Playing Casual Games with Windows XP or Windows 7

I need Casual Game players input on the pros and cons of upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7. I have been fighting and clawing to stay with what works for me and what I know how to use. I am about to take a big leap and upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium.
My final decision will be how many replys of
Go Gor It or Stay wiht XP
Thanks to all in advance.

I'm still on Windows XP but that's only because my computer is still working and I don't want to have to a buy new one until this one no longer works.

Just about everyone I know is happy with Windows 7, including folks here who are playing plenty of Big Fish games.

Chick,

I'm really happy with Windows 7. I've got 64 bit but that shouldn't make any difference when it comes to playing casual games. UNLESS Big Fish doesn't note that they work on Win 7. Be careful about that and look to see which version of Windows they'll work on. Usually, if it will play on Vista, it will play on Win7 but I've run into some games that won't. So if you're not sure, ask on the BFG forums before you buy.

Gil.

Like Marian I'm still using my XP becaue my computer works. I have been struggling with getting a new All in One computer, but I don't want to lose my XP.

I guess it depends on whether or not you want to make the leap or if you have to.

I think for me I'm going to hold on to what's familiar as long as I can.

I made the leap from XP to Win 7 in June - and I can honestly say it was the BEST move I have ever made. The transition was so so smooth, that I did not even miss my beloved XP. And I have had absolutely NO problems in playing any BFG games, new or old! Win 7 is an excellent OS.

I agree with Rosaboobie. I have had my Win 7 for about a year and I love it. There was no problem making the transition between XP and 7.

Flo NS. Be careful about those all in one computers. My SIL has one and there are a lot of games you can't play on them. If something goes wrong with them, they are very hard to fix.

Bets

Thanks for the info flutist.

Maybe a laptop is the better way to go.

I gave up on desktops some years ago cos of the climate here. I just use a gaming laptop now. If you get the right one, they are terrific!

I purchased Win 7 when it first came out. I have never been sorry. I have Home Premium with 8 GB of memory and have yet to experience any problems with running games or anything else. I had XP, then Vista. I got rid of Vista 3 months after I bought it, just nothing but problems. I still have XP for older games, but wouldn't take anything for my Win7.

Hi, Chick!

I've had my current computer for just over 2 years and it came with the 64-bit Home Premium version of Windows Vista and a free upgrade certificate for the 64-bit Home Premium version of Windows 7, which I used when it was released. I did, however, hang onto my old WinXP computer so I can still play some old PC games that won't run under Windows 7.

There have only been 1 or 2 casual games that wouldn't run on my Windows 7 computer, but it wasn't necessarily because of the operating system since they could have conflicted with one of my hardware components.

I don't have any experience playing Big Fish games under WinXP because I didn't get a DSL modem until after I purchased my new computer, and it took far too long to download with dial-up.

If you're not planning to buy a new computer when you upgrade to Windows 7, make sure your hardware is compatible. You can download the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor here:

http://windows.microsoft.com/upgradeadvisor

Susan

Thanks for all the comments and advice, everyone.

You may be right, Susan. I was thinking more of the large file games like Nostradamus. The game on disk won't play correctly on my Win 7 but that may be because my computer is quad core. Anyway, unless you want to jump through hoops to get a large file game to play, I would check the forums first to see if there have been any problems playing one on Windows 7 and if BFG has addressed them.

Gil.

If quad core is the problem, try setting the game's affinity to a single core. Here's one way:
http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tip...ion-in-windows/

The problem could also be with drivers made for Windows 7.
But for security conflicts, compatibility mode often helps. Or you may have to start the game by running as administrator.

Thanks, Jenny, I'll try that for Nostradamus. (Which I've already played on XP fortunately.) Thought I'd mention, though, that the way whoever wrote that opens Task Manager for Win7 (64 bit anyway) doesn't work. Ctrl, Alt, Delete works for me just as it did for XP.

Not much I can do about the drivers. I am chicken to fiddle with them. <g> One of these days, I may run up on a game that just screams, "DO IT", but I haven't yet.

Gil.

Really? It's supposed to work on every version of Windows since NT 4.0, including Windows 7. It worked on the 64-bit Windows 7 computer I tried it on.

Ctrl-Alt-Delete also works, but gives you more options to choose from besides Task Manager. Ctrl-Shift-Escape should simply pop up Task Manager.

Hee hee - I didnt realise Ctrl+Shift+Esc brought up the Task Manager - I was still doing it the "old" way Jenny!

I have been running win 7 since it came out but some games just have problems expecially 64 bit.
I run a dual boot with xp & win 7 so I could run everything. Only recently I moved all my ganes to xp which saved me swapping & changing between the two operating systems. I have an icon on win 7 task bar that reboots straight into xp when I want to play my games.

I have a few BF games that do not work on Win 7, but found that the games concerned did not change the screen resolution automatically. Just changed to 1024 x 768=no further problems.

Indeed it does. Using Ctrl, Shift, Esc. in combination is a little awkward but it worked this time. Probably the 'golden years' (ha) getting to me again.

Gil.

I am also on 64 bit Win 7 but I have still never come across a BFG game that would not play for me.

It was some time after Win 7 came out before I went to Win 7, February of this year, on a new system. So far, none of the BFG games I have has failed to run on our 32 bit system.

When I had to get a new PC I was concerned about switching from XP to Win 7. I now have the Win 7, 64 Bit 8GB about 18 months and love it. I enjoy all my BFG.

That reminds me of desktop icons I used to have on my Windows 98 computer, which would reboot the computer to certain DOS configurations for different games.

XP was good, Vista terrible, Windows 7 good. I have had no problems at all with 7,(knocks on wood).

thracia

Go for the Windows 7, Chick! I've been using it from the last Release Candidate to the actual release over 2 years ago. I will always have an XP computer, but it always feels so primitive when I use it. Remember that Microsoft will stop supporting XP in just a couple of years.

The only games I've found that won't run on Windows 7 are Shivers 1 and maybe a couple of others that were created in 16-bit. Check out the Windows 7 and Games thread in the Glitches forum to get a better feel for how the OS is playing our games.

Flo, I'd stay away from the all-in-one unless you have a real need for one because of what flutist said. And even if you get a laptop, some of them don't have the kind of graphics you need for gaming. Check in with Jenny and Inland in the Glitches forum for laptop suggestions for gamers.

Draclvr or Jenny- what is an all in one computer?

Kim

Kim, the CPU is built into the monitor and the monitor is a touchscreen. You can see them here.

They overheat a lot and not very good for gaming.

Ana

Thanks Ana

You are welcome.

Ana

Thanks for all the info on the All In One PC I'll definite stay away from them. I'm really tired of all the wires and the space taken up. Will look into Lap Top suggestions.