Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Vista is everywhere

update: I returned the computer in question below. I just couldnt get around some of those Vista features . I should be getting another computer in the next few weeks - with XP this time (I have to wait for a 'check in the mail' from the superstore i bought it from) - thanks again for all the input on the original post!

I will keep the original post below for continuity of responces:


Hey folks
As many of you know I have been having major problems with my old dinosaur of a computer (which i bought back in 1999 - top of the line in its day. It cost me over $3,000 back in the day and had a mind numbing 16gb hardrive - wow ) Well anyway - ive been looking at new computers the last few days and have realized that it is nearly impossible to find a new (already built) PC computer that doesnt have vista on it. So i took the plunge yesterday and bought one at a reasonable rate (under $300 with over 160gbs and a 1.6 ghz processor) but now im having second thoughts and several worries. I havent hooked the new computer up to the internet or really done much with it other than trying to figure out the new Vista changes. ( I have 1 week to take it back if im not happy - if there are too many problems i may just return it and try and find a rebuilt computer with windowsXP)

Here are a few concerns i have and hope someone out there may have some info (link to article or info will work) most of this is based on hearsay but I know there are new items in vista which allows miscrsoft to keep tabs on what your doing.

1-DVD Ripping... Is there something i need to do to Vista before I download a good ripping program? I know there is/was some probs with Vista in this regard in the past.

2- Torrents /peer to peer... Anything I need to do before I try and DL torrents? (other than installing a safety program like Peer Guardian)

3 - posting on the net and general surfing... I dont surf for kiddy porn or anything like that but I do allot of other stuff that i really dont want microsoft knowing about - is there a fix for this? (or is it even a problem now?)

4 - Are there other problems with Vista i have not listed that i should know about? I know there was some driver problems early on its its release but have these been fixed yet?

a big thanks for any info to help in this regard - I know itll help me and maybe even a few others who read this.!

17 comments:

Booksteve said...

I havea 64 bit, 700GB "supercomputer" running Vista that I was talked into buying by the guy at BEST BUY. It's excellent for dl torrents and watching DVDs! EXCELLENT! It's faster than lightning most of the time and with a good anti-spyware/anti-virus (It came with Trend Micro and I added Webroot) surfing is a breeze. Don't know how much gets back to MS. On the other hand, it came with 3 DVD burning programs and I addded another, none of which work. Best Buy tells me it's a conflict between Vista and the 64 Bit.Had to give up a photoediting program i really liked too. Not compatible. Sigh. Guy says this PC will be state of the art in another two years and I'm just ahead of the game! Windows 7 due out soon. Upgrade ASAP I guess and hope for the best. Good luck!

Drew said...

If you still have your old Windows XP installation disks, you might consider uninstalling Vista from your new computer and replacing it with XP. This should be less time-comsuming that reconfiguring all your older programs to work with Vista.

Drew said...

Typo -- The last sentence should have read "less time-consuming THAN reconfiguring all your older programs..."

Mark said...

Zen, it sounds like you may have bought a netbook computer, not a notebook. Does it have Vista Home or Vista Premium? Vista Home is pathetic from what I have heard. Atom chips are usually used (I think) in netbooks. Streaming video might be a problem. If you are getting new DSL, ask the ISP what routers and such they recommend.

You can now buy a new notebook with a 250 GB hard drive, 2 or 3 GB ram, a double processor chip of some sort, a 15" screen for around $450. My friend bought the one I've been using lately (like now) for $429 over a year ago. It's a HP Compaq with 2Ghz AMD x2 chip and Vista Premium. I use the hell out of it and never had a problem.

Anonymous said...

a few answers to your questions. Plus I hated Vista at first and have mine set up to at least look like its running windows 98, but thats another story.

For the first point. I use both DVD Fab, DVD Decrypter and DVD Shrink depending on the DVD. and so far not a problem yet. Usually use AutoGk also if I want to rip it to Xvid and i'm surprised at how fast it rips movies now, compared to my Xp machine I used before.

Also have e-mule and utorrent running virtual all day and night and also no problems except learning how to port forward which actually was easy, just slightly dull in the head.

