Microsoft Vista
 

Hi
I have just got a new computer (lucky boy) and it has Windows Vista.
All my h/ware for the Printer,scanner and Photo editor are configured for XP drivers and the new computer wont load it ??.
How do I overcome this as all the equipment mentioned is only 12/12 old if that.?:{:{:confused:

Go to the various maker's web sites and download the Vista drivers.

And when that doesn't work, consider downgrading your OS to XP!

P.P.

Had the same issue with an expensive item of hardware.

Can't remember the exact software/hardware selection process or sequence, but somewhere in the loop, I went to the hardware(?) properties & there was a feature to nominate XP as the base driver.

Sorry I can't be more specific!

I'm going back from Vista Business to XP Pro SP2
 

I took delivery of a Lenovo T61 last week replete with 2.4Ghz Core Duo and 2GB RAM and Vista Business without SP1.

On Friday this week I revert to XP Pro SP2.

Why?

• Hopelessly unstable Cisco VPN (I work from home and in the wild abroad in equal measure) vs rock steady on XP Pro
• Half my software doesn't have Vista drivers and some of it is quite recent
• I can't get my Canon MPR800 wireless printer to work properly whereas it was trouble free before
• Network status on Vista is not accurate on any wifi network I use
• Anything that uses the web is slooooooow. As an example, BBC News pings at 600ms versus 32ms from my identically specced (in headline terms) Home PC running XP SP2 MCE and 40ms that I used to get on my 1.6Ghz 2GB RAM Lenovo T42 laptop

I may come back and try again in future, but after a week of trying hard to become a convert and implementing every performance and stability tweak I can find in as controlled a manner as possible, I can't wait to leave the party.

XV105

Vista
 

Flat Spin
No, you're not alone. I was forced into a new computer last week, and after all the tales of doom and gloom in this forum I was very leery of Vista. However, apart from a few annoying little quirks, which I'm sure will get ironed out (I started by dumping Norton 360) so far it has been a positive experience. My internet connection seems to run nearer it's advertised speed for much more of the day than it used to. Please god let it stay that way!
The Ancient Mariner

Rossian could not agree with you more about dumping Norton360 i went the Zonealarm/AGV route and my new lappy with 2G ram is a pleasure to use.

Windows Vista - two weeks down the track
 

One is still cautiously pleased with it but today we ran into the first biggish snagette. Trying to set up Windows Mail, my account went in OK but SWMBO's Hotmail account ran into a block that said "we don't support http accounts anymore" (or words to that effect). After ages spent trawling around various links links labelled "help" none of which did, I now turn to the source of good gen - you guys. Does this mean that SWMBO has to set up a completely new e-mail address? (Which will be the usual pain of informing peeps of new address, and the address book was one item we were NOT able to recover from the hard drive after the problem that generated the purchase of this new machine) All offers of reasonable solutions gratefully accepted. And, no, Thunderbird was a real pain in the butt when I tried to get into that.
The Ancient Mariner

Rossian - your Vista PC need Windows Live Mail.

Details on the issue here and direct link to Live Mail here.


Good Luck!




Hardware and software vendors make billions from these M$ OS upgrade incompatibilities. :mad:

Vista sorted -but doubtless there will be more
 

Vapilot2004
Thanks for that steer, I now have a happier SWMBO and the blue cloud that was surrounding the desk is beginning to disperse.
The Ancient Mariner

Binoette4 has been struggling along with a prehistoric laptop for a few years (poor precious, at 15 years old, I hear you say). Now she works part-time I told her I would contribute X dollars to a new laptop, and she could decide how much she wanted to contribute.

Naturally enough she didn't want to spend much money, and I told her anything would be a huge step up, so we went along and bought an el cheapo Compaq. I was alarmed to see the store (a generic appliance store) selling a Vista equipped machine with 512mb RAM and asked if I could have XP installed. Que??? was the reply.

OK, says I, and explained to B4 that I would purchase and fit an extra 512Mb, though I knew 2Gb RAM is recommended for Vista. I thought perhaps Vista Home Basic might run ok on 1GB with no heavy demands being made on it.

Of course it's as slow as a week of wet Mondays, to the point where I think it's actually slower than her 1.3Gb Acer with 256Mb RAM. How are these people allowed to get away with this?

More importantly, how is the MS virtual monopoly allowed to introduce massively expense new programs which provide no benefit whatsoever to the average user and force older users to upgrade? Yes I know: how else is MS going to increase its earnings and thence its share price? It's a real bummer when they have a system that works for most people. A real cynic might get a vague hint that inbuilt faults are a Good Thing.

Surely not?

Bino,

See if this http://www.mwave.com/mwave/index.hmx? company sells to AU as they have the best buys for memory modules to upgrade the RAM.

My HP came with 1gb,bought 2gb from them for $45.00.

Thanks Nani. Access to reasonably priced RAM isn't a problem, I was just having a moan about having to do it in the first place. :uhoh:

Go on then Bino,I know it makes me feel better...:ok:

New laptop with Vista. God, it's slooooooooooooow! And it won't run my company's software. Going back to XP soon.

I'm interested in the posters who have dumped Norton 360. I recently purchased an HP Quad core running at 2.20Ghz with 3mb memory. It should be a half decent machine, but it runs slow as a dog.

Do you think 360 in the background is slowing things down, and if so what's the best system to replace it with. Thanks.

Think you can almost bet on 360 slowing it.

I use Avast without any 'incidents' over the past few years.

10 years ago Norton used to be half-decent software. Since then Symantec have bought it and transformed it into the biggest suite of bloatware garbage known to mankind.

The best thing you can ever do for your computer? Get rid of Norton. It's slow, it's crap, and it makes you unneccessarily paranoid.

A decent antivirus (eg. AVG), the built-in Windows firewall, and a small dose of common sense is more than enough for most people.

A few weeks ago, I asked on here about what difference getting an upgraded HDD for a laptop would make. (it was being replaced under warranty), so I took the advice given, and paid a few pounds extra for the higher spec unit.

Initially the computer had Vista ultimate, but now it's been returned to me, I've installed XP pro, and the difference in performance is amazing. (I can't tell for sure if it's the XP, the new HDD or a combination of both).

It is now, without a doubt, the fastest computer I've ever used, with programs opening almost instantly.
I might consider going back to Vista sometime in the future, but it certainly won't be until they have released a couple of service packs to fix the numerous niggles with with it.

I bought a Compaq laptop new from Pantip plaza in BKK, was loaded with a not so legal copy of XP, the norm there as most of Thailand.
Loaded a legal copy of XP pro that I paid 300 USD for, and all worked well except for the audio, was told that I needed to upgrade to Vista by the Microsoft help center as the audio was not supported on XP, drivers etc.
Paid another 159. usd for vista premium home edition back in the USA.
Audio worked as expected, computer did not, normal vista problems as we all know.
Re installed windows XP after a full format, when it came time to activate had to call the windows number for activation.
Told them what happened and was informed that you cannot down grade from windows vista to windows XP, some kind of legal issue and they would not activate it, so much for being honest.
Going back to BKK soon, will buy the 4 usd copy of XP with service pack 3 included.
I understand why people do this now.
Bill Gates is his own worse enemy.