[PieMaster]

Other Forums are starting to get very congested with Vista threads, so here is TSR’s very own Vista FAQ thread (and hopefully sticky for the next couple of months)

As questions are answered in other threads I will try to update the FAQ to cut down repeat questions. But, feel free to post in here with new questions (and updated hardware support lists)

Sections:

Versions
Features To Check Out
General FAQ
Known non-Working Hardware
Service Pack 1

[PieMaster]

Versions

Home Basic – Entry level OS, lacks basic features like Aero.
Home Premium – Basic with Media Centre and Aero – this is best for most users.
Business – HP without Media Centre, but has remote desktop and IIS
Ultimate – has all features, and the ability to download extra paid for plugins like animated desktops.

Note that most versions have an ‘n’ version too – this is identical but has all Windows Media components removed, I wouldn’t advise buying these since they’re the same price and a lot of programs will use WMP components in the background.

32 or 64bit

Please note that x86_64 is commonly abbreviated (albeit incorrectly) to x64.

The following processors will support Vista 64bit editions:

AMD: Ahlon64, Sempron64, X2, Turion, Turion X2
Intel: P4 with EMT-64, Pentium D, Core 2 Solo, Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad

Note that standard Pentium 4’s will NOT run 64bit code.

Just because you can run 64bit operating systems doesn’t mean you actually want or need to yet. Only upgrade to one if you are 100% certain the manufacturers of the devices in your machine have released special x64 drivers – 32bit ones will NOT work.

The main benefit of x64 (for home users) is the ability to use more than 4Gb of RAM

OEM, Retail and Academic

For those of you who are Computing Science students, you will have more than likely been given an academic license from your university for free. You can move this between whatever machines you want with minimal hassle.

OEM copies are tied to the machine you first install on. When the machine dies, so does the license; and it is speculated Microsoft will be very strict on re-installation.

Retail can be transferred between machines freely, but is significantly more expensive.

Upgrade Coupons

Microsoft started sending out free upgrade coupons to users who purchased OEM copies of XP Media Centre Edition. Bear in mind that you must have purchased the system from a major manufacturer (Dell, HP, IBM, Advent, PB etc) to be eligible.
To claim, you need to send a bill or invoice from the system builder to Microsoft. Without this, you will not get your free upgrade.

[PieMaster]

Top Features

1. Aero, it’s pretty and still gets the job done without crippling even a slow modern graphics chip, everything is now nicely anti-aliased too. If its too string for you, there’s a tuner application on the Microsoft website.
2. Networking actually works! Browsing shares even to XP machines is now instant even if there are thousands of items. Network printers are now detected properly too.
3. Start menu. No, really, just press the Windows key on your keyboard and start typing. It will search the index for whatever you type whether is contents of a document or a program.
4. Snipping tool, handy for those of us making documentation – its basically Screenshot+
5. Firewall – no need for 3rd party ones if you already have a router with SPI, since it now supports outgoing as well as incoming rules.
6. Boot up and shutdown speeds – faster than XP on a fresh installation. Time will tell if it stays that way though.

Worst Features

1. Try to change the wallpaper and you’ll see Microsoft have got just a little bit too far with replacing everything.
2. If you install without doing an update during setup (and ATI actually release some drivers which work) you’ll be dumped onto a blank screen after setup. Handy.
3. UAC, while protecting the PC will really annoy you during initial setup.
4. Driver support for more obscure devices is still pretty minimal, and even Creative still havent managed to sort themselves out.

[PieMaster]

General FAQ

What is Aero?

Aero is the name for the new technology which Vista uses to draw the Desktop on your graphics card using transparency and a whole load of other effects. Without this, Vista drops down to a more standard theme which looks somewhat rubbish.
The minimum specification I have had this working on is a nVidia GeForce 6100.

I have the requirements for Aero, why hasn’t it started?

You may need to re-benchmark you ‘windows performance index’. Right click on my computer can choose properties. There will be al ink to the benchmark on this page.

How much RAM do I need to run Vista?

The minimum default installation requires about 1Gb; however, with memory prices bieng as low as they are now, it's silly to run am odern system with less than 2GB. Although, remember if you want to use more than 3.5GB, then you'll need a 64bit version.

Vista’s using loads of RAM just on the desktop, what’s wrong?

Vista’s memory management module is VERY different to XP. It will pre-load as much as it can into main memory from hard disk, giving the impression that it is using more. If a program needs more RAM than is free, Windows will unload part or all of its cache.
Similarly, Aero will completely shutdown when you enter a game or other full screen application.

Is my PC fast enough to upgrade to Vista?

If you PC meets the following specification, it is possible to upgrade easily:

CPU: AMD64 (any) or Pentium 4 3.0GHz or Higher, Core 2 (any)
Memory: 1Gb
Hard disk Capacity: 20Gb
Graphics Card: nVidia 6100 or higher, ATi x300 or higher

Although, I would recommend at least the following to run smoothly:

CPU: AMD X2 or Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory: 2Gb
Hard Disk: A modern 7200 or 10k rpm disk
Graphics Card: nVidia 6600+, ATi x700+

Will my old XP Games work on Vista?

More than likely, yes. Really old 16bit games designed for DOS or Win9x will probably not without special tools - DOSBox will handles all of these within Vista.
Performance is now virtually on-par with XP, withing the coming months it should be more or less equal.

