Just Plain Unhappy -- Can I Go Back to XP?

[BlueBrooke]

My new computer is a total disappointment (HP-Compaq with Vista
Basic). It seems like nothing works like it's supposed to. It's slow
-- it can take up to five minutes to go from one program to another. I
don't even bother trying to shut it down anymore, it takes so long. I
just let it go into sleep mode.

I've spent the past few weeks trying to "make do" and find
replacements for programs I've been using for a long time that don't
work under Vista. The newest irritation I'm finding is software
vendors telling me to use Windows Vista apps that I don't have access
to because I've got Basic (the most recent being the HP Director
problem -- HP Director doesn't work on Vista, but they tell me to use
Windows scanning apps that I don't have).

My last computer was an EMachines with XP Pro. It only came with an
EMachines restore disk. Can I use this to put XP Pro on this new
computer?

I hope this doesn't sound too whiney but I'm really disappointed and
unhappy and tired of this constant battling, and would return this if
they would take it back but it's been too long now.

 

[Ork .]

NO WAY.
Your recovery disk won't work.

My Toshiba NB was very sluggish after I installed Vista Premium.
One thing that helped a lot was by going to selective startup and
stopping a lot of unneccessary programs from running on startup.

Also go to your task manager and see what's running.

A big problem I had was with my PSC 1200 HP printer...I finally
uninstalled it ..

You may also be short on memory..

 

[Elmo]

My new computer is a total disappointment (HP-Compaq with Vista
Basic). It seems like nothing works like it's supposed to. It's slow
-- it can take up to five minutes to go from one program to another. I
don't even bother trying to shut it down anymore, it takes so long. I
just let it go into sleep mode.

I've spent the past few weeks trying to "make do" and find
replacements for programs I've been using for a long time that don't
work under Vista. The newest irritation I'm finding is software
vendors telling me to use Windows Vista apps that I don't have access
to because I've got Basic (the most recent being the HP Director
problem -- HP Director doesn't work on Vista, but they tell me to use
Windows scanning apps that I don't have).

My last computer was an EMachines with XP Pro. It only came with an
EMachines restore disk. Can I use this to put XP Pro on this new
computer?

I hope this doesn't sound too whiney but I'm really disappointed and
unhappy and tired of this constant battling, and would return this if
they would take it back but it's been too long now.

It's very doubtful. The new machine probably won't have drivers
compatible with XP, unless HP happened to write some and has them
available on their website. Then, the Emachines Restore CD will simply
not work with other brands of computer.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

My last computer was an EMachines with XP Pro. It only came with an
EMachines restore disk. Can I use this to put XP Pro on this new
computer?

Unfortunately, no. Yours is an OEM version of XP, and OEM versions
come with several disadvantages, the most severe of which is that once
installed, it can never be moved to another computer.

Over and above that licensing restriction, your copy of XP may be
BIOS-locked to your EMachines computer.

 

[=?iso-8859-1?B?tK9gty4uID48KSkpuj5g?=]

does it work better
in safemode?

 

[Ron Martell]

My new computer is a total disappointment (HP-Compaq with Vista
Basic). It seems like nothing works like it's supposed to. It's slow
-- it can take up to five minutes to go from one program to another. I
don't even bother trying to shut it down anymore, it takes so long. I
just let it go into sleep mode.

I've spent the past few weeks trying to "make do" and find
replacements for programs I've been using for a long time that don't
work under Vista. The newest irritation I'm finding is software
vendors telling me to use Windows Vista apps that I don't have access
to because I've got Basic (the most recent being the HP Director
problem -- HP Director doesn't work on Vista, but they tell me to use
Windows scanning apps that I don't have).

My last computer was an EMachines with XP Pro. It only came with an
EMachines restore disk. Can I use this to put XP Pro on this new
computer?

I hope this doesn't sound too whiney but I'm really disappointed and
unhappy and tired of this constant battling, and would return this if
they would take it back but it's been too long now.

Most manufacturer's are shipping Vista machines with minimal amounts
of RAM, resulting in slow performance. In addtion HP/Compaq preload
their machines with a ton of demo and trial programs, especially
Norton/Symantec.

1. Unless you already have 2 gb of RAM in the machine try adding more
RAM to it. You may have as little as 512 mb, with part of that taken
away for use by video. Windows Vista really needs at least 1 gb of
RAM to provide acceptable performance and responsiveness.

