Windows 7 or Windows XP?

**full_too_pale** · November 03, 2009, 08:29 AM

Can you guys tell me your opinion of what works better for the total war games: Windows 7 or Windows XP? I am upgrading my computer and can't decide which one to install. I'd really appreciate some detail for both. Thanks.

**Beggar** · November 03, 2009, 09:34 AM

Probably XP, since TW games are a bit older. Though I have seen no difference in performance between XP and 7, and I'd anyways recommend you to install it. Or if you want to, install both and use dual boot depending on what you're going to do... I haven't used my XP once after installing win7 though

**Beetlecat** · November 03, 2009, 12:49 PM

7 if your computer can handle it. XP is a fair step backward in OS, though likely to be very stable by now.

**Ballacraine** · November 03, 2009, 12:58 PM

As a rule of thumb I try to stay a step or two behind Microsoft's OSs.

I have had enough of being an unpaid beta tester for them!

Currently I'm using XP Pro64. It seems robust enough, & as said earlier, with it being quite elderly software it may well be better suited to an older OS.

**C-Rob** · November 03, 2009, 01:04 PM

am I the only one who loves Vista and isnt' bothered by it in the least? My 64 bit home premium runs Rome TW very well. I have to finish a large paper, then I'm upgrading to 7 tonight for free because it arrived in the mail yesterday but I was too busy then. Hopefully sometime tonight I'll be doing all those gimmicks that MS added to 7(that I really dont' give a

about... how has 7 changed anything in the OS other than gimmicks? Anything of value?) Oh, maybe virtual Xp..

**Squid** · November 03, 2009, 02:33 PM

Originally Posted by C-Rob

am I the only one who loves Vista and isnt' bothered by it in the least? My 64 bit home premium runs Rome TW very well. I have to finish a large paper, then I'm upgrading to 7 tonight for free because it arrived in the mail yesterday but I was too busy then. Hopefully sometime tonight I'll be doing all those gimmicks that MS added to 7(that I really dont' give a

about... how has 7 changed anything in the OS other than gimmicks? Anything of value?) Oh, maybe virtual Xp..

I think whether you like Vista is based on when you got it. The pre-SP1 vista sucked ass, was slower than molasses on a -40 winters day. If you didn't start using it until after SP1 then it was decent.

**Beetlecat** · November 03, 2009, 01:04 PM

As for running RTW, i've had zero issues with it, M2TW or even Empire for that matter on Windows 7.

Program handling and compatibility modes are much cleaner than Vista.

@c-rob:

As for windows seven vs vista --- what's most notable is what they have *removed* since Vista. Tons of eye candy crap eliminated and actual usability features put in. Folder / library management and navigation is completely awesome. It makes diving in to layers of folders and sub folders a snap (hello RTW modding...)

**Brusilov** · November 03, 2009, 02:38 PM

I was lucky in that I only started to use Vista 64 bit in mid August last year. There had been a number of posts that explained what had to be done in order to play games on Vista. I made sure I understood what needed to be done and then had no problems with Vista and games.

The only thing that bugged me was in order to take a screen shot (CTRL+ALT+Printscreen) I had to play the game in 'windowed mode' as otherwise I got a nice picture of my desktop.

My new desktop will be delivered next week - it will also have Vista 64 bit but I will get a voucher that lets me upgrade to Windows 7 so I think I will be doing that.

**apple** · November 03, 2009, 03:10 PM

Windows 7 is a large step forward for Microsoft.
As a Mac user, this is as close to Os X perfection Microsoft has ever been.
My philosophy tough is why choose when you can have both?

**Shi Huangdi** · November 03, 2009, 03:14 PM

Definitely get Windows 7. It allows you to run programs in Windows XP compatibility mode if you want.

**Squid** · November 03, 2009, 07:29 PM

So does Vista . . .

**Alavaria** · November 03, 2009, 08:07 PM

But does Vista allow you to organize your folders in XP compatability?
I understand the file system for that is rather annoying (given all the questions people have with installing RS)

**Brusilov** · November 04, 2009, 03:20 AM

Originally Posted by Alavaria

I understand the file system for that is rather annoying (given all the questions people have with installing RS)

I think a lot of problems people are having with installing RS is down to their not following the instructions in the first place - they are there for a reason.