Vista....

Some of you may have noticed that I have been a ghost for the last few days. I have been in an out a bit, but largely unable to mod. I found out last week that because I am in a math class with a lab (yes, a math lab) I can get oodles of very expensive software for free and 100% legally. Well, one of the things I can get for free is Windows Vista Business. So I started downloading it last Thursday night, it finished by Friday morning. I backed up my computer Friday during the afternoon/night onto my new 160 gig external hard drive, and started installing Vista Saturday at like 7 am.

Then the problems started.

With Vista Business you have the option to do a clean install of Vista or sort of upgrade XP to Vista. DO NOT just do the "upgrade" if you get Vista. I did and all day Saturday, Sunday, and yesterday were a complete nightmare. First off, the schools antivirus didnt work, so I was getting a prompt continuously saying that I needed to fix it. There were several other compatibility issues, but the other main one was the driver for my "pointing device" on my lap top was incompatible so the cursor would jump around like fucking crazy, click, and right click randomly. This is why I wasnt around much, just clicking on a link took a few minutes and a ton of patience. I updated the pics on my Facebook and it literally took me 45 minutes to load 25 pictures. Oh man, I wanted to do something aweful to a small chilld or a helpless old person after that.

Anyway, last night I was sick of fuckin around with it so I just did the clean install. I am sooo glad I did that, no issues at all. Whew its so nice. I had no idea how fast my compy could be, theres a considerable difference in speed now that I dont have anything anything installed. I still need to get iTunes, AIM, Windows Messenger, Photoshop, and all my other shit, but its so nice to have a clean computer again. As soon as I get my shit in a pile, I will get some screen shots.

I guess all in all, I love it.... all except the 3 days of fuckin around and I would defiantely recommend it. I think it is much better layed out that XP (I luvz to grammer on teh internets :p) and its much more graphically appeasing. Anyway, screen shots probably tonight.

I heard installing the OS was not only a pain, but sometimes half the battle and that other problems arise when you try and add new software. I haven't used it personally, so I cannot speak from experience, but after reading the PC Mag reviews I don't think I'd even want to try installing it. But congratulations for actually getting it to install.

Vista is a plague on your system resources. Unless you have OVER (and I stress over, because 1 GB is pretty much the bare minimum in my exerience) 1 GB of memory and a heavy duty graphics card, it runs really slow compared to XP. I tried out the RC1 version that was released months ago on my laptop, and it was such a pain. I was dual booting XP and Vista Ultimate, so I had no problems installing Vista or anything like that. But it had very little program support for anything, over half of the programs on my computer would either not function or not work correctly. Drivers were an issue, but I hear that is coming along better now that it has officially released. Random crashes were a daily occurance. I finally said fuck it and went back to good 'ole XP.

Conclusion = Wait until atleast SP1 comes out for it because many of the big bug fixed will be taken care of, and then maybe think about "upgrading". This is assuming you have a computer built the handle it in all it's glory.

And my laptop is more than Vista ready and beats out all the the "recommended" hardware requirements, so take that into account.

AMD Athlon 64 4000+
1 GB DDR400 memory
128 MB Dedicated ATI Radeon Xpress 200m graphics
7200 rpm Hitachi HD (yes, speed matters in a laptop)

will vista be ok on mine?

4600 Intel processor duo core junk
200 gig hard drive
2gig ram
256mb graphics x1300 pro something or other
??

will vista be ok on mine?

4600 Intel processor duo core junk
200 gig hard drive
2gig ram
256mb graphics x1300 pro something or other
??

Yeah, you should be fine.

I never get the new OS's when they first come out. No one should. They're going to be buggy and full of problems. First thing you learn in an Operating Systems class is that there is no such thing as a perfect OS. They will ALWAYS have bugs, but brand new ones are the worse (most of the times)

My school is the only school in the nation to have every single Microsoft product (except Office) for FREE with licenses. Any student that goes here can pick up a copy of whatever, even multiple copies. I think I'll pick up Vista before I graduate this semester. Just to have a legit license and copy.

My school is the only school in the nation to have every single Microsoft product (except Office) for FREE with licenses. Any student that goes here can pick up a copy of whatever, even multiple copies. I think I'll pick up Vista before I graduate this semester. Just to have a legit license and copy.

I work in OIT and can snag a copy of Vista off the server that hosts all the stuff like Vista and Office 2007, but I'm in the 3% of students that actually have access to that server. I don't even want it right now.

We get discounts on software, but they don't give us anything for free. Like I could get a copy of XP Pro for $75 that comes with 32 bit and 64 bit versions if I needed it. It's decently cheap anyway.

I thought about getting Vista, but I think I'll wait for awhile until they get most of the big bugs out of it. I've heard some good stories about it, and some horror stories. I did get Office 2007 though, and at first I didn't really like it because it's soooo much different that '03, but after a few weeks I'm really starting to enjoy it.

Screenshots:

Office 07
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/6083/office07ae2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Powerpoint 07
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/8081/powerpoint07ay9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Excel 07
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/6910/excel07rl2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Im using it right now on my low system.

