Here you go, from the BS forum. You can run dual OS without using up activations or deactivations:


I have BS running with Windows 7 now. No need to use deactivation or activation. I got this tip from Wombat at the ED forums.

"You may be able to do it without using any activation or deactivation (e.g. totally free). Try using regedit in your XP install to export the key HKCU\Software\Eagle Dynamics\Black Shark to a .reg file. Then, load that file in Windows 7 before you run Black Shark. There is a reasonable chance that it will work.

I have not tried with Windows 7, but I have done this between Vista 32 and XP 32, and it works fine. Also, as a suggestion, to increase the chances that that Starforce will not see this as a "new" PC and require reactivation, I suggest making your machine name is the same in both XP and Windows 7."

I tried it and it works just fine. Make a reg file and put somewhere where you can access it after booting into win 7. Name the computer the same as in your XP/Vista OS when you install Win 7. Then Install BS as adminstrator, then run the reg key. Start BS and voila, no SF activation. You can still run BS on both the old and the new OS. For me BS runs really good with windows 7 (nvidia beta driver 185.20), and with the affinity script for using dual cores it's really smooth compared to my old XP install.

cheers Porphy

We're a small sample here I guess, but it seems Microsoft got this one right.

Destructis, how good is the included Razer mouse driver? Does it offer most settings?

Quick question - I've heard that W7 doesn't have the Classic Start Menu, is that right?
I really dislike the newer type.

Starting to have more problems. Java won't work for me. Windows Installer has problems. America' Army won't install, Shockwave won't work.

Gonna revert back to XP for the stability for now and try again in a few months.

I have the 64bit version, it wont see my mouse on install, have the old ms mouse. {not usb}

It's pretty good, it identify's the mouse and the buttons. I installed the Razer control panel any way because I do some other bindings to it for WoW.

It's almost the same stuff as vista, except that Internet button is directly in the Taskbar on the bottom, and no mail button (if you install a mail client (I guess you will), you'll have to drag it to the taskbar to have direct acces).

For the rest, it's all like in Vista: left side: most used software visible first, and you can expand it to see "all programs" menu by clicking on the button, or by just letting your mouse for a second on it, and on the right of the menu, you have the links to Documents, Music, Videos, Computer, Control Pannel, etc...

Personnally, I preferred the way it was made until XP, and maybe there will be some possibility to customize it that way in the final version (since almost everything seem to be customizable in W7), otherwise, as far as the loooks go it's just like under Vista

EDIT:

as far as Java goes, on the Sun site, they claim that windows 64bit + IE in 64 bit isn't supported, and the 64 bit installer doesn't give you the automatic update functionality.Basically, even with 64 bit OS, you'll need 32bit IE to get at least some workable JRE... but it doesn't seem to be somthing Sun invested much on.

Destructis, once you installed Win 7 on your new partition, what did you have to do to make that screen show up at boot-up which allows you to choose from among your multiple installations? I want to install Win 7 on my second hard drive while having Win XP Pro on the first drive.

It just showed up. I think it needs to be on the same hard drive with the partition.

http://lifehacker.com/5126781/how-to-dual-boot-windows-7-with-xp-or-vista

The instructions I used to set it up is here.

just installed and looks great and feels stable. Question time-

drivers for the X52 and others, would it be the vista drivers?

I don't use Vista so I don't know what it has.
Yes or no, does W7 have the Classic Start Menu?

Also, I put my task bar up the left side of the screen, I hate it down the bottom.

No, the Classic Start Menu is gone. WYSIWYG.

But the Classic Start Menu is horrid anyways.

You can put the taskbar on any side of the screen, and W7 does it better with how it displays information.

Bugger.
I have tried to use the 'new' menu and have always hated it, the old one was much easier to use. Well hopefully someone will make a util that brings it back.

It won't be coming back. Microsoft is pretty strict with branding, so WYSIWYG, but the Win7 menu is different from the Vista menu, slightly. The classic Start Menu is horrid once it exceeds your vertical resolution.

That may be your opinion but doesn't mean it's true for everyone!

I'm with Billzilla and I can tell you for sure that personally I'm 10-times more productive using my customized Classic Start Meny in Windows XP than I ever been in Vista/Windows 7 and "upgrading" to something that makes you less productive just feels wrong...

Really hope to see the Classic Start Meny as an option.

/KC

If the new improved search bar in the start menu had a "history" (as with Start/Run, the ability to scroll backwards) I wouldn't need any start menu anymore.

I preferred Xp style too, but in W7, you can develop your menus un the small windows (not very practical) or use another way to get access to your stuff:

you can type the name (actually, just a first few letters is enough) of the program in the search bar and on top it displays directly all the stuff starting that way, two or three letters and you have your program clickable directly rather than clicking on start, then, scroll to the libe you're interested in, then go left in expandable menu, etc...

Also, the buttons in the task bar are easy to access, and you can pin there whatever you use often... once you get used to it, it's quite fast

Last thing, the "aero" interface is based on a whole new rendering system, allowing people to develop at will new looks for their windows. I'm pretty confident that, in a few months, we'll be able to download different themes with various ways to present menus, windows, etc...

as a buddy of mine, scuba diver, use to say: wet & sea