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Vista

Discussion in 'Community Broadband & Computers' started by lilpea, Nov 6, 2008.

  1. Pats_fan

    Pats_fan Former Resident

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    Thanks, I'll try that. Question about updating Vista--I did my reformat/clean install about a month ago, with Automatic Updates turned on, and Vista still hasn't offered the SP1 update to me. I can do it manually through the Vista website, but the site cautions you not to do this unless you are an advanced user (I'm not) and instead suggests waiting for it to show up as part of an Auto-Update. Any thoughts on this? Thanks in advance!
     
  2. hornerjo

    hornerjo Senior Member

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    I did mine manually after the SP came out, on the msft windows update site. As far is I know its not any different than what the automatic updates do (no idea why its listed as advanced user). Just select express install and let it do its thing.
     
  3. lilpea

    lilpea Member

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    When I upload videos or HD photos my computer either crashes (eg system reboots or blue screen of death). Everything was fine until I loaded the new security service pack.
     
  4. hornerjo

    hornerjo Senior Member

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    Where are you uploading them to? To an online web service using internet explorer?
     
  5. lilpea

    lilpea Member

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    Most of the time I am uploading to my PC, so I can edit etc (which is something I really like about Vista), but the blue screen of death comes up or the circle just spins. Using the task manager I get the not responding message or a debugging error.

    When I do upload to an web enabled service, I get know it can run slower because I am using a windows interface and it could be an site issue.

    Dell seems to think it maybe be a combo error PC & OS. I have wiped and reloaded several times.
     
  6. boomertsfx

    boomertsfx Booyakasha!

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    Did you run the windows memory diagnostic tool? Most BSODs are hardware-related but it is a pain narrowing the problem down. Usually I run something like memtest86 overnight to make sure the machine is reasonably stable and then go from there. You can get some bootable CDs that have lots of useful utilities and torture tests on them that might be able to help you guys out.

    http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ is pretty simple to download and burn to a CD/DVD. It has memtest86, some torture test programs, hard drive diagnostics,etc on it.

    Also, pop the cover and see if the fans/heatsinks are all clear of dust and not overheating/seized/etc. And it doesn't hurt to make sure all sata/ide/memory chips are seated firmly and properly.

    Pats, did you try updating your NIC driver? Or trying another add-in PCI board to try and narrow things down?
     
  7. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    could be a USB problem or device driver incompatibility. If its consistent with moving images off a camera/camcorder... it could be compatibility problems with the device. Or even with your specific USB chipset and the device together under vista, etc.
     
  8. merky1

    merky1 Member

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    I found that there are two major issues with vista. The first major issue was with Symantec / Norton AntiVirus 2008. It appears that Vista, especially the 64 bit version, is barely supported by symantec. Yeah, I know they claim 100% support, but 4 hours on hold with "bob" from India would lead me to believe otherwise.

    Also, running without Service Pack 1 will cause nothing but pain.

    The second problem I ran into was drivers. This is self-inflicted in my opinion, since I chose to run 64 bit. Luckily, over the past two months, vendors have seemed to be more open to the 64 bit thing.

    Another thing I found I actually like about Vista is readyboost. Basically, insert an old USB drive and use it as a swap cache.

    Overall, I prefer Linux and Mac over Vista, but it is possible to get it to run realiably.
     
  9. Skins fan

    Skins fan Tequila fan (100% agave)

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    My Mac has never crashed in the year that I have had it. Software updates are streamed automatically. Why do you have to go out and and find updates to keep Vista stable? Should work out of the box and stream updates if they are necessary. I don't understand why people defend the MS OS to people whose computers are crashing daily?

    Oh, I forgot to mention that I have Windows XP running in virtual mode on my Mac so I can view web sites from Explorer. Reasonably stable but not nearly as nice as OS X 10.5

     
  10. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    Due wha?? The software update engine of OSX is modeled after Windows Update and works essentially identically. Users chose to be full automatic or not, and can manually poll as well. The user experience is identical.
     
  11. Skins fan

    Skins fan Tequila fan (100% agave)

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    I realize that Window's has streaming updates as I have used them in XP on my Mac. hornerjo suggested going to Dell's site and updating bios etc. Why do you need to go to any site to get updates if its automatic? That is certainly not identical to the Mac experience.