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/5857/kenvistale5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

See, my computer is much faster now that I am on Vista, and in watching my processor and memory usage dealies, Vista is actually dragging my system down a lot less than XP did. Before I was cruising at around 20-30% processor usage all the time, now it is typically 15% or below. Also, I was running about 70% of my physical memory minimum before, now I am running about 50%. Since I did the clean install, I am much more happy with my computer as a whole. I didnt even have to download the new drivers for the mouse or anything and it works as good as it did on XP.

I dont have access to Office 07, I wish I did. Anyone want to help a brotha out? :p

Few month ago, microsoft give away vista and office 2007 for free, im one of them :grinyes: .

Few month ago, microsoft give away vista and office 2007 for free, im one of them :grinyes: .
Those were trials for the beta versions killa. The serial will expire I think April 1st or somewhere around there. Atleast that was the case for Vista RC1, I'd assume they did the same for Office '07.

I'm running a Vista skin on my XP Pro laptop right now, and it looks pretty damn good. I get a lot of the flashy graphics without the bugs and hassle.

Check it out.

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/7067/vistaskin1fd8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/6778/vistaskin2yi5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I can download a new one by then lol.

Killer you could download one right now, but it'll be full of bugs.

Chris, where'd you get that from? I've been looking for something like that lately and haven't found one I really like.

I dont think my is trial version, I can register and download latest driver using window update, it dint say trial version any where. Im gonna call microsoft and ask tomorrow.

Chris, where'd you get that from? I've been looking for something like that lately and haven't found one I really like.

I did a lot of research on it awhile back and sifted through dozens of skins that people made and came across this one. I forget where I found it, but I have it backed up on my external and could send it to you if you wanted. There are a few things you need to do to run it, because it is running native in the Windows XP environment (no extra software) and I had to use a hacked .dll file so I could use a non-Microshaft certified skin. Let me know if you want directions and the skin, its a small file...no more than a few kb bigger than the regular XP skin.

Do you have any problems with it at all? What would you do, just e-mail it to me or what?

I heard about it long time ago, that you can download transformation vista pack, to transform xp skin into vista, and it about 40-50 mb. I search for you tonight.

themeui.dll is the file needed to get hacked. You can download it anywhere. Hell you can even do it yourself. It's changed so it allows you to use themes that people make for StyleXP WITHOUT having to install StyleXP. You just have to change ALL the themeui.dll files to the new one. Even the files that are in the .cabs and backup files. If you only change the one, once you restart, it'll go back to the original file. I believe there are programs that will take care of that all automatically.

We actually did a lot of work in school with this file. Be careful when you do this. Just make sure you backup everything, and KEEP the original file somewhere safe. Most people jus rename to something like themeui.dll.old and keep in the same place. Personally, I like having the file elsewhere to just in case.

Do you have any problems with it at all? What would you do, just e-mail it to me or what?

I haven't run into any problems. Yeah, I could email it to you.

David is right about the .dll file he specified. If you do a google search on "xp skin replacer" you should be able to come up with the program that will swap the files for you. The program was called "replacer" or something like that. It saves you from having to look up each instance of the file, which is good if you don't know all the locations. The skin itself is a .msstyles file. PM me your email address if you want to take on the adventure of getting it to work.

Again, just make sure you backup your system BEFORE doing that and also just save a copy of the file like on your desktop or somewhere. Just as a pre-caution.

Again, just make sure you backup your system BEFORE doing that and also just save a copy of the file like on your desktop or somewhere. Just as a pre-caution.

The program makes a backup copy for you.

I was using Vista when some of the first (very buggy) trials and betas came out. I was able to get a free version from the college I went to...

There's a site out there somewhere that you can download copies (for educational institutes)... and I had the password... but I forgot it

Again, just make sure you backup your system BEFORE doing that

Oh I do, I have my entire computer backed up on an external hard-drive. In the past year I've gone through 3 hard drives and a motherboard because I have soooooo much shit on this computer...I don't know what I would do without the extended Dell warranty, I'd be really broke.

i have had vista roughly for about 4 months now ;) I got the beta version then the final cut. It ran way to slow on my laptop or desktop so i made a few copies for my friends and they love it lol

i have had vista roughly for about 4 months now ;) I got the beta version then the final cut. It ran way to slow on my laptop or desktop so i made a few copies for my friends and they love it lol

I love it :wink: . I think it ran alot better then xp.

wow...all you guys talking about computer stuff...makes me feel....left out and cold.

But I CAN burn a music CD, bitches!

But I CAN burn a music CD, bitches!

REALLY?!?! NO WAYY!!!! But the real question is....can you burn a DVD?!

REALLY?!?! NO WAYY!!!! But the real question is....can you burn a DVD?!

