[DEBATABLE] Time to upgrade to Windows 8 from Windows 7?

[Adrianvdh]

Hello everyone?

I have been doing research and all and I am going to ask a serious question. (The title)
A lot of people ask this question but for me? My question is just for developing.

As you know, in the previous post I made about ftp, due to the batch file project I am
developing. I run and test that batch file all the time in Windows 8. Hell! The calculation speed is
much greater on a VM running the CPU clock at 3.31GHz and my CPU factory clock is 3.33GHz.

I am currently running Windows 7 as my current OS. But what I am so surprised about is how fast
Windows 8 computes my batch files commands, the loading time on Windows 7 on my PC is about 20
seconds to load the batch file, not kidding and Windows 8 only takes about 4-5 seconds.

I just can't believe it.

So back to topic. So should I just give it a try for a while? and use Office 2013 and VS 2012? Then if I
don't like it go back to slow Windows 7?

I have asked my Dad and he says no, I shouldn't. Just if your wondering, I already have a legit copy of Windows 8
So ya.

What is your opinion?

Please don't hate on my for asking such a stupid question

[aGerman]

Well, this thread is kinda off-topic since it doesn't relate to batch. So what.

Windows 8 is another step to merge desktop and mobile. Eventually good for Tablets and any kind of touch screen devices as the Win8 start screen indicates.

I can't confirm that Win8 is significantly faster than Win7 but it's only a first impression from a friends computer. I'm still running Win7. I guess each "virgin" OS is fast. But woe to you if you install a lot of software or if you run your computer for longer than a year ...

As long as you have a Win7 image on a CD ROM I think you can always downgrade if you don't like Win8. But finally it's only a matter of habit. What was I fulminating when I switched over from XP to Win7

Regards
aGerman

[Adrianvdh]

I have a lot, a lot of disc images (ISO's) of OS's, So yes I do have Windows 7 Image

So should I just give it a shot? and downgrade if I don't like it.

BTW I have a lot of time on my hands. I have reinstalled Windows on machine more than 10 times and copied all my backed up data
and then clean installed hundreds of software again.


To save my self, from the releavance I need help with a powershell script.
as you can see the following required me to make a temp .ps1 file to download an file from a web server:

Code: Select all

call :checkupdateps1DownUAC
if exist "%ps1Down%" del "%ps1Down%"
(echo param($url, $filename^)
echo try {
echo    $client = new-object System.Net.WebClient 
echo    $client.DownloadFile( $url, $filename^)
echo    Exit 1
echo }
echo catch [System.Net.WebException] {
echo    Exit 2
echo }
echo catch [System.IO.IOException] {
echo    Exit 3
echo }
echo catch {
echo    Exit 4
echo }
echo\
echo Exit 0 )>>"%ps1Down%"

powershell Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted
powershell -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -File "%ps1Down%" "%UpdateURL%" "%updateinfofile%"

if "%errorlevel%"=="0" (goto getupdateinfo1 ) else if "%errorlevel%" gtr "0" (
if exist "%updateinfofile%" (goto checkupdateinforfile ) else (goto getupdateinfo1) )

Now, I have another powershell that makes an open dialog for my batch file...
That does not require to create a temp .ps1 file:

Code: Select all

set "ps=Add-Type -AssemblyName System.windows.forms | Out-Null;"
set "ps=%ps% $f=New-Object System.Windows.Forms.OpenFileDialog;"
set "ps=%ps% $f.Filter='Trinity List Files (*.wmsl)|*.wmsl';"
set "ps=%ps% $f.showHelp=$true;"
set "ps=%ps% $f.ShowDialog() | Out-Null;"
set "ps=%ps% $f.FileName"
for /f "delims=" %%I in ('powershell "%ps%"') do set "FileName=%%I"

Now I am failing to mimic the above:

