Thoughts on Vista/What is Your Problem With Vista

i had 2 gigs and it ran fine i didnt need it but it bumped it up to 3 gigs and it runs super fast its insane lol but normally after a processor upgrade you do not need a OS reinstall but thats my opinion and i work for SUN

but i like vista and i will never go back to server 2003

I am running a dual-boot 32-bit XP Pro/Vista Home Premium on my system (see specs) I will be upgrading my CPU from the Intel single Core 2, to a Core 2 Quad this weekend. I will upgrade to 2GB DDR2 Ram, when I upgrade the motherboard. 4 GB is not necessary at this point. Does 32-bit Vista/XP access 4GB properly anyway?

I have partially disabled the UAC (User Account Control). After dealing with it for 2 weeks, I am very glad it has been tamed.

Microsoft says:
"The point of UAC is that it is designed to put control of your computer back into your hands, instead of at the mercy of the programs running on your system. This is also its weakness: UAC is only affective if the user understands what they are responding to. Unfortunately most users will hit "allow" anyway because they want the program to work/install. UAC doesn't really protect a computer from malicious code, it only shifts the decision to the user. The choice of allowing or denying a UAC prompt is only as good as the user's knowledge that is running the computer."

My computer security knowledge is good I like Vista. Vista doesn't like my old Linksys NIC. My on-board NIC was destroyed by a city power failure last November. I have a new Rosewill Vista certified PCI NIC coming from Newegg Monday

Yeah, I would recommend 4GB of RAM for Vista, but CL4 is not that important. I think there's more performance to gain by having a modern fast harddrive

Does 32-bit Vista/XP access 4GB properly anyway? (Tmagic650)

Depends. Microsoft says 32bit Windows can handle up to 4GB memory but can access only 3.2GB. Also, it maps memory of onboard devices like graphics cards to RAM. Also it automatically sets aside 250MB for miscellaneous devices. So a GTX will knock out 768MB of RAM. Add the misc devices allowance and you've lost 1gig. So if you start with 4gigs you're left with 3, all of which will be accessable.

my problem with Vista is I can't run my old programs from my XP computer like PowerDVD (i need to disable hardware acceleration on the option before I can run it properly) and my only game I like TextTwist it doesn't run

Microsoft says:
"The point of UAC is that it is designed to put control of your computer back into your hands, instead of at the mercy of the programs running on your system. This is also its weakness: UAC is only affective if the user understands what they are responding to. Unfortunately most users will hit "allow" anyway because they want the program to work/install. UAC doesn't really protect a computer from malicious code, it only shifts the decision to the user. The choice of allowing or denying a UAC prompt is only as good as the user's knowledge that is running the computer." (Tmagic650)

How is the user supposed to decide? There must be millions of programs that haven't been submitted to Microsoft for approval. Seems to be a complete waste of time.
I wonder what protection checking-out downloads with antivirus/spyware programs gives (before installation I mean). I do this and it only takes a few seconds, but is it reliable (or am I kidding myself!)

Have you tried running them in XP mode?

That's my point. How does one decide what to allow? After "playing" with Vista for 2 weeks, I decided to look into disabling UAC. UAC is actually a group of programs. You can't or you shouldn't disable all of them. You can switch off the UAC prompt, that annoying "Windows needs your permission to continue" pop-up by editing 2 areas of the Registry

Decisions, Decisions....or Hacking Your Way back to XP......

I see "Micro-scourge" has dropped it's.......Vista......Wow!, ad campaign.

I always though it should have been........Vista...WTF.....?

So, after you edit the registry and run most of your old programs in compatibility mode for XP, well, you figure it out.

I find it funny how people think they have to hate Microsoft and Windows to be hip, its almost like a fashion in the tech world. I don't understand why people hate the operating system that the majority of the people, who ***** about windows, actually use. They won't admit it but its the best operating system for the majority of the computer populace. Another thing, people hate Windows and Microsoft, but they love the xbox360, and hate the PS3, its like people have to hate the things that work the best and love the things that don't quite work. The bottom line is, people hate anything that is successful, and why? Because they are jealous, its human nature...for the most part anyway.
Thats my 2 cents.

PowerDVD won't run in Vista... There is a Vista version that you can download, for a cost. That is unfortunately the only solution.

