Windows alternative for SS?

[Cary B. Cornett]

Microsoft's whole Windows 11 thing and related issues have made me nervous. When Win10 support ends (no more security patches), I really don't want to be forced into another more demanding of power version of Windows. At one time I looked for ReactOS to bridge that gap, but I don't know that it will ever get there.

Is there any chance of making SawStudio work in some other OS environment? Has anyone, for example, tried running SS using Linux with WINE? I really don't want to lose the use of SS, so I'm looking for ways to "future proof" my situation.

[Bob L]

Stick with Windows 10 for as long as you can... you don't need any more updates... in fact I do my best to stop the machine from updating... set up your system and keep it clean from the internet loading it up with unwanted updates.

Bob L

[mr_es335]

Carey,

One of the very, very, very, very [ad infinitum...] best things, that could ever happen to a piece of software, is to leave simply leave that software alone!!

Once a piece of software is "out of BETA", then, we can be assured of "...continuing on!!"

For your interest, on my office system, I am employing Windows 7 SP1, on an i5, Gen 2 processor...simply meaning that the hardware is nearly 14 years old! And...all is fine!

On my "Live Rig" system, I HAD to update to WIN10 - simply because the amp sim software demanded it!!

• However, now that I am reverting back to GR5 [...from 2016], I will happily revert back to WIN7!

Anyhow, I DO hope that this helps you Carey?

PS: Bob is so correct here!!

[jmh]

The gotcha is that various plugins or the quest for more speed takes you to new hardware which older versions of windows may not install on due to device drivers, planed obsolescence, etc.

I went down that path (twice) because I bought a machine which turned out not to run a version of windows that supported firewire, and then the flaky Presonus Series III mixer windows driver didn't work well with the AMD chipset I tried again on an intel - it still screws up if windows boots before the mixer. It is a stupid problem for them to have allowed to continue so long because it actually works very well once you get it going (your thread is reminding me to check for new firmware). It's now (I think) on windows 11. Which once you strip everything down you can get to work nicely with saw. I got it looking pretty much like the classic desktop and after a few seconds of POST boots in less than 10 more. After all that labor, I had to put about 40 second of delay in the bios to give the mixer time to fully boot.

The machine I replaced was from early 2000s. At work we had tons of machines failing from blown capacitors from the same time-period and I was starting to feel concerned when mine was getting toward 15 or 20 years.

Anyway, saw works quite well on the new OS.

Edit: Confirmed - Win 11.

[Tim Miskimon]

I dread every time I have to move to a new operating system.
I don't do it until I'm forced into it.
The last two times it happened when I had computer failure.
The latest computer is Windows 10 which I put together back in June of 2020.
It drove me crazy for weeks getting it to run smooth.
A few calls to Bob, a few calls to Microsoft and endless hours of me poking around and I finally got it running pretty smoothly.
I only go on the internet when I'm upgrading or adding a new software and before I to that I do a complete system backup just in case.
Now we have to deal with Windows 11 just like all the other times - 10, 7, Win XP (which I thought ran the best), etc.
Like before I won't move to Windows 11 until I don't have a choice.
I just wish this machine would keep running forever because I am happy with all the software.
I have Windows 11 on a new laptop and I hate it. It's always updating and when it does it stops me in my tracks from doing anything. Even after I changed settings for updates to happen in the middle of the night it still does background things during the day while I'm working - very annoying.
I tried to buy a backup mother board for my studio machine when I finally had it run smoothly but it seems like they discontinue them every year.
I've been using Asus MBs for 25 years because they have given me the best service and they seem to always have enough expansion slots for my needs.
I haven't checked out the new MBs in 5 years and hope I don't have to for a long while.

[mr_es335]

Good day,

I wish to take a moment-or-two, to whole-heartedly dispel this notation that we need to upgrade...period!

As a computer "consultant" since 1998, and working with computers since 1986 [Atari's, then DOS, WIN 3.0 and 3.1, and finally Windows 95], I have clients whom are still employing Windows 95...with many still employing Windows XP. And "ALL IS FINE!!"

I am personally still employing Windows 7 Pro, and see absolutely no need to upgrade whatsoever!!
* My existing system is a 2nd Gen i5 with 5 HDD's - meaning that this system is some 14 years old...and all is working just fine thank you!

Windows 10 LTSC - thanks to cgrafx - IS THE WAY TO GO.
* LTSC 22H2 was released awhile ago...but I am still employing 1809 - and all is working just fine on my Live Rig.

As a retired sole proprietor business person, my calls for "virus and hacking" concerns are almost non-existent.
* I would prefer to say "completely non-existent" - but "I dare not be so cocky since I be thought a fool". On the other hand, I have not made money dealing with viruses-and-such for at least 3+ years...so this MUST say something!

