With XP support ending, which OS will you use for GameEx/Evolution?

[tthurman]

I purchased 8 Pro to use as my main OS for this build. I admit I'm a bit disappointed with the possibility that MS will run from Windows 8 due to metro not going over well, but after using it, I really like it for a HTPC. What are your plans?

[hansolo77]

I already have Windows 7 installed. I'm not going to upgrade to Windows 8 for GameEx Evolution. There's way to much stuff to have to reinstall.

[DazzleHP]

7 - only coz i've seen far too many complaints when it comes to running modern games on W8 (i play a lot of modern games as well as retro) but to be honest i would like to keep XP - FOREVER

[Draco1962]

I recently upgraded my kit to Win 8.1 Pro x64 and do not see myself turning back. Most of the games I own that are prior to XP will not run even in compatibility mode unless I can get them to work with DOS Box or similar emulator.

As for GameEx Evolution, it will continue to provide support for XP until such time as the support for GPU drivers, etc. ceases and it outgrows XP as updates to it neccessitate. There may be some enhancements that will be better experienced on newer rigs with the newer OS's. This happened with Win2K and versions prior with GameEx long after MS and manufacturers ended support for them.

[Adultery]

Gonna be 7 for me. I flocking hate Windows 8.1

[Censored]

I am a MacUser :-)

My Cab runs with Win8.1, because it was cheaper than 7 - no Problems so far

[KRC]

Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Bit.

I had Windows 8 but downgraded.

[nullPointer]

Another vote for Windows 7 here. I recently got a Win 8 slate PC for my wife, and thus far I've not been overly enthused with Windows 8. I think it's a step back in terms of both user friendliness and user interface. I probably just need to get used to it, but for my HTPC/Gaming Rig I'm all in for Windows 7.

[Draco1962]

Win 8.1 isn't so bad with using Classic Shell, but the Modern UI is still a pain (Since I use DisplayFusion, I have assigned keys to convert Modern UI apps to a window after opening as needed). Win 9 I think will address things better by allowing this to occur natively for Enterprise (and die-hard "WTF did you do to my classic interface that wasn't broken" users).

[u-man]

I go Windoofs 7 64bit. Only thing i needed XP was GroovyMAME in my cab. As I have Beta-Drivers for Win7 from Calamity himself , i see absolutely no need for XP any more. Windoofs 8 is dumb as hell, like Vista was. Dont like it at all, especially this tablet-shit. They should bring out just a OS only for this. This Hybrid-Thingy is a pain in the a**. Dont see a single thing in Win8, which is usefull or better than in Win7, but just my IMHO.

[Draco1962]

I understand why MS didn't go with a separate tablet edition of Win 8 (XP Tablet version, anyone?). But in the name of all that is Holy, give the consumer the option to disable the UI on a desktop or laptop that doesn't have touchscreen!

[stigzler]

Went for 8 recently when building rig. Wanted to run ps2 etc, so needing 64 bit, high ram etc. Tbh, I havent found it too bad. Use classic shell to rid of tgat awful metro crap, but sometimes it still rears its ugly head (app selection etc). Im hoping m$ will split off tablet vs desktop os s as theyre two separate enbironments. Ovrrall, happy with 8.

[Raitsa]

Nothing beats WIndows 8.* with the free ClassicShell, its just like 7 if you so wish.

Installs in 3 mins.

[tthurman]

I recently upgraded my kit to Win 8.1 Pro x64 and do not see myself turning back. Most of the games I own that are prior to XP will not run even in compatibility mode unless I can get them to work with DOS Box or similar emulator.

Yeah, the old games thing is a problem. I built a rig with my best old parts in hopes to hang onto the ability to play them. 800mhz fsb P4 3.06, 4-1 GB sticks PC3200, X1950, D875PBZ etc., but its the OS choice that's the problem. XP Pro goes a long way, but some of my all time favorites, Battlezone for instance, let's face it, is a 98/98SE game. I still follow that game, and while it's been updated by one of the original authors for modern OS's, Red Odyssey was not, since it was coded by a different group. I suppose dual booting is an option.

