Just a note for those wanting to upgrade to windows vista

[John Orion]

If you are planning on updating to windows vista you will need to remember
one thing ... you will need a new computer because most of your hardware
will not work with vista (even if it says its supposed too) ... you will
also need to buy all new software because nothing runs on windows vista.
Well I cant say nothing .. but about 80% of hardware and software that has
been purchased over 6 months ago probably will not function ... I have two
printers ... one I was able to force the scanner to work .. the other I was
able to force it in using a driver from another HP printer but the card
reader does not function. My tv tuner card will not work ... my SoundBlaster
Audigy 2 ZS platinum pro has some drivers but is crippled severly. My
motherboard with a nVidia nForce3 chipset and videocard 6600GT do not
communicate well together and there are no drivers for the chipset (known
problem on many forums... video is almost impossible to watch because of
choppiness and DX games run like crap.) I also have a biometric fingerprint
sensor that will not work and has no drivers available. NOD32 antivirus does
work with the 32bit version .. not sure if it works in 64bit yet. Forget
about getting a firewall and even tho windows improved their built in
firewall .. its not very easy to configure (and I have played with a lot of
different firewalls) Norton/Symantec stuff .. forget it .. unless they came
out with a newer version ... I only use Ghost and there is a prerelease of
Ghost 12 that does work .. but its not on their site or available for
purchase anywhere . Basically .. if you plan on upgrading ... wait for maybe
a year and hopefully software companies and Microsoft will finally get their
act together .. but still ... most likely .. you will end up replacing most
of your hardware and have to buy new versions of most of your software

Just to let people know ... Vista isnt just a new opperating system ... its
a way to force the public to buy all new ... everything.

Judging by Microsoft in the past .. I'm sure this was done purposly and was
a combined effort between microsoft and the hardware/software manufacturers.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

If you are planning on updating to windows vista you will need to
remember one thing ... you will need a new computer because most of
your hardware will not work with vista

Nonsense! I installed Vista here on November 18, on a computer I had bought
a little over a year earlier. *All* the hardware works fine, and I've had no
problems at all.

If you want to warn people to make sure their hardware works with Vista
before doing an upgrade, that's fine--it's good advice. But when you
drastically overstate your case by saying "most of your hardware will not
work with vista," you lose all credibility.

(even if it says its supposed
too) ... you will also need to buy all new software because nothing
runs on windows vista.

You are fond of dramatic overstatements, aren't you. That's further
nonsense!

Well I cant say nothing .. but about 80% of
hardware and software that has been purchased over 6 months ago
probably will not function ...

Nonsense! As I said, all of my hardware works, and all of my software does
too, with the exception of a few minor utilities. Several of those utilities
have already come out with updated Vista-compatible versions.

That's not to say that nobody has any issues with incompatible hardware or
software. Such problems do exist, and some people get bitten by them. But to
say "80% ...probably will not function" is a completely overstatement.

Just to let people know ... Vista isnt just a new opperating system
... its a way to force the public to buy all new ... everything.

Judging by Microsoft in the past .. I'm sure this was done purposly
and was a combined effort between microsoft and the hardware/software
manufacturers.

Still more nonsense! The whole idea is laughable. Incompatibilities don't
help Microsoft, they hurt them. The more compatible with existing hardware
and software Windows Vista is, the easier it is for Microsoft to sell it.

I'm not trying to convince you or anyone else to upgrade to Vista. I fact,
as much as I like it myself, I think most people should usually stick with
what they have and be reluctant to upgrade to any new operating system,
which always involves a learning curve. But your arguments hold no water at
all.

