Just got Windows 7...

[ub3rman123]

As the title states, my computer upgraded to one with Windows 7 on it. Me, I've been an XP fanboy literally all my life, and I'm wanting to learn precisely what's different. What I'm most annoyed about is the bar at the bottom of the screen. I want it to be more like the one in XP, so I don't have to click twice to access different windows and guess what window is what.

 

Also, is 7 without UAC turned on pretty much the same as XP's security? I dislike UAC getting in the way with everything.

[Thor.]

You should check out the Windows 7 pined topic, you might get some real good feedback there.

[ub3rman123]

Dang it, I went through like 3 pages of the regular topics looking if this has been posted before. Hadn't expected a pinned topic on it. I'll look through that one.

[LHammonds]

UAC is a feature you actually want to leave enabled. If for nothing else, just to protect the OS files. You can avoid UAC for EVERY other program/game you install by simply picking a custom location to install.

 

I install most of may applications/utilities to D:\Apps

 

My games go to D:\Games

 

LHammonds

[ub3rman123]

So what's the equivalent of UAC on XP?

[Illiad86]

lol not running as admin? I don't know haha...

 

My boyfriend has Windows 7 Pro 64 bit and he has UAC completely OFF for the past year and a half he's had Win7. No viruses (don't even have AV software), no attacks, nothing. All of his games are installed in Program Files (x86) and has never run into an issue with it. He found it annoying and pointless.

 

I don't know where people get all these viruses from...I've never had a virus. Turn off Remote Assistance, clear your Java and Flash folders with CCleaner, use Firefox with AdBlock Plus and NoScript, get rid of Internet Explorer, and don't go on lame websites. 6 years and going without a virus, adware, malware, nothing. Only thing that is protecting us is whatever firewall comes with Windows and our router.

 

There's a classic view for Windows 7...kinda looks like XPs...more Windows 95 though :P

[ub3rman123]

Guess I can turn it off. I'm not worried about viruses myself. I hardly ever run anything other than modding programs and don't stray off TESN much.

[Illiad86]

If you go on Facebook and other those other social media sites, I'd keep it on. Never used them, never will. They may say they are safe...but after having 6 people complain of getting massive amounts of viruses after being on them, I don't think they are.

[LHammonds]

ub3rman123, if I were you, I wouldn't take the personal experience of Illiad86 as advice for your situation.

 

I have a masters in computer science, have almost 20 years experience in the field and responsible for the well-being of hundreds upon hundreds of computers. Even though I have a hardware firewall, software firewall, anti-virus program, various anti-malware programs, specific Windows configurations/tricks, use Firefox with all the best goodies and avoid IE (along with blocking access for it), I still do not feel "safe" from a virus attack.

 

Viruses do not just come from visiting shady web sites using IE. They can come from trusted web sites that have been hacked or use ads from marketing servers that have been hacked, or from email, freebie programs that change your wallpaper or give you new screen savers. They can come from shrink-wrapped programs you buy from a retail store...they can come from new or used USB sticks...they can even come from simply being plugged into the Internet (probe attacks).

 

As long as you are "connected" to the outside world, you are exposed to the risk of being attacked from a virus/malware program (or person). Without the necessary detection tools in place BEFORE the attack, you might not ever know you've been infected. Your PC could be turned into a "zombie" that is used as a staging ground to further spread attacks or coordinated denial of service attacks. Unless the virus is designed to "break" your PC, you may never know it is even there doing exactly what it was programmed to do...such as stealing your ID, passwords, bank transactions, etc.

 

So please think twice about running around naked, catching all sorts of diseases and spreading them to the rest of us.

 

LHammonds

[Vagrant0]

Seconded.