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Windows 7 and the NXT?

I've recently gotten a scattering of reports of problems under Windows 7... but as a Mac user, I've got no way of testing it, and I'm not sure if these are problems due to working with a new OS, or just the smattering of problems that often crop up. So I'm curious and thought I'd ask the readership what they have heard or seen. Has anyone done a clean install of NXT-G (either 1.0 or 2.0), and what have been your experiences? Do they play together nicely, or have you found any incompatibilities between them?
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tr6scott said…
I am using ver 1.1 and have no problem with the programming, but I have a bluetooth issue. The bluetooth manager will discover, connect, and passkey correctly, but only assign one com port. This was an issue with xp at times, but you had a option to "Add" a com port for incoming and outgoing. I suspect that is the same problem in Win7, but there is no tool I can find that will add the 2nd com port.
Nov 2, 2009, 9:10:00 PM
NickNackGus said…
I'm running Vista, XP, and Ubuntu 9.04. Under Vista, I've had all sorts of problems, mainly with NXT-G, but also with *.ric files that have parameters whenever I use *.nxc. The weirdest part is that I had two identical *.ric files, but only one of them worked, even if I swapped their names. (By "it doesn't work", I mean the image was never displayed, the image was incorrectly displayed, or my NXT went into a cross between Firmware uppdate mode and normal operation, solvable by removeing and reinserting the battery.) In XP, there is simply not enough power to use NXT-G, and I haven't gotten to do all that much programming using BricxCC on that OS. In Ubuntu, I was unable to do anything, mainly because I lacked the drivers for my bricks, and although I've found the drivers by now, I am having problems with the computer's power system. (Think of what it would be like to have a laptop whose charger has a broken wire...inside the insulation, where you can't find it. A uiversal laptop charger has been added to my list of thing to buy.) Best way to avoid/fix your problems: use Linux: Anyone can rewrite any part of it until it works.
Nov 2, 2009, 10:12:00 PM
Aaron said…
I have an XP with 1.1, Mac with 2.0 and 1.1 before, and several friends with Vista running 1.1\2.0.
On Mac, everything works smoothly except for the Mac built-in Bluetooth. The Built-in Bluetooth on MacBooks either don't work at all, or make the NXT-G enviroment freeze up for 10 seconds at a time.
On XP, I couldn't ask for more! 1.1 and XP rocks!
On Vista, no matter what version, it always has problems. Vista itself is very slow, which doesn't help NXT-G, usually it stops responding, and there is a known issue about errors when creating MyBlocks in 1.1\2.0. It happens to all OS's, but most likely Vista.
Since Windows 7 is Vista-based, the same issues should happen except the fact that 7 isn't as slow. That's one thing that improved with 7. Remember though, NXT-G isn't officially compatible with Windows 7 yet.
Nov 3, 2009, 9:58:00 AM
nxtquy said…
The NXT-G version 1.1 software installed smoothly on Windows 7, and it seems okay in terms of programming and connecting it to the robot via USB. I'm assuming that the software works just as well as it did with Vista (maybe even better), and I have yet to encounter any issues with the program.
Nov 3, 2009, 11:08:00 AM
NickNackGus said…
Great. NOW you tell me it runs better on all operating systems OTHER than Vista (which I never wanted in the first place. I just wanted to keep my old desktop). And yes, Vista is slower than most computers. My calculator is faster. XP works fine you say? Not on a PavilionN5415 with a damaged backlight and power system, it doesn't. Not enough memory or support from dad to install XP on my Vista-running laptop.
Nov 3, 2009, 10:10:00 PM
Aaron said…
It's kind of sad when people think the problems with their computers are because of the OS's. It's not all actually about the OS sometimes. In my comment above, the Vista that is super slow is only a year old and doesn't have any unnecessary background programs running. And the reason why I decided it was an OS issue, is because my XP Laptop and one of my relatives' Vista Laptops are the Exact same model (Toshiba Satellite P105), exact RAM (Both got replaced with 2 1GB cards, same brand), Same peripherals (except for OS), and mostly same programs (MS Office, IE6/IE8, Norton AntiVirus 09, NXT-G, etc). But the Vista is always doing background work, and after some research it was some Cleaning up the Hard Drive and doing System Restore stuff, which is a special feature of Vista.
Nov 4, 2009, 4:10:00 AM
NickNackGus said…
1 You can have multiple operating systems on the same computer. It’s called "dual boot".

