Im starting to hate vista oh so much....

[bowtiehatr]

i was doing a little repair/updating on a family member's POS dell cpu that runs vista home basic. everthing went smooth untill boot up. vista wouldnt recognize the new mobo and never start. the lovely thing is i could plug up a XP first edition (no service packs) and it ran flawlessly. no one at microsoft could help or explaine why, they wanted me to pay 59/hr to get them to listen, dell was the same way. oh well fresh clean install saves the day, but dang if this is how vista is going to be, im going back to xp for too long.

[john112deere]

I hear a lot of people griping about Vista...and every once in a while I'll find somebody who likes it.

But, the people who like it seem mostly to like it only for the eye candy or goofy, memory hogging features.

I'll stick to XP (which, in my case, is probably STILL worse than Vista, but that's another story), until I start hearing people talking about stability and speed with regard to the OS...

[tomtoc]

vista isn't as bad as people make it out to be. it's got a few quirks, but in large part, its better than XP. give it some time and it'll be fine and be the most commonly used OS

before the mac fanboys start yelling about how awesome their macs are, let me say this to the people that might not realize it

there's hardware and there's software. hardware is the what you look at sitting on the floor. the hard drive, processor, memory, etc. the software is windows xp, windows vista, mac os x, etc.

microsoft windows software is made to work with virtually ALL hardware. mac software on the other than can ONLY work with mac hardware/parts. i'm not saying thats a good thing or a bad thing, just that mac can be more stable (at times) because they control all the parts that go into it.

on the other hand, windows has to work on your dell parts, hp parts, your home-built parts you bought online AND mac parts. the ability to handle all that is what makes windows "buggy".

apple turns around and "brags" about how it's such a big feature that windows will run on a mac. big whoop - it's designed to work on thousands of different parts.

mac software on a dell...never

so, windows might have a few bugs, but it has good reasons to be that way that a lot of people don't realize.

[surewhynot]

Well put Tom. Personally I dual boot slackware linux and windows xp. Depending on what i want to do.

[bowtiehatr]

i wasnt referring to windows, just vista. my point was that vista must not have been thought out completely. if xp was smart enough to load my config, why couldnt vista?

[tomtoc]

i wasnt referring to windows, just vista. my point was that vista must not have been thought out completely. if xp was smart enough to load my config, why couldnt vista?
i knew what u meant. i agree - its got a few holes and i obviously can't answer for microsoft as to why.

i just wanted to speak up before "mac people" started preaching how awesome macs are and how the whole world should own one. if you current problem had been on a mac, you would have no "fix it yourself option". you take it to an apple store and pay them to fix it.

don't get me wrong, i don't hate apple/macs, it just drives me crazy when people bash on microsoft because its trendy. i own several PCs, none are macs, but i do have an iphone. it is amazing.

i'm not sure where this blabbering is headed - don't hate vista, just to hate vista...hate it for good reasons (sounds like you do). at the same time, don't buy a mac because "it just works better". for controlling all there hardware and software, they have quite a few of their own issues
(i'll be quiet now)

[O'Rattlecan]

most likely what you're looking at is a chipset that isn't supported. They didn't try to make all of the old chipsets work with Vista, because simply put, most of the hardware on older chipsets won't run Vista worth a darn.

What are the specifications on the dell motherboard?

Ryan

[john112deere]

i just wanted to speak up before "mac people" started preaching...

I beat you to the thread...but I didn't mention Macs. :p

I haven't paid much attention to Vista since I'm pretty sure my ThinkPad is too old/slow to run Vista successfully and I can't afford to upgrade it, but what are the advantages of Vista? My roommate had a copy, it looked pretty, but ran way slower than XP had on the same machine.

What does it do that XP didn't, or do better than XP does, that should make me want it instead?

[O'Rattlecan]

For me it was the security packages and DirectX 10.

Ryan

[tomtoc]

What does it do that XP didn't, or do better than XP does, that should make me want it instead?
it looks pretty and is the "next" operating system. its not worth upgrading until you get a new computer and dell gives you a free copy. its supposed to be more secure, blah blah blah, but if you browse the internet and read your email, you should be fine on XP.

