Input on Using Windows 7 vs. Windows XP 64--bit

[chillme1]

I need input, personal observations, benchmarks, etc. on the subject

I would additionally appreciate any links to web-based resources and correspondence/comments from technical staff including any information provided by either Microsoft or Autodesk comparing or documenting issues with either operating system.

This information will be used solely to determine if we need to migrate the operating system on our new CAD computer (Dell Precision T7500 w/ 12Gb RAM, 1 Tb Hard Drive) from Windows XP 64-bit to Windows 7.

Your comments are very much appreciated.

- Clint Hill

Edited by: chillme1 on Jan 6, 2010 5:32 AM Edited by: chillme1 on Jan 6, 2010 5:33 AM

[Anonymous]

Simply put, XP64 never got completely off the ground and has no
advantages over 7-64 other than some speed advantages in some
applications (and some disadvantages in others.) Support for 7-64 is
pretty much across the board since any software or hardware that gets to
use the windows 7 logo must be compatible with 7-64.

Typical example would be system utilities such as antivirus and
anti-spyware, registry cleaners (I know that many don't behave with
Autocad anyways) etc. If it says it works with Windows 7, it works with
7-64, but if it says it works with XP you never know if it works with XP64.

The biggest problem is legacy hardware. We have a very old plotter (11
years old) but it still works, and HP never came out with a vista or 7
driver. We found a workaround since the newer 1050c is similar enough to
work except for raster images. Since a plotter is significantly more
expensive than a computer, that would have been a killer to any
upgrades, but we managed to make the transition since we never do raster
images. Of course if you have drivers for all your devices, all of this
is a non-issue.

chillme1 wrote:
> I need input, personal observations, benchmarks, etc. on the subject
>
> I would additionally appreciate any links to web-based resources and
> correspondence/comments from technical staff including any information
> provided by either Microsoft or Autodesk comparing or documenting issues
> with either operating system.
>
> This information will be used solely to determine if we need to migrate
> the operating system on our new CAD computer (Dell Precision T7500 w/
> 12Gb RAM, 1 Tb Hard Drive) from Windows XP 64-bit to Windows 7.
>
> Your comments are very much appreciated.
>
> - Clint Hill
>
> Edited by: chillme1 on Jan 6, 2010 5:32 AM Edited by: chillme1 on Jan 6,
> 2010 5:33 AM

[Anonymous]

I just upgraded to a new Win7 based system, 8 Gb RAM, 1 Tb drive, Nvidia GForce 260 graphics card. I was running XP Pro 32 on my old computer. We use Land Desktop 2005 for surveying work - the newer versions of AutCAD aren't very surveyor friendly so we haven't upgraded.

The machine and Win7 are fast - very fast! I really like the Win7 interface, how it handles open windows, files, etc. It took several tries but we got Land Desktop 2005 to install and run properly. I remote access my computer from home and it opens Win7 very quickly. Everything seems cleaner and much faster than XP.

Downside - you may have problems with some old 32 bit programs and devices. I can't plot on my HP Designjet 750C plotter because there is no Win7 driver for it. Now I have to plot from a different computer after saving the file there.

We use an old DOS mode (C:prompt window) coordinate geometry program called Maptech for survey calcs - and it will not run in Win7 either. Microsoft offers downloads that let you create a Virtual PC and desktop running in XP Mode so you can load older programs there. I tried it and it works great, creates a regular XP desktop and "system", doesn't slow down Win7, and it's easy to transfer files, etc between the virtual and Win 7 systems - but networking, remote access etc can be a problem in Virtual PC mode. Still playing with it - but it does let you run XP or older programs that aren't compatible with Win7.

Oh - the other big problem with Virtual PC is that it creates it's own virtual graphics driver that is single monitor only - you can't control two monitors from VPC. But you can have Win7 open on one monitor and VPC on the other. I use two monitors with Ultamon software to control them. Ultramon is not compatible with VPC. The virtual graphics driver is the only one. And like XP, VPC can only use 4 Gb of RAM.

Other than these issues, I love Win7.

[Anonymous]

The post ins about XP 64bit, not plain XP32bit... . You would still have the
same issue with XP64bit.

--
Dean Saadallah
http://LTisACAD.blogspot.com
--

[Anonymous]

We've been looking into 64-bit and Win7 for a while, so good to hear praise.

Like you we've also got an old HP Designjet printer (650C in our case) and
are worried about drivers. Can you install/use the old XP-32 drivers in
Win7's XP-mode?

If not, I've read a few topis (eg:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/itprovistaprinting/thread/d9aedfc7-99f5-4d18-a20e-0485cd33237e )
that say you can use XP-64 drivers from the XP-64 install disc to get these
printers working - have you tried this? success? any limitations? to
quote:

"I too have an HP 750C+ and am currently running Windows 7 x64 RTM (Release
To Manufacture). I found the following instructions on the Internet and it
worked like a charm (actually better than HP driver for 32bit OS). You must
locate a Windows XP Pro x64 installation CD to perform the installation.
Instructions are as follows:


To install the HP DesignJet 750C XP 64 printer drivers from a Windows XP Pro
64 Installation CD using the Add a Printer dialogue:

1. make the appropriate local/network printer selection,
2. make the appropriate printer port selection,
3. Use the Have Disk Button
4. Browse to the CD drive/AMD64 folder and select the DRVINDEX.INF file.


