General Question Orbiter 2009 + Vista & Win7

[computerex]

Comparing orbiter with programs that have nothing in common with it except that they run on the same OS and have a graphical output is rather pointless.

I never said that anywhere in this thread if memory serves . You probably misquoted.

Did you find a solution? This is what I experienced in Vista and now I'm experiencing in Windows 7 as well.

I think that test was conducted with the Vista beta. In the released version I experience no such problems besides the significant FPS drop.

In any case, a darkened sky is an old old orbiter thing. You are missing a library or two. Use 'dependency walker' to find the missing dependencies and you'll be set.

 

[Hielor]

Regarding Windows Vista, you wrote the following in the old Orbiter forums:

Did you find a solution? This is what I experienced in Vista and now I'm experiencing in Windows 7 as well.

Really, you've had this problem for years and you haven't ever noticed any of the nearly monthly threads asking about the "black sky problem"?

http://orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=4660&highlight=Black+sky
http://orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=7823&highlight=Black+sky
http://orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=7424&highlight=Black+sky
http://orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=4623&highlight=Black+sky
http://orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=4036&highlight=Black+sky
http://orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=2742&highlight=Black+sky
http://orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=2133&highlight=Black+sky

I tried any path already. It does not change anything.

Put it anywhere but Program Files (or Program Files(x86), if you're on a 64-bit machine). IE, I have my Orbiter installs in C:\Games.

 

[agentgonzo]

The sky dissappearing is a known problem with orbiter. You just need to download the following files (a quick google search will throw up a site to download them from) and bung them in your orbiter directory.

msvcp71.dll
msvcr71.dll
msvcrtd.dll

 

[Moonwalker]

Well, I got Windows 7 Ultimate this week. Orbiter now runs just like a charm. No issues anymore at all. No need to copy stuff or fiddle about (I couldn't fix Orbiter in Windows 7 RC anyway) :thumbup:

 

[Brycesv1]

its funny about vista. everyone said it sucked when theyv never used it. then those that have used it (about 30 ppl that i know in person) have all liked it. only 3 actually have problems with it. i think its misunderstood. if you take the time to learn how to use it (and 7 for that matter) then it will be your best friend

 

[Moonwalker]

its funny about vista. everyone said it sucked when theyv never used it. then those that have used it (about 30 ppl that i know in person) have all liked it. only 3 actually have problems with it. i think its misunderstood. if you take the time to learn how to use it (and 7 for that matter) then it will be your best friend

Well, virtually any review reveals that Windows 7 is much faster and much more stable than Vista (which you immediately realize anyway without the need to read a review). I'm using Windows 7 on the same machine I used on Vista. The difference is amazing.

Vista was a barrel burst, even on high end hardware. And if we consider virtualization, Vista just was nothing more than eye candy junk, slowing down even high-end machines. Changing from XP to Vista really was nonsense especially in relation to software compatibility (it was the first time within 16 years that I changed BACK to a previous OS). But those I know of, who did not change from XP to Vista, now change to Windows 7 including myself

 

[Brycesv1]

yeah. at first i didnt like windows 7 for its "dock" interface but then i found out how to switch it back and i love it. just waiting for my new comp before i go and buy it

 

[Moonwalker]

The dock interface is not even active after setup if I remember right

I usually turn off those things anway. The only things you can find on my entire desktop is: the clock and the AVG Anti-Virus symbol. The task bar and desktop is completely empty (not even the recycle bin is visible).

 

[insanity]

The only problem I've had with windows 7 and orbiter is an occasional white-flicker. Framerates are better than XP, and I feel like loadtime is too.

I'm using 64bit Home Premium ($30 for college students!)

 

[Brycesv1]

i get that white flicker now on vista and before on XP. not sure why. usually seemed to happen right after switching to external view

 

[Hielor]

:tiphat:

The dock interface is not even active after setup if I remember right

I usually turn off those things anway. The only things you can find on my entire desktop is: the clock and the AVG Anti-Virus symbol. The task bar and desktop is completely empty (not even the recycle bin is visible).

In that case you're missing out on a very useful feature of 7: if you have an app pinned to the taskbar, pressing Win+# will open that app.