For point 3 I use firefox with several add-ons. Mostly No Script always on, unless I know the site is safe. Also use the add-ons Stealther and distrust when doing basic surfing as they allow you to control data being stored on the computer through cookies etc. Also the key logger add-on and a few others. I'm a bit paranoid about losing another computer to virus's hiding in adds like my last one. Niot sure also if you use it, but spy bot search and destroys Tea Timer program is another great one to have running.

Other then the Vista interface which I don't like, that's why I choose it to use classic mode to look more like something I've used for years. The only things i don't like are the User Control pop ups and the size thumb nail caches can reach. SO you might want those disabled. But still the User Account Control can come in handy.

If you stuck with it you'd probably get used to it, cause after five months now I dislike XP.

bloobeary said...

My advice would be to dump Vista, and "upgrade" to XP. As someone else here mentioned, if you still have your XP install discs, it should be easy to wipe the current system and put XP in place of it.

Anonymous said...

never heard of vista, my computer is about ten years old now and has only 40 gb of space Im suprised computers hold so much more now

Mark said...

I meant to say Vista Home Basic or Vista Home Premium.
Premium is the only way to go as far as Vista goes. At this point in time I think if you buy a new computer with Vista you get a free upgrade to Windows 7 when that comes out (this month or next?).
I'll wait for more details from you before jabbering more.
Oh, your post title of "Visa is everywhere" keeps making me think you have credit card trouble!

Anonymous said...

heya man, i'm running vista pro on a compaq presario. have not had a problem with anything. i run comodo on paranoid mode and it does not let vista do anything without my knowledge. i use dvd decrypter, dvd shrink, imgburn, agknot, media encoder, dvdflik. and have had no problems. a friend gave me an ebook called decoding vista or something similar that shows you how to turn off some of the more anoying features and memory wasting features of vista. since have had no problems with p2p either. so with good security and good programs it should run a champ man

Anonymous said...

hey i'm back again. the ebbok was called "Windows Vista Annoyances Tips, Secrets, and Solutions" give it a try and it will set your mind at ease a little. lots of good tips. if you cant find it let me know and ill try and post it somewhere. again thanks for all you've done with your site. without you, cosmonaught, and vinnie, my life would be more of a boore. LOL

Mr. Loboto said...

You can download the "Vista Annoyances" ebook pdf here:

http://rs302.rapidshare.com/files/193131546/Windows_Vista_Annoyances.rar

Anonymous said...

A note regarding Bittorrent...PeerGuardian does not work under Vista. I use uTorrent with ipfilter.dat. See http://www.teckh.com/?p=185 for instructions. It works for me; YMMV.

The biggest nuisance I find with Vista is the security around installing new applications. I'm running some pretty old stuff (e.g. Photoshop 7) and haven't had anything show up as incompatible yet, but the number of nag screens when installing is annoying.

Osmooms said...

What bloobeary said...

Cheers
Osmooms

Zen Tiger said...

Hey Folks

A big thanks for all the replies. I tried several google searches but my load time is so slow right now i couldnt get much info (other than complaints lol) I am going to try and get in touch with the store i bought it from and see if its compatable with 'downgrading' to XP. They have a 'geek squad' and may beable to load XP for me (fingers crossed) Since I have several old programs that id be lost without i think ill try and go with the XP option for now. but that all depends on what the store sez - ill update as soon as i know more.

thanks again!

Anonymous said...

Vista is crippled by DRM measures which will delete your DVD drive icon if you try to copy a DVD. I recommend you take it back, and find a Windows XP computer. Walmart still sells them.

D. Jon Moutarde said...

I hope you have realized by now that your comments are being over-run by trolls (such as the "anonymous" of Oct. 6 & 12.

I have been using Vista for over 2 years and have no trouble ripping and burning DVDs, or doing anything else using readily-available freeware. Contact me directly if you need more information.

Zen Tiger said...

i said screw it and took the computer back - got a rebuilt with XP instead.. should have it up and running online as soon as i get the new modem upgrade.. hopefully this week.

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