is it worthwhile upgrading to windows vista??

[Guest]

I am asking for any advice related to upgrading from xp to vista. I have
heard many bad things regarding devices and programs not working after the
upgrade. is it true? I did a vista utility upgrade check on my system and
it said ok but it gave me a report which shows a number of programs and
device (my canon scanner) that may not work after the upgrade. If so, this
will be very bad and I don't want to invest more on buying new stuffs just to
satisfy vista's requirements.

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi Anson,

Is it worthwhile? That depends. Is your current operating system doing
everything you need it to and supporting all your programs? Is there
something in Vista that you need that is not available otherwise? Is there
some software that you want to use that will only work under it?

Basically, if what you have is doing what you need it to do, then upgrading
would be a matter of personal preference.

The upgrade advisor only reports on what it knows about, and it can miss
potential problems. Many programs will run just fine under Vista, some may
need to use compatibility mode, others may require an update or patch from
the software vendor. You'd need to check with each on these.

As to device drivers, again you'd need to check with the manufacturer on any
indicated devices or check them against the HCL here:
https://winqual.microsoft.com/HCL/Default.aspx

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[Jonathan M. \TacticalSniper\ Boyko]

Learning from experience of my customers, I believe you should wait with
upgrading to Vista. It is not yet ready and I'd say you should wait at least
until SP1 is released. It is worth buying Vista with a brand new computer.

--

«Kono kuni wa mada, hontô no hero wo shiranai»

TacticalSniper
http://tacticalsniper.blogspot.com/

 

[Neil Harley]

I am asking for any advice related to upgrading from xp to vista. I have
heard many bad things regarding devices and programs not working after the
upgrade. is it true? I did a vista utility upgrade check on my system and
it said ok but it gave me a report which shows a number of programs and
device (my canon scanner) that may not work after the upgrade. If so, this
will be very bad and I don't want to invest more on buying new stuffs just to
satisfy vista's requirements.

Anson

Take the report the Upgrade Advisor created and check each application
and device at the manufacturer's website. Some manufacturers are writing
drivers for older devices and updates to software whereas others aren't.

You could also check Google to see if other people are having problems
with the devices or software.

At the end of the day only you can decide to upgrade or not. If
applications and devices you want/need working aren't going to work then
I wouldn't at the moment.

 

[Richard Urban]

It certainly was worth it for me.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I am asking for any advice related to upgrading from xp to vista. I have
heard many bad things regarding devices and programs not working after the
upgrade. is it true? I did a vista utility upgrade check on my system and
it said ok but it gave me a report which shows a number of programs and
device (my canon scanner) that may not work after the upgrade. If so, this
will be very bad and I don't want to invest more on buying new stuffs just to
satisfy vista's requirements.

First of all, my own experience with Vista is excellent. All my
hardware works fine (including my Canon scanner) and the only software
that didn't work were a couple of utilities (not surprisingly) which I
had to replace.

Nevertheless, my view is that you're going about this backward. A
change of operating system should be driven by need, not just because
there is a new version available. Are you having a problem with your
present version of Windows that you expect Vista to solve? Do you have
or expect to get new hardware or software that is supported in Vista,
but not in your present version of Windows? Is there some new feature
in Vista that you need or yearn for? Does your job require you have
skills in Vista? Are you a computer hobbyist who enjoys playing with
whatever is newest?

If the answer to one or more of those questions is yes (and your
hardware is adequate for Vista), then you should get Vista. Otherwise
most people should stick with what they have. There is *always* a
learning curve and a potential for problems when you take a step as
big as this one, regardless of how wonderful whatever you're
contemplating moving to is. Sooner or later you'll have to upgrade (to
Vista or its successor) because you'll want support for hardware or
software that you can't get in your present version of Windows, but
don't rush it.

 

[Adam Albright]

I am asking for any advice related to upgrading from xp to vista. I have
heard many bad things regarding devices and programs not working after the
upgrade. is it true? I did a vista utility upgrade check on my system and
it said ok but it gave me a report which shows a number of programs and
device (my canon scanner) that may not work after the upgrade. If so, this
will be very bad and I don't want to invest more on buying new stuffs just to
satisfy vista's requirements.

There isn't one answer. ANYTHING that the Vista Upgrade Advisor
mentions suspect will cause problems once you start the actual install
process. What may have just been 'could cause', all too often ends up
being 'WILL CAUSE', meaning the install won't finish and you could get
stuck in limbo with no Vista and worse, a damaged install of your
prior XP operating system. While scary, if you take precautions and
correct or disable all reported issued beforehand you have far less
chance of running into problems.

As far as your hardware, yep, much of it may need new Vista capable
drivers. MANY printers, scanners, network cards, video cards won't
work at all or work well unless they have Vista drivers. Worse, some
older hardware isn't scheduled to get Vista updated drivers anytime
soon if ever, especially older printers and scanners, so check your
vendor's web site beforehand to see if they have or at least plan on
offering updated drivers for your particular model. Canon seems better
than HP or Epson in this regard.

 

[Guest]

thank you Rick

Anson

Hi Anson,

Is it worthwhile? That depends. Is your current operating system doing
everything you need it to and supporting all your programs? Is there
something in Vista that you need that is not available otherwise? Is there
some software that you want to use that will only work under it?

Basically, if what you have is doing what you need it to do, then upgrading
would be a matter of personal preference.

