There are actually two issues with Windows that make it even more of a PITA than most people realize...

First, there is more than one Windows core.  MS doesn't go out of their way to make this well known.  If hardware changes in a significant way, such that a different core should be selected, you can not correct this issue without a reinstall because Windows does not allow live swapout of the kernel.  The only mechanism they have to analyze which kernel is required is in the installer.  The last I paid any attention, there were four unique cores, but their may be more by now.  This is why upgrades of major components is discouranged.  Linux does not suffer from such a short-sighted design.

Second nightmare is that CPU cores is one of the key criteria MS uses to determine licensing.  It used to be 2 cores for a desktop, but any more than that required a bigger (i.e. more expensive) license.  I am pretty sure that was raised to 4, but not to 8 (dual quad).

So, the moral of the story is, stick with Linux and life gets much easier, ha ha

Kevin

Sent from my Nokia phone
-----Original Message-----
From: Technomage
Sent:  02/19/2010 7:01:26 PM
Subject:  Re: CPU upgrade?

oh yeah. I forgot what a PITA that vista/windows 7 can be. I used linux 
or OSX these days.

On 2/19/10 7:34 AM, Shawn Dowler wrote:
> Actually, Windows might tell you that it thinks you are using a new
> computer because too many hardware components changed, which requires
> you to call a telephone number to get a code to make your Windows
> installation "genuine" again, but Linux should usually Just Work, even
> without an SMP kernel. Of course, an SMP kernel will give you better
> performance on your new processor, but is not required.
>
> Shawn Dowler
> Information Designer
> shawn.dowler@gmail.com
> http://walkingtowel.org
>
>
>    

---------------------------------------------------
PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us
To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings:
http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss

---------------------------------------------------
PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us
To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings:
http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss