Upgraded To Windows Vista Ultimate

TheOffshoreGambler · 08-04-07, 07:58 AM

I like mine. But i got mine with a new Dell system. So things have been pretty smooth.

Omnivorous Frog · 08-04-07, 10:51 AM

They screwed up when they got the last version just about perfect. I have a vista side by side with a xp pro. Except for a bunch of protocol handshakes, cosmetics and fluff, it is practically the same. I got one of the first versions on a E machine desk. A lot of problems as far as early versions will be buggy and require patches. Also a lot of software for other periperals (sp?) not compatible. Struggled for days to connect a 3 way lexmark only to find out not supported by Vista. If they did not load this up on new machines, they would have trouble selling it.

Dhuepaxuz · 08-04-07, 11:53 AM

Many are waiting for the first ServicePack that is due late this year prior to installing Vista.

In reference to Norton Products, they sure suck. Their products get involved with other files that you have installed on your PC and you can't really uninstall them for good. With that said, I once used a small software that really digs into your system and attempts to really uninstall Norton Products. If I find it again, I will pass on the information.

bigboydan · 08-04-07, 12:04 PM

I had that same problem with the "glitches" factor myself when I first installed it coach. Thats exactly why I went back to using XP.

Omnivorous Frog · 08-04-07, 12:13 PM

Any new operating system is going to have glitches at the start. They actually know this and use the early users to fix them. A few fatal errors and a lot of compatibilty issues. Handshake problems galore. You will see vista downloads available all the time early. All that error reporting is going to the engineers to patch. That is just part of the early product cycle. My beef is, where are the improvements? A reason to upgrade from xp to vista? I just do not see it. I have an unemployed (relocating) specialist coming out next week to work with me. My side by side beta testing will be complete soon. Until then, I am going with proven XP. If I have to, I will have a few systems XP and one beta Vista.

austintx05 · 08-04-07, 12:15 PM

haha...windows blows....smooth sailin on my Max OS X....suckas...

Omnivorous Frog · 08-04-07, 12:18 PM

Originally posted by Dhuepaxus

Many are waiting for the first ServicePack that is due late this year prior to installing Vista.

In reference to Norton Products, they sure suck. Their products get involved with other files that you have installed on your PC and you can't really uninstall them for good. With that said, I once used a small software that really digs into your system and attempts to really uninstall Norton Products. If I find it again, I will pass on the information.

Not a big fan of Norton, but that is what they give you. If you do find that remover let us know. Also, and more importantly, could you elaborate on the servicepack? What do you think it will get you, and what do you estimate the release date? Thanks, OF.

jjgold · 08-04-07, 04:01 PM

http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039

Omnivorous Frog · 08-04-07, 04:06 PM

Thanks jj.

Scorpion · 08-04-07, 04:26 PM

I have used norton internet security for the last 4 years and have no problems to report!

Works fine for me!

Dont use McAfee, its garbage!

jjgold · 08-04-07, 04:33 PM

I use none, tons of pcs and the ones that had no protection gave me ZERO problems, I tried to get fancy and it did not work.

Routers have nice firewalls and protection anyway.

betplom · 08-04-07, 04:36 PM

Actually, Norton is by far more of a resource hog than Macafee, or any other Antivirus program out there.

If you know what you are doing, you don't need an antivirus program that is always resident in memory (ie, working in the background). You could easily get by with an online scan from time to time.

Personally, I have installed my OS and all my apps and bookmarks etc and then made an image of the hard drive using Acronis (Ghost will work also). If anything goes wrong, like a virus, I just copy my virus free image file back onto the hard drive and the system is restored to the way I originally set it up.

Any PC WILL be noticeably faster without an AV program that is always on.

PS: Norton really is crap!

JJ, you are correct, a hardware firewall is more than enough protection, if you don't visit harmful websites.

I too don't have any AV installed on my PC. Never had a virus either!

Omnivorous Frog · 08-04-07, 04:37 PM

Firewalls have problems with allowed trojan horses and spybots. You are best served sweeping once a month with a spy sweeper and washing windows registry. Of course, depending on your surfing and downloading habits. And your isp's protection.

Answer me this, why even upgrade to vista?

Omnivorous Frog · 08-04-07, 04:41 PM

Originally posted by betplom

Actually, Norton is by far more of a resource hog than Macafee, or any other Antivirus program out there.

If you know what you are doing, you don't need an antivirus program that is always resident in memory (ie, working in the background). You could easily get by with an online scan from time to time.

Personally, I have installed my OS and all my apps and bookmarks etc and then made an image of the hard drive using Acronis (Ghost will work also). If anything goes wrong, like a virus, I just copy my virus free image file back onto the hard drive and the system is restored to the way I originally set it up.

Any PC WILL be noticeably faster without an AV program that is always on.

PS: Norton really is crap!

JJ, you are correct, a hardware firewall is more than enough protection, if you don't visit harmful websites.

I too don't have any AV installed on my PC. Never had a virus either!

Wouldn't a system restore do the same thing as your Acronis/ghost?