2. Try "de-nortoning" your system. Having a Norton/Symantec product
installed is comparable to having 2 tons of concrete hooked onto the
back of your car - it really bogs things down. There are many
alternatives to Norton/Symantec security and antivirus products and,
other than McAfee, pretty much all of them will have far less drag on
your computer's performance.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2008)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[mikeyhsd]

if you described your system it might help.
if you only have 512MB of memory, that is a BIG problem.
if you have not updated the drivers for your hardware, could be a problem.
if you have just started it, vista runs things like indexing that can take days to get done and impacts the system.

if you wish help in getting the computer to run better it would be best to post in a vista news group.

there are many on the ms news server.

msnews.microsoft.com

no logon required.



(e-mail address removed)



in message My new computer is a total disappointment (HP-Compaq with Vista
Basic). It seems like nothing works like it's supposed to. It's slow
-- it can take up to five minutes to go from one program to another. I
don't even bother trying to shut it down anymore, it takes so long. I
just let it go into sleep mode.

I've spent the past few weeks trying to "make do" and find
replacements for programs I've been using for a long time that don't
work under Vista. The newest irritation I'm finding is software
vendors telling me to use Windows Vista apps that I don't have access
to because I've got Basic (the most recent being the HP Director
problem -- HP Director doesn't work on Vista, but they tell me to use
Windows scanning apps that I don't have).

My last computer was an EMachines with XP Pro. It only came with an
EMachines restore disk. Can I use this to put XP Pro on this new
computer?

I hope this doesn't sound too whiney but I'm really disappointed and
unhappy and tired of this constant battling, and would return this if
they would take it back but it's been too long now.

 

[BlueBrooke]

Thanks to everyone who responded.

Yes, I only have 512 RAM (sorry I didn't mention this in the original
post. I mentioned it in another post, so just had it in my head that
it was brought up).

I've already shut down the unnecessary services (and uninstalled
Norton, etc.) that I could identify.

I've really got it running as lean as I know how -- and this is
horrible -- and the situation isn't improving.

I will be buying another computer -- probably much sooner than I had
anticipated -- but it certainly won't be from HP-Compaq. I think it's
horrible that they sell these. Maybe I should know better, maybe not
-- but *they* certainly should.

My biggest problem, though, is all the software that won't run (Zone
Alarm and the HP Director are two right off the top of my head that
just won't run). Upping the RAM won't change that. And I think it's
kind of ironic that HP suggests Windows Vista applications as
replacements that aren't included in the OS I have.

Oh, well -- buyer beware. But I don't do three strikes anymore -- I
just do one.

I appreciate everyone's time -- thank you for trying to help.

 

[Daave]

Thanks to everyone who responded.

Yes, I only have 512 RAM (sorry I didn't mention this in the original
post. I mentioned it in another post, so just had it in my head that
it was brought up).

512 is often quite enough for XP (unless you run memory-intensive apps
or do a considerable amount of multitasking), but as you've discovered,
it's inadequate to run Vista smoothly. Purchasing and installing more
RAM just may be your ticket: 1 GB, at minimum.

I've already shut down the unnecessary services (and uninstalled
Norton, etc.) that I could identify.

It's good that you uninstalled Norton. Regarding unnecessary services,
you may want to take a look at:

http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

and

http://sanx.org/tips.asp?cat=11

Good *free* anti-virus programs worth considering are:

AVG
http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/

avast!
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

AntiVir
http://www.free-av.com/

My biggest problem, though, is all the software that won't run (Zone
Alarm and the HP Director are two right off the top of my head that
just won't run).

I understand Zone Alarm can be a resource hog. You may want to consider
Comodo:

http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/

When you were running Zone Alarm, did you make sure to disable the
built-in Windows firewall?

Come to think of it, the built-in firewall may be all you really need
anyway:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/columns/cableguy/cg0106.mspx

HP Director should be able to run. If you have problems with it, HP
should be able to provide support.

Good luck!

 

[BlueBrooke]

512 is often quite enough for XP (unless you run memory-intensive apps
or do a considerable amount of multitasking), but as you've discovered,
it's inadequate to run Vista smoothly. Purchasing and installing more
RAM just may be your ticket: 1 GB, at minimum.


It's good that you uninstalled Norton. Regarding unnecessary services,
you may want to take a look at:

http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

and

http://sanx.org/tips.asp?cat=11

Thanks, Dave -- I knew about the first list, but not the second.