Given it was developed on XP, it seems safe to say that Game EX was native 32 bit. Will the reboot evolve to 64 bit?

[tthurman]

Went for 8 recently when building rig. Wanted to run ps2 etc, so needing 64 bit, high ram etc. Tbh, I havent found it too bad. Use classic shell to rid of tgat awful metro crap, but sometimes it still rears its ugly head (app selection etc). Im hoping m$ will split off tablet vs desktop os s as theyre two separate enbironments. Ovrrall, happy with 8.

Nothing beats WIndows 8.* with the free ClassicShell, its just like 7 if you so wish.

Installs in 3 mins.

Thanks for the heads up on ClassicShell, was not familiar with it, and instead planned to head straight for Start8.

[ClassicGMR]

I'm going to leave XP on my NESputer as it only runs a dual core 1.6GHz with 2 GB RAM. It's maxed out. BUT I'll be leaving GameEx on that system as it is. It runs fine now so I've essentially disconnected it from the internet anyway and disabled XP's automatic updates already. I'll do whatever upgrades are left when they go off the air in April then it won't go online ever again.

My arcade cabinet is running Windows 7. THAT'S the important one!

Nothing beats WIndows 8.* with the free ClassicShell, its just like 7 if you so wish.

Installs in 3 mins.

Yes! This actually makes Windows 8.1 usable...

[davidj1987]

Windows 7 x64.... I have professional on my main PC and home on my HTPC.

[Krakerman]

For me I have moved on to Win 8.1 Pro x64 for all my systems with the exception of my Alienware M18x gaming laptop which came with Win 7 on it and I don't have any plans on upgrading it at least at this time.

[helpman]

as my arcade cabinet is running with an old pentium 4 @ 2.8ghz I'll stick with old fellow xp

[T. Goodchild]

For emulation I'll never upgrade past XP if I can help it. It's the only OS I can rely on to run every emulator except Dolphin flawlessly, everything since has been a disappointment and buggy to say the least. The newer the OS's is, the harder it is to run older games on. XP is stable reliable and efficient for 95% of emulators and PC games out there.

[tthurman]

What kind of rig you running T. Goodchild?

I can see the advantage of running things on such a mature OS for sure. I'm hopeful that what I Intend to run will work without major headaches on 8, but your right, things just run on XP.

Much of what I am reading about ending XP support is pretty scarey stuff, hackers waiting in the wings for support to end, and using patches for Vista, 7 and 8 to reverse engineer them to find that exploits that will, in all likelihood have numerous wide ranging effects to soon to be exploited XP machines. I haven't ruled out maintaining a XP box for PC games that honestly just ran with less hassle than on other OS's, and just block all internet traffic.

I wonder what method will become the one of choice to circumvent exploits once support ends?

[GeorgeT]

Dang, I was planning on upgrading my MAME machine PC to something modern and was hoping to use XP 64-bit. Now it looks like at best I'll be using Win7

[Draco1962]

Once you get the hang of it, Win 7 (esp x64) is feature rich and does a great job. XP x64 still does not have as many hardware drivers as XP x86 enad EOL Support will apply to it as well. If your kit can handle 7, will be well worth it to make the jump, and quite a few of us have experience to get you through any rough patches.

[Adultery]

It really wasn't to much of a jump for me software wise, and it was totally worth it. My only regret is that I didn't use a 64-bit version of W7 instead, but my mobo in my rig can only handle 4 gb anyways. My video card has 4 gb of its own RAM, which has been more than adequate so far. :-)

[Draco1962]

Once you get past the quirks - some beneficial (Libraries), others beneficial but annoying (UAC), it isn't that bad at all. If I were to upgrade a PC that was presently running XP, so long as it exceeds the minimum requirements, I would jump to 7.