC or portable storage device against loss or theft with BitLocker.
Faster and more flexible
- Designed to make your PC sleep and resume quicker.
- Takes full advantage of 64-bit PC hardware and memory.
- Windows XP Mode gives you the business flexibility you need.
- Switch between any of 35 languages.
Best PC entertainment experience
- Watch, pause, rewind, and record TV with Windows Media Center.
- Blu-ray read/write support for data files.
- Includes integrated video and Dolby audio codecs.
Simplifies Everyday Tasks
Simple to use
Preview
Manage lots of open programs, documents, and browser windows easily with thumbnail and full-screen previews of open windows.
Pin
Open files and get around your PC faster with the improved taskbar. You can easily pin programs you use often to the taskbar and launch them in just one click.
 Windows 7 lets you peek behind open windows to get a quick look at your desktop. Click to enlarge. |
 Instantly locate and open virtually any file on your PC right from the Start menu with Windows Search. Click to enlarge. |
 Turn your PC into a TV with Windows Media Center, and enjoy your favorite videos and music with Windows Media Player. Click to enlarge. |
Jump Lists
Open files you use regularly in just two clicks with Jump Lists on the improved taskbar.
Snap
Windows 7 has simple new ways to manage open windows. For example, with Snap you can arrange two windows side-by-side just by dragging them to opposite sides of your screen.
Peek and Shake
Windows 7 lets you peek behind open windows to get a quick look at your desktop.
Windows Search
Instantly locate and open virtually any file on your PC, from documents to emails to songs, right from the Start menu, with Windows Search.
Easy to connect
 Setting up wireless connections is easier with consistent, one-click connections to available networks. Click to enlarge. |
 Enjoy the photos, music, and videos on your home PC when you're away from home with remote media streaming. Click to enlarge. |
 Windows Touch makes PCs with touch screens easier and more intuitive to use. Click to enlarge. |
 Manage Backup and Restore and other features through Action Center. Click to enlarge. |
 Search, organize, and edit files across a network in the same way you would a single folder.Click to enlarge. |
Wireless setup
With Windows 7, setting up wireless connections is easier with consistent, one-click connections to available networks, whether those networks are based on Wi-Fi, mobile broadband, dial-up, or corporate VPN.
HomeGroup
Connect Windows 7 PCs on a home network in just four clicks and easily get to the photos, music, and files on each one--even share printers--with HomeGroup.
Easy to browse the web
Internet Explorer 8
Visual search helps you quickly find the information you want by adding visual cues and previews to search results from top search providers including Live Search, Wikipedia, Yahoo, Amazon, and others.
Internet Explorer 8
Use Web slices to conveniently keep up with changes on frequently updated websites, like eBay auctions or traffic sites, directly from the IE8 toolbar.
Easy to communicate and share
Windows Live Photo Gallery
Windows Live Photo Gallery makes share your photos to your favorite photo site easy.
Windows Live Mail
Windows Live Mail makes managing multiple email accounts easy.
Windows Live Family Safety
Keep your child safe by managing what sites they can visit and who they can send/receive emails and im communications from.
Note: Windows Live components need to be downloaded separately.
Works The Way You Want
Faster and More Reliable
Resume from sleep
We designed Windows 7 to help PCs sleep and resume from sleep more quickly by improving the way Windows 7 manages drivers, programs, and power.
Faster and more reliable
We reduced the amount of memory your PC needs for open windows and to execute commands to help it be more responsive to commands.
Fewer clicks and less interruptions
Makes New Things Possible
Media on your terms
Windows Media Center
Turn your PC into a TV with Windows Media Center.
Windows Media Center
Watch shows for free when and where you want with Internet TV.
DirectX 11
DirectX 11 technology delivers breathtaking game graphics so real, it's unreal.
New ways to engage
Windows Touch
Windows Touch makes PCs with touch screens easier and more intuitive to use.
Media on your terms
Windows Media Player
More and more consumer electronics, from TVs to digital photo frames, can be connected to home networks. With Play To in Windows 7, you'll be able to easily send music, photos, videos from your PC to a networked device throughout your home.
You can enjoy the photos, music, and videos on your home PC when you're away from home with remote media streaming.
Work anywhere
Location Aware Printing
Windows 7 will automatically pick the right printer for you when you move from home to work networks.
Work anywhere with less effort.
- Get connected in three clicks wherever there's a wireless network connection.
- Keep documents on your PC and on network servers in sync automatically.
- Your PC will automatically use the printer you prefer for whatever network you're on.
- Simplify making presentations special settings that keep your PC from sleeping and turn off messages, notifications, and screen savers.
- Instantly locate virtually any file, email, or document on your PC just by typing a word or two.
- Get around your PC faster with the improved taskbar.
- Open programs you use regularly in one click and files you use regularly in just two.
- Manage lots of open programs, documents, and browser windows easily with thumbnail and full-screen previews of open windows.
- Manage multiple email accounts, including Hotmail, Gmail, AOL, and Yahoo! Mail Plus, all in one place with one simple program.
- Get to the files, photos, and music on any PC with Windows 7 in the house from any other.
- Print to any printer in the house from any PC with Windows 7 in the house.
Safeguard your hard work.
- Advanced Backup and Restore makes it easier to keep your work safely backed up to external or network drives and accessible if you need it.
- File encryption helps keep proprietary and confidential information on a PC secure if it is lost or stolen.
- Preserve your investment in programs designed for Windows XP with Windows XP Mode.
- Windows Internet Explorer 8 helps keep your PC safer from malware and you safer from fraudulent websites designed to fool you into divulging private information.
- Easily add your PC to a secured, managed, network with domain join capabilities.
- Group policy controls help administrators more easily and effectively manage the security and configuration of multiple PCs.
Choose the Windows 7 Edition That Is Best For You
Features |
Windows 7 Home Premium |
Windows 7 Professional |
Windows 7 Ultimate |
| Make the things you do every day easier with improved desktop navigation. |  |  |  |
| Start programs faster and more easily, and quickly find the documents you use most often. | | | |
| Make your web experience faster, easier and safer than ever with Internet Explorer 8. | | | |
| Watch, pause, rewind, and record TV on your PC. | | | |
| Easily create a home network and connect your PCs to a printer with HomeGroup. | | | |
| Run many Windows XP productivity programs in Windows XP Mode. | | | |
| Connect to company networks easily and more securely with Domain Join. | | | |
| In addition to full-system Backup and Restore found in all editions, you can back up to a home or business network. | | | |
| Help protect data on your PC and portable storage devices against loss or theft with BitLocker. | | ||
| Work in the language of your choice and switch between any of 35 languages. | |
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