Vista Differences from XP

[ArchieB]

I'm new to Vista. 1st I had trouble fingind "Application Data" only to
eventually fing it is a redirector to the AppData" directory. 2nd I searched
for "Add or Remove Programs" and found that it has been changed to "Programs
and Features".

3rd I can't find my dvd-rom two drives in My Computer". Are the suposed to
be there or somewhere else? If they are supposed to be in My Computer, how
do I add them.

What other fundamental changes are there in Vista? Is there a good
reference book which covers this stuff?

 

[philo]

I'm new to Vista. 1st I had trouble fingind "Application Data" only to
eventually fing it is a redirector to the AppData" directory. 2nd I searched
for "Add or Remove Programs" and found that it has been changed to "Programs
and Features".

3rd I can't find my dvd-rom two drives in My Computer". Are the suposed to
be there or somewhere else? If they are supposed to be in My Computer, how
do I add them.

What other fundamental changes are there in Vista? Is there a good
reference book which covers this stuff?

Microsoft has made no "fundamental" changes ...
There are some added secutity features, non-destructive re-partitioning
capabilites...
a built in memory diagnostic...plus the abiltiy to restore deleted or
modified files...
plus..if you are into publishing...you can read more here:

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/xps/vista_print.mspx

However...from a GUI standpoint...Vista operates pretty much the same as
XP...
Anything you need to know should be pretty well covered by "Help".


If your DVD drives are missing however...then you have a real problem...
first check to see if they are detected by the bios

 

[ArchieB]

Both DVD drives are recognised by the BIOS. I am able to access them with a
utility as E: and F: but they are not present in My Computer.

 

[Gary Mount]

Look for them in "Computer" instead of 'My Computer".

 

[Kevin Marshall]

Take a look at the following URL:

http://forums.support.roxio.com/index.php?showtopic=27709

My system came with roxio pre-installed and also had the same problem with
missing DVD drive in vista, even if you don't have roxio installed the
registry edits 1 to 10 may still apply.

Kev...

 

[ArchieB]

Computer Management/Storage/Disk Management knows about the DVD drives E and F.

Can't find "Computer". Where / what is it?

 

[Gary Mount]

Type computer in your start menu and you should see it.

 

[Celegans]

What other fundamental changes are there in Vista? Is there a good
reference book which covers this stuff?

File search using Vista's Windows Explorer was optimized for speed but now
Vista can no longer find all your files. Just because you could search and
find a file in Windows 95, 98, 2000 and XP (with a registry patch in XP),
doesn't mean you can search and find the file now in Vista.

Microsoft doesn't care that you cannot find you old files and has been
silent about any fix for this problem.

 

[ArchieB]

Thanks to Kevin.

Editing the registry key:-

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Fixed the problem ^ the DVD drive now appear in Classic "My Computer".

ArchieB