Regarding "...moving to Windows 11 until I don't have a choice..." ...such a "move" will be entirely dependent on new hardware.
* Just a thought, "If the guitar I currently employ 'does the job'...why would I need to replace that guitar when a new model comes out?" Can this very same principle not be applied to computers and software? I really-and-truly do not see why not!

One last thought, as a service-man, I do NOT sell hardware. So when a client comes to me for a computer, I say to the client that has two choices, "a new consumer computer", or "a refurbished corporate computer". I always...ALWAYS opted for the latter...a refurbished corporate computer. WHY? Simply because a refurbished corporate computer is BETTER!

And guess what! These computers are most often...older systems...dating aback to 2015 or so. And, if you know HOW to purchase these systems, you can very, very often, obtain such a system that is near new - what we refer to as "A+"! I have abiding by this plan for years...and this plan has NEVER ONCE failed me!! The only time this plan DOES NOT WORK is for "gamer's", whom of which I do not get involved in at all!

So my advice...for that wish to employ it..."...chill..."...which means "...having a cold one..."

PS: Tim, if you know where to look, you can always find older motherboards that meet your needs. In such situations, since the cost is often minimal, I always opt to purchase two complete boards.

As always, I hope that the above information will be of some practicable use - or more importantly, comfort!

[Pedro V]

I use Windows 7 and everything I like and need is working perfectly on its latest versions. There is a certain relationship between bad software and modern operating systems. For my personal stuff I have a MacBook M1.

[Todd R]

I dread every time I have to move to a new operating system.
I don't do it until I'm forced into it.
The last two times it happened when I had computer failure.
The latest computer is Windows 10 which I put together back in June of 2020.
It drove me crazy for weeks getting it to run smooth.
A few calls to Bob, a few calls to Microsoft and endless hours of me poking around and I finally got it running pretty smoothly.
I only go on the internet when I'm upgrading or adding a new software and before I to that I do a complete system backup just in case.
Now we have to deal with Windows 11 just like all the other times - 10, 7, Win XP (which I thought ran the best), etc.
Like before I won't move to Windows 11 until I don't have a choice.
I just wish this machine would keep running forever because I am happy with all the software.
I have Windows 11 on a new laptop and I hate it. It's always updating and when it does it stops me in my tracks from doing anything. Even after I changed settings for updates to happen in the middle of the night it still does background things during the day while I'm working - very annoying.
I tried to buy a backup mother board for my studio machine when I finally had it run smoothly but it seems like they discontinue them every year.
I've been using Asus MBs for 25 years because they have given me the best service and they seem to always have enough expansion slots for my needs.
I haven't checked out the new MBs in 5 years and hope I don't have to for a long while.

I avoid it to and dread having to deal with any new OS BS. I have a Win7 Pro 64 partition on my current machine...I haven't been using it though since getting SAW64full (I was previously on Lite)

Yesterday I looked into getting more CPU power because my current work is an aside from SAW and that program would run even better with more power...but then, like you say, it's all based around mobo change....and they are pricey...my main machine is 6 years old, so thinking to get a bit more "up to date"...but if that comes with Win11, ugh

[mr_es335]

Todd,

You stated, "...but then, like you say, it's all based around mobo change....and they are pricey...my main machine is 6 years old, so thinking to get a bit more up to date..."

Simply obtain a 7th or 8th Gen i7 - both of these iterations will do yo just fine. Then get Windows 10 LTSC...and this combination will do you just fine as well.

Lastly, again consider a refurbished Dell - for desktops, or an IBM for laptops. In my book, you simply cannot go wrong with these...
* I just obtained a A+ P51 Lenovo Laptop and "Man! This thing is so fast I can hardly believe it!"

[jmh]

I avoid it to and dread having to deal with any new OS BS. I have a Win7 Pro 64 partition on my current machine...I haven't been using it though since getting SAW64full (I was previously on Lite)

Yesterday I looked into getting more CPU power because my current work is an aside from SAW and that program would run even better with more power...but then, like you say, it's all based around mobo change....and they are pricey...my main machine is 6 years old, so thinking to get a bit more "up to date"...but if that comes with Win11, ugh

For saw, the higher on this type of list:

https://www.cpubenchmark.net/singleThread.html

...the better.

I got my current machine a few years ago choosing from among the highest single-thread rate with the lowest price cpus - and it is still about 80% the fastest. Unfortunately for us, Moore's law went on a different trajectory for single thread performance which evolved from exponential growth to a linear crawl. I think (but don't know for sure) that we are probably limited to AMD or Intel with '86 instruction sets too and if current windows versions support architectures such as arm, performance on other instruction sets may not translate to SAW.

As you pointed out, new processor and chipset driver requirements are likely to force an OS update.

Unless your interface is firewire, or otherwise has no drivers in WIN11, it shouldn't cause too much extra pain ($). I found a couple of powershell scripts to tweak performance and remove all the crap from 11, unplugged it from the internet and it just works fine. This may not apply to your 'aside from SAW' needs, but you might as well try to hit both targets.