One of the callers during our live stream the other night was asking about new hardware. He wants to put Windows XP on a newer machine but keeps receiving a BSOD every time he tries. He prefers XP over Windows 7 when it comes to customization. The modern hardware he’s trying to use just doesn’t want to use an operating system that is older and slower.

Using Windows XP may work inside of a virtual machine may be a good solution. You can use the free VirtualBox, or ask me for a coupon for either VMWare or Parallels. Any of those solutions should work. Load up Windows 7 as your primary operating system, and then throw a virtual machine onto it. Place Windows XP onto the VM and bam! You should be in business.

What other workarounds do you know of? If someone insists on using an older operating system on newer hardware, what options are available to them?

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Community member Scott emailed me recently to ask for my help with a documentary he is creating about Microsoft. He knows that I’ve been using Microsoft since the days of DOS, and wanted to get my thoughts on a few questions he had. Not only did I agree to answer them in this video… I want YOUR opinions, as well. Go ahead and leave a follow-up comment with your answers to the questions that Scott asked. It will be interesting to see what everyone thinks, and how our opinions on the matters vary.

• How do you think that Microsoft changed the way that computing was made simpler for the average user? – Back in the day, it wasn’t easy to use a computer. It was very confusing, actually. If you knew something was DOS or Windows compatible, it was a load off your mind. You knew it would work on your system. Despite any type of business practices that I may not agree with, I have to give props to Microsoft for uniting the industry. If you bought a PC, you knew it would be compatible, and there would be a ton of software available wherever you went. It was also a great opportunity for developers. If Microsoft hadn’t taken the lead in that capacity, someone else would have.
• How did Microsoft make it possible for most people to own a computer and be able to use it without advanced knowledge? – DoS wasn’t easy, and neither were the old Apple systems. Microsoft has never actually created a computer. They created an operating system, that could run on any computer. I always laugh when people compare Microsoft to Apple in that respect. They are nothing alike! Apple would be more comparable to a company such as Dell or HP. There may be Microsoft-branded hardware, but there has never been a Microsoft computer. Therefore, you cannot fairly compare Microsoft to Apple! You can compare their respective operating systems, yes. Microsoft was the first to make an operating system be user-friendly. Most of them are these days, but that wasn’t always the case. Microsoft, back in the day, made it possible for any average Joe (pun intended, Dad!) to sit down and be able to use a computer in their home without any training.
• Going through the history of operating systems, what has improved from DOS to Windows 7 that impacted society today? – You really can’t get along without a computer these days, whether it’s in your pocket or a desktop. To think that you could get a job these days without knowing how to use something like Word or Excel is laughable to me. By making a home computer more affordable, Microsoft opened up the opportunities for developers and regular users alike. If it weren’t for Microsoft, we’d likely be a lot further behind than what we are these days.

I think that the Internet itself has done more to impact our society than even Microsoft. The Internet snuck up on Microsoft and surprised them. Back in the day when Windows 95 shipped, it didn’t ship with a web browser. You had to upgrade to a plus pack, or buy Netscape off the shelf. It was crazy!

Overall, Microsoft has become less invasive and more pervasive. When you buy a computer today, you know it’s going to work. You know it’s going to allow you to do the things that you want and need to do. The computer is not an appliance these days, it’s an appliance. It’s inclusive in terms of its place inside our lives, giving us the ability to do things that we’d never have been able to do otherwise.

Thanks, Scott, for the questions and for making me sit and really think about some of these things.

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During a recent live call, Charles nearly knocked me out of my chair when he proclaimed that he LOVES Windows Vista. I was honestly shocked, especially since the calls were supposed to be about Windows 7. Charles stated emphatically that he never had issues with Vista, and that it actually just worked for him. He fully admits that he may be the only person in his entire town – or state! – who feels this way. We did, of course, end up discussing his views on Windows 7, and about Microsoft in general.

I feel that Windows Vista was, of course, one of the worst things to happen to Microsoft. Also, of course, the iPhone was bad for Microsoft, as well. The iPhone has been probably the most sought-after gadget in recent years, which only enhances Microsoft’s lackluster products. Even people at Microsoft have admitted that Vista wasnt’ fully baked, so how was the public supposed to like it?

