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Pros and Cons of using Windows 7 on MBP?
- Thread starter BluAffiliate
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My experience using Windows 7 under bootcamp has been somewhat disappointing.
I first installed it on a Mini, which seems to run pretty well for the most part. Can't seem to get the firewire port to work though.
On my 15" 2011 MacBook Pro, it's really disappointing so far. As mentioned previously, the trackpad is really weird, the battery life sucks, and it gets so hot it's really uncomfortable to work on for long periods of time. The biggest problem though is that something is really screwy with the graphics drivers. I get refresh rate problems all the time dragging windows around the screen like I have a graphics card with 32mb of ram or something 🙁. Since I bought the computer with the thought that it could run windows programs no sweat, this is really a bummer and I think I would have made a different purchasing decision had I known how poorly the computer would run windows 7.
Oh and no delete key..which is much more annoying than I thought it would be🙂
I first installed it on a Mini, which seems to run pretty well for the most part. Can't seem to get the firewire port to work though.
On my 15" 2011 MacBook Pro, it's really disappointing so far. As mentioned previously, the trackpad is really weird, the battery life sucks, and it gets so hot it's really uncomfortable to work on for long periods of time. The biggest problem though is that something is really screwy with the graphics drivers. I get refresh rate problems all the time dragging windows around the screen like I have a graphics card with 32mb of ram or something 🙁. Since I bought the computer with the thought that it could run windows programs no sweat, this is really a bummer and I think I would have made a different purchasing decision had I known how poorly the computer would run windows 7.
Oh and no delete key..which is much more annoying than I thought it would be🙂
awer25
macrumors 65816
You may have to reinstall or something. I don't have any refresh rate issues nor does it get much hotter than OSX. Also, in OSX Delete is Fn+delete - try that and see if it works in Windows.
Yeah, I may have to reinstall. Not sure what the issue is. Off hand what is your Windows Experience Index (especially graphics)? I have a pretty similar spec computer.
Very helpful...Thanks!
awer25
macrumors 65816
I'll try to boot into Windows when I finish work for the night, but off hand I think it's 5.9, limited by the HDD (I have Windows on the HDD, not the SSD). I think the graphics are in the 7's, but I'll check for sure later.
Thanks! I think mine is 5.9 overall and 6.9 for the graphics so it seems about the same. Not sure why I get the cascading windows when dragging stuff around.
thejadedmonkey
macrumors G3
I'll be honest I haven't tried it yet. I want to, but I'm still trying to figure out the setup for Windows and Linux that I want to use. Linux -ubuntu- doesn't have the dual Intel/ATI drivers, so it gets VERY hot, and battery life is pretty much zilch... but otherwise it works very very well out of the "box". Excluding the GPU issue, I'd dare say it works better than Windows.
If you PM me in a few weeks I'll let you know how it went.
awer25
macrumors 65816
munkery
macrumors 68020
Just making the point that a Dell Vostro dual booting Windows 7/Hackintosh would not run OS X as well as a Mac runs Windows 7 via Bootcamp.
Dual boot Ubuntu:
1) GParted via live disk
2) Install Windows in one partition
3) Install Ubuntu in other partition
4) Install bootloader utility such as EasyBCD
Which driver have you tried? The open source ati/radeon driver or the proprietary fglrx/Catalyst driver?
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Windows 7 on MBP
So I have just installed Windows 7 Pro on my MBP 15" , only to find that it seems sluggish and doesnt have sound, also no wireless detected. In device manager network controller and iSight have some problem. I did a clean install, I previously had a boot camp installation on here with Windows 7 and Snow Leopard. I never used SL because my speakers would not produce sound in it. The reason is because several months ago I had headphones in and pulled them out and the headphone plug "post" got stuck inside the MBP headphone port. Well I finally did get that out but I cant use anything but USB headphones now and even with it out the speakers still didnt work. The sound icon in Snow Leopard was grey and when I pressed the volume keys it was always all the way down and had a white circle with a line through it. I researched this problem heavily and found no solution. In Windows 7 the sound worked fine throught the speakers. So since I never used Snow Leopard because of the sound problem. Tonight I put the Win 7 disc in and deleted all partitions then created one new one and formatted it. Also the backlit keys dont work, the eject button for the disc doesnt either and the volume buttons dont make anything appear on screen. I dont know what is going on. I have done all the Windows 7 updates. I am hoping someone can help me out , please.
So I have just installed Windows 7 Pro on my MBP 15" , only to find that it seems sluggish and doesnt have sound, also no wireless detected. In device manager network controller and iSight have some problem. I did a clean install, I previously had a boot camp installation on here with Windows 7 and Snow Leopard. I never used SL because my speakers would not produce sound in it. The reason is because several months ago I had headphones in and pulled them out and the headphone plug "post" got stuck inside the MBP headphone port. Well I finally did get that out but I cant use anything but USB headphones now and even with it out the speakers still didnt work. The sound icon in Snow Leopard was grey and when I pressed the volume keys it was always all the way down and had a white circle with a line through it. I researched this problem heavily and found no solution. In Windows 7 the sound worked fine throught the speakers. So since I never used Snow Leopard because of the sound problem. Tonight I put the Win 7 disc in and deleted all partitions then created one new one and formatted it. Also the backlit keys dont work, the eject button for the disc doesnt either and the volume buttons dont make anything appear on screen. I dont know what is going on. I have done all the Windows 7 updates. I am hoping someone can help me out , please.
munkery
macrumors 68020
Mac OS X and Bootcamp have to be installed for any other installed OS to function properly.
duggram
macrumors 6502
I don't understand this. Win7 works perfectly on my MBP running in VMWare Fusion and I don't have Bootcamp installed.
duggram
macrumors 6502
munkery
macrumors 68020
Virtualization is completely different as many functions are performed by the host OS.
