Windows 7 Pro

[johnmtb]

All,

I have used Windows since Windows 3, but only because most of the software that I need for business, or simply enjoy using, requires a Microsoft Operating System. I also add the Linux Operating System but I only really use that for its similarity to the Unix Operating System; educational and historical reasons.

I have used Windows XP, with Service Pack 3, for the past 7 years and am reasonably satisfied with that OS. However, on my new desk top, which I built myself, I have installed Windows 7 Pro and Linux.

My problem is that I do not like the way the, ‘My Computer’, is presented, and I thoroughly dislike that fact that I cannot enter all of the directories or files indicated. This is MY computer, not Bill Gates’ and I MUST have complete dominion over it. What is going on inside these forbidden files? Are they being sent to some security branch of the government without my consent?

At present I am considering removing Windows 7 and replacing it with Windows XP.

Any views or suggestions?

Regards,

john

[jmcilhinney]

Honestly, without malice, my suggestion would be to get over it. If that's not an option then Linux would the most appropriate choice for a self-confessed control freak.

By the way, this forum is for Windows 8-specific development so you've posted in the wrong place. I've asked the mods to move this thread somewhere more appropriate, like General PC.

[si_the_geek]

Thread moved to the 'General PC' forum.


The lack of permission is not about you as such, it is about the software you run. If any of it does anything malicious (either intentionally or accidentally), it can cause lots of problems for you, and the simplest (and most effective) way to stop that from happening is to disallow things that aren't actually needed.

At first I was annoyed by it, but soon realised that there is no need for me to use the files etc that were locked - because they don't get damaged the way they did on previous versions of Windows. On the rare occasions I've felt the need to change things, is has been done easily enough via the user interfaces provided.

[Nightwalker83]

Well, you should be able to view the hidden files on the computer just by checking the "Show Hidden Files" open and saving the setting. I guess the files are hidden for a reason such as a person who is not a tech savvy as us lot could potentially stuff their computer. Also, Microsoft don't ask how much of an expert you are with computer before selling a particular version of their software.

[dilettante]

Even Windows XP was not supposed to be used the way you seem to. My guess is you always log on as an admin user in an effort to simulate the Windows 95 experience.

To a great extent what you do is your own business. But once you connect to the Internet it becomes everone else's business. I hate to think how many people are blithely running spambots without knowing it.

Even so, the decision is yours of course. One thing to consider though is that XP drivers for new hardware are already becoming scarce and the trend will only continue.

[johnmtb]

All,

Yes, I am the administrator, and I always unlock the hidden files and show system files. The files that I am talking about are the files that were once called ‘Documents and Settings’, which now appear to have 2 sets instead of one, and one of them I cannot enter. I am talking from memory, as I am connected to my laptop at present which is the Windows XP system.

No one has any discretionary rights to my computer except me; or there is something fundamentally wrong with my interpretation of personal.

I am still ambivalent, but I may simply proceed and remove Windows 7, but thank you all for the input.

Regards,

john

[Lord Orwell]

documents and settings doesn't actually exist any more. the one you can't enter is a place holder shortcut that the OS uses to redirect to the users folder. You aren't locked out of any folder in win 7 unless someone else has an account and encrypts that folder. Administrator has full access to the OS. And as for hidden files, it behaves exactly the same as it does in xp. If it's marked hidden OR system, it's hidden. The only real issue i ever had with it is the command prompt can't be made full screen. I used a 3rd party replacement.
and xp would hide the entire windows and program files directory.
Finally i am not sure what issue you have with my computer unless you miss the up arrow. classic folders mode is available, and while this is backwards from how most people behave, it's possible to make win7 look and behave exactly like xp, although a couple of features can't be turned off such as icon stacking.

i don't know what kind of system you have win7 on, but xp has more fundamental flaws with it making it function less than perfectly on modern computers. The biggest issue is the way the 32-bit version maps memory. Sure, you can have 4gb of memory, but you can only use 2gb of it. the OS takes the rest. Remember that xp was designed originally to run on computers with 4 to 8 megabytes of memory. While patches have upped that requirement, it still has issues. Another example is the partition size limit of your boot drive. You need a slipstreamed install disk with service pack 3 on it if your boot drive is too large.