Vista and Frustration go hand in hand

[Strider]

So I decided to try to put Vista on My Main Computer and "try" is the main word for I didn't succeed. I thought I was being smart and made a full back-up of my computer before I started to install Vista; however, I must be the only one who has bad luck with backup software. Every Time I try to recover from a backup it's always a no go. I'll give my short review on Acronis True Image Backup it stinks. After attempting two times to install Vista and getting the blue screen of death I decided to do a clean install thinking that I would have better luck....nope. Anyways, thinking I would just use my backup if it didn't install and that would be that. Nope, Acronis pop up saying Volume 1 disk is corrupted (I've tried it twice), so I had to do a clean install of Windows XP. That part doesn't make me angry, it's the software that I have to re-install such as Adobe CS2 Suite, Vegas, etc that do validation on them; hopefully, I won't have to call those chuckleheads. Well, enough of my sobbing I guess I'll just take it easy the rest of the night and watch the Superbowl and get everything going tomorrow.

[peekaboo]

maybe this will help you understand how vista is supposed to be installed.

[DSCHIEF]

Originally Posted by peekaboo maybe this will help you understand how vista is supposed to be installed.

This link is absolutly BEAUTIFUL, I whish there was some way to send it to Everyone in the known Universe, including Bill Gates

[Statica]

If we're taking advise from Anthony Cumia...

[Strider]

Originally Posted by peekaboo maybe this will help you understand how vista is supposed to be installed.

I like that it made my day.

[Strider]

I didn't want to start a different thread so I'll continue with this one. I've gotten Vista to install and my one word of Advice.....WAIT! It's nice but let knuckleheads like me iron out the bugs. I didn't do a fresh install (That's where I made my mistake), but if you still want to install Vista and do it from an upgrade from Windows XP, my advice is to make sure you update ALL your drivers and double check to be sure before installing a Vista upgrade. One last piece of advice don't pay any attention to some people who say you can leave vista unattended while installing, for you might regret doing that for if the installation goes bad it will keep rebooting on you until you come back to the computer.

[Statica]

Strider .. did you run the compatibility test for Vista before you installed? It's extremely comprehensive .. not only does it highlight incompatibilities but in a lot of situations it will direct you to the h/w manufacturer's website where the latest drivers can be found!

Again, irrespective of what OS is being upgraded, it is a good idea to check and upgrade all drivers.

Vista, like ANY OS, must not be run unattended unless it is a repeat installation with a documented installation path! As in, this is your 3rd Vista installation on the same computer and you know for sure that it will go through just fine or if you've created a modified installation image with custom drivers (like using http://www.microsoft.com/technet/des...7/default.mspx )! There really is no OS out there that is ready to be installed unattended without having a documented experience at least once!

[Strider]

Originally Posted by Statica Strider .. did you run the compatibility test for Vista before you installed? It's extremely comprehensive .. not only does it highlight incompatibilities but in a lot of situations it will direct you to the h/w manufacturer's website where the latest drivers can be found! Again, irrespective of what OS is being upgraded, it is a good idea to check and upgrade all drivers. Vista, like ANY OS, must not be run unattended unless it is a repeat installation with a documented installation path! As in, this is your 3rd Vista installation on the same computer and you know for sure that it will go through just fine or if you've created a modified installation image with custom drivers (like using http://www.microsoft.com/technet/des...7/default.mspx )! There really is no OS out there that is ready to be installed unattended without having a documented experience at least once!

The strange thing is I did the compatibility test (more than once and followed the instructions) the first two times and said nothing would prevent installing Vista, but it did. I called Microsoft and got a recording to double check to make sure all your drivers were updated (which the compatibility software didn't mention or at least direct me in that direction) and gave step by step instructions on how to do it...work like a charm. To me this tell me that Microsoft knows there is a problem with the compatibility test software, but that's just my opinion. The reason I said you shouldn't leave the vista installation untended is that a podcast of DL.TV, Robert Heron said you could leave Vista installation unattended which to me is stupid advice or comment.