So, OS X is required either way and Bootcamp is required if you are not using virtualization.
Benbikeman
macrumors 6502a
I ran my 2009 MBP 17 for 18 months on Win7 64-bit under Bootcamp.
I experienced only two issues. First, the heat problem mentioned by almost everyone. For processor-intensive tasks like ripping DVDs, it ran extremely hot. Since switching to OSX, I don't see the same temperatures.
Second, hibernate was a real issue. Bootcamp cuts out the screen before Windows has hibernated, so you can't tell when it's done. The only way to tell is to close the lid and wait for the white power light to go out. If the laptop was moved at all during hibernate, then it doesn't hibernate properly and Windows crashes when you try to resume. This was a PITA when using the laptop on trains and planes.
No trackpad issues (the sensitivity is different, but you just adjust it in the control panel and it works perfectly).
I experienced only two issues. First, the heat problem mentioned by almost everyone. For processor-intensive tasks like ripping DVDs, it ran extremely hot. Since switching to OSX, I don't see the same temperatures.
Second, hibernate was a real issue. Bootcamp cuts out the screen before Windows has hibernated, so you can't tell when it's done. The only way to tell is to close the lid and wait for the white power light to go out. If the laptop was moved at all during hibernate, then it doesn't hibernate properly and Windows crashes when you try to resume. This was a PITA when using the laptop on trains and planes.
No trackpad issues (the sensitivity is different, but you just adjust it in the control panel and it works perfectly).
Back in OS X
I have looked as previously stated and can't find anyway to disable the headphones in Snow Leopard. Deleting some file, patching, plugin, anything I would love to be able to use Snow Leopard again and would buy Lion if I knew how to fix the issue. Just want the sound to come through the speakers and that is all.
I have looked as previously stated and can't find anyway to disable the headphones in Snow Leopard. Deleting some file, patching, plugin, anything I would love to be able to use Snow Leopard again and would buy Lion if I knew how to fix the issue. Just want the sound to come through the speakers and that is all.
munkery
macrumors 68020
Turn off the machine, disconnect the power cord, remove the battery, and let it sit for 20 minutes before putting it back together to power it up again.
If that doesn't work or it has a non-removable battery, try the following links:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379
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@ Munkery
I will try this but the reason this is happening is this, I wasn't sure if you saw my other post so here is the part that explains why this is happening... I think.
The reason is because several months ago I had headphones in and pulled them out and the headphone plug "post" got stuck inside the MBP headphone port. Well I finally did get that out but I cant use anything but USB headphones now and even with it out the speakers still didnt work. The sound icon in Snow Leopard was grey and when I pressed the volume keys it was always all the way down and had a white circle with a line through it.
Do you still think what you said will fix my problem?
I will try this but the reason this is happening is this, I wasn't sure if you saw my other post so here is the part that explains why this is happening... I think.
The reason is because several months ago I had headphones in and pulled them out and the headphone plug "post" got stuck inside the MBP headphone port. Well I finally did get that out but I cant use anything but USB headphones now and even with it out the speakers still didnt work. The sound icon in Snow Leopard was grey and when I pressed the volume keys it was always all the way down and had a white circle with a line through it.
Do you still think what you said will fix my problem?
munkery
macrumors 68020
The methods I provided above usually fix issues that are indicated by the icon being greyed out in the menu bar.
Also, if the battery is not removable and all else fails, try completely draining the battery as an alternative to removing the battery.
munkery
macrumors 68020
hehe299792458
macrumors 6502a
No sound still
In the sound output, only digital out is listed. Also Genius Bar says its physical damage , when I had the headphone post stuck in there then I got it out and because it messed up the port well that was physical damage as well.
In the sound output, only digital out is listed. Also Genius Bar says its physical damage , when I had the headphone post stuck in there then I got it out and because it messed up the port well that was physical damage as well.
munkery
macrumors 68020
Give the method described in the following article a try.
http://www.jammersix.com/archives/h...your-sound-disappears-after-using-headphones/
@ Munkery
Give the method described in the following article a try.
http://www.jammersix.com/archives/ho...ng-headphones/
Thank you so much for that suggestion. I had tried months ago when it first happened after I got the headphone post out of the port, the problem is that it pretty much destroyed that port. A head jack post will not even hold in there now it just falls right out. The red light used to be on but it is not anymore and hasn't been on in months. Except I believe it was on when I had Windows 7 on here but I still got sound through speakers.
I really believe there has got to be some way to get the sound back, a line of code, a plugin, deleting some library file. I can't seem to find the answer when looking among those criteria.
Give the method described in the following article a try.
http://www.jammersix.com/archives/ho...ng-headphones/
Thank you so much for that suggestion. I had tried months ago when it first happened after I got the headphone post out of the port, the problem is that it pretty much destroyed that port. A head jack post will not even hold in there now it just falls right out. The red light used to be on but it is not anymore and hasn't been on in months. Except I believe it was on when I had Windows 7 on here but I still got sound through speakers.
I really believe there has got to be some way to get the sound back, a line of code, a plugin, deleting some library file. I can't seem to find the answer when looking among those criteria.