Anyone still running Windows 7?

@Lawrence Doyle7/">@@Lawrence Doyle7

Those apps you're talking about are just the software that comes bundled with your laptop (like Camera or the launch manager...). You'll probably need to reinstall them once you're done setting up Windows. They're mostly there to handle things like volume controls, screen brightness, or getting the webcam to work.
Good luck with the install.
Honestly though, I'd never recommend picking up an eMachines laptop if you can help it. They're pretty bottom-of-the-line. You really should have looked for something like a Lenovo ThinkPad, an HP Pavilion, or maybe a Toshiba... plus, if you'd spent a little extra, you probably would've had Windows already pre-installed instead of having to pay full price for it now. 😢

Keith Bennett38 said:@Lawrence Doyle7/">@@Lawrence Doyle7

Those specific applications you mentioned—like the Camera utility or the launch manager—are actually just the proprietary software bundles that come bundled with your laptop. You’ll need to go ahead and install those manually once you have finished setting up Windows. They are essential little tools that allow you to actually use things like your volume rockers, screen brightness controls, or your webcam.
Best of luck with the installation process!
On a side note, I truly wouldn't recommend picking up an eMachines laptop if you had the choice; they really are quite low-end. If I were in your shoes, I would have aimed for something more robust like a Lenovo ThinkPad, an HP Pavilion, or perhaps a Toshiba... and honestly, with just a bit of extra cash, you could have walked away with a machine that had Windows already pre-installed, rather than facing this expensive out-of-pocket cost now. 😢

Keith

I certainly accept that it's a lower-tier machine, but I’m struggling to wrap my head around one thing: if the core hardware components are coming from top-tier manufacturers like AMD for the motherboard and processor, or ATI for the graphics, and everything else is high-quality, where exactly is the catch? What is it that creates that gap in quality? If you could break it down for me in just a few sentences, I’d really appreciate it, as I'm still trying to learn the ropes here.

I suppose I may have gotten a little too carried away during the purchase, and I realize that now, though it's a bit late for regrets.

As for the pre-installed operating system—now that I’ve grasped the fundamental difference between Retail and OEM versions, I actually think it might be better that it wasn't pre-installed. You see, an OEM version is tied strictly to one specific configuration, whereas a Retail license offers much more flexibility; it can be moved from one computer to another—be it your first, third, or seventh setup—as long as you're only registering one at a time. I plan on sticking with Windows 7 for the next decade, and in that span, I’ll likely cycle through at least two or three different computers or laptops.

I hope you'll stop by the forum again in the coming days; I should have a clearer picture of my OS situation by tomorrow, so I'll post an update then.

Cilim

Man, you have over 8,800 posts while I'm sitting here at 14! Am I going to have to fight you for airtime? You're lucky, though—I think a marathon of Trojan is starting on PBS.

Build quality, thermal management, higher-resolution displays—all those premium specs favor the more expensive models, and obviously, you're getting better internal components too. But let's be real, plenty of high-end brands put out absolute junk back in the day when they were just starting out, like those old machines running a Celeron 900MHz with 128MB of RAM, a 20GB hard drive, and a measly 32MB graphics card. So, if you're just looking for something to get started with for learning purposes, this is an excellent 👍

Taylor Morales31 said:The build quality, the cooling efficiency, the premium screen panels, and a whole host of other high-end features are typically reserved for those more expensive models—which naturally come packed with superior components. However, one must remember that many manufacturers stumbled in their early days, offering machines similar to a Celeron 900MHz with a measly 128MB of RAM, a 20GB hard drive, and a grand total of 32MB for graphics. So, if you're just starting out for educational purposes, it's actually quite an excellent 👍