Scorpion · 08-04-07, 04:44 PM

I bought a notebook last night with vista operating system and I was not able to share a folder with my other pc's, it seems like the only way you can share files and folders with other pc's in your network is to put them in the public folder!

Vista is crap!

betplom · 08-04-07, 04:46 PM

If you are using Vista Ultimate, it comes with a complete backup program installed.

A system restore is not an image file, its a "restore point" which is more like an "undo" operation and wouldn't return a computer to a "factory fresh" state as if you made your own image file.

Here are links if you are interested.

Windows System Restore

Acronis True Image

Scorpion · 08-04-07, 04:46 PM

BTW, paid $3500 for this sony Vaio notebook, planning to return it and get a gateway notebook, has nearly the same features minus the bly ray disk for half the price!

Omnivorous Frog · 08-04-07, 05:08 PM

Originally posted by betplom

If you are using Vista Ultimate, it comes with a complete backup program installed.

A system restore is not an image file, its a "restore point" which is more like an "undo" operation and wouldn't return a computer to a "factory fresh" state as if you made your own image file.

Here are links if you are interested.

Windows System Restore

Acronis True Image

The majority of this Acronis program is restore. But you also can recover from a catastrophic failure ie: malicious virus, dead C: drive. Would be good for the server world and their codes but for an individual user a restore is good enough. I'll ask the it expert about it though. Thanks for the links. Appreciate the info.

Omnivorous Frog · 08-04-07, 05:13 PM

Originally posted by Scorpion

I bought a notebook last night with vista operating system and I was not able to share a folder with my other pc's, it seems like the only way you can share files and folders with other pc's in your network is to put them in the public folder!

Vista is crap!

Yes the handshaking/folder sharing is ugly. It appears not neighborhood network friendly. The two major beefs I hear is the very restrictive file sharing and the fatal errors. I am looking for a few more pc's with dual processors and afraid I will be forced to get vista. I would not upgrade if I was not forced to as XP is a awesome OS. If you order from Dell can you get XP instead? All the new store bought are Vista also.

Scorpion · 08-04-07, 06:12 PM

I am ordering from Gateway!

If you order from Gateway you can shoose what os you want!
Go here:

http://www.gateway.com/configurator.php?product_recid=529664469

See it says:
Looking for Windows XP?
Call 866-380-0029 or chat with sales to order.

In Vista, the only way I was able to share a folder in one of my applications was to install the entire application in the Public Folder, spent 4 hours on this last night! Its stupid, with xp file/folder sharing is so much easier, 5-10 minutes!

Also, it seems gateway offers better prices than both Dell and Sony!

Good Sony laptops are just too expensive for traveling! Gateway offers better prices!

jjgold · 08-04-07, 06:12 PM

you need the ultimate version of vista or it is not worth it, the restore feature is very good on that one but you have to remember to convert one of your hard drives to ntfs.

convert D:/fs:ntfs

Omnivorous Frog · 08-04-07, 08:04 PM

Close

Dell recommends Windows Vista® Home Premium.

XPS 410
(System Identifier: FCT8HEHL)

XPS 410 Mini-Tower: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E4300 (1.80GHz, 2M, 800MHz FSB)
Genuine Windows XP Pro

System Price : $789.00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Operating System
Genuine Windows XP Pro
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Memory
4 GB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz Dual Ranked (4 DIMMs)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hard Disk Drive
500 GB EIDE SATA II Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Video
256MB nVidia Geforce 7300LE TurboCache
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modem
56Kbps Data/Fax Modem
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Certified Refurbished
Certified Refurbished
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Base
XPS 410 Mini-Tower: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E4300 (1.80GHz, 2M, 800MHz FSB)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Media Bay
16X DVD ROM Drive
16X DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer write capability
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Software Upgrade
Microsoft Works 8.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hardware Upgrade
USB Keyboard
Hardware is Microsoft Vista Capable
Dell Optical USB 2-button Mouse

It's a refurb but has the right OS, storage, dual proc., with fast front side. Any opinions? Could upgrade it to Vista?

Dhuepaxuz · 08-05-07, 11:56 AM

Originally posted by Omnivorous Frog

Not a big fan of Norton, but that is what they give you. If you do find that remover let us know. Also, and more importantly, could you elaborate on the servicepack? What do you think it will get you, and what do you estimate the release date? Thanks, OF.

Omni, Sorry for the late reply.

**In reference to the ServicePack that is due late this year, here are some that I found, but I read elsewhere of many more.

938979 Vista Performance and Reliability Pack This update resolves a number of individual issues which may be affecting some computers running Windows Vista. These issues have been reported by customers using the Error Reporting service, product support, or other means. Installing this update will improve the performance and responsiveness for some scenarios and improves reliability of Windows Vista in a variety of scenarios. Some examples of the improvements contained in this update are:

* Improves performance in resuming back to the desktop from the Photo and Windows Energy screensaver.
* Resolves an issue where some secured web pages using advanced security technologies may not get displayed in Internet Explorer on Windows Vista.
* Resolves an issue where a shared printer may not get installed if the printer is connected to a Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 system and User Access Control is disabled on the Vista client.
* Resolves an issue where creating AVI files on Vista may get corrupted.
* Improves the performance in calculating the 'estimated time remaining' when copying/moving large files.
* Improves performance in bringing up Login Screen after resuming from Hibernate.
* Resolves an issue where synchronization of offline files to a server can get corrupted.
* Resolves a compatibility issue with RAW images created by Canon EOS 1D/1DS Digital SLR Camera which can lead to data loss. This only affects RAW images created by these two specific camera models.
* Resolves an issue where a computer can lose its default Gateway address when resuming from sleep mode.
* Improves the performance when copying or moving entire directories containing large amounts of data or files.
* Improves the performance of Vista's Memory Manager in specific customer scenarios and prevents some issues which may lead to memory corruption.