Good *free* anti-virus programs worth considering are:

AVG
http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/

avast!
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

AntiVir
http://www.free-av.com/

I'm using Avast!

I understand Zone Alarm can be a resource hog. You may want to consider
Comodo:

http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/

When you were running Zone Alarm, did you make sure to disable the
built-in Windows firewall?

That was on XP -- it's a whole new world now --

Come to think of it, the built-in firewall may be all you really need
anyway:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/columns/cableguy/cg0106.mspx

I have that running, but I liked Zone Alarm better -- for one thing, I
could tell what it was doing!

HP Director should be able to run. If you have problems with it, HP
should be able to provide support.

It's the HP site that says HP Director will not run under Vista, and
only suggests using Windows apps that don't come with Vista Basic.

Good luck!

Thanks

 

[Daave]

On Fri, 15 Jun 2007 10:31:50 -0400, "Daave"


It's the HP site that says HP Director will not run under Vista, and
only suggests using Windows apps that don't come with Vista Basic.

xfile posted a few days ago that he was able to run HP Director with
Vista (Ultimate):

http://www.tabletquestions.com/windows-vista/123245-hp-director-vista.html

Also, the problem may be more of a function of IE7 than Vista:

http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=886738&SiteID=1

 

[BlueBrooke]

xfile posted a few days ago that he was able to run HP Director with
Vista (Ultimate):

http://www.tabletquestions.com/windows-vista/123245-hp-director-vista.html

Also, the problem may be more of a function of IE7 than Vista:

http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=886738&SiteID=1

Thanks for the tips -- I will check them out.

 

[BlueBrooke]

xfile posted a few days ago that he was able to run HP Director with
Vista (Ultimate):

http://www.tabletquestions.com/windows-vista/123245-hp-director-vista.html

Also, the problem may be more of a function of IE7 than Vista:

http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=886738&SiteID=1

Hi, Daave --

Thanks for the links, but the HP Director installation disk won't work
at all -- it's telling me I don't have the right operating system. So
I can't even get past square one.

Appreciate you trying, though.

*sigh* I'm hating this computer more and more everyday. One *very*
unhappy consumer.

 

[Daave]

Hi, Daave --

Thanks for the links, but the HP Director installation disk won't work
at all -- it's telling me I don't have the right operating system. So
I can't even get past square one.

As xfile stated,

You need to download and install the latest applications and drivers for
Vista from HP site.

And for my case, I need to turn on Windows Firewall (initially it was off)
and manually add each HP software component to the allow list.

Have you seen this page:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...8762&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

(Or http://shurl.org/ohePa )

It looks like the Officejet 9100 All-in-One series printerm is
problematic. Which particular HP product are you using?

Appreciate you trying, though.

*sigh* I'm hating this computer more and more everyday. One *very*
unhappy consumer.

Understood. I'm not too crazy about Vista myself. Still, you may want to
check out microsoft.public.windows.vista.general .

 

[Patty]

Thanks to everyone who responded.

Yes, I only have 512 RAM (sorry I didn't mention this in the original
post. I mentioned it in another post, so just had it in my head that
it was brought up).

I've already shut down the unnecessary services (and uninstalled
Norton, etc.) that I could identify.

I've really got it running as lean as I know how -- and this is
horrible -- and the situation isn't improving.

I will be buying another computer -- probably much sooner than I had
anticipated -- but it certainly won't be from HP-Compaq. I think it's
horrible that they sell these. Maybe I should know better, maybe not
-- but *they* certainly should.

My biggest problem, though, is all the software that won't run (Zone
Alarm and the HP Director are two right off the top of my head that
just won't run). Upping the RAM won't change that. And I think it's
kind of ironic that HP suggests Windows Vista applications as
replacements that aren't included in the OS I have.

Oh, well -- buyer beware. But I don't do three strikes anymore -- I
just do one.

I appreciate everyone's time -- thank you for trying to help.

The problem is the RAM. No matter how much you try to "lean it down" Vista
will not run well with only 512MB RAM. Don't buy a new computer, just buy
a stick or two of RAM. I tell people, if they're getting a Vista system,
don't buy one of the cheap ones with less than 1GB RAM, and to preferably
get 2GB RAM. RAM is easy to put in, I've talked people through the
installation over the telephone.