Charles actually liked the fact that there were five different versions of Vista. He didn’t want to pay for features he wasn’t interested in. However, I don’t feel that languages should have been part of any type of upgrade, such as in the Ultimate edition. It should be built right in to the operating system as a core component!! Having so many different versions of one operating system creates confusion amongst the public, at least in my opinion. People who don’t know better automatically assume that they need the best they can afford, whether they truly need those additional features or not. That’s just not always the case. Often, they end up having paid for things that they never end up using.

What are your thoughts? Do you feel Microsoft is consumer-friendly, and that there should be many different versions of each Windows release? Or are you thinking what I’m thinking…

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During live calls recently, the main topic of discussion was Windows 7. Ross was happy to get through, and immediately asked what he felt I think Windows 7 brings to the table for an average or intermediate computer user. I have my own opinions, of course. I’m interested in seeing what all of YOU think. So, let’s hear it!

I feel there are a variety of features that Windows 7 brings to the table. The most prominent ones are the taskbar and Start Menu changes. Those are excellent, for sure. Some people are complaining about them, of course, wishing they were more like very old versions of Windows. Personally, I think it’s about time they were so different! Functionality-wise, everything works very well on these.

I feel there is an epic UI fail, but that’s just me. Maybe it’s because I’m anal-retentive? Do you think? But I just don’t like that the popup menu where it shows recent programs has huge gaps between the program names. However, the normal “all programs” menu is missing those gaps. That just bugs me, but I’ll survive.

Ross also wanted to let all college students know that if you go to Win741 and use a college.edu email address – you can buy Windows 7 Home Premium for only $29.99! That’s official folks, and one heck of a great deal for students!

[awsbullet:windows 7 upgrade]

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With the advent of Windows 7 going public, I opened the phone lines up. People called in to talk about anything and everything related to Windows 7. Danny Minick is a long-time member of our community, and now apparently has a new job working at his local Best Buy. During this particular call, I asked him what the buzz is around the store.

Danny says that at work the other night, several people were bashing Linux openly. There was a link given to Microsoft, some employee learning site. Apparently, there were slides and everything on there, openly dissing Linux and slagging it. I wondered why no one spoke up, with Microsoft’s claim that IE won’t run on Linux. It’s not true… and I hope all of you know that.

Danny uses OS X primarily, so I wasn’t sure if he used Windows 7. He says that he is, indeed, running Windows 7 under VMWare Fusion on his Macbook.

I reminded Danny that he can pick up my Windows 7 eBook, and any of the others that I’ve done, as well. I also reminded him (and all of you!) to keep an eye on my Coupons page for discounts on the new version of VMWare Fusion when it hits the stores.

More Best Buy Coupons:

• Best Buy - Weekly Blu-ray Savings (Posted on 5/24/10 and Expires on 12/31/15)
• Best Buy - 5% - 15% Off Select TVs (Posted on 3/30/09 and Expires on 12/31/15)
• Best Buy - Special Offers on iPod Players, MP3 Players and Accessories (Posted on 2/1/09 and Expires on 12/31/15)
• Best Buy - Weekly Home & Appliance Offers (Posted on 2/1/09 and Expires on 12/31/15)
• Best Buy - Weekly Video Game Offers (Posted on 2/1/09 and Expires on 12/31/15)
• Best Buy - Weekly Music Offers (Posted on 2/1/09 and Expires on 12/31/15)
• Best Buy - Weekly Specials on Digital Cameras (Posted on 2/1/09 and Expires on 12/31/15)
• Best Buy - Weekly Movie Offers (Posted on 2/1/09 and Expires on 12/31/15)
• Best Buy - Nintendo Wiis at Best Buy (Posted on 10/7/08 and Expires on 12/31/15)

Find Coupons for over 1100 Stores

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I took several live calls the other night, talking to people about Windows 7. Mitchell was one of the callers. He absolutely loves Windows 7. He’s been a Windows user for many years, and never did like Vista. He started using Windows 7 with the very first build, and is now using the RTM via his TechNet subscription.

Although he never upgrade his own machines to Vista, he did use it on other computers. He hated it from the get-go, and refused to upgrade until something better was released. That something is obviously Windows 7 as far as he’s concerned.