[Storm]

i was doing a little repair/updating on a family member's POS dell cpu that runs vista home basic. everthing went smooth untill boot up. vista wouldnt recognize the new mobo and never start. the lovely thing is i could plug up a XP first edition (no service packs) and it ran flawlessly. no one at microsoft could help or explaine why, they wanted me to pay 59/hr to get them to listen, dell was the same way. oh well fresh clean install saves the day, but dang if this is how vista is going to be, im going back to xp for too long.

Uh.. Hate to burst your bubble but most Chipsets 5 years old work fine on Vista.. Based on what you said Bow, I'm taking it you "removed" the old Motherboard and put a "new" one in? If thats the case, the reason it wouldn't work is simple.. You don't replace motherboards without wiping the hard drive.. It's way too risky to do it and half the time the OS won't be able to readjust itself.. Differences in chipsets, I/O functions and bridges make worlds of differences..

So in essence its not a Vista issue.. It's just a simple "how it works" issue.. Anytime you replace a motherboard, unless it is the exact same model (not chipset) but model, you install the OS fresh. Just like you do in Linux, you have build up the kernel, if you wish, to support the hardware and handle the memory mappings correctly


Also I will add this so that everyone doesn't blow a head gasket.. I've been in this field for longer than I can remember.. Yes you can swap motherboards without reinstalling an OS.. As a Tech Consultant do I recommend it? Hell no.. Is it possible, everything is.. To do it you can boot off an XP or VISTA cd and run a repair installation. That will rebuild the chipset values for the OS. This is for the difficulty booting into XP/VISTA due to mobo change. Will it work 100% of the time? Doubtful.. Again I don't recommend it.. Too many variables to consider.. But thats my take.. As a consumer, you may want it fast and quick.. As a Tech who put his life into IT, I prefer the longer steps to ensure complete order..

[bowtiehatr]

most likely what you're looking at is a chipset that isn't supported. They didn't try to make all of the old chipsets work with Vista, because simply put, most of the hardware on older chipsets won't run Vista worth a darn.

What are the specifications on the dell motherboard?

Ryan

i made sure all supported vista before purchasing. i wiped out the hard drive and installed fresh copy and it took it, and it runs flawlessly now.

[Storm]

microsoft windows software is made to work with virtually ALL hardware. mac software on the other than can ONLY work with mac hardware/parts. i'm not saying thats a good thing or a bad thing, just that mac can be more stable (at times) because they control all the parts that go into it.


Mac's are stable at times because it's a bipartisan of a Linux environment. However it's not exactly far superior to a PC system. I purchased a 24" iMac awhile back, it lasted 3 weeks and it went back to the store.. MAC has a serious security hole in Leopard that makes WEP, WPA, and WPA2 encryptions a joke. Half the time Airport jams the signals than locks itself out. To this day I will continue to stand up and say MAC isn't worth its price in tea.. Give me a Linux box and a PC, I'll run circles around you all day long..


on the other hand, windows has to work on your dell parts, hp parts, your home-built parts you bought online AND mac parts. the ability to handle all that is what makes windows "buggy".


Windows doesn't work on MAC because of it's programming.. It works because it was built for a PC platform.. Only reason for Windows became functional on MACs is because MAC finally stepped up and started putting Intel hardware in their computers..


mac software on a dell...never


Because the programming language and compilation of Mac Software is not understood in a PC environment.


so, windows might have a few bugs, but it has good reasons to be that way that a lot of people don't realize.

Everything has bugs.. No matter how great you are, no matter if the resistors of a PCB talk to you like God enraging a choir.. Nobody will ever develop the PERFECT bug free software. I could probaby list a million bugs in software you use everyday. But of course you'd never know it because you don't look for it. In software there are two stages of debugging. Debugging for the consumer, debugging for the operational margin. The key in any company that produces software is to reduce the bugs, glitches, issues if you may, to a situation where the consumer (you) never realize it. Then you move to operational margin, reduce it further so that it doesn't impair your ability to use that software. However do they ever go away? No entirely, some can and some can't.. Backup gets corrupted? User error, Software error? Could be a bug that was fished out from Consumer view, thought to be non-problematic to operational margin and bam, you end up with corrupted backup.. It happens all the time.. Though for us that deal with these things, we have the software and knowledge to look beyond what you see and truly view the gritty things under the screen.

