Solidworks running on Windows 7?

56 views
Skip to first unread message

Tom Kendall

unread,
Jun 1, 2012, 10:01:33 AM6/1/12
to cesi...@googlegroups.com
Dear ICT Colleagues,

My school is considering upgrading all student workstations from
Windows XP Pro to Windows 7 Pro this summer. Just wondering if any
schools that offer DCG have done the same and, in turn, have the T4
version of Solidworks running on Windows 7. Any compatibility issues?

Regards,
Tom

Loreto Navan

Adrienne Webb

unread,
Jun 1, 2012, 4:06:06 PM6/1/12
to cesi...@googlegroups.com
Hi Tom,

My school is considering the same.  While we don't run any T4 software, I would be interested in any advice from anyone who has taken this path.  All advice (pitfalls as well) gratefully accepted.

Regards
Adrienne Webb


--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
Groups "CESI-list" group.
To post to this group, send email to cesi...@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
cesi-list+...@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cesi-list?hl=en-GB where all messages are archived and are publically available to non members of the list. Messages may also show up in search engines etc.
Visit the web site www.cesi.ie
Attempts to use the list for commercial purposes may result removal from the list.

Brian Henry

unread,
Jun 2, 2012, 6:03:02 AM6/2/12
to CESI-list
I asked this here last year and although the SolidWorks version we
have says it doesn't 'support' Windows 7, it does run quite well on
it. I think maybe I had to run the setup program in compatibility
mode, but once installed there's no trickery to launching it. We're
using 64 bit SolidWorks 2008. Just don't make the same mistake I did
and remember to deactivate your licences before wiping the computers.
Though the guys at SolidSolutions.ie were very helpful and sorted out
the licensing difficulties I put us in! Our version isn't T4, but I
don't think there's a difference.

dave

unread,
Jun 3, 2012, 5:32:31 AM6/3/12
to CESI-list
Hi Tom,

We have 3 computer labs at the moment and I have SolidWorks student
design kit 2011 running in two of the labs which
are kitted out with windows 7 machines. There was zero issues
installing and running SW on any of these machines plus I have the
full 2011 version on a few computers also. I installed these for
students to design for the F1 in Schools competition + teaching
technology students. In the main DCG lab we are due to get our
licenses for SW this coming academic year (our school will have its
first group of 5th years this year) and these will all be t4 Dell
machines, I'm really not sure why they downgrade these from XP to
Win7?

David Ganly
Donabate Community College

Tom Kendall

unread,
Jun 3, 2012, 10:33:46 AM6/3/12
to cesi...@googlegroups.com
Thanks Brian and Dave for your feedback.

It is was my understanding that the State Examinations Committee was
only accepting student project work on Solidworks version 2009 for the
2012 exams. Does anyone know if this has changed for 2013?

@David: As a school just starting DCG at 5th Year, do you know what
Solidworks Version your school will be issued? If not might you be
able to find out or provide me with a relevant contact?

Regards,
Tom
Loreto Navan

Liam Fallon

unread,
Jun 3, 2012, 1:38:53 PM6/3/12
to cesi...@googlegroups.com
Hi Tom

The current position with the solidworks is that schools would be issued with 2009 for school use and the student design kit for sept will be 2011. The SEC are only accepting assignment in the 2009 version, I have not heard of any changes coming yet but we live in hope as the pc's in the dcg room are beginning to start giving problems.

The contact for solidworks is a company in Dublin called solidsolutions. You can get all there contact information from the t4 website (www.t4.ie)

Best of luck
Liam


Sent from my iPhone

G P Ashe

unread,
Jun 3, 2012, 2:34:33 PM6/3/12
to cesi...@googlegroups.com
There is no "upgrade" from XP to Windows 7 - it is a clean install process. Perhaps you just intend to purchase a whole load of new W7 pcs? If however you are intending to upgrade existing pcs then I cannot urge the importance of building your test system sooner rather than later. You need to possibly get your head around WAIK too if you plan to clone an image to multiple machines. If you are using Group Policy then you need to make sure that all works as expected with W7. 

Sorry this has nothing to do with DCG/T4 per se!

ga

Claire Mc Hugh

unread,
Jun 3, 2012, 5:16:08 PM6/3/12
to cesi...@googlegroups.com
Thanks Liam ,
Hopefully we can upgrade to 2011 next term ,
Claire

Sent from Claires iPhone

lorcan ginty

unread,
Jun 4, 2012, 6:32:01 AM6/4/12
to CESI-list
Its my understanding also that 2012-2013 leaving cert students must
submit DCG projects in 2009, and no other version. Be careful the
students don't open and save their project in 2011 (students personal
& practice version) as it will not then open in 2009 version and can't
be fixed, for the leaving cert project.
Our school currently runs XP in the CAD lad and I would welcome
windows 7, but testing it on another P.C. first.
I know this might be a conservative; but I would keep XP, (cause it
works, remember the fiasco with vista) save your school some money and
buy a top quality visualiser to help with A3 drawings for all years
1st-6th yrs.
I would be waiting another year, to use the last available upgrade of
Solidworks undercurrent licence agreements with Solidsolutions.(three
upgrades in total, already two used and millions spent on this)

Tom Kendall

unread,
Jun 4, 2012, 11:43:04 AM6/4/12
to cesi...@googlegroups.com
Thanks Liam, Greg and Lorcan. It is great to have access to varied,
sound opinions. My school does have Windows 7 installed on the
majority of teacher workstations located at the top of each classroom,
and, I must say, I haven't come across a feature in Win 7 that has
made me think, "boy, I really need to get Win 7 on all the computer
lab machines as well!". As such, I am leaning toward not installing
Win 7 on our machines that are currently running Win XP. Network wise,
roaming profiles have been turned-off, so there is no profile issues
related to users logging into a Win XP machine at one location and
then logging into a Win 7 machine at another location.

Regards,
Tom
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages