Laptops: Unfortunately "pre-installed" Vista!

[David Drummond]

I think MS have thrown up their hands and said "We give up; we can't fix it and we need to overhaul it for the masses that aren't computer savvy enough to be able to fix it on their own".

Again, your going with the thought that it's inherently broken. Clearly it's not, or I wouldn't have 5 machines running it without issue.

Even if MS thought it was broken (which I am sure they don't), you won't hear them saying so publicly. To do so would be to admit fault in something that could cost them billions by doing so. Not going to happen. I wouldn't expect any discounts any more than you got when upgrading Windows from any other version, or any other software for that matter.

 

[cdcollura]

I think we ALL will be happier if the folllwing is done (with MS Windows, and any other OS, but especially Windows)...

1). If it ain't broken, don't fix it (any programmer knows that, right).

2). Standardize the OS ... Keep 16 bit (and 32 bit support).

3). Have it tested in a real-world environment with real users, not a lab or campus.

Note: I agree that 99% of new PC problems are NOT Vista, or the OS per se, but the GARBAGE trial software and junk it comes with.

Many responses to this thread clearly state no problems with Vista, problems that stopped me dead in my case ... So I am thinking removing all the trial software hosed something, like a DLL or dependacy file.

I strongly suggest a "fresh" or clean install, I bet that's what Drummond did.

I built a PC from scratch and had Vista on it and no problems, just some minor issues. The laptop had other crap on it (60 day trial, then spend $600 to activate it or I'll delete "*.dll" from your C:\Windows\System32 directory).

 

[David Drummond]

I strongly suggest a "fresh" or clean install, I bet that's what Drummond did.

I built a PC from scratch and had Vista on it and no problems, just some minor issues. The laptop had other crap on it (60 day trial, then spend $600 to activate it or I'll delete "*.dll" from your C:\Windows\System32 directory).

You bet I did! I have ZERO use for all the bloatware and trial offers and other misc BS that comes with every single manufactured PC on the market, as far as I know.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=120228

The best guide I have found for a clean Vista install, I've used it several times and it works.

I've ALWAYS done a clean install on every PC I didn't build myself, and of course those were by nature clean installs.

The downfall of course is if your under warranty, they might not want to help you out if you have sort of software related issue, then again they might. If you have to send it in, you can bet they probably will put it back with a recovery disc.

As far as I know the only way to get around that is to build your own system, which is just about impossible for a lot of people. Then again, if your capable of that, you generally aren't the type of user who needs tech support from a manufacturer most of the time.

Don't be surprised if you don't get Premier 6.5 to work on Vista. It's two or three generations old now. I can tell you that CS3 and 4 work fine.

 

[Rob Wadsworth]

EDIT: I'm downloading "Windows 7" via Bit Torrent, should be done by tonite some time. It's an ISO file; so I will burn a disc and run my empty backup hard drive as the boot drive thru the motherboard BIOS. I'll play with it for a couple of days, and write a review on it and start a thread. Looks like Windows 7 is Windows 2003 Server (64 bit) with a GUI that LOOKS like Vista. Or, at least that as much as I have been able to gather at this point.

 

[Marc Remillard]

I hate vista, and I have very good friends. Let me explain.

We all know that today's PC are coming with Vista, but I know someone working at Microsoft, and this guy did a kind of home-made service pack of XP Pro, removing all the useless stuff that comes with windows, to make a never-seen-before stable version. I'm using this amazing windows version and I can tell you there's a true difference in speed and stability. Like in a mac, there is almost no need of antivirus...

Many people I know bought a laptop coming with vista. I found a way to uninstall vista and I installed my amazing Windows version, and they love it!

 

[cdcollura]

EDIT: I'm downloading "Windows 7" via Bit Torrent, should be done by tonite some time. It's an ISO file...

How the heck to you get these bit torrent stuff?

Just doing a search on bit torrent turns up nothing!!

 

[J Kinkaid]

Why would you download it from a torrent when it's up on the microsoft site for free ?


http://keznews.com/5230_Windows_7_public_beta_Official_download_links

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/

 

[Chris Strahan]

now if only they could keep the links stable. Keep timing out. I suppose I am one of thousands wanting to download....

 

[Rob Wadsworth]

I downloaded and burned a copy of Widows 7 x32 & x64; put the x32 on an empty drive. J Kinkaid's second link shown above was faster and didn't need Bit Torrent to download. That is a good link!

Looks pretty and hasn't caved in on itself. "Aero" type display is nice. It installs pretty easy, I'll say that much at this point, easier by far to date of any MS ware. I haven't put any software/programs on it yet - though. That will be the real acid test - "compatibility". Do I sound skeptical? Just look at it as being gun shy. Yes Sir...

 

[Chris Strahan]

microsofts site now is up and running with more servers. downloading now as well

 

[Dan Cook]

Bah you can't install Windows 7 on an external HD.

 

[J Kinkaid]

Bah you can't install Windows 7 on an external HD.

But you can make your system dual boot and run it that way or on vmware. The only weather program that I have found that doesn't work is the new weather defender from Swift weather but Rory says he will fix that .

 

[Rob Wadsworth]

One bit of news on Windows 7. If you put any kind of program on it and remove it, it may lock up. Mine did. One would think by now that MS would have been able to make the O/S stable enough to be able to remove programs cleanly.
Message for MicroSoft: Get it RIGHT! Not everyone that owns a computer is a propeller head - you got to make it work in the real world...

 

[Dan Cook]

One bit of news on Windows 7. If you put any kind of program on it and remove it, it may lock up. Mine did. One would think by now that MS would have been able to make the O/S stable enough to be able to remove programs cleanly.
Message for MicroSoft: Get it RIGHT! Not everyone that owns a computer is a propeller head - you got to make it work in the real world...

This is a beta so of course their will be bugs.

 

[cdcollura]

Vista "PLUS the Garbage" is the problem...

Good day all,

Remember all the BS with the Vista / Laptop?

Well, I ate it and bought Vista Ultimate and installed it in a dual-boot / test bed on my Desktop after throwing in another HD and additional 4 GB (8 total) of RAM.

On one side is XP Pro (32 bit) with all my old stuff, and Vista 64 Ultimate on the other (500 GB disk is partitioned into 2 equal 250 GB units). The dual boot is where the OS chosen from a menu as the machine boots up.

The 2 1.5 TB drives are the additional SATA disks - data only, G: and H: - And the "my documents" directory is on one of them G: - So whether you boot XP Pro or Vista 64, you can see the same path for my files, music, pictures, etc.

Now experiementing with Vista 64, which was also on my new Sony laptop I returned to Best Buy (in a virtual rage) several months back ... I attempted to test / install those SAME programs on the Vista 64 partition on my desktop.

All of them loaded fine, into the "program files [386]" directory (non-64 bit). They ran OK, no errors, no installs bugging out and failing. I was so suprised ... and pleased.

Premiere 6.5, Corel Photo Paint, Adobe Audition, Avast AV all failed when trying to put them on the 64-bit Vista laptop back in late December. Either they would not install at all (with a fatal error) and / or would not run.

The only issue I noticed that my Lexmark 3850 driver (64 bit) was having problems in Vista, but I print / scan from the XP partition, so I did not really care much. After some finaggling, I was able to get it working in a limited fashion on the Vista platform.

In conclusion, I found that the problem was not Vista ... As I was to the point yelling and cussing Microsoft after returning the laptop and eating the 10% fees ... But the GARBAGE these compaies pre-install on these things!!

When you get a new laptop / desktop, it comes LOADED with trial-versions, limited-edition software ... Such as Microsoft Works, 60-day trials, etc.

Normally, removing these programs - Thinking you'll get a virgin OS afterwards is a mis-conception. This also removes some drivers, DLL's, and components.

Then, when you have spent hours and think you have a clean slate, you begin installing stuff, and that's when the bald spots get bigger. Nothing but frustration.

Always get a new Desktop / Laptop with a CLEAN OS ... Only the operating system (whether XP or Vista) AND the drivers solely for the computer ... No MS Works, no Google Toolbars, no Trials, nothing - Just the OS / drivers !!

Also, be careful when installing Windows ... This is besides a "copy a buddy" might have given you ... I installed windows on my desktop, then went to do it on my laptop, and got a message saying I could not re-use the license.

Ofcourse, I am getting a different approach, and buy each license for each computer I am putting it on. In the case of the second license above, Microsoft support was even able to give me a second key for it!

Microsoft is cracking down really hard on licensing and potential piracy - So everyone who is doing that, you won't get very far (like you did in Napster 1.0's days) ;-)