In Mitchell’s mind – and my own – upgrading from XP to Windows 7 is an excellent idea. Mitchell feels that the upgrade is best because of the Windows Explorer. He’s very happy with that. He felt it was too confusing in Vista. With Windows 7, it’s easier to navigate and find what you’re looking for.

If you haven’t upgraded to Windows 7 yet, what are you waiting for? Remember, if you’re needing some tips and help, you can check out my Windows 7 eBook, available for only $7.00!

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What is your favorite operating system? XP has been a great operating system. I think it’s been around as long as I’ve been alive. You may be attached to it, along with your computer. Did you know that Windows XP doesn’t have to be attached to your computer in order to use it?

MyPocketXP has made it possible for you to make any computer into your own. The patent pending MyPocketXP is a PC on your keychain that allows you to turn any PC into your personal PC. Run your Windows installation and your favorite applications from your memory stick. It’s simple to use: plug it in, boot it up and go.

MyPocketXP is not only a super lightweight, portable solution, it also offers a much higher level of security than typical Windows installations. Viruses and spyware cannot harm the installation. If you are worried about loosing MyPocketXP you don’t have to. You can back up and restore the entire system in less than ten minutes with the push of a single button.

Generally speaking, I do recommend at least having one flash drive with Linux on it. You never know when you’ll be at a public terminal, and need to have full control over your operating system without leaving traces behind. If you’re not comfortable with Linux, then MyPocketPC is for you. You can easily run Windows right from the little USB drive!

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They say that when God closes a door, he makes you use Windows. Of course, it depends on what kind of God you have as to what version he makes you use. My God would make you use Windows 7. Your God may not be so nice, and make you use Windows Vista. We have to deal with Windows, even if we don’t use it on a regular basis. Michael from the PCPitStop community wrote in asking about using Windows XP on his Vista machine. Michael says that his Acer machine currently runs Windows Vista, but he prefers to use XP Pro. He says he ‘knows’ that the operating system is burned onto the HDD, and so he thinks he’ll have to change the HDD.

Michael – this isn’t going to be as difficult as you imagine it will be. It is quite possible to change from Vista to XP on a computer. You may run into snags relating to drivers, and will have to try and find compatible ones. Be aware that some of your hardware may not have drivers for XP – meaning that a switch back to XP would be impossible.

The operating system isn’t burnt into the hard drive. It can be taken off (wiped clean) and another operating system can be placed right onto the hard drive you already have. You could alternately set yourself up with a dual-boot, running both XP and Vista.

Theoretically, yes.. you can do what you’re asking. Practically, you may want to check with your hardware manufacturers (or even Acer) websites to make sure that they have drivers available for XP. Watch out for it, because that’s the one thing that could hurt you the most.

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Yes, I’m now running Windows 7 on my HP TouchSmart PC, instead of using Vista. I knew that the Beta had been released, after hundreds of you had come pouring into our chat room asking if I had used it yet – and what I thought of it. I gotta say – so far it’s running very well!

I wasn’t able to get Windows 7 to recognize all of the hardware. I had to install it twice. The first time, it wouldn’t really work well. The second time, I did the same thing and it worked great. The only thing I cannot get to work still is the multi-touch feature of the TouchSmart. I was surprised to see that things I hadn’t expected to change have done so – and for the better! A lot more features have been fleshed out.

There are a few things I think will plague Windows for all of eternity. Once again, this version of Windows is chock full of the Tahoma font. For that reason alone, I could never think of any version of Windows as more than a Beta. I just can’t stand to have to look at it! I don’t think any self-respecting designer would release an operating system that had the use of MS Sans Seriff Tahoma throughout the UI. It’s kind of sloppy in my book.

However, if you can look past something like this, then Windows 7 will likely be an excellent upgrade for you. It’s definitely a lot faster than Vista. There isn’t any lag at all when doing a search from within the start menu or elsewhere on the system. When I plug in a USB device, it is recognized immediately.

A lot of the things that I appreciate are the things that they’ve seen through. A lot of what we saw added into Vista were taken out even more. They’ve added even more functionality without overwhelming the users. If you’re a power user, my recommendation is that you download Windows 7 Beta and give it a shot. I don’t know that I’d use this yet as your primary system, but it’s definitely worth trying.