You can go to Crucial... www.crucial.com and they even have a scan tool
that will tell you what RAM to buy.
HTH.

Patty

 

[Patty]

My biggest problem, though, is all the software that won't run (Zone
Alarm and the HP Director are two right off the top of my head that
just won't run). Upping the RAM won't change that. And I think it's
kind of ironic that HP suggests Windows Vista applications as
replacements that aren't included in the OS I have.

Zone Alarm does have a version for Vista, see more info at:

http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/home.jsp

Quick Links, first item.

And, I know that HP Director has a problem with IE 7, even on an XP system.
There is a patch available at the HP website to correct this problem so
that HP Director works again (I had to apply this patch when I upgraded to
IE 7 on my XP Home system). Perhaps that's the issue with Vista and HP
Director since Vista comes with IE 7. It's something to check out.

Patty

 

[Guest]

if i was you, what i would do if you have the money...is go to circuit city
or walmart and quick buy windows xp pro or home, (id buy pro.) format your
hard drive, (if you dont know how, go to download.com and look for hard drive
erasers, such as a program called eraser or kill disk. both good free
programs.) erase everything on the computer that you got, (after taking your
data off that you want.) and install xp on it. and sinse the computer u have
was designed for vista, it will go super fast on xp. xp has lighter memory
requierments, thus saving you the hassle of buying more ram, etc. xp should
be able to handle your hardware 2. most software venders that support vista
(or any current os) also support 2 os back of the current os. so, xp should
have a driver for your hardware. all i gotta say is, if u got the money, buy
xp fast! because its going to be taken out of stores soon......
os=operating system-windows 98, 2000, xp...etc....

 

[Ron Martell]

if i was you, what i would do if you have the money...is go to circuit city
or walmart and quick buy windows xp pro or home, (id buy pro.)

Why? The two editions are identical except for a few functions and
features which are not included with Home but are with Pro, such as
the ability to join a Windows Server Domain and there is nothing in
the o.p.'s message that would indicate any possible need for the
substantially more expensive Pro editon Both editions are compiled
from the same source code base.

Which version of Windows XP?
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/whichxp.asp
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/choosing2.asp
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_home_pro.asp
One additional difference, which is not specifically mentioned on the
above sites, is that in a peer-to-peer network configuration XP Home
only allows 5 concurrent logins to a shared network resource whereas
XP Pro allows 10.


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2008)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

if i was you, what i would do if you have the money...is go to circuit city
or walmart and quick buy windows xp pro or home, (id buy pro.)

Why do you recommend that he buy XP Professional? Unless you know that
he needs it, that's irresponsible advice that would likely cause him
to waste his money.

XP Home and Professional are identical except that Professional
includes a few features (mostly related to security and networking)
missing from Home? Most home users (even those with home networks)
don't need and would never use these extra features and will see no
benefits by buying Professional instead of Home.

format your
hard drive, (if you dont know how, go to download.com and look for hard drive
erasers, such as a program called eraser or kill disk. both good free
programs.) erase everything on the computer that you got, (after taking your
data off that you want.)

That's completely unnecessary and a waste of time. When you install
Windows XP cleanly, the first step formats the drive. No need to do it
first, and certainly no need to use any special program to do it.

 

[Guest]

ok here is the reasons i told him to buy xp proffesional.

1.) he said he was happy with xp pro.
2.) proffesional editions are always supported with microsoft security
updates longer then home editions. because profeesional is usaully used in
buisnesses, therefor, they are supported longer then home editions. Microsoft
always lets the proffesional editions have more time to upgrade. and if he
goes with home he might be able to have security updates to 2009, thats only
2 years. with professional version, microsoft might, (prob will) extend the
support agreement, untill 2010 or 2011. so that is why i recommended
proffesional. read on microsofts website with there support agreements, xp
pro is prob going to be supported longer then home edition. I like them both,
although i own home. I'm just saying he will have updates from microsoft
longer.
It really does not matter, if you wish to get home edition, do so. ether way
you have a great OS and it doesnt matter. I just know that proffesional
editions are usually supported longer then other versions.
3.) near where i live, home edition cannot be found, and i have looked
online as well, no success . I only can find the Professional version to buy.

summery:
like i said sir, by all means if you wish to buy home edition do so, its
your choice, im not saying one is better then the other, there both xp and
both great. i just know that usaully pro editions have longer support
agreements.