Yes, I think I see where you're coming from now, though I must reiterate that the high-end specs you're describing belong in the $1667 category and beyond. My experience was quite different, as I picked up an eMachines for $1067, and even then, I had to stretch my budget twice over! Honestly, it’s a matter of what you can afford; if you have the means, great, but if not, you simply do what you can. Everything is relative in this life. This is my very first laptop, and I spent a few days surfing the web on a fake Windows 7 setup before it eventually crashed, and I must say, it was a delightful experience—the laptop worked beautifully, and it almost felt like being tucked away in an airplane cabin! For me, a laptop is primarily a tool for browsing the web, playing PokerStars, and similar light tasks; I don't have any intention of running heavy games or demanding software. If this machine can pull through for three or four years, providing about four to five hours of use per day without major breakdowns—or perhaps just some minor hiccups—I will be thoroughly satisfied, and if it lasts five years, I'll be absolutely thrilled! Currently, I am working on a desktop featuring an ASRock motherboard, a Celeron 2.6 processor, 512MB of RAM, and an original OEM XP installation that seems nearly indestructible. It's a third-rate machine by modern standards, yet it has performed reliably for five years with minimal issues, which is impressive considering how much that LCD screen cost back when it was $2000... But, I suppose my time will come eventually, and one day I will surely own something of much higher quality....

Taylor Morales31 already broke down why one laptop beats another 🙂
I guess I can explain the difference between an OEM license and a Retail one. An OEM version is tied specifically to the computer you bought it for and usually costs around $133. Technically, you should be able to move a Retail license from one machine to another, though it’s a bit more complicated in practice. Every time you try to move the installation to a different PC, you have to reactivate it. Usually, it'll tell you the serial number is already in use. Then you end up having to call Microsoft to get them to authorize it again, and you just have to hope they take your word for it that you wiped it from the old machine. 🙂
In ten years, Microsoft will probably release three new versions of Windows and stop supporting Windows 7 altogether, so there's not much chance you'll still be running Windows 7 a decade from now. (Just my two cents!) 🙂

PS. Once you pick up a ThinkPad and compare it to other laptops, you pretty quickly notice how it stacks up against the competition. My R51 is still running like it did on day one after five and a half years, even if time has caught up with it. It's a snail compared to modern machines, but it still works perfectly. It came with Windows XP Pro pre-installed. I messed around with trying to install Windows 7 on it, but the lack of graphics drivers was a dealbreaker. Like I said, time just caught up with it. 😢

Lawrence Doyle7 said:Joshua Garcia3, what's with the attitude? You got nothing better to do than obsess over a Windows installation? Look, I'm only on day two of this whole thing, and I'm basically one step away from having zero more questions left—so you can finally escape my "terror." Besides, maybe someone else actually needs this info. Weren't you in the exact same boat, clueless about how to install stuff, not that long ago?

I can't even start the install for another week until my Windows 7 shows up. What am I supposed to do then? Just wing it while you're off being MIA from the forum? Isn't it smarter to ask now so I'm not stuck waiting around to see if you decide to log on or not?

Look man, Joshua Garcia3 is always around here (I know that for a fact, 😁) 👍

And as for him being "nervous"... yeah, you're way off on that one. 🙂
All you'll hear about him is praise—he's a top-tier moderator, seriously. 😁

Regarding that Windows 7 install... once I figured out how to do it right (which was like, twenty times before it clicked), anyone can do it.
I didn't know much either. Just poked around, searched a bit, and thanks to this forum, everything went smooth as silk.
You don't learn anything until you actually get your hands dirty. 👍

Anyway, hope it all goes according to plan. It's pretty hard to screw this up.

Keith Bennett38 said:Tigar already laid out why one laptop might outperform another, 🙂
but allow me to elaborate on the distinction between OEM and Retail versions. An OEM license is essentially tethered to the specific machine you purchased, typically costing you about $133. A Retail license, theoretically speaking, offers more flexibility as you can migrate it from one computer to another—though, in practical application, that process is a bit more convoluted than it sounds. Every single time you attempt to move an installation to a new device, you’ll be prompted to reactivate it. Often, you'll run into a hurdle where the system claims that particular serial number has already been used. At that point, you find yourself having to call Microsoft to request a manual reactivation, essentially asking them to take your word for it that you truly did wipe it from the old hardware. 🙂
In the grand scheme of things, over the next decade, Microsoft will likely roll out three entirely new iterations of Windows and eventually sunset support for Windows 7 altogether, so there is a slim chance you'll even still be running Windows 7 ten years from now. (That is merely my personal perspective!) 🙂

