I remember why I hate XP...

[Steve21]

Been trying to fix a problem at one of our sites today, and remembered why I totally hate XP.

 

Trying to install windows update: Failed, need to run patch

Run MS Fixit patch to fix windows update: Failed, please Install SP3 via Windows update

... right

 

*stabs XP a bit then runs back to shiny Win7*

[Mr.Ben]

At least it's not just me!. Changed jobs about 4 months ago from a nice Windows 7 network to an XP mess. God I miss 7 :-(

 

The sooner XP's funeral is held the better!

[Dos_Box]

Shhhh! Simon's still getting to grips with XP!!

 

 

[synaesthesia]

It's certainly the time to start planning that funeral, laying the foundations in the minds of the various heads/SLT members etc. Sooner it's gone the better!

[FN-GM]

Been gone for a good while at our place, its now showing its age. It was good once but now its time to move on.

[witch]

Still got it in little pockets of resistance.

Thing is, some programs and printers work better with it.

 

Case in point - Testbase - worked fine on XP with HP2600 printer

Teacher now has Win 7 - gets a "floating point overflow" error and can't print

 

*IEP writer is the same

[sonofsanta]

The thing I miss most when going back to XP is not being able to search the start menu. So glad we've got it running in school as well now cos moving between 7 at home and XP at work was getting annoying...

[sparkeh]

Case in point - Testbase - worked fine on XP with HP2600 printer

See if you can move to the online version, your job stress will drop significantly

[denon101]

See if you can move to the online version, your job stress will drop significantly

 

Amen to that!! One of the best things I ever did.....

[hardtailstar]

See if you can move to the online version, your job stress will drop significantly

 

I agree! although sometimes I found testbase crashes around 4pm!!

 

Ive yet to move to windows 7 most of the programs we have do not work on windows 7 so thats going to be fun!!

 

although we will probably only move the class pc's and staff laptops to Win7, going to leave the laptops we have for use in classes as XP so they can use all the programs.

 

Ive still got more to investigate but we shall see.

[localzuk]

Indeed, I hate XP. So many little annoyances that Windows 7 and Server 2k8 R2 fixes. For example, building a universal image. Soooo much easier in Windows 7.

[AngryTechnician]

*IEP writer is the same

 

What version of IEP writer do you have? We are running it here on Windows 7 without any serious issues (other than it being generally a bit rubbish).

[localzuk]

Still got it in little pockets of resistance.

Thing is, some programs and printers work better with it.

 

Case in point - Testbase - worked fine on XP with HP2600 printer

Teacher now has Win 7 - gets a "floating point overflow" error and can't print

 

*IEP writer is the same

 

Testbase is no-longer an updated program, it is a website subscription, so its a case of using old software on a new OS there.

 

The printer itself should work just fine though.

 

IEP writer - contact Capita to ensure you have the latest version.

Edited October 2, 2012 by localzuk

[LeMarchand]

Case in point - Testbase - worked fine on XP with HP2600 printer

Teacher now has Win 7 - gets a "floating point overflow" error and can't print

 

Not had any complaints (yet) though in W7 x64 I've had to install it in XP Mode (installed OK in 32 bit). That said, I've long suspected that it's one of those "MUST have" programs that rarely, if ever, actually get used.

[SYNACK]

Yay, the world is catching up. I have not been able to stand XP for years now, 7 is better. To a large extent Vista was better. I just wonder how long it will take before the same sentiment is being expressed with regard to Windows 8 or 9.

[SYNACK]

Still got it in little pockets of resistance.

Thing is, some programs and printers work better with it.

 

Case in point - Testbase - worked fine on XP with HP2600 printer

 

Have you tried using a basic HP LaserJet driver (the one built in to Windows). The HP printers can be quite good at just taking the generic command codes from earlier units and spitting out usable documents. Even if it is just for the blacksmith era apps.

[unixman_again]

When I changed jobs I moved to Windows 7 from XP and with some fiddling (classic menu, etc), I got W7 usable. There are three things that I can't fix however, and given the choice I would move back to XP.

 

Firstly, the boot from cold speed - I think it takes twice as long, and if it goes off and does one of it's mysterious checks, it can take 20 minutes to before you can even login.

 

Secondly, some services that I disable keep coming back. Google updater and Superfinder XT. OK I wouldn't need Superfinder XT if the string within file search in W7 actually worked. I've managed to get around that by using Cygwin and grep, but I can't stop Google updater re-activating itself, a problem I never had under XP; here you switch the service off and it stays switched off.

 

Thirdly, The Gimp is unusable under W7. The run under compatibility mode is a joke - selecting XP does nothing. W7 handles interrupts differently to XP, so The Gimp has trouble knowing when the mouse has been clicked. I guess eventually the authors will crack it and get it working correctly. In the meantime I'll have to pray that my old XP laptop (BYOD) does not give up the ghost.

[simpsonj]

 

Secondly, some services that I disable keep coming back. Google updater and Superfinder XT. OK I wouldn't need Superfinder XT if the string within file search in W7 actually worked. I've managed to get around that by using Cygwin and grep, but I can't stop Google updater re-activating itself, a problem I never had under XP; here you switch the service off and it stays switched off.

 

 

Can't help with the other 2 (GIMP works fine on Windows 7 here), but for this you might want to check the Scheduled tasks as Google Update tends to create itself in there. Get rid of that and disable the service and that might work.

[SYNACK]

Can't help with the other 2 (GIMP works fine on Windows 7 here), but for this you might want to check the Scheduled tasks as Google Update tends to create itself in there. Get rid of that and disable the service and that might work.

 

Yea, I'd be looking at google too, I was sure that everyone was aware that google products were basically spyware/malware now.

[elsiegee40]

I don't hate XP. It's starting to show it's age, but a bit like my old mini it just keeps soldiering on without complaining much and doing what it should do... just a bit more slowly.

 

It has had its day and its retirement next year by Microsoft is timely.

[Pottsey]

The only thing I do not like about Win7 are the slow log in speeds. XP logs in well under 20seconds often under 10seconds if it’s the 2nd time logging in. Win7 takes minuets even on better hardware.

[witch]

We can't afford to buy new software

The versions of both IEP and Testbase are very old now. I know the problem is definitely to do with the printers but why it happens now I dont know. We do have a new server but both programs run off the old server so no change there - the only change is Win 7

I liked XP - logon times are great

[sparkeh]

Case in point - Testbase - worked fine on XP with HP2600 printer

Teacher now has Win 7 - gets a "floating point overflow" error and can't print

Oh wait... I dimly remember having this issue.

I seem to remember something about changing the default printer to something else then resetting it to the printer you want.

Sorry to be so vague it was a while ago.

[sonofsanta]

XP's login speeds may have seemed quicker but oftentimes being able to see the desktop did not mean you could actually do anything yet; Windows 7 is a lot more responsive as soon as the desktop is up, which I prefer as there's less frustration of the "you should be working!" variety.

[Steve21]

I don't hate XP. It's starting to show it's age, but a bit like my old mini it just keeps soldiering on without complaining much and doing what it should do... just a bit more slowly.

 

It has had its day and its retirement next year by Microsoft is timely.

 

Apart from the lots of complaining, and not doing what it should? Seems we had very different XP experiences

 

Steve