Windows 7 Upgrade - Who Qualifies?

In short, EVERYONE!

Not sure what Microsoft's angle is on this, but if you purchased a full
version of Win 7, then you probably paid too much for it.

Of course, Mac and Linux users may not qualify, but I suspect that even they
have an old copy of Windows lying around as beverage coaster. The questions
is not so much "do I qualify", but "how do I install the upgrade
version?".

Unlike Vista where you had to install the upgrade version twice on a clean
"new" system, Microsoft has cleverly created a way to bypass this time
consuming effort with a registry hack*. Now you can flip a switch in the
registry, and you're done. Unfortunately, not too many users are comfortable
with editing the registry. Things can go terribly wrong and many support
sites post this long intimidating warning against tampering with it. Yet, if you are
installing Windows 7 for the first time, and you aren't using the upgrade
path from Vista, then what do you have to lose? Go for it!

Clean install of Windows 7 with the upgrade disk:

1. Make sure your computer is disconnected from the Internet by unplugging
   the LAN cable. This will avoid any unseen communication with the mother ship
   (Microsoft).
2. If you computer is powered down, power it up long enough to insert the
   Upgrade disk in your CD/DVD drive.
3. Power cycle your system and boot from your CD/DVD drive to load the
   Windows 7 installer. Follow the instructions to do a "Custom Install" and
   wipe your drive of data (you should have already backed-up your data).
4. When you get prompted to enter your CD/DVD key, click next. Every copy of
   Windows 7 has a 120 day trial period, so you'll have plenty of time to enter
   your key in later.
5. After Windows 7 is installed (as a trial), then click on the "Start icon"
   in the lower left of your screen. At the bottom of popup, there should be a
   search field that you can enter a command. Type "regedit" then enter. A
   warning window will popup and ask if you want the program to
   execute---again, Microsoft is protecting you from yourself! Just click YES
   and move on...
6. Now it gets a little cryptic. Navigate to the following location:
   HKLM/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Setup/OOBE/
   "HKLM" stands for HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
7. Change "MediaBootInstall" from "1" to "0", then click YES.
8. Now close the registry by X'ing out. No need to close gracefully here.
   Once you make a change and click YES, it's done---no turning back.
9. Open the Start Menu again and type "cmd" to display a shortcut to the
   Command Line utility. Right-click this shortcut and choose "Run as
   administrator." Again, click YES you want to allow the program to make
   changes---big brother is watching over you!
10. In the command line window, type: "slmgr /rearm" (without quotes; yes,
    there is a space between slmgr and /). Press ENTER and close the command
    prompt window.

DONE! That's it! Now you can, connect your Internet cable, type in the
CD/DVD key and activate Windows 7.

If you don't want to wait for the nag screens, you can goto the Windows
activation screen and enter the number that came with your Upgrade box:

Start | right click Computer | select Properties from the drop-down

Of course, the old way of using the Upgrade disk for a clean install work as
well. Just install twice, and upgrade Windows 7 with Windows 7, but why
subject yourself to this?

Microsoft's upgrade path this time around is pretty simple. If you have
Vista already installed, then you just need to do an in-place upgrade. Any
other earlier version will require a "clean" install (clean meaning you will
need to backup all your critical files and reinstall all your applications).

Of course, this is NOT what I recommend. As with every upgrade path from
Microsoft, I have ALWAYS recommended a clean install when installing a new
OS. The rationale is simple: pay me now or pay me later. You can spend time
troubleshooting your in-place upgrade problems, or just do a clean install
and start from scratch. Either way, you will need to invest the time and/or
money to get it right.

If you are wondering whether you should upgrade or not, I would say probably
not until you buy a new system equipped with Intel's new Core i7 processor.
Of course, if you are running Vista now, then it probably can't hurt either,
but don't follow Microsoft's upgrade path---pay it now.