Code: Select all

set "ps=param($url, $filename^)"
set "ps=%ps%  try {
set "ps=%ps%     $client = new-object System.Net.WebClient 
set "ps=%ps%     $client.DownloadFile( $url, $filename^)
set "ps=%ps%     Exit 1
set "ps=%ps%  }
set "ps=%ps%  catch [System.Net.WebException] {
set "ps=%ps%     Exit 2
set "ps=%ps%  }
set "ps=%ps%  catch [System.IO.IOException] {
set "ps=%ps%     Exit 3
set "ps=%ps%  }
set "ps=%ps%  catch {
set "ps=%ps%     Exit 4
set "ps=%ps% }
set "ps=%ps%  Exit 0
powershell Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted
for /f "delims=" %%i in ('powershell -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -File "%ps%" "%UpdateURL%" "%updateinfofile%"') do echo %%i

What can I do? Any help

BTW I don't take any credit fro these ps scripts.

[penpen]

I am currently running Windows 7 as my current OS. But what I am so surprised about is how fast
Windows 8 computes my batch files commands, the loading time on Windows 7 on my PC is about 20
seconds to load the batch file, not kidding and Windows 8 only takes about 4-5 seconds.

You shouldn't compare the speed of a real machine and an emulated one.
In common an emulated system is slower than a real one, but because of optimization algorithms built in the emulator it may be faster under certain circumstances.
In this case i think the TxF (Transactional NTFS) acceses may be speeded up by the emulator.
This does not mean, that a virtual win7 TxF is speeded up, too (maybe only some (virtual) sectors will have higher performance on accessing, basing on how fragmented the virtual hdd file is on the real hdd, or ... ... ... .
You better should take two identical hdds, and install Win 7/8 on it, with the other hdd not connected, so the systems cannot harm the other.
Then you should do speed tests (both systems should be fresh installed with the optimal drivers, bios settings, virtual memory, power settings, services, ...).

So back to topic. So should I just give it a try for a while? and use Office 2013 and VS 2012? Then if I
don't like it go back to slow Windows 7?

If this is just to compare systems, why not? Try out which system is better for you (if not deleting the old system).

I have asked my Dad and he says no, I shouldn't.

I see it like your dad, not at last because i dislike win8; i have tested it for round about 2 month, so i think it is no prejudice, but who knows... :
As i saw the win8 logo, my first thought was: Do they want to sell the first Windows version again for new pcs? (Windows 1.0).

I don't want to write too much, so i only post my main argument without going too much in detail (my opinion only):
I think the maximum ergonomics level was reached on Win XP after that the ui's are less ergonomic.
Additionally i think Win 3.11 is more ergonomic than win 8... .
Anyway i don't think win8 is a total fail contrary to Win Me or Win Vista.

penpen

[penpen]

Now I am failing to mimic the above:
(...)
What can I do? Any help

You cannot pass arguments to it, as it is executed as if you have typed that into the powershell command line, so this is the best you can do:

Code: Select all

@echo off
setlocal
set "ps="
set "ps=%ps%try {"
set "ps=%ps%  $filename = \"!filename!\";"
set "ps=%ps%  $url = \"!url!\";"
set "ps=%ps%  $client = new-object System.Net.WebClient;"
set "ps=%ps%  $client.DownloadFile($url, $filename);"
set "ps=%ps%  Exit 1"
set "ps=%ps%}"
set "ps=%ps%catch [System.Net.WebException] {"
set "ps=%ps%  Exit 2"
set "ps=%ps%}"
set "ps=%ps%catch [System.IO.IOException] {"
set "ps=%ps%  Exit 3"
set "ps=%ps%}"
set "ps=%ps%catch {"
set "ps=%ps%  Exit 4"
set "ps=%ps%}"
set "ps=%ps%Exit 0"

set "filename=index5.html"
set "url=http://www.google.de"

setlocal enableDelayedExpansion

powershell Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted
powershell -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Command "%ps%"
rem for /f "tokens=* delims=" %%i in ('powershell -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Command "%ps%"') do echo %%i

Although the for loop is not neccessary i have added it, if you want to use it, just rem out the line above the for loop and "unrem" last line.

penpen

[foxidrive]

IMO Win 7 and Win 8 are both very good.

