Windows 7 running on a 266MHz Pentium II, 96MB RAM, 4MB graphics

#1

Post by profquail » Thu, Jan 07, 2010, 3:52 AM UTC

Windows 7 running on a 266MHz Pentium II, 96MB RAM, 4MB graphics
forum.thewindowsclub.com

Re: Windows 7 running on a 266MHz Pentium II, 96MB RAM, 4MB graphics

#2

Post by ShabbyDoo » Thu, Jan 07, 2010, 4:21 AM UTC

When MSFT becomes afraid, it can accomplish stuff. "Wow, these netbooks are popular, and they can't run our latest operating system!" caused them to change pretty quickly.

Re: Windows 7 running on a 266MHz Pentium II, 96MB RAM, 4MB graphics

#3

Post by wjdix » Thu, Jan 07, 2010, 4:24 AM UTC

Ha, A Windows Experience score of 1.

Re: Windows 7 running on a 266MHz Pentium II, 96MB RAM, 4MB graphics

#4

Post by pcof » Thu, Jan 07, 2010, 4:42 AM UTC

Allright. It can run the Control Panel applet. What else? Notepad? At the same time?

Re: Windows 7 running on a 266MHz Pentium II, 96MB RAM, 4MB graphics

#5

Post by Ennis » Thu, Jan 07, 2010, 4:45 AM UTC

wjdix wrote: post #3

Ha, A Windows Experience score of 1.

The Windows Experience score has a lot to do with 3D Graphics. A significant difference between Windows 7 and Vista is that 7 only accepts WDDM drivers while Vista takes XDDM and WDDM drivers. This means all older video cards are not directly supported. All 3D rendering is done by the CPU instead of the GPU. The OS will only allow you to run the graphical Aero interface if you have a WDDM driver to make use of the GPU. Otherwise it uses an interface that is similar to XP but a little more modern and simple.

The result is a blazing fast system. Watching DVD's, flash, DivX is all fine. I'm one of the unlucky one's with a Thinkpad X40. The only thing I can't do is run Aero or Direct X stuff. It's annoying at times but I can live with it.

What matters - web browsing, video and music is an awesome experience. You don't need modern hardware for that or a high Windows Experience score. Just a well made OS.

Re: Windows 7 running on a 266MHz Pentium II, 96MB RAM, 4MB graphics

#6

Post by kl4m » Thu, Jan 07, 2010, 4:51 AM UTC

pcof wrote: post #4

Allright. It can run the Control Panel applet. What else? Notepad? At the same time?

Well, if it can, it means he could use less than 96MB.

Re: Windows 7 running on a 266MHz Pentium II, 96MB RAM, 4MB graphics

#7

Post by patio11 » Thu, Jan 07, 2010, 5:02 AM UTC

ShabbyDoo wrote: post #2

When MSFT becomes afraid, it can accomplish stuff. "Wow, these netbooks are popular, and they can't run our latest operating system!" caused them to change pretty quickly.

See also security, which they have seriously found religion on.

Re: Windows 7 running on a 266MHz Pentium II, 96MB RAM, 4MB graphics

#8

Post by angusgr » Thu, Jan 07, 2010, 5:11 AM UTC

pcof wrote: post #4

Allright. It can run the Control Panel applet. What else? Notepad? At the same time?

I'd be more curious on how much pagefile it's using at idle, and how much swapping it did to just get the Control Panel open.

Re: Windows 7 running on a 266MHz Pentium II, 96MB RAM, 4MB graphics

#9

Post by Raphael » Thu, Jan 07, 2010, 5:58 AM UTC

ShabbyDoo wrote: post #2

When MSFT becomes afraid, it can accomplish stuff. "Wow, these netbooks are popular, and they can't run our latest operating system!" caused them to change pretty quickly.

Did they ever get full Windows running on ARM?

Re: Windows 7 running on a 266MHz Pentium II, 96MB RAM, 4MB graphics

#10

Post by theschwa » Thu, Jan 07, 2010, 6:07 AM UTC

I don't want to start any kind of war, but as a *nix user I'm not very impressed.