 

[John Orion]

I guess you got lucky with your hardware .. but .. considering I'm using a
pretty common soundcard .. and its crippled by vista ... and im using a
pretty popular MB chipset (tho noted it is a bit older but this MB isnt
really that old) and a pretty popular video card .. I guess I got very
unlucky to be using name brands like nVidia and SoundBlaster .. you know ..
pretty much the 'standards' of which other cards are made from... as for the
learning curve .. thats no big deal .. I have been dealing with longhorn for
years.. and was quite looking forward to using Vista .. but .. like I said
.... I lost my TV tuner card (which is an ATI .. but of course .. they stated
they will not be making drivers for it ... you need to buy a newer card) and
name brands like my Epson printer .. and HP photosmart printer my nvidia
6600GT video card (which i hear would work great if i replaced my
motherboard and got one with an sis or via chipset) ... its one thing to
have one or two problems with hardware .. but .. come on ... as i said about
80% of my system is either non-functional or crippled. As for software ..
just about everything i tried to install said .. uncompatible with windows
vista ... check manufacturer for update ... I havent even come close to
ranting about the 64bit version .. lol ... but seriously .. people need to
really wonder how much they will have to spend to upgrade their equiptment
as well as software (because most of these companies will not give you the
upgrade .. it will be a newer version and you will have to pay ... example
... nortons 2006 .. anything .. you will have to purchase nortons 2007 .. now
what happens if you just purchased 2006 two months ago .. oh well .. your
loss (i dont use norton other than ghost like i said .. and i know they wont
upgrade my 2006 version for one that works with vista)

Could you imagine how someone would feel when dishing out 500 dollars for an
OS .. and finding out they have to spend about 1000 more to upgrade their
computer for the 'same quality' 'newer generation' hardware (by which i mean
... i have a 250 dollar sound card .. well it was when i bought it ... now to
get the equivilent which would proablly be an x-fi soundblaster whatever the
pro version would be.. it would cost me another 250 or more .. but im sure
there would be vista support for it)

I still stick by what I said ... its pretty risky moving to Vista unless you
are planning on spending a lot more than what it cost for the OS itself.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I guess you got lucky with your hardware ..

Not at all. I took the trouble to make sure that my hardware would work with
Vista before installing it, rather than trusting to luck. And I know several
others who have had similar experiences.

but .. considering I'm
using a pretty common soundcard .. and its crippled by vista ... and
im using a pretty popular MB chipset (tho noted it is a bit older but
this MB isnt really that old) and a pretty popular video card .. I
guess I got very unlucky to be using name brands like nVidia and
SoundBlaster ..

No, I don't think it has anything to do with luck. It has to do with your
not having taken the trouble to check the Vista hardware compatibiliy list
at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/updatemanagement/drivers/vista.mspx

As for software .. just about everything i tried to
install said .. uncompatible with windows vista ...

So, you also didn't check the Vista Application Compatibility page at
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/desktopdeployment/appcompat/toolkit.mspx

My guess is that you also didn't try the Windows Vista Application
Compatibility Update described at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929427

but seriously .. people need to really
wonder how much they will have to spend to upgrade their equiptment
as well as software (because most of these companies will not give
you the upgrade ..

"Wondering" is exactly how to get yourself into the kind of trouble you did.
Finding out what works with Vista and what doesn't *before* you buy and
install it is what people need to do.

it will be a newer version and you will have to
pay ... example .. nortons 2006 .. anything .. you will have to
purchase nortons 2007 .. now what happens if you just purchased 2006
two months ago .. oh well .. your loss (i dont use norton other than
ghost like i said .. and i know they wont upgrade my 2006 version for
one that works with vista)

Personally, I wouldn't have anything Norton on my computer if it were free,
so I have no interest in purchasing a new version of it.

Could you imagine how someone would feel when dishing out 500 dollars
for an OS

Once again, an extreme overstatement. Why does everything you say have to be
hyperbole? No version of Windows Vista costs as much as $500. Prices range
between about $100 and $400 (US), depending on what version you buy and
where you buy it.

.. and finding out they have to spend about 1000 more to
upgrade their computer for the 'same quality' 'newer generation'
hardware

More hyperbole! It's an extremely rare person who would have to spend
anywhere near that to upgrade.. In fact most people can buy a
well-configured computer that *comes with* Vista for considerably less than
$1000.

