How to make Vista work properly

[Hoock The Spook]

This may make me a bit unpopular but I have found (to my horror) that when a
"clean install" of Vista is done on a newly formatted HDD it runs pretty
well perfectly!
I did this on a new PC I bought and have not had any problems in any way
whatsoever - those that I have encountered have been through my own mucking
about!
Conversely, I did an "over the top" upgrade over Windows XP Pro on my other
PC and what a friggin disaster!
It was just one problem after another - nothing seemed to work any more -
software and hardware kept malfunctioning and the Network was a mess!
I formatted it's HDD, did a clean install of Vista and 110% trouble free
ever since!
I should mention beforehand I also ran that piece of crap called Windows
Compatability Wizard that told me everything was cool and to let it rip -
yeh!
Of course, that is not the way a new OS should behave but having used
Windows since the old 3.1 Version days, I have learnt by the school of hard
knocks that a clean install is the only way to go!
Bugger of a job if you have spent years setting up yer PC the way you like
it and then have to spend a couple of days
knitting it all back together again and then remembering everything you
FORGOT to back up but it does work!
I'm gorn!

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

Hoock

That seems to be the popular option with Vista. The upgrade advisor just
isn't able to catch all of the many, many incompatible programs. The only
time an upgrade is recommended is if the user has programs installed, that
they want to keep, and they no longer have the original installation media.

It's always advisable to visit the software / hardware manufacturers website
to check compatibility for older programs or drivers.

I think this is the main why the workaround to install an upgrade version to
a clean hard drive is still around.

 

[Rich]

How to make Vista work properly? Install it properly

Common sense is amazing isn't it?

I've always said that upgrading your OS overtop of an existing OS is like
remodling your house while still living in it. It can be done. I won't be a
pleasant experience and you certainly will not be the same person coming out
the other side. You will have problems. You will be sorry.


Rich

 

[Adam Albright]

This may make me a bit unpopular but I have found (to my horror) that when a
"clean install" of Vista is done on a newly formatted HDD it runs pretty
well perfectly!
I did this on a new PC I bought and have not had any problems in any way
whatsoever - those that I have encountered have been through my own mucking
about!
Conversely, I did an "over the top" upgrade over Windows XP Pro on my other
PC and what a friggin disaster!

Well it depends. Not a very technical response, but that's my
experience. I've installed XP zillions of times, some as a clean
install others as a write over and results vary. I installed Vista
over XP and haven't had any problem in so doing.

What some of the fanboys that infest this newsgroup simply can't get
through their thick skulls is EVERY system is different. So what works
for one person may not work exactly the same for the next guy. Too
many variables.

 

[Lang Murphy]

This may make me a bit unpopular but I have found (to my horror) that when
a "clean install" of Vista is done on a newly formatted HDD it runs pretty
well perfectly!
I did this on a new PC I bought and have not had any problems in any way
whatsoever - those that I have encountered have been through my own
mucking about!
Conversely, I did an "over the top" upgrade over Windows XP Pro on my
other PC and what a friggin disaster!
It was just one problem after another - nothing seemed to work any more -
software and hardware kept malfunctioning and the Network was a mess!
I formatted it's HDD, did a clean install of Vista and 110% trouble free
ever since!
I should mention beforehand I also ran that piece of crap called Windows
Compatability Wizard that told me everything was cool and to let it rip -
yeh!
Of course, that is not the way a new OS should behave but having used
Windows since the old 3.1 Version days, I have learnt by the school of
hard knocks that a clean install is the only way to go!
Bugger of a job if you have spent years setting up yer PC the way you like
it and then have to spend a couple of days
knitting it all back together again and then remembering everything you
FORGOT to back up but it does work!
I'm gorn!

I have to agree with you. I admit I've not done any upgrades, but the
staggering number of posts in this NG from folks who have done upgrades and
are experiencing problems leads me to believe that, yeah, maybe upgrading to
Vista isn't the best way to achieve a reliable Vista system. I -have- done
clean installs on 5 different Dell models: D620, D820, XPS Gen 2, GX620, and
a GX745. Have not seen a single BSOD on any of these seats. All systems have
been very stable. And even though they are all from Dell, they all have
dissimilar hardware of one type or another.

Another apparent source of problems with Vista are OEM pre-installations on
new PC's. I haven't run across one of those yet in my personal experience
but have to wonder "why is that?" Is it the crapware that most OEM's
install? Dunno.

Also have to agree with the bothersome aspect of backing all data up and
reinstalling apps, but ultimately (no pun intended), I think -most- folks
end up with a more stable system. And to me, that makes the time investment
worth it.

Lang

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

Rich

Although this is the popular way of installing Vista, there are many users
out there who have upgraded and didn't experience any problems. So upgrading
is still a viable option.

If you have a lot of software installed and do not want to go through the
daunting task of reinstalling everything, the best option would be to backup
the original system and upgrade to Vista without activating. Test things for
a while and if it goes haywire, then format and perform the clean install.

 

[KristleBawl]

Personally, I think the OEM issues might be caused by both the 'crapware'
and the people themselves paid to alter the new OS before they even know how
to use it. Pre-installed OS versions are usually branded by Dell, etc.,
including regedit modifications and that additional software. The more
(advertising) logoes they stick in it, the more likely it might be flawed.

KB

"Lang Murphy" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

 

[KristleBawl]

Yes, I agree, A clean install always worked better for me. Running 3.11, 95,
98SE, they all did so much better after reformatting and starting whole.

KB

"Hoock The Spook" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

 

[XS11E]

"Hoock The Spook" wrote in message

Yes, I agree, A clean install always worked better for me. Running
3.11, 95, 98SE, they all did so much better after reformatting and
starting whole.

Agreed. I always follow the PC makers instructions to burn restore CDs
so I can put the system back to original if I want to sell it, then I
format, partition and install from scratch.

For those who don't want to do so, possibly this might be of some help:

http://www.pcdecrapifier.com/

NOTE: I haven't used this myself but it looks like something that might
be very useful.

 

[Lang Murphy]

Personally, I think the OEM issues might be caused by both the 'crapware'
and the people themselves paid to alter the new OS before they even know
how to use it. Pre-installed OS versions are usually branded by Dell,
etc., including regedit modifications and that additional software. The
more (advertising) logoes they stick in it, the more likely it might be
flawed.

KB

"Lang Murphy" wrote in message

Sorry for the late response... I think a lot of OEM's weren't ready for
Vista when it shipped; I think they didn't regression test their crapware or
drivers with Vista. That's just my own opinion though... no proof
whatsoever.

Lang