Techradar: Windows 7 Review

Gadgets

Henry Winchester - 6 August 2009 - 10:51am

Windows 7 has already found a place in PC Format's hearts. It's a sleek but powerful operating system, and everyone in PCF towers has it installed on just about every device we own. Including our kettles.

Our sister site, Techradar, has posted a Windows 7 review. It's one of the first definitive guides to the finalised Windows 7 code, and it covers pretty much every aspect of Microsoft's latest OS.

Not wanting to look a gift review in the mouth, but I there is one flaw in Windows 7's otherwise-flawless complexion: its compatibility with sound cards. I plugged in my SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtreme music, downloaded the drivers, and the whole thing just fell apart. For about 30 seconds I'd enjoy perfect sound, then speakers would cut out, sound would become muffled, and I'd end up throwing a satellite speaker into orbit in a full-blown techno-rage. I haven't been this angry with technology since I couldn't get my 486 to boot in 1996.

I've tried just about everything, from Daniel K's (infamous) drivers, to fiddling with the BIOS settings as per the Creative site. I was still getting major issues, and in the end I just had to revert to my onboard soundcard. It sounds noticeably flatter, but at least it works.

As it stands, this is a major problem with Windows 7, and it's not limited to Creative soundcards. Get it sorted, Microsoft.

Henry Winchester's blog

Anonymous
19 October 2009 - 7:33am

I would probably wait a few

I would probably wait a few months after 7 comes out, at least to give enough time for Microsoft to get rid of the bugs like they did with Vista.

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