For Vex-related activities, I’ve been using Windows 7 on a laptop for the past year and I’ve had no major problems with RobotC or Autodesk or Robot Virtual Worlds or practically anything else I can think of. Recently, however, my Windows 7 operating system got somewhat messed up and so I’m pondering what to do.
I could buy a Windows 7 disk to re-do the operating system, but I guess that means spending $80-$100 for that disk and wiping out everything on the laptop and then reloading everything.
I could buy a new laptop, but that means getting Windows 8.0 or 8.1 :(, and I’ve heard nothing but foul language coming from people who own Windows 8-anything.
So I’ve been wondering what sort of experiences - good or bad - people have had with Windows 8.0 or 8.1 when working with Vex-related things.
My old Windows 7 computer still sorta works but it can’t move files around without crashing. Right click on anything and it will twirl around for a while, then crash. Other than that, it’s fine.
Did you receive a repair Windows disk with your laptop? If not, do you know if you have a repair partition that you can boot into? If not, I’m pretty sure that there are some free windows repair utilities that you can download and burn to a cd or dvd and boot from.
I’d have to get back to you on that. I’m not a computer guy.
It’s an Acer Aspire. Yes, I can boot into safe mode but the behavior persists even in safe mode. Right click on anything and it goes into a nearly infinite twirl, finally tells me Windows Explorer has failed, then reboots itself. I’ve tried different versions of Explorer (9, 10, and 11) but it still happens, so I think that leaves just the OS as the problem.
Okay, before you even consider buying a new laptop I would recommend contacting Microsoft support about the problem either via the Microsoft forums or by telephone or even by email. If they aren’t able to solve it perhaps Acer can help. If none of those work, then I would consider buying a new laptop
Inspired by your comment about creating some sort of repair disk, I was able to create a system repair disk for Windows 7 via my computer’s own Windows 7 software. I’ll give that a try and see if it works.
Then find the Windows Activation Key and store it / take pic / etc. (Use the HBCD menu)
Now, reboot into windows 7. Click start button, right click computer. Under windows edition, that is what you need.
Unlike common theory; as long as you own a valid windows, it’s okay to download the .img / .iso file for the windows 7 disc. Redownload, enter your activation key, and you’re good to go.
I doubt Microsoft will help you since it’s an OEM. Acer should sell backup dvd’s.
Also backup anything u need beforehand.
EDIT: Didn’t see last post, but if im not mistaken, you’ll probably need a HDD img as a backup on file for the recovery disc to work. I hope everything works out well.
Yes. But somebody recently told me that Windows Explorer is not the same thing as Windows Internet Explorer, so maybe what I did with that was irrelevant. True?
Much of what I read on the internet about this sort of problem talks about context handlers and registry problems, etc. in the OS. There are literally hundreds if not 1000’s of threads concerning this kind of problem. Most people post a “fix” only to come back a few days later and say that the problem returned.
I feel somewhat trapped. When it was working, Windows 7 seemed like Microsoft had finally got their act together (somewhat). But then instead of perfecting Windows 7, they coughed up a hair ball called Windows 8 and expected everyone to swallow it.
Ya they are two separate entities. Windows explorer is a background program inside the OS that among other things controls the little bar on the bottom of the screen. The name is unclear and more than once I have accidentally closed it because i wasn’t thinking hence why I thought you might be confused by it.
The version bit was irrelevant(sorry). So now hopefully we can look at it with new eyes and come up with a way to fix the computer.
Right-click crashes are caused by third-party shell extensions. You may use the excellent ShellExView tool to isolate the problem. For more information, see “Method 2” in article Right-click is slow or weird behavior caused by context menu handlers.
Have you tried ShellExView yourself? I hate downloading stuff I don’t know anything about or have no one to vouch for. Also, I’m kinda clueless how Windows is put together. I guess I need to learn about the brainstems of these systems if I want to survive until Windows 9 comes out. Or somebody finally comes up with a product that makes Microsoft irrelevant (please? :rolleyes:).
The one issue I’ve run into with Vex on Win8 is updating the firmware in the VEXnet 2.0 keys. The VEXnet key driver is unsigned. On Win7, you can click through a couple of boxes to allow it anyway. On Win8, there is a well-documented, but very long procedure you have to go through to get the driver installed.
It does work, it’s just a bit more convoluted than I would like.
I’ve had, and many others have 0 to no problems with Win7. Since windows 8 works, I guess you’re set; but if something is wrong with the registry, you don’t know what was deleted. It would be easier to reinstall after backing up your PC. If you want, I’m sure someone on the Vex forums would be more than happy to help you via skype / teamviewer. Buying a new laptop to fix compatibility / bad reg when it’s a non-hardware problem w/o any other negative circumstances, economically, usually isn’t the best.