All the XP 64 printers, including HP printers, should be accessible. The
files for my HP 750C+, besides the DRVINDEX.INF file according to the Vista
Windows Printer Test Page are: PLOTTER.DLL HP75036.PCD PLOTUI.DLL
PLOTUI.HLP. All of these are located in the AMD64/DRIVER.CAB file.

I have not tried this installation on Vista x64 but if it works on Windows 7
x64 then it should work on Vista x64."

Hope that helps at all and look forward to hearing how well it does work,

Sam



wrote in message news:6313619@discussion.autodesk.com...
I just upgraded to a new Win7 based system, 8 Gb RAM, 1 Tb drive, Nvidia
GForce 260 graphics card. I was running XP Pro 32 on my old computer. We use
Land Desktop 2005 for surveying work - the newer versions of AutCAD aren't
very surveyor friendly so we haven't upgraded.

The machine and Win7 are fast - very fast! I really like the Win7 interface,
how it handles open windows, files, etc. It took several tries but we got
Land Desktop 2005 to install and run properly. I remote access my computer
from home and it opens Win7 very quickly. Everything seems cleaner and much
faster than XP.

Downside - you may have problems with some old 32 bit programs and devices.
I can't plot on my HP Designjet 750C plotter because there is no Win7 driver
for it. Now I have to plot from a different computer after saving the file
there.

We use an old DOS mode (C:prompt window) coordinate geometry program called
Maptech for survey calcs - and it will not run in Win7 either. Microsoft
offers downloads that let you create a Virtual PC and desktop running in XP
Mode so you can load older programs there. I tried it and it works great,
creates a regular XP desktop and "system", doesn't slow down Win7, and it's
easy to transfer files, etc between the virtual and Win 7 systems - but
networking, remote access etc can be a problem in Virtual PC mode. Still
playing with it - but it does let you run XP or older programs that aren't
compatible with Win7.

Oh - the other big problem with Virtual PC is that it creates it's own
virtual graphics driver that is single monitor only - you can't control two
monitors from VPC. But you can have Win7 open on one monitor and VPC on the
other. I use two monitors with Ultamon software to control them. Ultramon is
not compatible with VPC. The virtual graphics driver is the only one. And
like XP, VPC can only use 4 Gb of RAM.

Other than these issues, I love Win7.

[Anonymous]

The HP650c plotter comes as a built-in driver in AutoCAD for many versions
now and it works fine.

--
Dean Saadallah
http://LTisACAD.blogspot.com
--

[Anonymous]

Not everyone here uses AutoCAD, what about Inventor? (and other programs
like PDF printing or CorelDraw)? Presumably AutoCAD's build in drivers
don't help there...


"Dean Saadallah" wrote in message
news:6313991@discussion.autodesk.com...
The HP650c plotter comes as a built-in driver in AutoCAD for many versions
now and it works fine.

--
Dean Saadallah
http://LTisACAD.blogspot.com
--

[Anonymous]

64bit is a blessing for many hardware and software vendors: their old
versions and products finally get to die and you have to buy something newer
for the next 15-years usage.

And it's your fault for buying the newer Windows version and not theirs LOL

Seriously, inquire with peers in forums for the other software you note and
find out: I seriously doubt you are so unique in your needs in the few years
64bit has been out.

--
Dean Saadallah
http://LTisACAD.blogspot.com
--

[Anonymous]

Inquire with peers in correct forum - lol m8, this is the Autodesk hardware
forum. Inventor is Autodesk's, so is this not the right place??? Remember
Autodesk do more than just AutoCAD (notice questions in here about hardware
for everything from AutoCAD to 3d Max) 😉

tedkr posted his experience about upgrading to 64bit Win7 but issues with a
750C Designjet - I posted a possible solution to get a Win7 driver for this
printer. Due to not having Win7 myself I don't know if the solution works
100% so requested info to see what limitations there are with this solution
(to prepare ourselves).

so, how am I not already asking peers for information in the correct place?

sorry to sound sarcastic, but honestly m8, your answer made me laugh.


"Dean Saadallah" wrote in message
news:6314080@discussion.autodesk.com...
64bit is a blessing for many hardware and software vendors: their old
versions and products finally get to die and you have to buy something newer
for the next 15-years usage.

And it's your fault for buying the newer Windows version and not theirs LOL

Seriously, inquire with peers in forums for the other software you note and
find out: I seriously doubt you are so unique in your needs in the few years
64bit has been out.

--
Dean Saadallah
http://LTisACAD.blogspot.com
--

[Anonymous]

>>>...Inventor is Autodesk's, so is this not the right place??? ...<<<
Nope, this is a small focus group for system hardware.