Crap. Got me :icon16:

Crap. Got me :icon16:

you can even burn a blue ray disc ( they use these disc for ps3 game and dvd )

you can even burn a blue ray disc ( they use these disc for ps3 game and dvd )

Uh...you would need a blu-ray burner for that, and good luck finding one

Uh...you would need a blu-ray burner for that, and good luck finding one

Send me a blue ray disc I burn for free :wink: .

Well, I got some screen shots for yall. I dont know, I am freakin in love with Vista. Its not as fast as Ubuntu, but its faster than XP (for me anyway) and its much better laid out IMO. I never did like the layout of XP. Here we go...

http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/1821/vistadesktopea6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This is my desk top. Everything is just more graphically appeasing to me. Not the Gadget bar on the side. Yeah, they jacked that hardcore from apple, but they are sooo handy. You can change them and there are people that make all sorts of shit for it. I have the clock, resource guages (super handy, tells the processor load and memory usage), the calculator, calendar, weather, and battery life. You can have it so the gadgets go away when you open a windo, but I like them open all the time.

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/1006/ie7qg2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Here is IE 7? I dont know what version it is, but I can tell you I FUCKING love it! People I know dont like it because of the tabs... well I love them. I used to have a program called Katiesoft. Basically, it was a web browser that had four windows and you could be doing 4 different things on the internet in one window at a time, or you could just maximize one window at a time. It was a great program, but I couldnt find the free beta when I was looking for it again not too long ago. Well this has pretty much the same thing. Note the tabs that allow you to change pages within a window, but also there is this thing so you can see what each window is doing at a particular time. This is a good thing for me, as I am usually doing 3-4 minimum online at any given time plus all my other shit going on, it just keeps things organized for me. You guys can say all what you want to about Firefox, but I dont like it. I know, this is available for XP too, but its still something cool from Vista.

http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/2830/selectortm6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This selector deal is another of the things I absolutely love about Vista. Its similar to the apple deal, but I like apples better. This is still a nifty feature though, very handy when you have a bunch of widows open at once and hate minimizing/maximizing shit trying to find a window. Its not something I use often, but its nice to have sometimes.

So yeah, that is about all of my screenshots. All in all, I love it. I'm not having any trouble with the 32 bit version but the 64 bit was a bit finicky. After a while when price goes down a bit and loop holes get sewn up, I would encourage everyone to get it.

Oh yeah, I should talk about battiery life! MAN my computer lasts so much longer! It seemed in XP I was doing pretty good to get two hours of batter life. I used my computer for around an hour and 15 minutes last night and the battery only went down from 95% to like 68%! It was definately a bit on the slower side, but just looking at notes online and occasionally Facebook I didnt notice it at all.

Your battery usage could be due to a new processor driver used in Vista for your machine. It probably just scales back the processor speed until you do something that requires more juice, and then it will temporarily kick it up.

Tabbed browsing has been around for years, but it didn't get popular until Firefox first started using it.

Personally... I'm for XP... at least right now... I had too many problems at the college running it...

and Avant Browser FTW... IE7 is too buggy and just doesn't really impress me...

I'll probably change over to both within the next 6mo-1-1 1/2yr... after the majority of problems gets worked out... shoot, by then they'll have another OS that will blow Vista outta the water...

Screw computers, I'm going old Skool... Atari... PONG FTW!!!

Your battery usage could be due to a new processor driver used in Vista for your machine. It probably just scales back the processor speed until you do something that requires more juice, and then it will temporarily kick it up.
:grinyes: My buddy was telling me about it a while back. He gave me the impression we can set a "rev limiter" for the processor to save on battery life. I think with his bigger battery, no music, and the "rev limiter" he was able to pull 12 hours of use from one charge :eek:.

I'm not really into all this computer stuff as much as some of you guys are, but is it me, or is Microsoft finally getting a whiff of what Apple has been doing on their OS for a while? I use Apple's at school, and when Vista came out, I noticed the "style" was very similar to the Apple OS (visuals, organizing and file presentation, etc.). I think Vista rocks (havent tried it, but certainly looks good from what I've seen), but is it fair to say that they're tying to beat Apple at their own game?

Yup, apples are gaining interest and Microsoft has finally realized that it needs to be "prettier" to keep up. I doubt apple will every overtake Microsoft though, apples biggest down falls are the fact that their OS is computer specific and the fact that their shit is so expensive and not overly well built. I've heard people bitch about HP's but none of them have had near the problems I hear from Mac users. My old room mate had a new hard drive, mother board, AND a new screen shit the bed on him from August when he got it to like mid October-ish when he moved out! I'll never be an apple user, not a fan of that shit at all. Theres cool features, but I just straight up dont like the setup.

:grinyes: My buddy was telling me about it a while back. He gave me the impression we can set a "rev limiter" for the processor to save on battery life. I think with his bigger battery, no music, and the "rev limiter" he was able to pull 12 hours of use from one charge :eek:.

I use a program called "Speedswitch XP" to control my processor speed on my laptop. Works damn good, I can tell it to go full blast or scale back until it needs power, or just run it so I get the most battery possible. Not sure if it works in Vista though.