Should I keep windows XP????

[meteore]

Hi,

I just received my copy of vista from Dell.. I understand that there
are problems with Vista. I just read recently, it could cause some
programs not to run or crash.

I am now hesitant to install this program.

I am running AVG free edition, Zone alarm and Scrabble online which
needs active X.

Is there any need to worry?

Thanks.

Roger

 

[Dave Cox]

Hi,

I just received my copy of vista from Dell.. I understand that there
are problems with Vista. I just read recently, it could cause some
programs not to run or crash.

I am now hesitant to install this program.

I am running AVG free edition, Zone alarm and Scrabble online which
needs active X.

Is there any need to worry?

Thanks.

Roger

AVG works fine as long as you install it correctly as per their web
site......as for the other two I do not use them so I can't say.

If you do decide to install Vista make sure all your hardware is
supported with Vista drivers and exceeds the minimum requirments (do
not upgrade if you just meet the minimum requiremnents) prior to
installation. I also recommend you do a clean install and not an
upgrade over XP. But that is strictly your choice.

By the way your doing a very good thing asking if your software is
compatable with Vista before even trying to upgrade good job! If more
people would take the time before hand there would be so much less
confusion.

 

[Mike Hall MVP]

Run the Windows Upgrade advisor on your machine.. if you have any misgivings
at all, hold back on installing Vista..

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/upgradeadvisor.mspx

Hi,

I just received my copy of vista from Dell.. I understand that there
are problems with Vista. I just read recently, it could cause some
programs not to run or crash.

I am now hesitant to install this program.

I am running AVG free edition, Zone alarm and Scrabble online which
needs active X.

Is there any need to worry?

Thanks.

Roger

--


Mike Hall
MS MVP Windows Shell/User
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/

 

[Richard Urban]

Uninstall ZoneAlarm. You need the latest version of AVG antivirus. Then
upgrade.

--


Regards,

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

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Kerry Brown]

Here's some tips if you do decide to upgrade. If your hardware and software
are supported and you don't connect to a corporate domain then Vista works
great. I prefer it over XP. If you connect to a corporate domain talk to the
IT department before upgrading to make sure they support Vista.

1) Backup your PC.
2) Back it up again.
3) Test your backups.

If you skip the above steps please don't whine that the upgrade trashed all
your files. Any process that involves this many changes to the file system
is fraught with danger. If you don't have a full backup of your pc before
starting the upgrade you are an idiot and shouldn't really have a pc to
start with This may sound harsh but it is reality.

4) Run the latest version of the Upgrade Advisor and note anything it flags.
5) Uninstall (not disable) all antivirus, antispyware, firewall, disk
utility, and system utility programs even if the upgrade advisor doesn't
mention them. You will need to install Vista compatible versions after the
upgrade is finished.
6) Uninstall (not disable) all programs that the upgrade advisor flags as
possible problems. You will need to install Vista compatible versions after
the upgrade is finished.
7) If possible remove all hardware that the upgrade advisor flags as
incompatible.
8) Make sure you have Vista compatible drivers and software for all your
hardware devices burned to CD. Don't just look for drivers that the upgrade
advisor mentioned. If possible have drivers ready for everything.
9) Physically unplug any external devices like portable hard drives,
printers, card readers, flash drives, cameras, etc..
10) Run a chkdsk on all the partitions on all hard drives still connected.
11) Defrag the system and boot partitions.
12) Start the Vista upgrade process.

 

[Dave Cox]

Here's some tips if you do decide to upgrade. If your hardware and
software are supported and you don't connect to a corporate domain
then Vista works great. I prefer it over XP. If you connect to a
corporate domain talk to the IT department before upgrading to
make sure they support Vista.

1) Backup your PC.
2) Back it up again.
3) Test your backups.

If you skip the above steps please don't whine that the upgrade
trashed all your files. Any process that involves this many
changes to the file system is fraught with danger. If you don't
have a full backup of your pc before starting the upgrade you are
an idiot and shouldn't really have a pc to start with This may
sound harsh but it is reality.

4) Run the latest version of the Upgrade Advisor and note anything
it flags. 5) Uninstall (not disable) all antivirus, antispyware,
firewall, disk utility, and system utility programs even if the
upgrade advisor doesn't mention them. You will need to install
Vista compatible versions after the upgrade is finished.
6) Uninstall (not disable) all programs that the upgrade advisor
flags as possible problems. You will need to install Vista
compatible versions after the upgrade is finished.
7) If possible remove all hardware that the upgrade advisor flags
as incompatible.
8) Make sure you have Vista compatible drivers and software for
all your hardware devices burned to CD. Don't just look for
drivers that the upgrade advisor mentioned. If possible have
drivers ready for everything. 9) Physically unplug any external
devices like portable hard drives, printers, card readers, flash
drives, cameras, etc.. 10) Run a chkdsk on all the partitions on
all hard drives still connected. 11) Defrag the system and boot
partitions. 12) Start the Vista upgrade process.