However, XP users who have a working system that is running fine, leave it
alone. Don't fix it if it isn't broke. If you absolutely need more
performance, then make sure you do the 7&7 (Core i7 with Windows 7) combo.
You will see the biggest performance boost with this combination.

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*Okay, before I continue, I have to comment on this... I use the term
"hack", but you can substitute it with "trick" or "short-cut" if you like.
My question to Microsoft is WHY? Why do we (consumers) need to jump through
these hoops to install your software? And, if so, why did you have to make
it a registry change instead of a simple install option check box? Like the
old tootsie pop commercials on how many licks does it take to get to the
center of a tootsie pop, the world my never know... Although, it probably
relates to cashing in on the fact that many people don't understand, nor
want to spend the time investigating the convoluted licensing terms of this
product release.
------------------------

Windows 7 - Are You Ready?

Windows 7 - Ready or not, here it comes!

Best Windows version yet... hmmm, we'll have to see about that. From all reports and reviews that I've read, the statement surely seems true enough. However, keep in mind that this is really the only OS worth mentioning since XP was developed in 1999. Wow... That's a long technology stretch! It's about time Microsoft actually develop something worth while instead of trying to collect on it's "help stop piracy" campaign.

Aside from all the pros and cons regarding this version, I do believe there are more pros than cons, but really for only techies like me. For the average user, it's going to be a difficult transition.

With Windows 7 there is no smooth upgrade path. In other words, you won't be able to pop-in a disk and click a button and 40 minutes later have a functional system. No... it's a complete reinstall. You'll have to backup your critical data, format your disk, then install Windows 7 from scratch. Yes, all your applications will also need to be reinstalled. Of course, software vendors with their new "activation required" implementations are going to make it difficult for you in some cases.

I foresee a definite uptick in business for me, but I also predict a lot of unhappy users who are going to fight change. Which brings up a good question, should we change? Is Windows 7 really worth the upgrade at this point?

Here's my opinion: if you are going to upgrade your computer hardware or computer system, then YES---make the jump. However, if you plan on keeping your existing PC without dumping anymore money into it, then NO---keep what you have until you are ready for a more significant change.

www.mdorn.com

Conficker Worm

April Fools!!

Since the 1st is now behind us, you might be thinking if your system hasn't hiccupped that life is good and you are out of the woods---NOT TRUE.

April 1st is merely the date on which infected systems were scheduled to start checking various Web servers for further instructions. Security analysts don't expect the worm to do any significant damage immediately, so if you don't have Windows updated or you have turned off Windows Auto update, then you are still at risk.

According to a security firm called SRI International (a nonprofit R&D org), 54% of machines are infected with the worm world wide, mostly on systems with illegitimate copies. This is a huge number to be sure.

Unfortunately, this worm uses the unprotected PCs to infect other unprotected PCs. I don't have a stat on how many "legitimate" copies of Windows are NOT protected, but I'd say it's pretty high. Almost every system I evaluate is not up-to-date with all the necessary patches.

Why? Because Microsoft wants to be sure you have a registered copy, and to do this you have to install something called WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage). If you aren't paying attention, it is easy to avoid installing this. In fact, who needs another app running in the background anyway?

It gets worse... WGA is buggy... Sometimes it will detect that you do not have a legitimate copy even when you in fact do! Oh, the master minds at Microsoft. Personally, I think since MS can't seem to improve on an operating system they developed 7 or 8 years ago (geez, at Intel if we waited for even 4 years to come out with a new technology, AMD would be the only game in town). :-)

Moreover, I've installed WGA three times now... Apparently, there are updates to this program as well. In short, the auto update feature in Windows may not be enough to protect you. You should really do a manual update more than once to make sure you have all the necessary updates.

Microsoft has gotten a lot of heat for the way they handle updates, and I don't sympathize with them in the least. They need to stop trying to generate revenue from collecting on pirated versions, and just concentrate on developing a solid product that just works!

Bill, are you listening?