Also, to all the Vista haters: Keep in mind that current software just needs to catch up with the newest platform. Vista is a great platform for software to run on. You have to understand just how much planning and coding goes into crossplatforming software. Just because it looks like just a prettier windows doesn't mean that it is just a version of windows. It's a completely new OS from the ground up.

edit: also concerning RAM. The 32bit Vista will utilize 4gigs but like it was mentioned some of that is reserved for video. XP, despite popular belief, will not utilize but only recognize 4 gigs. XP's max RAM usage is 2gigs

I'm not a Tech anything... so i am sure you are right. But when I installed my AMD6400+ My computer seemed to act funny. Now that I have a clean install it runs much smoother.

I'll assume you're talking About Me and Work From There

Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. Now there's a concept that even Microsoft's staunchest synchophants might possibly get their head around, at least with enough practice.

I love Windows XP, I have 4 LEGAL copies. the UPS man brought the 4th last Thursday, could'a kissed him. (I didn't though). But you have to admit activation is pretty invasive, and WGA feels like you're being violated. It's especially intrusive when they don't tell you what it is and pass it off as a "security update". <That's a DIRECT quote! I call it a drive by download. Microsoft is a monopoly and it seems that it's their manifest company policy to bilk the computer world out of every last dollar they possibly can.

But, I think they need more money, so why don't you be a gallant little customer and go buy yourself a $400.00 retail copy of Vista Ultimate to help them finish their beta testing, it's the least you can do.

I usually judge products based on their functionality, price, and appearance, not by the manufacturer, but I have sworn off Sony after their "whoops, was that a root kit virus" nonsense. And no, I'm not jealous or a ******, I'm old and most of the music that was involved with that debacle, IMHO sucks anyway. Which pretty much explains why I didn't get rootkitted. Geez, it's the principle of the thing.

How about this for a advertising tag line; "Vista, the new Millennium Edition". Just kidding.

I've heard all the stories about how bad XP was, and how much everybody hated it, it does work great now, you just can't cruise Russian porn sites without picking up a bug or three. Personally I don't consider this a problem. Anybody?

I'm not much of a bandwagon person, but I expect I might see some people out in the town square screaming "hail big brother" in front of a portrait of Bill Gates, to each his own I suppose.

Vista has it's own DVD decoder, if only in the Home Premium or other Media Center inclusions. I chose to install Nero 8, and I like it's functions. I almost swore off Nero completely after Nero 7 was released... Nero 8 $99.95 at Fry's

Gosh, there are so many solutions for XP! Need I list them?

I'll just keep using XP in the mean time. By your leave of course.

Actually some older motherboards have 32 bit BIOSes and they won't even present 4GB to the operating system. Intel 915 comes to mind. Why doesn't anybody mention XP 64 bit home or pro when they decide to compare. As I understand it, they'll handle a bunch of RAM. Point being, you could, (to be fair), compare XP to XP.

Again, as I understand it, that's not exactly true. XP allows any one program up to 2GB of RAM, true. But it can be modified to allow all the RAM not being used for the hardware and OS to be applied to the running programs by implementing the "3 Gigabyte Switch". Almost everything designed for XP will run very well on 2GB of RAM, and the necessity of installing more than that in a 32bit XP box is more of an emotional affliction rather than a matter of need. Oooo, RAM's cheap now, I want more.

Did That Actually Work....?

Wasn't Nero 7 Ahead Software's "Millenium Edition"?

I really think Nero 7 was way worse than the Millenium Edition. I actually got Windows Me to work!

Certainly not everyone falls into the catagory that I mentioned earlier, but alot do, most people don't think for themselves and just go with the flow so to speak. Its those people who know little about computers and other operating systems that try to pass judgement that is based on no knowledge. The operating system you use is simply a matter of choice. Also, I agree with you view on WGA, but in all fairness Microsoft needs a way to stop piracy, but a less invasive way would have been much more appreciated.

Alot of people are yet to realise, your computer is only as secure as the person between the keyboard and the seat. While security upgrades in the OS itself helps, its certainly not fail safe. With Vista I don't use and AV or firewalls, I just use Bitdefender for a once month scan, never had any viruses, but to borrow a quote I don't "cruise Russian porn sites".

I just use Bitdefender for a once month scan, never had any viruses, but to borrow a quote I don't "cruise Russian porn sites".

Just as in safe sex, safe computing takes a little practice and knowledge to be effective. I use the Glarysoft free utilities and I subscribe to Windows Live OneCare on my XP and Vista computers

I use Asquared Free and AVG Free with Vista but defender and the Vista firewall do a great job overall.

Vista has few issues and with its phishing feature youre pretty safe overall....

Many good apps like Adaware free,Spybot Search and Destroy to name a few as well as ZoneAlarm Free if youre running XP.