Windows 7 features

[robertbeddow]

I'm considering upgrading from Vista to windows 7, but before I do, I'd like to know if any of my pet hates have been resolved. So, if anyone has any knowledge on the availability or performance of any of the following features your observations would be greatly appreciated.

1. When an error message window pops up, can you highlight it so that you can copy it and paste it in to a web search? Or even better, is there a button that says something like - 'search for this error message on the internet'.

2. Sometimes when I try to disconnect a USB storage device I get a message like 'cannot disconnect generic device because another program is accessing it' even though I'm certain there isn't. Sometimes the only way to fix it is to reboot the machine. Does Windows 7 give a more useful message, i.e. telling me exactly which program is using it? An override button would be useful too.

3. Have they improved task manager with better information about which programs are using what resources, and what processes are associated with which programmes, instead of something like csrss.exe or hkcmd.exe which convey about as much information as a transparent piece of paper.

4. A better internet connection manager so I can easily see which programs and websites are using my bandwidth, and how much bandwidth they are using.

5. Is the file management any better, getting closer to what you can do in unix? e.g. searching within files, better sorting by 'date modified', size, etc. For example find the newest file on my entire computer.

6. Better information and handling of file association in terms of, if I install a program, what are all the files associated with it, and for any given file, which program uses it. For example often when I uninstall a program it leaves behind files and folders that I don't know about.

7. Better wireless setup and maintenance. E.g. sometimes my wireless connection failed, I don't know why, I can't restart it, and the only way to fix it is to reboot the machine.

8. Better control about where stuff is installed, overriding what the software devolper (notably google) has done, so that I can decide in which directory the program is installed, and where in my program menu and taskbar I want links to the program to go.

9. A 'Just F*!&ing Stop' button, for when the computer goes off and does stuff, slowing everything down and you just want it to abort. For example when I accidentally click a link to a large pdf file.

Well, there's a whole load of other things that bother me, but those are probably the most important.

Thanks in advance.
Rob

[DavidGP]

Hi

1. Error reporting is better, but its not what you have described for your "wish list" the Action Center and Troubleshooters are good for many common issues, plus the more a error is reported the more likely that it will be investigated, be it internally at Microsoft or externally by the 3rd party who developed the app or driver.

The Event log does have an option for seeing if Microsoft have a listing for that particular error, but I will say this now, its not perfect and will not have every permutation of error that can happen, too many applications can cause a cascade effect error that only slow troubleshooting and searching manually will help.

2. The suprise removal of USB devices is much better in Windows 7, and the Safely Remove Hardware USB app is much better, less hoops to run though.

3. Yes I feel while Task Manager looks outwardly as if its not changed it has, click the Resource Monitor option and you get alot of information, some info and video on its usage Resource Monitor which has a feature where you can right click a process and choose Search Online, but by default list listing in Resource Monitor is that it gives the file name and then a description of what it is, may not be prefect but gives a clue, plus the search online option is handy here, agian it may not go far enough for you so Process Exploerer or Process Mon maybe what you are needing to use.

4. No, Connection Center is better but not in that level of detail, again a 2rd party application is likely better in this instance, Netlimiter is good for this.

5. Some of what you ask for is in Search and I have used the search to narrow docs down by words included in the actual document and not the title.

6. Sadly no, this again is more in the realms of the 3rd party application creators that have sloppy uninstallers, see my comment and 2nd paragraph in #8

7. Not had that issue on my 3 laptops and if the connection is disconnected ist quick to resume, no rebooting, so the Wifi connectivity which was updated from Vista to Windows 7 is likely better, setup is easy for Wifi.

8. No thats still down the the individual applications, if they have a custom option then great you can install where you like, eg. Microsoft Office, but as you mentioned Google, they like other applications dont give options for custom in many apps so you have to install to their default location.

I do think that we need control over whats being installed and more so that every file from an application is installed it its application folder, so no more installing part files in Program Files and then some system files in Win32 etc, all files go in the applications folder, easier to trace malware this way, as nothing apart from the OS files should be going into the Windows Folders, this is likely a few Windows versions down the line.

9. Nope


Some of the things you want could be added and many may have been talked about during the beta phases, but you have to apprieciate, Microsoft cannot add everything we want as they are in the target sights of the anticompetitive lawyers, European Commission, other companies etc, long gone are the days when a company could just create what it wants (ref is Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player).

But Windows 7 is a great leap from XP and more so Vista and well worth migrating too.

[robertbeddow]

Thanks Halo for such an inclusive answer.

The point you make about the anti-competitive ruling is very interesting, I'd never thought about that, so I'll have a play with the 3rd party stuff.

Also, your comment in 8 matches my thoughts exactly.

Sounds like windows 7 is worth a shot though!

Thanks again for all your comments.

[augiedoggie]

I'm quite surprised that Vistas' UAC wasn't mentioned at all! I guess the OP just turned it off then.

[DavidGP]

Hi Rob


My pleasure, and should have left this link as there is alot of information on the site and well worth a read HERE

Yes on #8 I know that our resident malware expert is a great believer that this should happen (as well as no hidden files) in that all 3rd party apps are forced into their own folders for all files, a sandbox if you wish.

Another think to try and bare in mind, is to join Microsoft Connect and next time a Windows version is up for testing, Windows 8 wont be far off some sort of test backend or early next year, so joining the beta phases you get to air your views and suggestions (may nto be taken up, but the Windows teams are better these days at listening to beta testers and users), MS Connect

Tried #5 out again and while you can search within say Office docs, you cannot find text within say a PDF sadly, curious to see if it would work.

[plodr]

Another very important consideration before you upgrade: if you have favorite software or a printer, scanner, etc be sure to check if it will work with windows 7 first!
You will be annoyed if you have to buy a new printer or scanner simply because the manufacturer did not release windows 7 drivers.