Great post!

You have a choice when upgrading to upgrade over the old OS or doing
a clean install.

The only thing I'd add to what was said here is to do a clean
install. All your old files and settings that you did not remove will
be stored in a folder that you can later retrieve or delete at your
convenience.

 

[ray]

Hi,

I just received my copy of vista from Dell.. I understand that there
are problems with Vista. I just read recently, it could cause some
programs not to run or crash.

I am now hesitant to install this program.

I am running AVG free edition, Zone alarm and Scrabble online which
needs active X.

Is there any need to worry?

Thanks.

Roger

The advice of most consultants will be to wait at least for SP1 before
installing vista - lots of issues.

 

[Iuvenalis]

Hi,

I just received my copy of vista from Dell.. I understand that there
are problems with Vista. I just read recently, it could cause some
programs not to run or crash.

I am now hesitant to install this program.

I am running AVG free edition, Zone alarm and Scrabble online which
needs active X.

Is there any need to worry?

Thanks.

Roger

If you only ever use the pc for scrabble online I wouldn't bother with the
upgrade, it's not worth the effort.

 

[john]

If you only ever use the pc for scrabble online I wouldn't bother with the
upgrade, it's not worth the effort.

same can be said for mission critical business applications that may no
longer work...

 

[Iuvenalis]

same can be said for mission critical business applications that may no
longer work...

of course...but if your mission critical business applications don't work
you wouldn't even consider it. If your only consideration is an activeX
browser addon to play scrabble you maybe able to upgrade but it's hardly
worth it.

 

[meteore]

of course...but if your mission critical business applications don't work
you wouldn't even consider it. If your only consideration is an activeX
browser addon to play scrabble you maybe able to upgrade but it's hardly
worth it.

Thank you all for your intelligent responses to my posting. Since
windows XP works well, I am going to wait a little while, before I
install Vista.

Roger

 

[meteore]

Thank you all for your intelligent responses to my posting. Since
windows XP works well, I am going to wait a little while, before I
install Vista.

Roger- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

 

[meteore]

ADDENDUM:-

Further to my previous posting, for anyone who cares.

I rebooted my system recently after having installed Vista, a few days
ago and received a message something to the effect that I had no
operating system. I realized today this problem might have happened
because I did not register Vista with Microsoft. I did not look at
Welcome Center.

I called the good people at Dell Canada, luckily not some far away
place and they instructed me how to reinstall WindowsXP and Vista,
which I had
to try.. After booting up again the same problem reoccurred. I called
Dell Canada again and I got some chap who figured it out in two
minutes. He
made me repair file with Vista disk and d\l some patch for the HD from
Dell. Computer working perfectly now and am keeping vista on my
computer.


Don't let anybody tell you Dell offers bad service. I would recommend
Dell and their service to anyone who wants a new computer.


Roger

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Since registration is optional, that had nothing to do with your
problem.
Also, Activation does not cause that error.
More than likely a hardware problem not related to the operating
system.

Check and reseat the hard drive cables to ensure a good connection.
Go to the manufacturers website and get the hard drive diagnostics to
verify the drive is OK.
Do not just rely on a patch.

 

[meteore]

Mr Jones,

Is this the patch you mean?

You Are Searching For Return to Drivers Results Page

Dell 32 Bit Diagnostics (Graphical User Interface version)
Choose a File Format Help Me Choose


ISO Image
cdd_1291.iso
Description: This file contains an ISO image to be used to create a
CDROM image. Download the file to a folder on your hard drive, and
then create a CD using your choice of CD burning software.


Hard-Drive
CZ129100.exe
Description: This file contains a compressed (or zipped) set of
files. Download the file to a folder on your hard drive, and then run
(double-click) it to unzip the set of files. Follow the instructions
to complete the installation

Thanks.

roger

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

From that description, that will not check the hard drive for
serviceability.

If Dell does not have such a program, open the computer case and
determine the hard drive make and model.
Then go to the hard drive manufacturers website and get their hard
drive diagnostics.

 

[meteore]

Hi,

I went to the Dell forums site and I found out this problem "no
operating system" was a common problem on my Dell E521 Model and steps
were outlined there to rectify problem, which I had done previously.

roger