The delay in starting your batch file in Win 7 could be due to a problem in initialising the sub systems for cmd. I had a problem in XP when launching some 16 bit programs and there was a delay of around 20 seconds before they would launch.

A reformat would fix that, probably. Maybe a repair install. Possibly the event viewer has information that will help track down the issue.

[Adrianvdh]

IMO Win 7 and Win 8 are both very good.

The delay in starting your batch file in Win 7 could be due to a problem in initialising the sub systems for cmd. I had a problem in XP when launching some 16 bit programs and there was a delay of around 20 seconds before they would launch.

A reformat would fix that, probably. Maybe a repair install. Possibly the event viewer has information that will help track down the issue.

The has nothing to do with that

My batch file has to process 500 lines of code before it can get to the main menu, which Windows 8 processes best.

For the ps script, can I not have a link containg the domian name and the file path following it?

Code: Select all

set "host=http://my.com/data/file.ext"

or can I split the domain from the file path?

Code: Select all

set "domain=http://my.com/
set "filepath=/data/file.ext"

thanks

[penpen]

For the ps script, can I not have a link containg the domian name and the file path following it?

Code: Select all

set "host=http://my.com/data/file.ext"

or can I split the domain from the file path?

Code: Select all

set "domain=http://my.com/
set "filepath=/data/file.ext"

The variable name is suboptimal. With the variable host you specify the download source, so you can use this:

Code: Select all

set "host=http://my.com/data/file.ext"

If you use this:

Code: Select all

set "host=http://my.com"

Then it download the file http://my.com/index.htm(l)
you may split the path to (it's easier, when you don't add an '/' char):

Code: Select all

set "domain=http://my.com"
set "filepath=/data/file.ext"
:: but then you have to add this line prior downloading
set "host=%domain%%filePath%"

or you may change the !host! part to:

Code: Select all

set "ps=%ps%  $url = \"!domain!!filePath!\";"

penpen

[Adrianvdh]

Else couldn't I change it to this:

Code: Select all

set "ps=%ps%  $filename = \"!filename!\";"
set "ps=%ps%  $url = \"!url!\";"

then to

Code: Select all

set "ps=%ps%  $url = \"http:\\domain.com\data\file.ext";"

?

Wait a minute? Is the variable filename the file directory of the local machine?

[penpen]

Wait a minute? Is the variable filename the file directory of the local machine?

Yes, it is the path and filename of your local machine, where this batch script is executed.
I 'm not sure but i assume that answers the other question, too.

penpen

[Adrianvdh]

Ok, got it to work, Thanks

[foxidrive]

My batch file has to process 500 lines of code before it can get to the main menu, which Windows 8 processes best.

You thought that wasn't worth mentioning when you asked your question?

Your code must be terribly inefficient...

[Adrianvdh]

No not at all. When the first install release is out you can take a look at it

[b8two]

Are you referring to Windows 8 or 8.1 from Windows 7.

I've been using Windows 8 since it was released cheaply and I noticed a few of the keyboard navigation methods I used no longer worked but have been restored in Windows 8.1.

Using "Classic Start Menu" and fixing file associations to use the desktop program options instead makes windows 8 or 8.1 feel a lot more like windows 7, with the option of the new windows 8 interface if you want to play.

The downside is the new WiFi Menu selection that opens in Metro style. (Not horrible but less options than the windows 7 one had)

Do you know you can try it out with your current install by installing windows 8 into a VHD file instead of directly on the hard drive? Essentially Dual booting. I currently have Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 Preview done this way.

I've used a tool called WinNTSetup http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/149612-winntsetup-v23/
From your current install you can create a VHD, select the source.WIM file of windows 8 or 8.1 and install the image.
once your new set up is complete you'll be able to dual boot back into windows 7. You can modify the windows boot code with msconfig to choose which one you want as default and the selection timeout (i.e. 5 seconds instead of 30 seconds)

[shayanjameel08]

I tried to back up my windows 7 installation and it failed, twice. I have uninstalled several programmes, done a full virus scan anddefragged. I ran update to win8 as admin, and it still fails.