Compatibility

[KeithT]

Hi everyone,
I am upgrading my computer in the next month or so, and have a slight problem. Firstly, I intend installing Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit version. The reason for 32 bit over the 64 bit version is that most of my hardware and software is 32 bit and I don't want the expense of changing it all (if indeed that were entirely possible). Another reason is that sooner or later Microsoft will stop supporting the XP operating system and I'm concerned about not getting regular security patches if that happens.

Anyway my problem is with my External Hard Drive. According to Western Digital it won't be compatible with W7. This mystifies me a bit seeing that it is a USB plug and play preformatted unit. Can anyone shed any light on the reason this unit won't be compatible? The model is WD3200JB. Any help would be most appreciated.

Regards
Keith

[OldBoy]

I think they mean it hasn't been tested with W7 so, by saying that they cover themselves if it doesn't work or fails in the future. Most Windows software and hardware should work OK in W7 but it is always possible that some programs might throw a wobbly now and again.

[KeithT]

Thanks, OldBoy. Yes, you are probably right in what you say. The drives for these things are generally built into an OS system and it might be that WD are covering themselves incase certain bits of software (usually left user unused) doesn't work. The ehdd is what they call a legacy piece, which means it isn't made any more, so you are right when you say they probably haven't tested it with W7. Just got to make sure I get the 32 bit version of W7 and not the 64 bit, or I will be knee deep in the brown stuff.

[Forseti]

Originally Posted by KeithT

Hi everyone,
I am upgrading my computer in the next month or so ........reason is that sooner or later Microsoft will stop supporting the XP operating system and I'm concerned about not getting regular security patches if that happens.

I think that should be the least of your worries Keith. Big industries etc don't change their operating systems every couple of years as it would just be far too expensive. I've no way of knowing for certain, but it would be my guess that with the problems Vista had from the word go that not too many (if any) would have changed at that time. I personally would continue to run your PC to it's last legs because in all probability it will be the upgrades to your present software or future purchases that will eventually force the move to the latest OS and this will happen before MS drops support for XP.

[OldBoy]

WindowsXP will be supported until 2014 at least as per Microsoft.

[KeithT]

Thanks Forseti. I have both XP Pro and MSOffice 2003 on disc bought and paid for so I am teetering on the edge when it comes to changing. Thankfully I can still use Office 2003 with W7. I agree about the commercial users of XP. I would hardly think a company would be in the throws of changing their OS at this present economic downturn. Apart from the cost of changing the soft and hardware, they would experience all the other teething problems that come with change and that might put them on the spot financially.

My current PC is six years old now and showing signs of wear. Bits are falling off the case and the CPU struggles sometimes. That can be a bit frustrating, especially when we all rely on these things for our photography habit. I would rather change whilst it is working than wait till it collapses on me. At least it will be a straightforward changeover.


Thanks again OldBoy. That's interesting. W9 will probably be the all singing all dancing OS by then knowing Bill Gates. The one thing that concerns me more than anything is not getting security patches after that date, as we do all our banking on-line these days like a lot of people I suppose. Mind you, I guess they would have found most of the holes in the XP OS by then.

[Forseti]

If you do change Keith don't forget to check the various web sites for your other peripherals - printer and scanner etc. I'm lucky in that Canon have released W7 drivers for one of my more recent printers but as for the older one.......well forget it.

As for online banking etc - Kaspersky Internet Suite 2010 comes with a *virtual keyboard* (maybe others do to, I wouldn't know) but this allows you to enter identities and passwords etc without using your mouse/PC keyboard. Pretty smart really and gives me more peace of mind.

Glue works wonders for bits of casing falling off.

[KeithT]

Thanks Forseti.
All of my other peripherals are compatible with the 32 bit version of W7. I have a Canon 9950F scanner and HP 5150 printer which works a treat. I don't print my own images. My EHDD was the only one with a question mark to it and most people I talk to seem to think it will work. Another reason to change now is that within the next five years or so there won't be any USB connections put into computers, or so I'm told. That would really ****** me up.
I run Kaspersky 6.0.3.830 and that is very powerful. However, a friend of mine runs the same and had his bank account hacked into recently. There are some clever, if not evil ******s out there. You have to be very vigilant and check accounts daily I think.

Argh glue! Yes I have a tube of UHU in my drawer for most occasions, but alas on this occasion it isn't enough unfortunately. Old age gets us all in the end...lol.

[Forseti]

Originally Posted by KeithT

I run Kaspersky 6.0.3.830 and that is very powerful.

Is Kaspersky still updating the database for this version? They've appararntly stopped support for version 7 as of the 10th January 2010. http://forum.kaspersky.com/index.php?showtopic=151772

Originally Posted by KeithT

Another reason to change now is that within the next five years or so there won't be any USB connections put into computers, or so I'm told.

Really - that's the first I've heard of it.

Oh, and I forgot to add, don't forget to check for codecs that will allow you to view thumbnails of your RAW images in Explorer. W7 doesn't come with these codecs. Get back if and when you upgrade to W7 and I'll give you a link.

[KeithT]

Kaspersky: I have no idea. My version, (a genuine copy) was given to me by my mates son from a corporate account. I will check it out. Seems to work very well though and I get my daily signature dates alright.

USB - I was chatting to the engineer who services my computer, and he seems to think that is the way computers will go. Whether there is any hard fact in the matter I'm not certain. But it is worth keeping this in mind as the industry progresses and things change, as they do. I think another big change to happen within that time scale will be the introduction of solid state hard drives with decent desktop storage capacity.

I will check out the codecs issue, and when I'm ready I will drop you an email for the links. Cheers for that.

I do wish I could afford to go iMac.