I still stick by what I said ... its pretty risky moving to Vista
unless you are planning on spending a lot more than what it cost for
the OS itself.

You are entitled to stick by whatever you want, just as I am to thoroughly
disagree with it.

But I do note that you have significantly changed your story in the sentence
above. You now say, "its pretty risky moving to Vista," but you previously
said "you will need a new computer because most of your hardware will not
work with vista," a much more extreme and hyperbolic statement.

I will add once again, that some people may not need to spend anything more,
others will. I certainly don't claim that everybody's present computer will
run Vista at all, let alone well. But being "pretty risky" has nothing to do
with it. Anybody who buys a copy of Vista with the intent to upgrade his
present computer, without first taking the trouble to find out whether his
existing hardware and software will work with it, is being foolhardy, not
taking risks.

 

[philo]

If you are planning on updating to windows vista you will need to remember
one thing ... you will need a new computer because most of your hardware
will not work with vista (even if it says its supposed too) ... you will
also need to buy all new software because nothing runs on windows vista.

<snip>

You are exaggerating...
but the hardware needed for Vista does have to be pretty new...
and especially important is a good video card

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

<snip>

You are exaggerating...

Very *greatly* exaggerating, as I tried to point out in my previous messages
in this thread.

but the hardware needed for Vista does have to be pretty new...
and especially important is a good video card

Certainly true, and if he had made such reasonable statements, I would have
had no quarrel with what he said. It's unfortunate that some people think
that exaggeration strengthens their case, but all it does it make them much
less credible.

 

[John Orion]

Not at all. I took the trouble to make sure that my hardware would work
with Vista before installing it, rather than trusting to luck. And I know
several others who have had similar experiences.




No, I don't think it has anything to do with luck. It has to do with your
not having taken the trouble to check the Vista hardware compatibiliy list
at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/updatemanagement/drivers/vista.mspx

actually I did .. thats why I stated .. people better expect to have to
upgrade most of their hardware. BTW
according to the list there are no creative soundblaster cards compatible
with vista .. the biggest name in soundcards ... and not to many other cards
I have seen (tho I havent fully researched it) have the external box that my
Audigy 2 zs platinium has .. Since I often do audio/video editing .. its a
nice feature to have a fireware input for my camcorder and two 1/4" inputs
for my guitar and microphone. I state again .. It would cost a good chunk of
change to replace the card with something equivilant that would hopefully
work with Vista

So, you also didn't check the Vista Application Compatibility page at
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/desktopdeployment/appcompat/toolkit.mspx

My guess is that you also didn't try the Windows Vista Application
Compatibility Update described at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929427

I did run Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor and it told me that two things on
my computer were uncompatable for upgrade .. Dragon Naturally Speaking and
Norton Ghost (I hate Symantec programs also and if I could find a backup
utility that allows you to do full backups, incrmental backups and boot to a
cd to restore your full drive exactly as it was... I would dump Ghost in a
second) I uninstalled the programs it suggested and ran the update .. of
course it failed and I had to do a fresh install.

"Wondering" is exactly how to get yourself into the kind of trouble you
did. Finding out what works with Vista and what doesn't *before* you buy
and install it is what people need to do.




Personally, I wouldn't have anything Norton on my computer if it were
free, so I have no interest in purchasing a new version of it.





Once again, an extreme overstatement. Why does everything you say have to
be hyperbole? No version of Windows Vista costs as much as $500. Prices
range between about $100 and $400 (US), depending on what version you buy
and where you buy it.

Ok that may have been a slight error .. I could have sworn I saw it in a NY
CompUSA for $499 but maybe it was $399

More hyperbole! It's an extremely rare person who would have to spend
anywhere near that to upgrade.. In fact most people can buy a
well-configured computer that *comes with* Vista for considerably less
than $1000.