The majority of Peers using the programs you noted are found at (concept
being to talk to the broadest audience):
http://discussion.autodesk.com/forums/category.jspa?categoryID=70
Everything else Autodesk (first column):
http://discussion.autodesk.com/forums/index.jspa?categoryID=1
Others:
http://forums.adobe.com/index.jspa
http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Content/1152796555474
http://www.solidworks.com/sw/training-support-cad.htm

--
Dean Saadallah
http://LTisACAD.blogspot.com
--

[elpoeta1]

hi, so what you are saying is that LDD 2005 is compatible with windows 7 64bit. it works fine? i'm getting a new pc with windows 7 64bit, but i'm concern about the compability with LDD 2005. i want to be able to install it. if i can't, i'll have to run it on XP mode, which i'm not looking for.
thanks,
Sergio

[Anonymous]

Essentially if it works on XP-64 it works on Win 7 64. The only issues I
have seen on 7 are printer/plotter drivers and issues maximizing Autocad
after it has been minimized. To maximize once it is minimized you need
to activate task manager and use switch to there. For some reason
Alt-tab doesn't work on a minimized autocad window.

On 4/26/2010 12:17 PM, elpoeta1 wrote:
> hi, so what you are saying is that LDD 2005 is compatible with windows 7 64bit. it works fine? i'm getting a new pc with windows 7 64bit, but i'm concern about the compability with LDD 2005. i want to be able to install it. if i can't, i'll have to run it on XP mode, which i'm not looking for.
> thanks,
> Sergio

[elpoeta1]

thanks for your help. i did installed LDD 2005 and seems to be working fine. i haven't ran across those issues you mentioned. so far i have been able to minimize and maximize, plot. i installed service pack 1 for civil, survey and ldd. maybe that's what you need to do.

[Anonymous]

Just using vanilla at my end. Driver issue doesn't affect everyone.
Depends on age of peripherals. Our plotter is no longer supported by HP,
but there is a driver for a different model that will plot, but won't
print. Apparently the HPGL functions are the same between the models but
the raster functions are different. As far as the minimize maximize
issue, it may be caused by other issues such as hardware, other software
installed or running. It may even be related to the order in which they
were installed. It is a problem I have seen mentioned occasionally, but
not frequently

On 4/27/2010 6:20 PM, elpoeta1 wrote:
> thanks for your help. i did installed LDD 2005 and seems to be working fine. i haven't ran across those issues you mentioned. so far i have been able to minimize and maximize, plot. i installed service pack 1 for civil, survey and ldd. maybe that's what you need to do.

[Anonymous]

I have a Windows 7 64 bit, and a HP650C (C2859A), and I have finally been able to print to it.  I print black only, so I dont know what happens with colour.  ACAD and PDF. 

First, the User Account Control must be turned off even if you are an administrator, and to do this:

Click the Windows button on the lower left, type UAC in the search box, click on Change User Account Control settings, slide the bar down to Never notify, all the way down, click OK, restart computer (remember to go back and undo this afterwards).

Get the Windows XP Pro 64 installation CD (you dont need any passwords just the disc).  Do exactly what Sam M has written in message 5 above, and install the printer using the drivers on the disk.

Reset your UAC, and restart.

I am using the parallel port off the computer to the printer, and this time it is on LPT1, but when I did it before my computer crashed it was on LPT3.

[Anonymous]

The 750c driver for xp-64 works!!! You have to turn off UAC, reboot, install driver, turn UAC back on, and restart. We don't have a 750c. We have a 455ca and the 750c driver works better than the 1050!!!!

http://www.adinsightusa.com/Vista_X64_600-650-750-755CM_Driver_PCL.zip

for the required files on the XP64 disk

[Anonymous]

We are using LDD 2005 & an HP 650C plotter. I recently re-did my computer with Win 7 because it crashed and I decided to take the risk and upgrade. I installed Windows XP mode and LDD works fine. However, I am having a problem downloading my data collector (SDR33) into it now. I'm thinking it might be because Windows 7 installed a serial port driver for Win 7 and not Win XP? I can't figure out what else it could be. Any suggestions are very much appreciated!

[Sinc]

It's typically a bad idea to append an unrelated question onto the end of an existing thread.

What usually happens is people start answering the original question again, even though nobody was really interested in reviving the topic.  And your unrelated question may get lost in the mix, and go unanswered.

You also tend to get better responses by starting a topic with a name that gives some indication of your problem, such as "Can't link to SDR33 from Win 7 XP Mode".  That's a lot more likely to attract attention from someone who can answer your question.

My initial thought is "Why use XP Mode?"  I'm pretty sure I've heard of others talk about using 2004/2005 vintage LDD on Win 7 without XP Mode.  I think all they had to do was set LDD to run in XP Compatibility mode, but then it worked directly in Win 7 without the Virtual XP.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice. I fixed it though. Turns out I need to reconfigure the serial port, now it works. As far as running it in Windows 7, I could not get it to work but it's all set up and working fine in XP mode so I'm happy I don't have to spend more time fooling with it.