How can I add BBC News to the RSS reader on the desktop?

Bookmark the RSS feed from BBC News 9 or any other feed) in IE7 and it will become available in the options for the news item.

Can I get rid of the sidebar?

Yes, right click on its icon in the system tray and choose exit. It will ask you if you want to permanently close it or not.

Do I still need Antivirus Software?

Yes. You also need to make sure you get the correct one, as 64bit versions will need a specific one.

Can I turn off that annoying’ are you sure’ box every time I do something?

Control Panel > User Accounts > User Accounts > Turn User Control On or Off
Remember – this disabled an important layer of protection against Spyware on you PC.
A better option is to use TweakUAC to disable some of the prompts.

Please post additional questions in this thread; I will also copy thread solutions into here.

[PieMaster]

Known non-working hardware

The list of non-supported hardware is shrinking all the time. If you find something doesnt work, post it up and it will get added.

Graphics



Sound

Driver Bugs - All Creative Cards

Other

Older HP Printers - Check the HP website for compatibility information. In many cases, you can use a generic driver to get it to work.

[Jaffaholic]

Since you've edited your 1st post, ill assume youve finished. Nice thread, which is definitely worthy of a sticky.

Interesting that x800 has problems in Vista. My x800 series card works fine. very wierd that problems are retricted to only the x800 in the generation. You sure on that.

Great thread again.

[PieMaster]

I'm pretty sure on the x800 front, but its probably because I was under x64 not x32; the ATi drivers are virtually non existant for it; quite shocking this late really.

I'll clarify the whole upgrade coupon thing now, theres about 5 pages of irate people on OcUK about that!

[theArchitect]

Nice research - thanks :)

[Harv616]

Doom 3 takes a 100%(!!!) performance hit using a Radeon X1950XTX on vista...i would say that's a big deal and more than a slight problem if people are upgrading relatively soon. But feel free to delete this post if it doesn't really matter.

link to the review:

http://tomshardware.co.uk/2007/01/17..._uk/index.html

[Choad]

its x86_64

pedantic, i know, its one of my pet peeves

good foresight tho, this thread n all

[Jaffaholic]

Originally Posted by BhArJ

Doom 3 takes a 100%(!!!) performance hit using a Radeon X1950XTX on vista...i would say that's a big deal and more than a slight problem if people are upgrading relatively soon. But feel free to delete this post if it doesn't really matter.

link to the review:

http://tomshardware.co.uk/2007/01/17..._uk/index.html

Because current ATI drivers dont yet have opengl support. Not microsoft's fault believe it or not. Graphics card manufacturers have been very slow in releasing the drivers. Something gaming fans have been slating them over. I suspect also, dx10 performance will be very poor to start off with.

Im pretty sure for the performance hits shown in the tomshardware review will be ironed out in the first month or so. Also, ATI only really takes a 5-10% hit generally. Nvidia on the other hand are struggling.

[spysect]

This should about cover it ...


Microsoft Windows Vista RTM Software Compatibility List


http://www.iexbeta.com/wiki/index.ph...atibility_List



Microsoft Windows Vista RTM Hardware Compatibility List


http://www.iexbeta.com/wiki/index.ph...atibility_List



Microsoft Windows Vista RTM Bug List Recently Added


http://www.iexbeta.com/wiki/index.ph...a_RTM_Bug_List

[Jaffaholic]

Lol youre also doing the vanishing point game. Its so addictive, its basically a better version of notpr0n. I think ill be going to the London event.

[spysect]

wow! u going too Read more at the wiki www.vanishingpointwiki.com. Theres more ARGs at unfiction too http://forums.unfiction.com/forums

[spysect]

*Me gives trout to ghost 101*

[Talon]

Radeon X800xt worked perfectly well under vista x64. I was running Vista Ultimate RTM before the hols and it worked fine on my old rig. ATI have beta vista drivers on their site for both 32 and 64bit.

Currently running Vista Business (free via uni) and most of my hardware works fine (Intel 965 chipset, X1950 Pro Graphics).

I find Vista networking and internet stuff FAR better than windows xp. With XP I usually had to fiddle a few things around to get the computer to stop trying to access the net via wireless and switch to ethernet. Vista does it automatically. Me loves vista so far.

Word of warning: Windows explorer cannot currently burn data dvds/cds. It stops halfway through. Regular Nero wont work either. You have to use the portable version.

[Manalishi]

I tried installing Vista Business on my desktop but when it boots from the DVD I get a blue screen (see attachment).

The spec is:

AMD 64 X2 3800
MSI Motherboard (can't remember which model)
NVidia 7300le
Kingston 1gb DDR2

Installed it on my laptop just and that worked fine, albeit without flip 3d etc because it has crappy on board graphics.

Does anybody know how to change authentication settings on wired LAN? Like the PEAP and the certificates etc

[Tom]

k, this may be a stupid question but:

If I put everything i want to keep (media, documents etc etc) on my second harddrive, then unplug it, then format the first one and put vista on it, then plug the second one back in...will it think it needs to format the second one too, or just let me get at my stuff?

[Manalishi]

Vista backs up all of your old documents and puts them in a folder called 'Windows.old'.

[Tom]

What, everything? On the whole computer? Every single file? 'Cos that's a lot more than fits on one harddrive, to start with. So it would have to split all the stuff up into two folders on both my drives.