PS. Once you actually hold a ThinkPad in your hands and compare it to the rest of the field, you will very quickly perceive its myriad advantages over the competition. My old R51, despite being over five and a half years old, still performs with the same reliability it had on day one, though I must admit time has somewhat overtaken it. Compared to today's cutting-edge machines, it moves at a snail's pace, yet it remains flawlessly functional. It came with Windows XP Pro pre-installed. I experimented a little by attempting to install Windows 7, but the lack of compatible graphics drivers proved to be a significant stumbling block. As I mentioned, time has simply moved past it. 😢

Hmm, claiming an OEM license tied to a computer costs $133 just doesn't strike me as particularly convincing. I am well aware that discounts are offered when the OS is bundled with the hardware, but certainly not to that extent, given that OEM pricing sits around $367. From what I have gathered through various online forums, registering a Retail version isn't much of a headache; you can grab the registration keys quite easily, whereas with OEM, they seem to handle the deactivation themselves. Regardless, the Retail option appeals to me because I highly doubt my current laptop will last forever, and I have no intention of sinking money into repairing old faults—repairs are pricey, and I would much rather just invest in a newer, superior model. New versions will undoubtedly arrive, true, but that shouldn't deter me. Currently, I am running OEM Windows XP, but my plan is to purchase a Retail Windows 7 license so that I have the flexibility to upgrade to Windows 7 or perhaps an even newer version down the road. Ultimately, I don't believe paying for an original license—even an OEM one—is a waste of money; it provides security, access to customer support, and I've become quite accustomed to navigating all those Service Packs and endless patches. I would honestly miss that level of stability...

I am starting to realize now that there are massive disparities between different laptop models. I see where I may have miscalculated, but... let's say I decided to splurge on the price; we shall see what happens and how long it lasts. I was just thinking about listing it on eBay, but I wouldn't consider letting it go for anything less than $1000, maybe $2,800, but certainly nothing lower than that... Hbg, I really don't know... If I perform the installation myself, I might break even or lose a little, somewhere in the range of $200-$100... It's a toss-up. Furthermore, I've noticed that eMachines maintains excellent customer support globally, including here in the States, offering great driver availability and a solid website. This suggests to me that they are a serious company that focuses on providing affordable products for people on a tighter budget, which is necessary for someone, after all...

Regarding your ThinkPad, it looks like time has definitely caught up with it, hbg... Are you considering something new? Perhaps the two of us could strike a deal? I could get you an eMachines unit at a discount... Just think about it, there is no rush, and if you happen to be in a city like Chicago or nearby, you could drop by to take a look, and I'll figure something out...

Douglas Garcia52 said:Listen, my friend, Joshua Garcia3 is practically a permanent fixture on this forum—I say that with absolute certainty based on my own experience here! 😁 👍

As for the idea that he’s being high-strung, I think you’re quite mistaken on that front, 🙂
because when it comes to Joshua Garcia3, all you’ll hear is nothing but pure praise; he isn't just some random moderator, he's truly top-tier. 😁

And regarding the installation of Windows 7—once I finally managed to get it running perfectly (and believe me, I went through the struggle of doing it about 20 times!), anyone can succeed at it.
I wasn't an expert either; I had to hunt for information just like you are doing now, but thanks to the collective wisdom of this forum, everything turned out absolutely fantastic.
You simply won't learn anything until you roll up your sleeves and try it yourself! 👍

I am sincerely rooting for you to pull this off successfully; honestly, if you follow the steps, it's nearly impossible to mess it up.

Man, it is genuinely difficult to tell when someone is just joking around versus when they are actually being serious. I took his comments as a joke, but it seems like Joshua Garcia3 interpreted them differently... Well, I wish him nothing but the very best, though I certainly accept any critiques directed toward the moderators.

Thanks for the support! I am definitely going to give the installation a shot. I have gathered more than enough information to feel confident; if I had a working OS right this second, I would start immediately, especially with the incredible level of help available on this American forum. Once I have Windows 7 in hand tomorrow, I won't be wasting any time. After just two days of browsing online, I’ve become completely hooked on Windows 7—honestly, Windows XP belongs in a museum by now!