Yes the average email sending grandma can get a well configured computer for
$1000 but someone who really uses a computer ... sorry .. that just dont cut
it. Most of my equiptment was bought 2 years ago and at the time they were
almost the best you could buy. I spent close to $2400 to build a system 'to
be used fully' not just for surfing the web and doing some word processing.
Now for someone like me .. If I wanted Vista I would have to change my
motherboard because nForce chipsets arent compatable or at least my chipset
... and guess what .. when I replace the motherboard .. it seems that the
ones that are compatible are the newer boards with pci express not agp .. oh
well ..looks like I have to change my only compatible peice of hardware my
6600GT.. oh .. now .. hmm finding a board that will hold my amd athlon 64
chip .. what ..oh the 754 socket has become obsolete ... guess i need to buy
a new processor ... new processor .. oh all the ram is now DDR2 .. got to
replace my 3gig of ram ... ok now I have a hardware compatible system unless
I decide I want my TV card back for capture and Svideo inputs for editing...
so basically what I'm saying is .. I would have to rebuild my whole computer
even tho I have some compatible hardware. The only thing I wouldnt have to
replace is my hard drives which I actually want to replace because they are
still IDE but the expense in getting SATA drives totaling 660GB is not in my
budget.
And this whole thread started as a warning to those who think they can just
buy it and there woudnt be anything else to do ... you act like I was stupid
enough to buy it .... no I didnt buy it yet .. I tried it to see what it was
like .. just like I did with XP ... once it becomes worth buying it ..
probably around a year .. then I may think about trying it again .. if it
works without major updating or if in that time I'm able to budget
rebuilding a very expensive peice of equiptment .. then I will think of
using it as my OS .. I have since used Ghost and restored my system back to
Windows XP so all my equiptment and software is functional.

You are entitled to stick by whatever you want, just as I am to thoroughly
disagree with it.

But I do note that you have significantly changed your story in the
sentence above. You now say, "its pretty risky moving to Vista," but you
previously said "you will need a new computer because most of your
hardware will not work with vista," a much more extreme and hyperbolic
statement.

I will add once again, that some people may not need to spend anything
more, others will. I certainly don't claim that everybody's present
computer will run Vista at all, let alone well. But being "pretty risky"
has nothing to do with it. Anybody who buys a copy of Vista with the
intent to upgrade his present computer, without first taking the trouble
to find out whether his existing hardware and software will work with it,
is being foolhardy, not taking risks.

You have to remember the mentallity of the average computer user .. I guess
I'm just a bit more tainted than you because of my years working for Sony's
VIAO tech support line. It was a warning .. if I stated stuff like "you
might be able too" .. the avarage computer user wouldnt even bother to look
twice. Since this is a support area I have to assume that most that come
here are average users looking for answers. So I had to state things in ways
to grab their attention and make them think twice about an upgrade before
checking it out. The commercials make it sound like such a nice thing and
easy thing but its going to be a big problem for those average computer
users who dont buy a new computer with Vista already installed

Like I said before .. you and maybe others got lucky .. but dont be so
closed minded to think Vista isnt going to be a huge problem for a very
large number of people ... just look around at some of the support boards
around ... there are already huge threads of compatible hardware/software
not working as promised.

There will be .. for about the next year .. just like XP ... I like Vista ..
I wish I could use it but to me its useless and I cant afford to build
another computer with the features I am used to having. By then there will
be software and games that function in Vista. That was one thing I forgot to
state .. there are a lot of gamers out there and there is no list to tell
them what games will still function and what games wont .. even new games
like Need For Speed Carbon isnt supposed to work in Vista tho if you know
what you are doing you can get it to install and run... Not really an easy
thing for the person who just plays games and doesnt really know how to get
around and manipulate the OS.

But I'm done here now because I'm sure you are going to post back saying
these statements are nonsense.

 

[feedscrn]

XP is great... probably more than enuf. It's like a computer company
I heard about.. their old h/w was so good, that people did not want to
upgrade.