How would you rate Windows 7

I'm not a computer guy, I use the thing for photo processing and maintaining a website. I have to get third party software to make this thing work? Anybody want to buy a new laptop? What is stable about a computer that jumps around at random and leaves a page for no reason wiping out all the work I've already done. I try to save my work a lot but it happens at random and I can't always catch it before it happens.
Why does the cursor switch away from what I clicked on when I don't click on something else? Sometimes I'm typing at the end of my document and suddenly I'm typing in the middle, or the begining. Or it highlights stuff on a web page. Why do I want this? I'd rather tell the computer what I want it to do before it does it than have it tell me what it wants.

You sound to me like having a jumpy mouse pointer something?!

If so replace the mouse (or install the proper driver for your pointing device) and see if the problem goes away

Originally Posted by amyric

I'm not a computer guy, I use the thing for photo processing and maintaining a website. I have to get third party software to make this thing work? Anybody want to buy a new laptop? What is stable about a computer that jumps around at random and leaves a page for no reason wiping out all the work I've already done. I try to save my work a lot but it happens at random and I can't always catch it before it happens.
Why does the cursor switch away from what I clicked on when I don't click on something else? Sometimes I'm typing at the end of my document and suddenly I'm typing in the middle, or the begining. Or it highlights stuff on a web page. Why do I want this? I'd rather tell the computer what I want it to do before it does it than have it tell me what it wants.

amyric, as you probably have gathered by some of my posts earlier in this thread, I am not a supporter of Windows 7! HOWEVER, I will give credit where I feel credit is due. Screwed up as it may be, Windows 7 is probably the most stable OS since Windows 2000. I would venture a guess that most of the difficulties that you describe are not Windows related at all. They are quite likely related to the touchpad on your laptop. I had the same problems that you describe when I first started using a particular laptop computer design. Watch your thumbs on the touchpad as you type. If you just BARELY, EVER SO GENTLY drag your thumb across the touchpad while typing, the cursor goes crazy. I am arthritic, and this adds to the crazy cursor effect for me. A few laptop computers have the ability to adjust this sensitivity to touch and most have the ability to completely disable the touch-click feature. If the touch-click feature is disabled, the touchpad continues to control the cursor motion, but the left button is required to effect a left click. There are a few programs that are supposed to disable the mouse while typing, but my personal experience has found at least two of them ineffective. The best way that I have found to work around the problem if you continue to have problems is to use an external mouse and tape a calling card over the touchpad. I tape mine across the top so I can lift it when I need to for temporary touchpad access.

Watch your thumbs as you type and see if this is not causing you grief. Report back and let us know if this identifies your problem.

Good Luck, John

edit: If your computer has Windows 7 Professional or above, you can install XP Mode and just use the XP side for all normal work. I use XP Mode when I need to do any computer work - type letters, organize and edit photographs, etc. Windows 7 is for play.

Originally Posted by Agent Data

You sound to me like having a jumpy mouse pointer something?!

If so replace the mouse (or install the proper driver for your pointing device) and see if the problem goes away

So I'm complaining about the touch pad. I have a reg mouse and it works better but it still takes off. I wanted a turnkey system and this does not appear to be one. People keep metioning insalling drivers and stuff. I'm on the road right now but when I get home I'll be back on my XP desktop system. It may be slow, but it works. Why would they sell me this thing with a wrong driver?

Originally Posted by john3347

amyric, as you probably have gathered by some of my posts earlier in this thread, I am not a supporter of Windows 7! HOWEVER, I will give credit where I feel credit is due. Screwed up as it may be, Windows 7 is probably the most stable OS since Windows 2000. I would venture a guess that most of the difficulties that you describe are not Windows related at all. They are quite likely related to the touchpad on your laptop. I had the same problems that you describe when I first started using a particular laptop computer design. Watch your thumbs on the touchpad as you type. If you just BARELY, EVER SO GENTLY drag your thumb across the touchpad while typing, the cursor goes crazy. I am arthritic, and this adds to the crazy cursor effect for me. A few laptop computers have the ability to adjust this sensitivity to touch and most have the ability to completely disable the touch-click feature. If the touch-click feature is disabled, the touchpad continues to control the cursor motion, but the left button is required to effect a left click. There are a few programs that are supposed to disable the mouse while typing, but my personal experience has found at least two of them ineffective. The best way that I have found to work around the problem if you continue to have problems is to use an external mouse and tape a calling card over the touchpad. I tape mine across the top so I can lift it when I need to for temporary touchpad access.

Watch your thumbs as you type and see if this is not causing you grief. Report back and let us know if this identifies your problem.

Good Luck, John

edit: If your computer has Windows 7 Professional or above, you can install XP Mode and just use the XP side for all normal work. I use XP Mode when I need to do any computer work - type letters, organize and edit photographs, etc. Windows 7 is for play.

I'll try this, I've got my fingers in the air right now and I'm going to go look for a card to tape over the pad. I sure hope this is the answer. Thanks.

amyric, I came across a link that actually links to both the "disable touchpad while typing" programs that I have used. As I said, I found neither of these completely satisfactory, but different people have different experiences with the same programs sometimes. The article is an interesting read for anyone having a problem accidentally touching the touchpad.




TouchFreeze alternative in AHK

Originally Posted by Agent Data

Win7 requires some learning, yes, it is a different approach but you can get used to it after a while. By default Windows Explorer not even shows a menu bar but it is there to be activated.

Some?????? You mean lots of learning. This OS may be fast but it was mainly designed for gamers. At present I use my laptop for serious CAD work running XP professional and my PC for games running win7 x64.
I spent at least 10 minutes trying to find a way to make a desktop short cut for one of my games. I managed it only after installing classic shell. The GUI on WIN 7 is useless and takes forever to do anything.

I disabled everything I could on my mouse pad and slowed it way down. This is much better. I am also making sure I don't touch it.

Love it best windows ever and i have tried them all cant wait for windows 8 to come out

Originally Posted by donald

Love it best windows ever and i have tried them all cant wait for windows 8 to come out

If you cant help others with their problems then you may as well stay in bed

Perhaps you can help me with the big problem I have with wanting to use British spelling with windows live mail? Win 7 does not have outlook express and we are forced to use the live Windows live mail for e-mails. This of course is not a problem but for the fact that the only spelling allowed is American spelling (ughhh). Is this a conspiracy to force the whole planet to misspell? I now have to write my e-mails in Word and then copy paste to my e-mail. I am fed up of seeing red underlined words when I know I have spelled them correctly.

Win 7 is designed for console games users. Anyone wanting to do serious work will have to use XP. Sad when one knows that Win 7 is fast and stable.

If I wanted a Mac I would have bought a Mac. The GUI in win 7 is idiotic to say the least! Millions of IT people cannot be wrong!