[mevensen]

Strider, how have things gone now?
If you're still having issues, is this a home built system or a pre-built?
The reason I ask is that we don't know how sensitive Vista is to subtle incompatabilities that might not be picked up by the upgrade advisor. Just as how XP Pro is more sensitive than XP Home, Vista may even be more sensitive to a minor hardware issue that isn't picked up by the advisor.
Also, how old is the system, and was it perfectly stable in XP before this?
Have you scoured the 'net for program and driver issues?
I hate to say it, but early adoption of a brand new OS is pretty risky business, and frustration is part and parcel with the task. I have been pretty fortunate with my Vista upgrade (knocks wood), but I have had to live with some issues of programs not being Vista compatible versions yet, and of course the odd driver (cough... NVIDIA... cough) issue.
For the record, my main issues to date:
- Cisco VPN client - only available in beta, which crashes me
- ePocrates - not available in Vista version
- AVG - doesn't always play nice (won't launch on startup successfully)
- Logitech Harmony remote control - disable Aero interface
- NVIDIA drivers - working, but haven't tried a full range of games yet
- iTunes - thank heavens I didn't upgrade my wife's computer too!

Apologies is this appears as a thread hijack, I'm not really asking for help, etc. just comiserating a bit.

[Panama Red]

My advice to those wishing to upgrade to Vista that insist on doing it now will be to spend a few extra bucks and buy the full version, not the upgrade. And buy a new hard drive so you can disconnect/remove the existing hdd, install the new and do a completely fresh install. I know it's a pain to load all the old programs but it's a lot less time than trying to recover when the upgrade goes bad. You then have the old hard drive as a complete system backup. You can copy all of the previous files and favorites by simply slaving the old drive to the Vista system. If and when you are satisfied with Vista and it is working well for you, you can format the old drive and use if for extra storage or backup.

[Strider]

I have Vista running pretty good now, I like Panama Red's Idea for that would be the best route to go. I was going to discuss something to addition to that (even started typing a paragraph on it), but I don't want to get this thread lock so I won't. I would say I'm 90% happy with Vista with the one exception of iTunes, as of right now Apple iTunes doesn't work correctly under Vista. Apple says they're in the process of upgrading iTunes so it will work with Vista, I'll just wait and see when it is compatible with Vista. Although I think it might be longer than what Apple is saying it will be, for I think there's a little dispute brewing between Microsoft and Apple, just my opinion.

[glc]

The way to install the upgrade version totally clean has been discovered, it's posted all over the place including here somewhere.

[Strider]

Originally Posted by glc The way to install the upgrade version totally clean has been discovered, it's posted all over the place including here somewhere.

I just didn't want this thread to go off in a tangent or way-off topic that's why I didn't mention it. Just a side note, from what I have read Microsoft isn't exactly frowning upon doing a clean install with a Vista upgrade, for they could easily do some kind activation scheme to prevent that. They want the pc enthusiast sector (meaning people who are pc builders), it's the other crowd that Microsoft is trying too make it a tad bit harder. All though that is a mute point for most people who have a PC today have Windows XP Operating System, so I really think Microsoft logic is a little fuzzy.

Anyways, So far so good with Vista. I'm going to try using Windows Vista backup and see if I can get that to work, but with my luck with backups I know it probably won't be good.

[arkiebuilder]

http://www.windowsitpro.com/mobile/p...D=95011&News=1
1. Boot with the Windows Vista Upgrade DVD.

2. Click "Install Now."

3. Do not enter a Product Key When prompted.

4. When prompted, select the Vista product edition that you do have.

6. Install Vista normally.

7. Once the install is complete, restart the DVD-based Setup from within Windows Vista. Perform an in-place upgrade. 8. Enter your Product Key when prompted.

This is what I found at this web site. Don't know if it works!

[glc]

Yes, that's what we are talking about.