The only problem I've had with windows 7 and orbiter is an occasional white-flicker. Framerates are better than XP, and I feel like loadtime is too.

I'm using 64bit Home Premium ($30 for college students!)

i get that white flicker now on vista and before on XP. not sure why. usually seemed to happen right after switching to external view

I'm pretty sure this is a known and discussed issue from Vista, might want to look around for it...

 

[astrosammy]

Good that it runs on Win 7. I'll get a free license from school next week. Is 64 bit better than 32?

 

[Moonwalker]

In that case you're missing out on a very useful feature of 7: if you have an app pinned to the taskbar, pressing Win+# will open that app.

It's not that I don't like those features. But you don't only have one app pinned to the taskbar. Just like you don't only have one shortcut on the desktop. You'll have plenty of it and soon your desktop and task bar starts looking like a funfair, which I don't like. And the most worse things is the running apps at startup. Most of the people I know of have 10 or more programs running at Windows startup. It doesn't only look terrible, it also takes a certain amount of time until you can nicely use the OS.

I just like it fast and clean. Everything I need is in the start menu. And only one program I need at a time is visible in the task bar. And the programs in the start menu always is individualized. Any crap like "uninstall", "help" or "links" is being removed. There is always about 50% of useless short-cut crap within the start menu after I have installed any software I need, well until I individualize my start menu, which is tricky in Windows 7 but easy once you know the corresponding "hidden" folders.

 

[agentgonzo]

Most of the people I know of have 10 or more programs running at Windows startup. It doesn't only look terrible, it also takes a certain amount of time until you can nicely use the OS.

That sounds like a feature of your friends rather than a feature of the OS. You can't blame an OS for starting slowly if people run a load of stuff at startup.

I personally like the new task bar. It's less cluttered than the previous ones. I only use about 5 programmes on a regular basis, so those are all pinned to the task bar. It's much quicker and more convenient than using them through the start menu and a pretty nice feature. I've never had the task bar cluttered with too many things.

 

[Hielor]

Good that it runs on Win 7. I'll get a free license from school next week. Is 64 bit better than 32?

The 64-bit version allows you to address more RAM than the 32-bit, but some software out there still hasn't been updated to run cleanly on 64-bit. Compatibility issues are fairly rare, though.

Your license is also good for either 32 or 64, so I would recommend going with 64 and then switching back if you have problems.

It's not that I don't like those features. But you don't only have one app pinned to the taskbar. Just like you don't only have one shortcut on the desktop. You'll have plenty of it and soon your desktop and task bar starts looking like a funfair, which I don't like.

The difference here is that apps can't pin themselves to your taskbar, the way that they can put a shortcut on your desktop. You decide what goes there, so you only need to put stuff that you use most.

And only one program I need at a time is visible in the task bar.

Er, wait...you only run one program at a time?

I think a multitasking OS may be far, far outside of your requirements :lol:

 

[kevinvr]

i get that white flicker now on vista and before on XP. not sure why. usually seemed to happen right after switching to external view

I've been using orbiter 2006 and 2009 on winows 7 for a month now and win 7 is great! I also get that white flicker, need to look in the forum for a fix when I get time

 

[Brycesv1]

using minimal programs helps keep things fast. if im going to play homeworld, ill shutoff the messengers and any apps that use the internet. if i know its going to be a long drawn out game with plenty of ships on screen then i will even disconnect from the internet, then close any programs and processes that have anything to do with the internet since they are now useless. i run 32 bit vista home and i make my machine idle at <400mb before i boot up a single player game. also saves CPU cycles as well so pathfinding in games is better. moving over 1000 units at once doesnt cause any performance hit because my CPU is freed up to calculate the waypoints

 

[DanScall]

Sorry if this is bandyed around alot but I have looked quite a bit to no avail: Where can I get the 2009 Beta?

 

[agentgonzo]

Sorry if this is bandyed around alot but I have looked quite a bit to no avail: Where can I get the 2009 Beta?

http://www.orbiter-forum.com/project.php?projectid=1

 

[DanScall]

http://www.orbiter-forum.com/project.php?projectid=1

Mucho Thanko!