Lawrence Doyle7 said:Look, it’s hard to tell if someone’s actually joking or being dead serious half the time. I figured it was just a joke, and I think Joshua Garcia3 took it that way too... anyway, good luck to him. And yeah, I get it, I take the mods' criticism without complaining...

Thanks for the backup. I'm definitely gonna give this install a shot. I've got plenty of info now, and honestly, if I had an OS ready to go right this second, I'd be diving in immediately—especially with all the help from the folks on this US forum... I'll know more tomorrow once I get my hands on Windows 7... and there won't be any waiting around once I have it. After just two days of browsing, I'm already hooked on Windows 7. Windows XP belongs in a museum at this point...

I've been running Windows 7 on my desktop for like 9 or 10 months now, and honestly, I can't even imagine using anything else on my main rig

On my laptop, though, I'm stuck with Windows XP SP3. It's an older machine, so trying to force Windows 7 onto it would just be a nightmare

But as far as Windows 7 goes? It's awesome

Lawrence Doyle7 said:Joshua Garcia3

Look, you have 8,806 posts and I've only written 14. You think you can "drain my blood"? You're lucky a documentary about a Trojan virus is starting on PBS right now.

You got it wrong. You aren't trying to drain my blood; you're aiming at the people over in the politics subforum. 😉

Douglas Garcia52 said:I’ve been running Windows 7 on my home desktop for about nine or ten months now, and honestly, I can’t even fathom using any other operating system on my primary machine.

On my laptop, though, I’m still sticking with Windows XP SP3—mostly because the hardware is a bit older, and trying to force Windows 7 onto it would be like asking a vintage Mustang to race a modern Tesla; it just wouldn't be fair to the poor machine.

As far as Windows 7 goes? It’s absolutely fantastic.

It’s just like I always say: I once had a technician install a bootleg version of Windows 7 that crashed within forty-eight hours, but even that brief taste was enough to hook me! Now that I’m back on XP, it feels like I'm living through a total technological drought... Windows 7 is truly king.

Joshua Garcia3 said:You’ve got it all wrong; you aren't looking to draw blood from me, but rather from those folks over in the politics subforum! 😉

Joshua Garcia3

Forget about politics for a moment—I’ve actually got my hands full with a rescue mission right now. Someone left a little Bull Terrier girl right outside the local animal shelter, and poor thing is struggling to walk properly. We’re currently working on getting her a proper diagnosis, and once we have that sorted, the real goal is finding her the perfect forever home. If you happen to have a soft spot for a resilient little fighter like her, this might be the opportunity you've been waiting for. Let me know if you're interested, and we can talk details. $0.00.

Lawrence Doyle7 said:I'm telling you, some guy installed a fake version of Windows 7 on my rig and the whole thing crapped out in two days. But man, it was enough to get me hooked. Now that I'm back on XP like I am now, it feels like a total crisis... sticking to the classics is the only way...

Hope I don't get banned for being brutally honest here, but whatever.

I'm always running copies (mostly because I'm broke and can't swing the price for official installs—if I had the cash, obviously I'd buy them). My system hasn't crashed once, at least not until I personally break it myself.😁

Douglas Garcia52 said:I really hope I don't get banned for being this honest about my situation

I’m constantly running on a pirated version—mostly because I just don't have the extra cash for official licenses right now, though believe me, if I had the funds, I’d buy them in a heartbeat—but honestly, the system hasn't crashed on me once. It stays rock solid, at least until I decide to break it myself. 😁

Whether it's an official copy or not, it’s all part of the digital landscape, though you certainly take a risk by relying on unofficial sources. You might find yourself losing your mind having to manually hunt down every single patch, service pack, and update just to keep things running smoothly; personally, I can't stand doing that, it's such a chore. Ultimately, it's all about how much effort you're willing to put in. If your system hasn't collapsed under its own weight yet, then you're actually doing quite well! In my experience, everything tends to fall apart after just two days, especially since the technician who set up my Windows 7 was clearly just trying to get me out of his hair as quickly as possible. Still, I suppose every cloud has a silver lining.

Lawrence Doyle7 said:Whether you're running a copy or the real deal, it’s all legal in my book—it's just that you've basically become dependent on everyone else. You’d lose your mind if you had to deal with constant patches, service packs, and all that junk, right? But I can't live without them. It is what it is... depends on how you want to play the game. As long as your system hasn't completely crapped out, you're doing alright. Personally, mine dies every two days. Some guy finally installed Windows 7 on my machine just so he could get me off his back... I guess every cloud has a silver lining, huh?

clearly those installs were garbage

---------------
enough about piracy from me (not exactly the best topic to bring up when you're staring down a ban)😁

@Lawrence Doyle7/">@@Lawrence Doyle7
I guess I wasn't being super clear about that OEM software stuff. I was talking about the pre-installed versions that come ready to go on a machine—you know, the kind big manufacturers like HP, Lenovo, Acer, or Toshiba get at a discount.
eMachines is actually an Acer brand, just their budget line meant to compete with those cheap off-brand PCs.
Customer support is probably best over at Lenovo (since they took over IBM), mostly because they bundle a ton of useful tools, like that System Update utility that handles all your drivers and software updates automatically. That said, ThinkPad prices are way higher than other brands with similar specs.
Anyway, thanks for the offer to sell me a rig, but I actually ended up grabbing an HP Probook 4510 (Intel Dual Core, 4GB RAM, 500 GB HDD...) recently. It’s decent enough, though the build quality doesn't quite hit the level of a ThinkPad. (It was about $667 cheaper than a comparable ThinkPad.

Lawrence Doyle7 said:Whether you make a copy or not, it’s all legal; you just ended up relying too much on those other guys. I guess you'd go crazy if you had to constantly install patches, service packs, and whatnot, but they can't function without them—it's a necessity. It really just comes down to how you handle things... As long as your system hasn't crashed, you're doing alright... For me, after just two days, especially since the technician only installed Windows 7 just to get me off his hands... I suppose every cloud has a silver lining...

That's strange. I wonder what you did to get on his bad side. 😕

The system shouldn't have crashed if everything was compatible with the hardware. There's no reason for it; it's pretty obvious those Winnie versions were just subpar.

Joshua Garcia3 said:That’s bizarre—I wonder what you did to offend him. 😕

The system shouldn't have crashed if all the hardware was functioning correctly; there simply isn't a logical reason for it, unless we're looking at some incredibly subpar Winnie software.

Well, they had Winnie installed in about 15 to 20 minutes... I honestly can't wrap my head around it. It’s likely their fault, really. Everything worked fine for a few days, and it technically still works now, but I'm stuck staring at a prompt asking me to insert a Windows 7 DVD. The problem is, I don't have one on hand! If I want the retail version, I’d have to pay for it and then wait three whole weeks for delivery. To make matters even more frustrating, it claims the retail version only includes the 32-bit DVD, whereas I was under the impression that both 32-bit and 64-bit versions were provided...

Actually, I was also using RegSeeker to clean up my registry, and right after that, the whole thing went down. It’s entirely possible that I might have caused the instability myself, though I can't say for certain... all I know for sure is that I desperately need Windows 7 and I need to find some kind of workaround.

Lawrence Doyle7 said:Well, Winnie had it installed in about 15 to 20 minutes...I guess it’s on them. It worked for a few days, and it technically still works now, but I keep getting this prompt to insert a Windows 7 DVD... which I don't have. Apparently, I’d have to pay for the retail version first and then wait three weeks for it to arrive. Plus, they told me the retail version only comes on a 32-bit DVD, but I read somewhere that there should be both 32-bit and 64-bit versions available...

Yeah, I used RegSeeker to clean out my registry too, and then everything crashed. Maybe I caused it myself, maybe not... I don't really know. All I know is that I need Windows 7 and I have to figure something out.

That makes more sense now. If the hardware is decent, the installation is fast, so it's probably not the user's fault.🙂

What on earth is this "registry seeker" nonsense? You don't just go around scrubbing your computer with every random piece of junk software you stumble upon. You're supposed to use tools that have actually been vetted and proven to work. 👍

edit: I need to see the actual warning he's getting in the program; it’s pretty obvious he went ahead and wiped out stuff he definitely shouldn't have...