Since we got FiOS we've been very happy with both the TV and internet service, but the change must have awoken some dormant problem with my computer, because my connection to our wireless network gradually degraded until I just could not get online at all anymore (even though I was supposedly still connected with excellent signal). Other computers and networked devices in the house were working perfectly, so I knew it was a problem with my computer and not the FiOS service. The more I tried to fix it, the worse it got, so I finally got pissed off enough to pull the trigger on something I'd been contemplating for a while anyway.
I installed Windows 7.
My disgust with the situation did cloud my judgment, and I probably pulled the trigger a bit prematurely. My first mistake was that I did not run the hardware compatibility scanner provided by Microsoft. I was going to, but then decided to skip it, assuming all of my hardware would be supported. That did not turn out to be true. First I was unable to install a driver for my wireless card. Now, since this is what was acting up in the first place, it's entirely possible that the card was just dead. Either way, I have a new one on order. I also realized that my sound card was far too old to have a Windows 7 driver available, but this was not a huge problem since my motherboard has a built in sound card which works just fine. I also forgot to look to see which files and folders I was backing up with my online backup service, so that I could reconfigure it to back up the same data. Fortunately I was able to find this information by browsing the backup through their web site.
So, my haste didn't cause any problems that I wasn't able to fix, at least not so far! My system is up and running, and running very well at that. I'm using a USB wireless adapter until my new card gets here, and I also have some more RAM coming to make it run even better. I'm installing the software I need as I need it, and so far haven't had any problems with that. I am however anticipating needing to find a new graphic editor. I have been very set in my ways, running a quite old version of Paint Shop Pro which I don't expect to be compatible with this version of Windows (not to mention I can't find the install disc). My scalable copy of the confoozled.com logo is saved in PSP format, so I either need something which can read that format or I'll need to convert it to something else using my work computer. (I've already tried the GIMP; though it does read PSP format, it fails attempts to open my logo file.) But I'm not stressing too much about it; if I can't find anything that will open it, it will be a good excuse to design a new logo!
I am, so far, very happy with Windows 7 and its performance even without the extra RAM. I do feel like a fish out of water making the move to this from Windows XP, but I am getting the hang of it. Things work very differently, but I think I like most of the changes they've made.
Hooray for total frustration driving one to do what should have been done a long time ago!
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