2 Those background tasks? You can't disable them...even if you absolutely need to! Because of this, I have to convert my simple NXT-G programs to textual code, and there is no decompiler to convert a program from on language to another. I am swapping to ubuntu, and Microsoft can't stop me.
Nov 4, 2009, 5:55:00 AM
Klaus said…
I use Windows 7 64-bit and the NXT 1.1. The software crashes sometimes during startup, but usually works after the second start.
Nov 13, 2009, 4:55:00 PM
The Lees Big Bear Retreat said…
I'm using NXT 2.0 with windows 7. There's some problem during adding a block if the screen is rather full. A pop-up will occur and you have to click OK before you can attach the block.
There's also the random crashes.
Nov 19, 2009, 8:14:00 AM
NickNackGus said…
Ah, yes, those symptoms. Those are signs (judging by my computers and their multiple operating systems) of you using NXT-G. Whether these general symptoms occur when using a powerful computer or not, I have no idea. (But I hope not!)
Nov 19, 2009, 9:54:00 PM
Unknown said…
I am running Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit and NXT Edu 2.0. I haven't had any issues with the NXT software on the O/S, but I have had some issues with the blue tooth, and sometimes even the USB connections. Most often on blue-tooth, the problem is that NXT won't be able to connect even though the blue tooth connection has been established through windows. It just doesn't get recognized by NXT. I had the same issues on Vista, however, and I'm thinking it's more of a hardware/driver level issue than anything. I'm using a Sony VAIO.
Nov 24, 2009, 3:59:00 AM
NickNackGus said…
Exactly. Windows installs the NXT bluetooth drivers the ffirst time, but after that, you tell it to connect, it starts installing the drivers (which already exist), bluetooth times out, and we don't have the slightest idea what windows did with the drivers.
Nov 24, 2009, 5:34:00 AM
Unknown said…
i can't even get it to install (version 1.0). I get an error message saying ...

=================================

Your system does not have enough memory to run LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT.

LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT requires 256MB of RAM or more.

For more details see your LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT documentation

or visit www.MINDSTORMS.com/support

=================================

...and I have 4GB of RAM on my Dell Latitude E6400. Its Win7 Ultimate 64 bit.

I could get it installed and running on Windows 7 XP Mode, but neither USB nor Bluetooth would connect :-(
Nov 28, 2009, 10:32:00 PM
Unknown said…
i have windows 7 home premium, 32 bit. i can't install it, it says version not available. (nxt-g 1.1)
Dec 12, 2009, 12:56:00 PM
Doug W said…
I am having problems with W7. The Brick is recognized by the computer via USB, but it keeps coming up with a communications error and will not send the basic "Sound" program to the Brick. I am trying to get the "shooter" going, but it won't send anything to the Brick!
Any Suggestions?
Dec 21, 2009, 10:17:00 AM
Unknown said…
We are currently working on a Windows 7 + other software image to rolling out approximately 100 machines. In doing so we have clean installed all versions of NXT and all versions of drivers, and all result in the blue screen of death at time of running the software or shutting down of the computer. Anyone got some new drivers? Please
Dec 23, 2009, 9:16:00 AM
James Floyd Kelly (Jim) said…
This is an older post and you might not get any responses... I suggest posting this in the blog forum (General Category) and see if you can get some help. Good luck.
Dec 23, 2009, 9:17:00 AM
C.A.Roux said…
I've installed NXT 2.0 software on my Windows 7 Computer and it works fine but windows doesn't recognize my NXT, so can someone help me to get windows to recognize my NXT please.
Jan 3, 2011, 5:06:00 PM
off99555 said…
I'm using NXT 2.0 with Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bits and it doesn't work. It crashes every time I initialize the program. How to make it work? Anyone know?
Dec 9, 2011, 3:18:00 AM
Wim said…
I found a simple solution. You can read everything at http://ros.demon.nl/ros/Lego/Mindstorms/mindstorms_Win7_EN.htm.
Good luck.
Jan 30, 2012, 2:46:00 AM
NickNackGus said…
Thanks O.B. Bommel! But, in case you're interested, you can now get the version 2.0 software for free now, and it still supports everything from 1.0. Enjoy!

http://mindstorms.lego.com/en-gb/News/ReadMore/Default.aspx?id=351334
Jan 30, 2012, 11:17:00 AM
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