    My point is that a huge number of Vista users report crashes and problems with the OS and I don't understand why anyone would defend the OS given all the problems it has had and still has.

     
  12. boomertsfx

    boomertsfx Booyakasha!

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    Macs are closed hardware, so they are able to control things better. PCs you can build any which way you want and drives from a certain manuf may stink, etc. A mac probably wouldn't be able to update BIOS automatically... those type of things you do manually usually.
     
  13. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    It would be if you were using non-apple hardware like a 3rd party video card, or tablet to your Mac. Apple's software update doesn't supply all Mac drivers.. only Apple stuff.

    You're comparing apple's and oranges. A device all from one vendor, to a device with gear from multiple vendors.

    Many vendors (IBM, Sony, etc) do have 'single source' automatic updates as well for their machines. The same exact story applies to Macs to IBM, to Sony, or whatever. Its when you start mixing vendors, you start adding complexity and changes to the 'normal way' or if your vendor doesn't supply the auto updates (I believe Dell does)

    Microsoft also supplies drivers for both its own gear and as a channel for 3rd party devices through Windows Update that have gone through their verification process.
     
  14. Skins fan

    Skins fan Tequila fan (100% agave)

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    Actually comparing Apple's to lemons. :pofl:

    I could not resist but I am really just comparing one OS to another. Obviously you need to install drivers via disc or download if you add a printer or external device. The bottom line is that Vista is a buggy OS with lots of users complaining about problems with crashes.

     
  15. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    And in that case OSX followed Window's lead here and both perform virtually identical as it comes to software updates.

    As you can see.. many exist fine with vista.. many do not. The world is a million times more complicated when you don't control everything.

    But I still run XP.. no need for Vista at this time and 64bit has too many compatibility issues still.
     
  16. Jervz

    Jervz New Member

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    I was fine with Vista aside from the fact its damn slow compared with XP so when I heard about Windows 7 Beta being released I grab the chance and installed in on my machine. It's definitely faster but reliability wise I can't say yet because I've been only using it for a couple of weeks.
     
  17. beachgal

    beachgal New Member

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    I just bought a new laptop (Dell) with Vista on it and I've had multiple blue screens... I'm not happy... I too am back to using my old laptop w/ XP on it.
     
  18. razng2grtboys

    razng2grtboys New Member

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    As a general rule, I do not change my PC Operating Systems until absolutely necessary i.e. have to get a new PC. It's never a good idea to "upgrade" to the latest O/S immediately after it's release. I wait as long as possible and from what I've heard, I may be able to skip over Vista all together. I have no problems with Windows XP. BTW, the next time I have to get a new computer, I'm going to try one from Apple, Inc. I hear they are pretty good.
     
  19. hornerjo

    hornerjo Senior Member

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    I'll defend Vista, simply because I've been using my Vista laptop for over a year without many problems at all. The vast majority of problems, especially the ones were users systems were crashing, were because of 3rd party drivers. If you don't believe me, go read this article from MaximumPC.

    http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/shattered_dreams_and_broken_promises_vistas_failure_launch

    Everyone still doles and spouts about Vista from its release. Yes - it was a horrible release. 3rd party drivers made the system unstable. There is more to fault than Msft there.

    I've had some software problems on Vista that have crashed. I've had to reboot a few times here and there with messing with networking. But beyond that, my Vista machine has been rock solid since the day I bought it. I'm not saying its the best OS in the world, but its lightyears ahead of the buggy crashprone piece of junk that XP is.
     
  20. Pats_fan

    Pats_fan Former Resident

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    Update on this issue--after finding the time and motivation to spend several more hours on the phone and chatting with Dell tech support, Dell had a technician come out last Wednesday to replace my motherboard, RAM and hard drive. I've got my system and all my files back up and running and I've been using my laptop pretty continuously since then and haven't had a single BSOD issue. So whatever the problem was seems to be corrected (knock on wood). For the first time since I got my laptop over a year ago I can say I'm happy with my purchase and with Vista.
     

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