I do plan to do a small series on Windows 7, to prepare people for what they’ll see. I am going to focus small videos on things that I have found within this new operating system that I already like. Windows 7 isn’t enough to make me want to “switch back” and away from Mac OS X. But I do like it, yes. It’s an excellent experience so far, and I know many of you are going to be happy with it. It feels so much more complete than Vista – it feels like what Vista should have been. There isn’t a lot of “wow” factor, but they have taken a lot of time to develop features that are important.

If you want to send feedback to Microsoft, you can download the Beta. Inside of every window, there is a direct feedback link. You can give it a star ranking, type in your feedback, and more. Allegedly, Microsoft will be taking a serious look at everything you have to say.

Keep in mind, you will likely run into issues as you begin to use Windows 7. Remember – you’re using a Beta, not a final release! Identifying and fixing bugs and issues is what a Beta is all about. Let me know what your experience is like so far – both positive and negative. If you have excellent tips and tricks already, let us hear from you!

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What do you think? Where is Windows – and Microsoft – headed?

What do YOU want to see in the next version of Windows? Be specific, and give some good feedback that maybe we could actually show to Microsoft. Don’t just say “Suck less!”, as someone else already has.

• Use a program called nLite to slipstream all of your drivers into your Windows XP installation. You can also add updates and service packs that can be downloaded from Microsoft. Doing this before installation prevents corruption that could occur from installing them after. If you accidentally get any viruses and don’t know about it, critical operating system files could be harmed from running the updates. Finally, nLite can remove all the programs and services that you don’t need to save disk and RAM space. Using nLite is helpful to make installation simpler, and saves time if you find yourself reinstalling Windows quite often. After you’re done processing your original Windows install CD, nLite will create an ISO file that can be burned to a blank disc. As long as you use your product key from your genuine COA, this is totally legal.
• Make sure you have your Anti-Virus software on a CD before hand, and that it’s the first thing you install after installing Windows. This means that you will not have to connect to the Internet to download your AV software, and it will be less possible to obtain a virus before the AV software is actually installed.
• Have all of your software discs in a pile ready to install, in the order you’re going to install them in. Personally, I always install Microsoft Office first, followed by all my other productivity software. I install games last. Try to find out what works best for you.
• Take time to customize your desktop. I’m sure most people don’t find the Luna (a.k.a. Playskool) interface very attractive, so feel free to change it right away. I actually recommend downloading the Royale theme from Microsoft, which is the visual style included with the Media Center and Tablet editions of Windows XP. It’s basically the same colors as Luna, but with better shading, and it’s glossy like the Windows Vista interface. It can make your desktop so much more elegant looking, and is more exciting then Windows Classic.
• Organize your Start menu. If you leave your Start menu the way that setup programs organize it, you’ll quickly have a cluttered mess on your hands that takes up your entire screen. Instead of having it organized by software vendor, organize it by categories such as “media”, “productivity”, and “games”. Not only does this leave you with a lot of screen space, but you’ll be able to find programs much faster.

If I don’t say this right, people will be upset. I know that some will chastise me for even doing this video. What I’m referring to is a situation that you may have either found yourself in… or will in the future. I’m talking about switching your primary operating system from Windows to Mac OS X. You could say it was curiosity that won me over. I was a life-long Windows user, like many of you are. However, I felt as though I was ready to expand my horizons and learn more. I started playing in Linux and OS X. I love to learn new things. Heck, I’m excited to try out the newest version of Windows when it’s ready to beta test.

Until you are me, you cannot tell me what I can choose for myself, and vice-versa. I hate it when people email me to ask me what they should get. I don’t know what you should get! What will fit your budget and needs the best? No matter what, I’m happy with whatever you decide. Do your research and choose whatever you are comfortable will be the best product for you.

As far as operating systems go, there is no “best”. Again, it’s a matter of choice. What will suit your needs and preferences? When you first turn on a Mac, you will be ticked off if you’re expecting to just jump in and know what to do, where everything is, and how to use it all. It’s different. Of course it is! It’s a completely different experience. Does that make it a bad one? Does that make it better? Of course not! It just makes it different.

There may be some features inside of Windows that you miss. I have a few tools that I have found that may help you feel more comfortable using a Mac.