For example, Firefox 3.. Came out of beta, went public.. Is it bug free? Some would say yes.. Of course, it went public, they fixed everything.. Woohoo.. Not entirely, look behind the invisible blanket and you'll find a load of things still causing problems.

Updates? Sure we'll throw few additions to the software.. But what do you think Updates are truly for? Now some of us here are computer savvy, but for the general consumer who walks into Best Buy and says "Hi, I'm an idiot, I want a computer".. They think Updates is the companies way of saying "THANK YOU, heres some new features".. When in reality its the secret way of fixing bugs that are in that Operational Margin.


Ok lesson over.. smilietease

[bowtiehatr]

Uh.. Hate to burst your bubble but most Chipsets 5 years old work fine on Vista.. Based on what you said Bow, I'm taking it you "removed" the old Motherboard and put a "new" one in? If thats the case, the reason it wouldn't work is simple.. You don't replace motherboards without wiping the hard drive.. It's way too risky to do it and half the time the OS won't be able to readjust itself.. Differences in chipsets, I/O functions and bridges make worlds of differences..

So in essence its not a Vista issue.. It's just a simple "how it works" issue.. Anytime you replace a motherboard, unless it is the exact same model (not chipset) but model, you install the OS fresh. Just like you do in Linux, you have build up the kernel, if you wish, to support the hardware and handle the memory mappings correctly


Also I will add this so that everyone doesn't blow a head gasket.. I've been in this field for longer than I can remember.. Yes you can swap motherboards without reinstalling an OS.. As a Tech Consultant do I recommend it? Hell no.. Is it possible, everything is.. To do it you can boot off an XP or VISTA cd and run a repair installation. That will rebuild the chipset values for the OS. This is for the difficulty booting into XP/VISTA due to mobo change. Will it work 100% of the time? Doubtful.. Again I don't recommend it.. Too many variables to consider.. But thats my take.. As a consumer, you may want it fast and quick.. As a Tech who put his life into IT, I prefer the longer steps to ensure complete order..

completely understand storm. i know the best way is to wipe and reinstall, but i have done several mobo replacements without a glitch with xp. i was hoping i could with this one incase of information recapturing. it was for family so i wasnt worried about the right way or wrong way, just to please them was my first option. i agree with you 100% about doing it this way, but like i said it was family and anybody else would have gotten different treatment.

[Storm]

i made sure all supported vista before purchasing. i wiped out the hard drive and installed fresh copy and it took it, and it runs flawlessly now.

Yep.. Now you see why I don't recommend to folks attempting to swap a motherboard and doing a repair install. It's much faster and cleaner to just reinstall fresh and let the OS rebuild itself new :)

Next time just gimme a call on my cell.. Todd does it all the f'n time LOL

"NO Todd, stop using your PS2 Wifi to power your Cafe damnit"

[tomtoc]

lots of stuff
agreed on all points

[bowtiehatr]

Yep.. Now you see why I don't recommend to folks attempting to swap a motherboard and doing a repair install. It's much faster and cleaner to just reinstall fresh and let the OS rebuild itself new :)

Next time just gimme a call on my cell.. Todd does it all the f'n time LOL

"NO Todd, stop using your PS2 Wifi to power your Cafe damnit"

thanks i will keep that in mind. dont get me wrong, i may not have the knowledge that you do, but i can pretty much hold my own with cpus.

[Storm]

completely understand storm. i know the best way is to wipe and reinstall, but i have done several mobo replacements without a glitch with xp. i was hoping i could with this one incase of information recapturing. it was for family so i wasnt worried about the right way or wrong way, just to please them was my first option. i agree with you 100% about doing it this way, but like i said it was family and anybody else would have gotten different treatment.

