ManFromTheBand, isn't XP Pro 64bit? If so why won't it utilize all the ram? Vista seems like a RAM hog. I heard W7 will run faster on the same machine, but the requirements call for more ram that Vista if I remember correctly.

I've been experimenting by wiping off all programs except those needed for the PC to run as a business machine. So far it seems to have sped up a bit. I have shut off updates, deleted all the trial software and as much media software as possible and installed Office 2003.

XP pro can be either 32 or 64 just like regular XP.

Out of the box, XP is limited to 2.0GB. There are fine articles about this and the /3GB switch which only helps increase applications compiled "special" to get access to 3GB. The OS gets what's left or the usual 2.75 to 3.5GB you see reported to Windows. The rest is lost due to how the Intel architecture works (Video card I/O mapping etc.) My XP Pro 32 has 4 GB installed and reports seeing 3.25 of that.

Vista and Win 7 will see and use pretty much as much ram as you can throw at them. I am going to upgrade my system soon to Win 7.

I bought a new laptop about a week ago running Win 7 and IE8? Can't find the version, but it's 64-bit. Anyhow, just a couple questions for you techie folks...

If I try to retrieve an old order on the FARVV site (which gives me a PDF file) I can read it fine on my older computer running XP with IE7, but I can't read it on the Win 7 system. I get a message that says "Internet Explorer has stopped working. A problem caused the program to stop working correctly. Windows will close the program and notify you if a solution is available." Which it doesn't. Adobe Acrobat Reader is installed, so it's not that answer.

Also, does anyone know if there's a way to disable that disc thingy that's supposed to speed up your scrolling, but sends my page shooting all over the place?

I'm still getting the hang of this new system. So far, I mostly like it.

Thanks in advance.

Try adjusting IE8 to run in xp compatability mode. As far as the page shooting all over the place, dunno. may have something to do with your touchpad. They have functions which don't seem to shut off completely so you have to be careful where you place your fingers. What I do when I'm stationary like at home, is use a regular mouse.

I have 7 Ultimate and I am absolutely loving it. Upgrade!!

My experience with Vista is painstaking. I hate it. I would almost rather not have a computer. Windows 7 has been a breath of fresh air. I actually converted to Mac during the Vista time period but am happy to get back on a PC with Windows 7.

I've been using Windows 7 for about 3 or 4 weeks now and must say that I really enjoy it. Much faster than Vista was and a more intuitive gui. IMHO

I skipped Vista, and picked up windows 7 the day it was released, and I have no complaints.

My understanding is that it's a streamlined version of Vista, where they stripped out all of the bad Vista design. I have had no problems getting older software or equipment to run on Windows 7, and it needs a new driver 7 often is able to DL it on it's own.

If you are having a problem with a piece of software then Windows 7 has an option where you can tell it to run the software as if it's XP.

If IE8 is bombing out on you for some website then i think that there is something you need to update, such as your version of java etc.

Oh the choice between 32 or 64 byte really depends on your computers chip.

I tried it at first, but I removed it within a couple of weeks. It's been sitting on the shelf for about a year now...

Perhaps one day.

I think the snap feature with windows 7 was designed with bpo's in mind.

Vista would not be slow if you used it properly. You need to shut the advanced graphics off, turn off all the startup programs that don't need to be running, and clean it out with malwarebytes, superantispyware, and microsoft security essentials. Then it will purrr like a kitten.

One of the main reasons Vista got picked on was because people were annoyed nothing worked. Nothing worked because they didn't know how to use their computer. They didn't realize you have to run programs in administrator mode sometimes so the programs have access to run.

As far as Windows 7 goes, they made it less annoying in asking for permissions so the user experience is smoother. The difference is not that much that it would be a huge deal though. It's more of an 'upgrade' to Vista than a different operating system.