My Vista Upgrade Experience

17 years ago

I decided to go ahead and install Vista--curiosity does eventually kill the cat I guess.

1) The "compatibility" check disk from Dell, that runs first, said everything would be OK and to go ahead and upgrade.

2) Everything basically went OK. It took about three hours for the entire process.

3) After the computer went to "sleep" overnight, the wireless modem shut down and would not re-install due to compatibility issues. Point of amusement: "Would you like to check online for a solution to this problem? Actually, yes... LOL

4) I took a chance on a new Belkin USB wireless adapter which ($50) solved the problem nicely. I couldn't find any wireless adapters anywhere that actually said Vista compatible on the label. It linked right up.

I'm finding that the Belkin products are a world easier than Linksys and Netgear which can require some pretty arcane configuration to install.

5) Firefox "shimmies" "shakes" and "bounces" on some pages--I was able to find a fix for that-- right click on the bookmark tab and then uncheck the Bookmarks Toolbar. Problem solved. Firefox say version .0.0.4 will address the issue. The latest version is 0.0.2.

4) Norton Internet Security completely reinstalls itself during the process--in itself a lengthy process.

It's nice enough--the interfaces are cool--no Earth shattering features--although I'm still looking for voice recognition--which I probably don't even have--

The hard drive runs more-- it barely ran at all in XP.-- Irritating.

Six billion dollars invested by Microsoft. Hopefully, there are important features buried somewhere.

MichaelAT

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

paparoseman
17 years ago
That is one reason I bought a 20 inch I Mac last summer. No issues with compatibilty and not a crash or lost data in sight. My filter for junk email is set so high that I have only 10 to 15 emails a week unless I contact someone else. Not a single phishing email and no offers to refinance the house.

Lance
michaelalreadytaken
Original Author
17 years ago
Lance,

I certainly did want an Apple for those very reasons and it was a tough choice for me.

In the end, the new software that prompted the purchase of a new computer, dictated the choice.

It runs much slower on an otherwise equivalent Apple than in a Windows environment. It was expensive--and I'm not done yet--so I just didn't want to get locked into that situation.

It's always something :)

MichaelAT
Related Discussions
Where in Vista do I find my Cache?
Q
Comments (5)
deleting cookies does very little to speed up your computer and will require you to login manually to any sites you are a member of, and also will delete any site preferences stored in them. While it certainly hurts nothing, this can be a huge inconvenience. I manually delete cookies, saving the ones from the site i visit frequently. I do this about once every other month. deleting all files in system temp caches (not to be confused with temp internet cache) can be disasterous to software upgrading and removal if they store uninstall files in there. Some software packages use system temps for uninstall and update/upgrade information. It is best to manually clean house in system temp directories/folders and remove nothing for software you currently use. the best ways to make your computer run leaner and faster is to: clean and repair the system registry cut down on the un-needed programs and services that auto-start when you turn on windows defragment your hard drive virus scan to remove all malicious items spyware scan to remove all malicious items delete internet temp files
...See More
Should I Install Windows Vista Upgrade?
Q
Comments (3)
I just upgraded to Vista Ultimate a few weeks ago. On the pro side, Vista loads and shuts down faster then XP Pro. It seems to work better with most of my applications. It definitely works better with Office 2007, which was slow with XP. I have not had any operational problems. I did have a problem with the Firewall of Microsoft's Live OneCare, but found the solution in a Web search. The only cons of Vista was a lack of support for my five year old lexmark printer. Lexmark has informed me that they will not provide Vista drivers for a "legacy" printer. No more Lexmark printers for me!!!!! I just purchased a Canon printer on eBay. Vista is supported and the Canon has better features and cheaper ink. I work in the computer field and will have to deal with Vista, so I had some incentitive to upgrade. So far, I've had many more problems with XP Service Pack 2.
...See More
Upgrade or repair for vista hp computer?
Q
Comments (11)
I used vista for a long time when everybody else was using win7.. it was fine then - just used an extra bunch of memory which isn't a real bad thing. February 2012, vista lost Microsoft regular support & only gets security updates but that may quit too when it reaches 10 yrs old so early 2017 it will be spoken of like XP security is now. I don't remember exacts, but several things security wise just don't work anymore as it is now on vista - think IE highest version in vista has reached the end of usable use now. If he uses IE, he's pretty much required to change to another browser, probably chrome with its built in Flash or he wont be doing much banking or emailing from it. My sister just hit that wall with her banking and emails. Vista has been around since 2007 but was some hated or spoken poorly of it too much and it wasn't even 2 full years until win7 replaced it.
...See More
How do I access my clipboard on windows vista
Q
Comments (3)
You don't "find" the clipboard...you use it. If something has been COPIED to the clipboard (text, for example)... you're supposed to PASTE it into a program that handles text (a word processor, for example). Same with a picture...except a different program is probably needed (an image viewer...Irfanview, for example). An email program might be able to handle both...if (for example) you wanted to send someone both text and an image. Once the desired content has been COPIED and PASTED into the desired application...you can save it as a file...print it...or do whatever floats your boat.
...See More
jody
17 years ago
Vendors did not jump on the Vista wagon like they have done for previous Microsoft releases. Many of our clients have software that is not Vista ready and the vendors do not seem in any hurry to get to Vista ready.

Actually, I was amazed at how much of the web based admin software packages were not ready for IE7 and how many are still not ready for IE7.

A very different attitude from vendors this time.

Loaded XP Pro on a machine yesterday - 62 security updates not counting SP2. I love Microsoft
hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
17 years ago
My DH has Vista, he says Norton seems to have problems with it--he's gotten the Blue Screen Of Death a few times. It's like the 2nd Star Wars trilogy--fabulous looking, somewhat disappointing overall.
sammy zone 7 Tulsa
17 years ago
We bought a new computer, and asked Circuit City to 'get it ready" for us. That was so smart because they were able to fix and adjust it, and we were not required to call India for trial and error solutions.

We needed Microsoft since my school has it. If I want to send a "word" document to my school mail, I need to save it as 2003 (or something like that), and my school program will accept it. The email will read Vista, but if I try to save it, it will not save correctly. In other words if I want to print off my vocabulary list for the student quizzes at school, I can send it through the email, and print it, but if I try to save it to the school's "my documents" it will not recognize Vista. Vista will recognize anything, but the school's XP won't accept Vista.

That is not a huge problem.I don't know if I think Vista is working well, or if it is the new computer, but I have had few problems.

We do have Linskey (router), and had to buy a new one, but we expected that.

I hope you get everything worked out ok.

SAmmy
User
17 years ago
Lynksis router died last week new one was a beast to install. Same exact model as the last just the softwear would'nt work. Back seat driving EDD risked his life telling me it was'nt the same model the pacakging trust close to his eyes helped him change his mind and room. I installed another piece of softwear that permited the router to install and once the router installed I removed the softwear that helped it get installed becuase when I'd used it in the past it caused conflicts. It's like one of those puzzles on diner place mats.

My Vista Upgrade Experience

Comments (6)

paparoseman

michaelalreadytaken
Original Author

Related Discussions

jody

hoovb zone 9 sunset 23

sammy zone 7 Tulsa

User

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

My Vista Upgrade Experience

Comments (6)

paparoseman

michaelalreadytakenOriginal Author

Related Discussions

jody

hoovb zone 9 sunset 23

sammy zone 7 Tulsa

User

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

michaelalreadytaken
Original Author