Windows Vista?? or XP?

  • Thread starter Thread starter TH
  • Start date Start date
T

TH

Hi, I am running windows vista home premium and when i connect my external
hard disk, the screen goes blue or sometimes different colours, i have to
turn off my PC and restart it again. I am tempted to go back to XP, for
various reasons, I just dont like Vista. What are your recommendations?


Thank you
 
TH said:
Hi, I am running windows vista home premium and when i connect my external
hard disk, the screen goes blue or sometimes different colours, i have to
turn off my PC and restart it again. I am tempted to go back to XP, for
various reasons, I just dont like Vista. What are your recommendations?


Thank you
Click to expand...


Tom:

Check for Vista compatbile drivers or any Vista related info on the external
harddrive manufacturer's website. The manufacturer may also have a forum on
their site where you can dialogue or a FAQ or recommendations etc.

Saucy
 
Hi, I am running windows vista home premium and when i connect my external
hard disk, the screen goes blue or sometimes different colours, i have to
turn off my PC and restart it again. I am tempted to go back to XP, for
various reasons, I just dont like Vista. What are your recommendations?
Click to expand...

Make a multiboot with Vista ànd XP.
 
Hi, I am running windows vista home premium and when i connect my
external hard disk, the screen goes blue or sometimes different
colours, i have to turn off my PC and restart it again. I am
tempted to go back to XP, for various reasons, I just dont like
Vista. What are your recommendations?


Thank you
Click to expand...

"I just don't like Vista"

And your asking for recommendations?
 
Is your external drive used for file storage, or do you have programs
installed to it?
if you have programs loaded on your external drive they may have
compatibility problems with vista

are you connecting directly to the PC or through a USB Hub?
if through a hub, you may need Vista drivers for the hub.

I currently have 4 external drives connected to my computer (Vista Business)
and have never had any issues ????
 
Agreed
external drive shouldn't cause any problem as long as u dont have any
programs installed on it.
 
Hi, I am running windows vista home premium and when i connect my external
hard disk, the screen goes blue or sometimes different colours, i have to
turn off my PC and restart it again. I am tempted to go back to XP, for
various reasons, I just dont like Vista. What are your recommendations?


Thank you
Click to expand...

I'd recommend you not run vista right now - too many issues - like the one
you mention - wait, at least, for SP1. Options include returning to xp or
moving to Linux.
 
I wish I could go back to XP. Vista, in my opinion, is so encumbered
with Bill Gates' paranoia about security that it is a real pain to use.
Unfortunately, it was installed alreeady on a new computer I bought.
 
don't listen to this crap.. there are TONS of people using vista
successfully without issue.
 
05/08/2007
I just got a new PC with Vista. At every corner there is a road block. XP
did not evolve into something better, but rather Vista is a complete redo
with many fatal flaws. So far it seems extremely half-baked and not ready
for prime time. Vista is an impediment to getting things done. Somehow
Microsoft wants you to believe you are getting an advanced OS where you
might be more productive. My immediate first impression was this is a web
surfer with email - essentially WebTV. But even those functions have many
flaws. Here are some issues I ran into in the first couple of days:

1) I can't go online to view my bank balances. I've discussed this with my
bank and it is a problem with certain versions of Vista. The home page
views OK but I can't logon.
2) I can't attach a GIF in an email. When attempting to save a GIF, it only
allows you to save a JPG or BMP file type. When tryiing to attach a GIF
Windows Mail blocks claiming active X content. If I double click on the
image, Iexplorer blocks for active X content.
3) There are lots of files I know exist, but the browser won't let you view
them. I have view hidden files checked. For instance the SENDTO directory
is under /users... but at certain directory level, Vista no longer displays
directories that Vista thinks you are not supposed to view.
4) My printer which was purchased recently does not have a suitable driver.
HP lists a substitute that will print but it isn't full featured and in fact
it doesn't work at all.
5) The bank asked what version of Iexplorer I'm running. I'm sure it is
somewhere, but there is no about button.
6) I browse to certain directories but Windows says I don't have enou
 
Sorry that you are having problems with Vista....what version? I do think
that these can be resolved.

1- I can access my bank with both IE7 and Firefox 2

2- I just attached a GIF file to an email, using Windows Mail.

3- not sure what you are looking for... if you are trying to open the old My
Documents, My Pictures, etc. those aren't directories... they are junctions
that point to Documents, Pictures, etc.

4- I have a HP Officejet 6110. True, it functions as a printer & scanner,
but HP's software doesn't work with Vista. It's HP's decision.

5- If you don't see the File---Help menu bar, right-click on a toolbar, and
select Menu Bar. Then you can access Help - About.
 
Hi TH--

The problem is obviously not Vista; it's finding out how to run that
external HD and by now most of them are Vista compatible--I don't know which
one you have or when you got it.

Are you getting any particular errors when the screen goes blue or sometimes
different colors in white font with writing? Try disconnecting the Ext HD
and typing in run box "eventviewer.msc" without quotes>in left pane under
Windows>application and also system and see if you can retrieve an error
message that gives a clue as to what is happening when you use that external
HD.

If you don't like Vista for other reasons, then you could install XP or as
has been suggested do a dual boot--I recommend installing XP first though.

