Win 7 or 8 clean install on Basic MB?

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t_boyd

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Jan 29, 2008
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I have Win Vista Ultimate (32-bit) running on a basic MSI Z77a-G41 MB (as stop gap after older MB failure), with i5-3330 at 3.00, 8GB of RAM and 3TB of storage. I run a Dell monitor at 1920 x 1200. It’s time for me to MOVE OFF Vista onto either Win 7 or 8.

I use this system for Adobe apps on photo images, ripping of my DVD, CD and BR disc libraries, streaming of music and movies/video to my AV system over 1GB hardwired Ethernet, basic MS Office use and general web browsing. I do virtually NO gaming on this system.

I have some questions to help narrow my decision.

1. Should I select Win 7 or go right to Win 8, being the most up-to-date? Should I continue at 32 or go to 64-bit?

2. Should I consider an SSD for the new OS? Will this MB support an SSD and perform well, or should I hold off until I buy a more robust MB?

3. I plan on replacing the Vista boot drive with a fresh HD and doing a clean install of OS and all my apps. What size HD should I select for my boot drive - 1 TB, 2 TB, other?

I have more questions, but that should get me started.

THANKS
Tim
 
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USAFRet
Boot drive size. I have a 128GB Kingston SSD as the pimary drive.

Win8.1 Pro (just upgraded from Win8Pro today), and ALL applications installed on it. Office 2013, Adobe Lightroom, Corel Video Studio, PaintShop Pro, etc, etc, etc.
Currently, 47GB used space . Down from 55GB before the WIn8.1 upgrade.
Games and other files live elsewhere.

Windows and applications do not care where they are installed, as long as you designate that during the installation.

Compatibility? I've not found anything 'recent' that does not run in a 64bit environment. You'll just have to try your specific applications, or list them here. Someone might know.

Running multiple drives is no problem. SSD + HDD is very common.
Look to a 120 or 256GB SSD at...
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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1. Either. Personal preference, but I like Win 8/8.1
64bit, no question.

2. YES. Seriously consider an SSD. It completely transforms the experience.
OS and applications on the SSD, static files and games elsewhere.

3. SSD + whatever size HDD you need.
 
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RealBeast

RealBeast

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You should run 64 bit since you have >4GB of memory so that you can actually use it.

Yes, I would use an SSD for the OS and then just reformat the Vista drive. I would use Windows 7 Home Premium OEM unless you want to move it to other machines in the future, then I would use Win 7 Pro retail 64 bit.
 
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t_boyd

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Jan 29, 2008
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Thank you both for the prompt replies!

I was surprised that you both recommend I transition to 64-bit. I have several legacy applications that I’m concerned might not work in 64-bit because of driver issues. Are there solid compatibility modes in Win 7 or 8?

The reason I asked about boot drive size is that I don’t yet understand how an SSD and traditional C:\ boot HD interact, if at all - I’m reading up on SSD as boot drive configuration. I was also concerned that my rather basic MB would choke with an SSD.

Also, I’ve traditionally selected larger boot drives because I have many applications that I’ve traditional installed under the \PROGRAMS folder on the boot drive. Would you suggest I split the OS and programs storage areas now? Might this affect the necessary size of a boot HD?

Thanks again for your rapid, helpful replies!
T
 
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RealBeast

RealBeast

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You can get a large enough SSD to hold your programs and some data. Your motherboard will work great with an SSD, just use an Intel 6Gbps SATA port and make sure that AHCI is enabled before your OS install.

If you have legacy software to run, and if you go with Windows 7 you would want Pro x64 so that you can use XP Mode -- free for download at Microsoft for Pro or higher users. XP Mode runs a lot of old software quite well -- I use it for my old DOS software that controls my front gate opener.

64 bit is required for using more than 4GB of memory.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
Mar 16, 2013
171,418
17,886
184,590
Boot drive size. I have a 128GB Kingston SSD as the pimary drive.

Win8.1 Pro (just upgraded from Win8Pro today), and ALL applications installed on it. Office 2013, Adobe Lightroom, Corel Video Studio, PaintShop Pro, etc, etc, etc.
Currently, 47GB used space . Down from 55GB before the WIn8.1 upgrade.
Games and other files live elsewhere.

Windows and applications do not care where they are installed, as long as you designate that during the installation.

Compatibility? I've not found anything 'recent' that does not run in a 64bit environment. You'll just have to try your specific applications, or list them here. Someone might know.

Running multiple drives is no problem. SSD + HDD is very common.
Look to a 120 or 256GB SSD at the primary boot drive.
 
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