938194 Vista Compatibility and Reliability Pack
This update resolves a number of individual issues which may be affecting some computers running Windows Vista. These issues have been reported by customers using the Error Reporting service, product support, or other means. Installing this update will improve the reliability and hardware compatibility of Windows Vista in a variety of scenarios. Some examples of the improvements contained in this update are:

* Improved reliability and compatibility of Vista when used with newer graphics cards in several specific scenarios and configurations.
* Improved reliability when working with external displays on a laptop.
* Increased compatibility with many video drivers.
* Improved visual appearance of games with high intensity graphics.
* Improved quality of playback for HD-DVD and Blue-Ray disks on large monitors.
* Improved reliability for Internet Explorer when some third party toolbars are installed on Vista.
* Improved Vista reliability in networking configuration scenarios.
* Improved the reliability of Windows Calendar in Vista.
* Improved reliability of systems that were upgraded from XP to Vista.
* Increased compatibility with many printer drivers.
* Increased reliability and performance of Vista when entering sleep and resuming from sleep.

**In reference to the software to remove Norton and in addition to the one that JJ posted, there was another one that came from an outside company. Nothing to do with Norton.

Omnivorous Frog · 08-05-07, 12:21 PM

Thanks for the answers. It is like I said on new code, they let the users be the guinea pigs, the beta testers. Most of the error reporting is hot routed to the engineers for patches. Once the pack is released it will have debugged the majority of rollout bugs. I ran into a couple of those already. But I won't even bother with Vista until that is available.

Somebody snapped up that Dell refurb pretty quick so I missed out. But another should show eventually. Microsoft has such a racket going, they do not even need a product to become obsolete or dated. They just force the new product out on the pc manufacturers. I keep asking everyone I meet, what does Vista get me as far as productivity, over XP? I have no answers yet.

Again, thanks for sharing the info.

goldengoat · 08-05-07, 12:48 PM

jj, so you downloaded a pirated version of vista and are complaining about it?

jjgold · 08-05-07, 04:58 PM

I bought the licensed version

Omnivorous Frog · 08-06-07, 02:25 PM

Dell recommends Windows Vista® Business.

Precision 490

Precision Workstation 490 Mini-Tower: Dual Core Intel Xeon Processor 5120 1.86GHz, 4MB L2,1066
Genuine Windows XP Pro

System Price : $819.00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Operating System
Genuine Windows XP Pro
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Memory
2 GB DDR2 ECC SDRAM 677MHz (4 DIMMs)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hard Disk Drive
80 GB EIDE SATA II Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
80 GB EIDE SATA II Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Video
128MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro FX550, Dual VGA or Dual DVI or DVI + VGA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scratch & Dent
Scratch & Dent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Base
Precision Workstation 490 Mini-Tower: Dual Core Intel Xeon Processor 5120 1.86GHz, 4MB L2,1066
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Media Bay
16X DVD ROM Drive
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Software Upgrade
Microsoft Office 2007 Basic Edition
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hardware Upgrade
Hardware is Microsoft Vista Capable
USB Keyboard
USB Optical two button mouse
USB Keyboard

I think this workstation is more suited to my needs. Still XP Pro, no X64, no Vista. Dual core, fast fsb, storage expandable up to 32GB, but I will just double it to 4 now, 2 1GB sticks. Twin drives with raid 0,1 and 5 so I can backup, mirror, stripe. Could have gotten faster drives sas to 15K, but 72's are fine. Could have gotten faster proc and fsb, but that is also adequate. Quadro FX550 with 2 mix and match out. Probably 1 DVI and 1 VGA. This is a betting machine.

Next year I go quad processor with Vista.

Best Wishes...OF

Scorpion · 08-06-07, 03:11 PM

is xp pro 64 bit?

Omnivorous Frog · 08-06-07, 04:16 PM

There is XP pro, then XP X64 pro. This sys could handle that OS, but I don't want other potential conflicts. The raid setup is nice. No better backup. Doubled storage, paid a buck a stick, I install. Somebody snatched up the same unit XP pro, but refurb for 930? Had a burst drive for #1. I think 10K. A lot of these XP pro machines go fast, while the vistas sit. With this Precision I went speed no fluff. The 410 was a similar unit but already had 4GB. Similar process speed, slower fsb. This unit is just a bit more scalable. And vista ready if I choose it. There is a good explanation re: XP X64 on microsoft, but I don't want to thread it here. Now I need a new UPS.