Good luck,

CH
 
05/08/2007
I just got a new PC with Vista. At every corner there is a road
block. XP did not evolve into something better, but rather Vista
is a complete redo with many fatal flaws. So far it seems
extremely half-baked and not ready for prime time. Vista is an
impediment to getting things done. Somehow Microsoft wants you to
believe you are getting an advanced OS where you might be more
productive. My immediate first impression was this is a web
surfer with email - essentially WebTV. But even those functions
have many flaws. Here are some issues I ran into in the first
couple of days:
Click to expand...


Vista is not XP! things are very different, that doesn't make them
worse. I haven't seen one FATAL FLAW other then users who are to
quick to blame Vista, other then seeing it's their own inability to
adjust to change. Just because you seem to have issues with Vista
doesn't mean the rest of us do.
1) I can't go online to view my bank balances. I've discussed
this with my bank and it is a problem with certain versions of
Vista. The home page views OK but I can't logon.
Click to expand...

What bank? Did your bank tell you what versions of Vista had issues?
If you need help you really need to be more specific. I have yet to
see a web page I can't view in IE7 (not saying there isn't one, I
just haven't crossed it yet) There are more features in IE7 to
protect you, you just might not have your security settings adjusted
for your bank page.

2) I can't attach a GIF in an email. When attempting to save a
GIF, it only allows you to save a JPG or BMP file type. When
tryiing to attach a GIF Windows Mail blocks claiming active X
content. If I double click on the image, Iexplorer blocks for
active X content.
Click to expand...

What email program are you using? I had no issues attaching and
sending gifs with with either Windows mail or Outlook 2007


3) There are lots of files I know exist, but the
browser won't let you view them. I have view hidden files
checked. For instance the SENDTO directory is under /users... but
at certain directory level, Vista no longer displays directories
that Vista thinks you are not supposed to view.
Click to expand...

Do you also have 'Hide protected operating system files' unchecked?


4) My printer
which was purchased recently does not have a suitable driver. HP
lists a substitute that will print but it isn't full featured and
in fact it doesn't work at all.
Click to expand...

This is HP's way of forcing you to buy a new Printer or scanner. If
your going to get mad get, mad at HP. Driver issues are not
Microsofts problem. Many have had success using XP drivers in
Vista, read some other posts and see how they did it.

5) The bank asked what version of Iexplorer I'm running. I'm sure
it is somewhere, but there is no about button.
Click to expand...

Yes there is you just don't know where to look, expand the arrows to
the right of the TOOLS menu select HELP and BINGO there it is!
6) I browse to certain directories but Windows says I don't have
enou
Click to expand...

Are you sure your goi..........
 
Steven said:
05/08/2007
I just got a new PC with Vista. At every corner there is a road block. XP
did not evolve into something better, but rather Vista is a complete redo
Click to expand...

One can easily make the argument that with any MS OS you want to wait
until the Second Edition to install it.

ie thinking back to dos 6.2, windows. 3.0, win95, win98, XP

What worked well was dos 6.22, windows 3.11, win95B, win98SE, XP2
 
I have several different bank accounts and all worked but one. Today
Microsoft released an 8.3MB patch that fixes my problem with the problem
bank. Trust me the bank was as clueless as me.

GIFs are still a problem. For others suggesting that I'm unwilling to
change is just BS. I wouldn't be wasting my time googling for tidbits of
how to use Vista. A good OS would be intuitive. I'm not ready for a MAC or
Linux, but they are their shortcommings are looking better every day.

I would suggest things should get easier with each version not more
convoluted. If each time you buy a new car, there is a new method for
starting the car and something different to stop the car, then there better
be a pretty compelling reason for doing so. If the reason doesn't make
operating a car simpler AND safer, then I probably would look elsewhere. My
PC is a tool, not a tech-head impress-me-with-your-genius obstacle course.

As for device drivers not working, this is just a hidden cost of Vista.
Plan on buying a new suite of peripherals and junking perfectly good
peripherals.

So in my opinion, Vista is a major step towards less usability. Not what I
expected.
 
Plato said:
One can easily make the argument that with any MS OS you want to wait
until the Second Edition to install it.

ie thinking back to dos 6.2, windows. 3.0, win95, win98, XP

What worked well was dos 6.22, windows 3.11, win95B, win98SE, XP2
Click to expand...


Precisely...-;)
 
No, it's not crap advice. It is VERY sound advice; and is the advice I
give to EVERYONE (both in my office and semi-computer literate friends).

Waiting for SP1 has been standard operating procedure for all new OS's
for the 25+ years I've worked in IT. Note I'm note just talking about
Windows versions, but *ALL* OS's - including *nix*, MVS, VMS, OSX, and
yes - Windows. This isn't just to give the OS a chance to work the bugs
out; it also gives time to the driver and application writers to release
updates for the new OS.


Plus, even if a OS that is working *perfectly* without a single bug,
transitioning to it will be fairly difficult to use if the interface
changes. And Vista's interface is dramatically different than XP's.


As I said, I've been working in IT for 25 years. I am now in my 2nd
week of switching my desktop machine from WinXP to Vista. And I have
not yet gotten to the same level of productivity I had before the
switch. I am quite certain that I *eventually* will get there - but it
is irresponsible to suggest that the transition cost is negligible for
the average user.

--

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Chris Barnes AOL IM: CNBarnes
(e-mail address removed) Yahoo IM: chrisnbarnes
Computer Systems Manager MSN IM: (e-mail address removed)
Department of Physics ph: 979-845-7801
Texas A&M University fax: 979-845-2590
 
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