• When you right click inside an Explorer menu, you’ve got “new” and it cascades out from there. Some people miss that in Mac OS X. If you download Document Palette, it will do essentially the same thing. Document Palette runs in the background and allows you to create new documents in the current folder.
• If you like that cascading right click menu, but don’t really like Document Palette, you can try NuFile. It adds a new file menu when you right click at a folder just like what you can do in Windows. With this menu, you can create an empty file of your favourite type with just two clicks.
• I fell in love with this instantly. Inside of Windows, it’s easy to change file types on a mass scale… not so much in a Mac. MisFox will show all the file mappings settings and the protocol helpers. You can inspect these settings, but you can also edit, delete and create new items for these settings.
• How can you configure your sounds in OS X? Well, now it’s as easy as it is in Windows. BleepBlop is a simple utility which allows you to customise all your OS X sounds through an easy-to-use sexy interface. Bleep Blop also allows you to save your sound settings as Blundles.

So if you’ve already made the switch to OS X, what other applications and programs have you used to make life easier on a Mac?

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“I then read on Microsoft about downloading the update and running a little registry patch (provided on your website). The problem was that you need to be an Administrator in order to run that patch, and you have to actually have subincal installed on your computer (I did not). Also, my current settings did not allow me to select the Administrator profile.”

“So, there are several steps needed to make the Windows XP SP3 install:

• Be logged on as the Administrator, which may require you to add a registry key
• Download Windows XP SP3
• Install subinacl.exe
• Scan for viruses and spyware, as we know that you should never update while having an infected machine.
• Turn off or disable their Firewall program (if not the Windows XP built-in one) and Anti-virus program [it is also recommended to disconnect from the Internet for security]
• Run the registry patch through a bat/cmd file
• Install the downloaded Windows XP SP3 Update
• Remove Administrator login from registry
• Turn on or enable Firewall and Anti-Virus programs
• Reconnect to Internet

“Clearly, this is way too much for the average user. I do like the improved performance with Windows XP SP3 so far, but you need to refine the installation process.”

After I had communicated back to Wayne to let him know I would be using this in a blog post, he sent me another update. He has encountered a bug after install was finally successful. Apparently, doing any searches for files with Windows Explorer will now cause it to contact the Windows Search Assistant website. Windows Explorer never did this prior to the SP3 install. He had to edit the registry in order to stop this, and utilize the classic search function.

What, if any, problems have you encountered while attempting to install the XP SP3 updates? Were you able to upgrade easily, and/or resolve the issues on your own? Overall, what is your experience with SP3 overall, once it had been installed? Thanks Wayne, for the insight!

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I received the following email the other day from a chat regular who goes by the handle of Woomis:

Yesterday, I was consulting a client about OS choices. If storage failure rate was 0%… What OS would you trust to store your most important documents, photos, keepsakes and otherwise? Diving even further into that thought, you realize that you must understand there are other factors involved that whether one is better than the other and why. But truly, I ask you the same question: Although you’ve switched to Mac for the time being, what OS and its myriad of features would you trust to store and use your most precious of data? I see these kids in your IRC chat talking about how “cool” Linux is. I agree: if I had to choose between a Server2003 or FC8 Dedicated serve… it would be Linux for sure. These kids are dazzled by Compiz Fusion and their lowered expectations of XP, but seriously there is the cool factor and the usability factor. For you is OS X just a fad? I doubt it, but please as in the words as some of your newest chatters, Linux Rulez! Why don’t you use it? I say OS X is the most stable: for it’s journaled file system, kernel, support and life expectancy. That’s what I use, that’s what I feel comfortable storing my data on and keeping it safe and operational.

If you ask me what the best operating system is, I will most likely not answer you. I cannot possibly tell you what the best operating system would be. There are a lot of factors that come into play. You will likely have a different answer a year from now that what you will have now, as to what the best operating system is for you. This is due to changes in software and hardware, and how they work together in your current system of choice.

I personally use OS X and Windows both on a daily basis, and I do have a Linux machine, as well. Most people want one thing, and they want the best thing. Take a look at the total cost of ownership. Look at everything that will happen once you have purchased your system. Now, look at the entire experience. Don’t only look at your computer as a piece of hardware. It’s also a piece of software inside a piece of hardware, which is run through various services. A wide variety of things work together to create your computing experience. You have to look for as much of 100% as you can get, in terms of things you want from your computer.

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