The upgrade advisor only reports on what it knows about, and it can miss
potential problems. Many programs will run just fine under Vista, some may
need to use compatibility mode, others may require an update or patch from
the software vendor. You'd need to check with each on these.

As to device drivers, again you'd need to check with the manufacturer on any
indicated devices or check them against the HCL here:
https://winqual.microsoft.com/HCL/Default.aspx

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[Guest]

thanks Neil

Anson

Anson

Take the report the Upgrade Advisor created and check each application
and device at the manufacturer's website. Some manufacturers are writing
drivers for older devices and updates to software whereas others aren't.

You could also check Google to see if other people are having problems
with the devices or software.

At the end of the day only you can decide to upgrade or not. If
applications and devices you want/need working aren't going to work then
I wouldn't at the moment.

 

[Guest]

thanks

Anson

 

[Guest]

thanks

Anson

 

[Guest]

my xp is working perfectly. but i just want to try something new on my
computer and see if it works out ok

Anson

 

[Guest]

true. i agree with you.

thanks

Anson

First of all, my own experience with Vista is excellent. All my
hardware works fine (including my Canon scanner) and the only software
that didn't work were a couple of utilities (not surprisingly) which I
had to replace.

Nevertheless, my view is that you're going about this backward. A
change of operating system should be driven by need, not just because
there is a new version available. Are you having a problem with your
present version of Windows that you expect Vista to solve? Do you have
or expect to get new hardware or software that is supported in Vista,
but not in your present version of Windows? Is there some new feature
in Vista that you need or yearn for? Does your job require you have
skills in Vista? Are you a computer hobbyist who enjoys playing with
whatever is newest?

If the answer to one or more of those questions is yes (and your
hardware is adequate for Vista), then you should get Vista. Otherwise
most people should stick with what they have. There is *always* a
learning curve and a potential for problems when you take a step as
big as this one, regardless of how wonderful whatever you're
contemplating moving to is. Sooner or later you'll have to upgrade (to
Vista or its successor) because you'll want support for hardware or
software that you can't get in your present version of Windows, but
don't rush it.

 

[peter]

You've heard from almost all of the persons who frequently offer very good
help on this forum....so I thought maube you would like the opinion of an
average user like me...........
I ran Vista Beta RC1 and RC2
I upgraded my Acer Laptop to Vista.Home Premium .....for shipping charge
only
Even though I did not run into any major problems running RC1 and 2 in both
32 and 64 bit mode on older NVidea Chipsets nor on a not very popular ULI
chipset mobo and managed to find all of the specific drivers for my 2 Canon
MP scanner/copier/printers and the other various sundry pieces of hardware
that I have on 2 machines ..I would be very reluctant to spend $200.00 at
the present time for this OS.
XP SP2 works fine with everything I have..software and hardware...and the
addition of a few security tools makes it almost bullet proof.
As with any new OS there is quite a bit of searching to do to find hardware
drivers that function properly...a year from now it will be easier.
As for the Vista I am running at the present time on the Acer...I had one
major problem with Event Services not starting and finding drivers for the
Build in Acer Webcam.The install was easy and so was the re-install to fix
the event viewer problem.I blame Acer for the webcam problem which s solved
now. BUT..if it would not have been "free" I would have waited a year.
and that is my $.02
peter

 

[Val]

If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It

That is a fundamental principle to live by, especially in this situation.

If your XP system does what you need doing, and there is no new major
software app you HAVE to use that only runs in Vista, why set yourself up
for the expense and trouble?

On the other hand, if you're in the market for a new computer because your
present one broke or is just too old to keep up with what you demand of it
(and it's not worth investing in any upgrades, such as RAM), then you are
pretty much faced with Vista as the only alternative. In this case, you're
buying a PC that the maker is "assuring" you is fully compatible with Vista,
to include drivers and installed crapware.

I'm running Vista on a laptop I bought just before Vista shipped, it runs
OK. I do not expect I'll put Vista on any of the other machines around my
home. At the office, I gotta go with what my ITS folks set as their
supported standard, which will be XP for at least a year.

Val

 

[Guest]

thank you . Adam

i probably will wait until when i get my next computer

Anson

 

[Guest]

well.. after you said and others' comments, i think it is not worth upgrading
it

Anson

 

[Guest]

true. maybe i only need to upgrade my hardware rather than keep bothering
with the newest software platform

Thanks

Anson

 

[philo]

I am asking for any advice related to upgrading from xp to vista. I have
heard many bad things regarding devices and programs not working after the
upgrade. is it true? I did a vista utility upgrade check on my system and
it said ok but it gave me a report which shows a number of programs and
device (my canon scanner) that may not work after the upgrade. If so, this
will be very bad and I don't want to invest more on buying new stuffs just to
satisfy vista's requirements.

I definately would not bother to upgrade to Vista if XP is doing all that it
should.
Though I'm sure Vista is fine for all those who get it with a new machine...
I've given it a try and don't really see any advantages it offers over XP...
There were a few disadvantages however!


So if XP is working for you right now...why take a chance ?

 

[ray]

I am asking for any advice related to upgrading from xp to vista. I have
heard many bad things regarding devices and programs not working after the
upgrade. is it true? I did a vista utility upgrade check on my system and
it said ok but it gave me a report which shows a number of programs and
device (my canon scanner) that may not work after the upgrade. If so, this
will be very bad and I don't want to invest more on buying new stuffs just to
satisfy vista's requirements.

1) ask yourself what is in vista that you 'need'

2) many competent consultants are advising clients to wait for at least
SP1