Right.. It can vary.. No two case is similar :) For most part Mobo swaps are fast and painless if they stay within the same Chipset family.. Then there are those that are stubborn :)

Glad you got it fixed and up for them..

[6L PWR]

Next time just gimme a call on my cell.. Todd does it all the f'n time LOL

"NO Todd, stop using your PS2 Wifi to power your Cafe damnit"
Funny, the PS2 WAP worked fine until I could research and find the answer that you wouldn't give me quick and easy! smilietease

Remember, I FOUND the answer MYSELF too!! You're old man can do somethings just fine without you son!! smiliegitrdone

[Storm]

Funny, the PS2 WAP worked fine until I could research and find the answer that you wouldn't give me quick and easy! smilietease

Remember, I FOUND the answer MYSELF too!! You're old man can do somethings just fine without you son!! smiliegitrdone

Bout damn time.. I know they say you should care for your parents when they get that old.. But sheesh.. I'm not like every other kid smilietease smilietease smilietease smilietease

[Skandocious]

Mac never working on a Dell? Get with the times Tom. Ever heard of OSx86? Granted -- it's not Apple-sanctioned. But the only reason OS X doesnt run on PCs is because Apple installed a check on their install CDs to make sure you're installing on a PC. Bypass that check and find some OS X PC hardware drivers -- you just made an OSx86 disc and you can install full featured OS X on a PC. Google OSx86 and you can research it more.

Another point you made about not being able to fix your own mac and having to take it to the apple store... Says who?!! We fix all of our Mac's hardware and software problems at work. That last time we took one of them to an Apple store was... Oh wait, NEVER!!

[tomtoc]

Mac never working on a Dell? Get with the times Tom. Ever heard of OSx86? Granted -- it's not Apple-sanctioned. But the only reason OS X doesnt run on PCs is because Apple installed a check on their install CDs to make sure you're installing on a PC. Bypass that check and find some OS X PC hardware drivers -- you just made an OSx86 disc and you can install full featured OS X on a PC. Google OSx86 and you can research it more.

Another point you made about not being able to fix your own mac and having to take it to the apple store... Says who?!! We fix all of our Mac's hardware and software problems at work. That last time we took one of them to an Apple store was... Oh wait, NEVER!!
ok, so maybe i had some built up mac fanboy anger that all came out in a series of statements.

yes...possible to do, but apple isn't quite as cooperative about supporing lots of platforms/hardware

and fixing your own stuff... what would you do if you needed to replace the hard drive on your mac? can you find deals on parts?

[Storm]

Mac never working on a Dell? Get with the times Tom. Ever heard of OSx86? Granted -- it's not Apple-sanctioned. But the only reason OS X doesnt run on PCs is because Apple installed a check on their install CDs to make sure you're installing on a PC. Bypass that check and find some OS X PC hardware drivers -- you just made an OSx86 disc and you can install full featured OS X on a PC. Google OSx86 and you can research it more.

Another point you made about not being able to fix your own mac and having to take it to the apple store... Says who?!! We fix all of our Mac's hardware and software problems at work. That last time we took one of them to an Apple store was... Oh wait, NEVER!!

Ahem... Next...

[O'Rattlecan]

Yeah, seriously... Try to get drivers to run my ATi HD 3870 with any reasonable speed in any situation other than a 2d environment.

Macs are not nearly as flexible as Windows, and that is why windows is 'buggy.'

Ryan

[john112deere]

it looks pretty and is the "next" operating system. its not worth upgrading until you get a new computer and dell gives you a free copy.

I'm no software engineer, but I think this is part of the reason it's so buggy, too. There have been WAY more all-new Windows systems than seem necessary to me.

I don't see why they couldn't have released an updated XP with new security features and, perhaps some visual differences for those who care (not me) that would have been as good at playing with other machines as XP was...

But, like I said...I'm not a computer guy.

[Lost]

Alls I have to say is any one want vista . No one here. The local builder will not even install vista till the fix some things as they r tired of having to work on units again and again for simple stupid flaws. . It still a XP world out there.