Windows Me worked well for me, at a time when win98 SE kept crashing its explorer.exe... 
I can't say I've used win8 enough to form an opinion... the "start menu" is too different from what I've gotten used to since win95, but everything else seems similar (if not equal) to win7.
Win7 is working quite well on my home PC and laptop... however, for work, where I need to connect to other PCs running linux, I too have taken to using linux... ssh -X (without having to resort to Xming) is a wonderful thing indeed
Do you have your drivers installed?
Look at what this kids does... maybe it helps:

I can't say I've used win8 enough to form an opinion... the "start menu" is too different from what I've gotten used to since win95, but everything else seems similar (if not equal) to win7.
Win7 is working quite well on my home PC and laptop... however, for work, where I need to connect to other PCs running linux, I too have taken to using linux... ssh -X (without having to resort to Xming) is a wonderful thing indeed
(December 21, 2013 at 5:28 am)Stimbo Wrote: and if anyone has any suggestions how to record live pc sounds in the absence of the stereo mixer option, I'll happily listen.Really? No stereo mixer?
Do you have your drivers installed?
Look at what this kids does... maybe it helps: