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General discussion

Does Vista have any SERIOUS problems?

Jan 31, 2007 1:37AM PST

does vista have any big problems, like crashes in widely used programs or anything like that? I am thinking about getting it installed when buying a comp. Everyone that says dont do it doesnt really have a good excuse. Just that it runs the same or a little slower then xp, and that some of the features they dont like. And problems with the actual install or grievances with the upgrades.

I am talking about the OS itself, when it is up and running fine. What problems are people having, are there alot of crashes or sound issues anything like that? I just havent found many actually big problems in my research of this product. Just grievances and people with past experiences with old windows OS's. Neither of which matter to me.
thanks guys

Discussion is locked

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you can still use the run comand
Feb 15, 2007 11:06PM PST

if you use the "windows" key + R it will pull up the run command box

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RE: Run and MSCONFIG
Mar 6, 2007 9:15AM PST

You still have msconfig, it didn't go anywhere contrary to many of the opinions being thrown around here. Click the Windows logo button (bottom left, where Start used to be). The "Start Search" box, underneath programs at the very bottom doubles as the Run line you're used to. Type msconfig there and it loads the Config utility, same as it always did.

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re: Run and MSCONFIG
Apr 19, 2007 3:18PM PDT

click the start icon
all programs
accessories
run

its just in a different spot

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(NT) Start>all programs>click startup>read list
Sep 18, 2007 11:56AM PDT
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Permanently enable "run" by
Sep 18, 2007 12:09PM PDT

Right click in the area around but "not" on the start button. Choose properties>right click> see start menu tab on the top>click it>click customize in the top right corner next to "start menu" phrase>scroll down to "run command" click "in" the box>click Ok to close>click apply in the next applet>then Ok>your done. Now "run" will appear when you click the start button. See list in black on the right hand side, at or near the bottom.

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Is Vista right for me???
Feb 13, 2007 11:57PM PST

This message is more so for bettencourtt, he just seems very smart. Actually if anyone has input that would be aright too. I just bought a new pc, mine is old and running XP. I hear that Vista is better and the new thing to use. Upgrading my pc was not an option, I am running a pc that is at the bottom of the chain so to speak. So it justed seemed logical for me to buy a new pc with Vista. What I want to know is will most of my programs that I use on a regular basis work with vista? I run LimeWire, 1Click DVD Copy Pro (I have two little ones, so back ups are a must!! LOL), and Microsoft office 2000. All I need to know is if I am going to have some issues with these programs and what can I do to aviod it. Someone please get back to me as soon as possible. My new pc should be here by the end of next week. Thanks a bunch!!

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hey
Feb 27, 2007 8:57AM PST

well i just got a newer computer and of course it has windows vista and i hate to tell you this but no limewire dont work nor does imesh or kazaa or bitlord i tryed almost every single one that was the main reason i got a computer was to download and none work.... if u find a solution please let me know.

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No Prob with lime wire
Mar 9, 2007 12:43AM PST

I have not had anyprob. running limewire. I installed a fresh copy of it once i installed Vista though

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Lmao. I hate Limewire.
Oct 23, 2007 7:17PM PDT

uTorrent is alright, but I think Vista's trying to tell you people something there...

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PLEASE! Let me know too!!
Feb 1, 2007 11:47PM PST

Vista premium came with my new HP Pavilion Media Center, and I too HATE the fact I am asked each time if I really want to do that! How utterly annoying!Ask me when I am doing something IMPORTANT. Yupp, annoying. Please anyone, post when you figure out how to shut the thing off, it doesn't even give you a box to check to tell it to stop asking.

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User Account Control
Feb 1, 2007 11:56PM PST

That is what this is referring to. No, they don't give you the option to "don't ask again", because every situation or program you run is different. That's kind of like saying that because your little brother crawled through the window once, it's OK to permanently unlock the thing. It's one click, and it comes up whether YOU are clicking or a program is changing things in the background. One click could also make the difference as to whether or not your entire computer has adware or spyware on it. If you don't like it, yes, you can turn it off.

If you spend ANY time with the Help feature, even Vista will instruct you how to turn it off. But see, this is why you shouldn't. Not yet. Learn when and why these things come up, and then, once your familiarity is at a level where you feel comfortable, then find out how to turn it off.

Folks, don't turn off the light in the tunnel until you find out where the rats are, and where it drops off into the ocean, OK?

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Just Different procedures
Feb 2, 2007 5:46AM PST

Yes, Vista is different than XP just as XP was different than ME and 98.
I have had the Vista Home premium running for a couple days and the more I use it the better I like it.
The box that kept popping up with confirm was very irrirating, but can easly be turned off.
1 Go into control panel.
2 Click on security center
3 When that panel opens up look at the bottom and you will see " user control" just turn that off and you won't get the pop up any longer.
The add and remove programs is now "programs and features" in the control panel and works all most the same as XP
I still haven't figured out what takes over the run feature but I am sure there is something to take it place in Vista.
I upgraded my computer from XP to Vista so I can compare the two systems on the same computer.
With the Vista and super fetch feature my progrmas load twice as fast. In fact everything I do now is very much faster.
Also the TCP/IP stack in Vista is self tweaking. If you are on HSI such as cable or DSL it picks the best settings for the situation. In my case and cable there was a noticable speed increase on downloads.
IMO the features of Vista out weigh by far the problems one will incounter getting used it.
The problem I am having is getting the driver and software updates just like it was when XP first came out.

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How to turn off
Feb 3, 2007 2:18AM PST

Control panel
click security center
lower part of the drop down says "User account control"
Just uncheck the box or set it to no.
You are right, that is very annoying. If you look at Microsoft suggestions it say leave it on! ya right.

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Run Cmd
Feb 2, 2007 3:05AM PST

You can switch Vista back to the Classic View in the same way you could with XP. I had the chance to go through some of it with a MS rep at the Tech Conference in Orlando, FL last week. While somewhat different, there are great features. It has awesome search capabilities, you can turn off or turn down the security confirmations, you can assign meta tags to pics and other media for search purposes. It's very pleasing to the eye, as the colors are softer, folders are 3D. It's very "dummies" friendly for folks like me. The one I saw runs great, but I would not upgrade, I would start with a brand new machine with lots of memory, good video card, etc. Look at the requirements and get a little more. Read up about it.

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Run
Mar 6, 2007 6:44PM PST

I'm running Vista Ultra ,just went to taskbar setting and checked the box to have run there ,now its there all the time just like it was in XP.

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RE: Used Vista once
Feb 2, 2007 9:40AM PST

1) This is the improved security, which is present in the Mac and Linux OS. It prevents rogue apps from installing on your computer and causing havoc with your system as users do not run with administrator rights like they did with Windows XP. Spyware, adaware, worms and viruses need admin rights to install and do their duty. That is what the popups are about, asking you if you launched the app so damage can be prevented from being done to your system. Get used to it, it is here to stay.

2) I found it easy enough to find, it is the icon marked Programs. IF you do not like it, then switch to classic view.

3) Easy enough to bring up if you know your keyboard shortcuts, Windows+R will launch "Run", and has since Windows 95. If you are a mouse man, look under Accessories.

I do not consider these flaws, as everything works as intended. A flaw denotes a bug or other obvious failing.

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Read A Book
Mar 5, 2007 2:34PM PST

1) Blame the influx of identity theft and hacking. It's not prompting you as an annoyance, it's letting you know that there is a problem the OS is not familiar with trying to run without Windows launching it voluntarily on it's own. Yes this time it occurs when you try to use WinZip or WinISO (as examples) and you *know* you're doing it, but maybe you'll thank it when it stops a program you *aren't* aware of -such as a keylogger or some other little goodie which unbeknownst to you added itself to your system during a visit to a website- from running while you aren't even sitting at the machine. Security measure.

2)Yeah this is a tough one to absorb. Learning new icon names. Shame that MS didn't keep the exact same format it's used since Windows 98 just so you didn't have to learn something new. Shame on them. Vista is *new* with many changes both significant and cosmetic. Perhaps if you aren't prepared to make the change *with* them, you should dust off that copy of Windows ME where you know from memory where everything is and reload *it*.

3)Click the Windows balloon. Type whatever command you would have previously entered in the old Run line here and Enter. There's your Run line serving the exact same function, plus now it's a search option integrated in as well. Maybe another change that's too overwhelming, see Point # 2 above.

As a closing note, the fact that you are allowed anywhere near other people's computers and get paid to do so when you have a problem accurately spelling a word like "kickback" is indeed a sad testimonial to today's undiscriminating job market. MS don't need "cickbacks", and the suggestion about uninstalling icons makes no sense whatsoever. If you choose to criticize or speculate on issues you obviously know absolutely nothing about, a worldwide forum may not be the best place to do so.

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You are my hero =P
Jan 12, 2008 3:01PM PST

Your post was amazing.

I myself don't like Vista but I don't moan about it. Keep posting!

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Run is Still in Vista
Mar 6, 2007 8:55PM PST

Run needs to be enabled. Right click the "orb"(start button)\properties\start menu\customize\scroll down to "run command" & check the run command box\apply and run will now appear when you left click the orb

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totally
Jan 12, 2008 2:31PM PST

I have a sony vaio FZ290 notebook running vista home premium, and a desktopPC running XP. What you stated here is exactly what i had said to others. right now, i am trying to find out why icons in Notification area in my vista disappeard randomly. In XP it's called system tray. this is one of the indication that they think everybody is computer ignorant. I HATE the control panel in Vista!!My sister only knows enough to turn on and off the computer and surf the internet, send E-mail. She never knows what control panel is for, and never find the need to use "run", so she has no complain about Vista. You figure it out.

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Love it both ways
Feb 15, 2007 11:14PM PST

I have Vista on both a new machine (Dell E520, Dual Core), and an older machine (self installed), and have had no substantial problems yet. I notice that on every MS release there are doomsayers, often even before the release.

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vista
Feb 16, 2007 10:29PM PST

vista sucks it keeps crashing u cant download any thing unless its vista ready it keeps blocking all web pages u allways get pop ups asking if its ok i had vista for a week and this is my third computer cause it keeps wiping out my computer. my advice is dont get a vista.

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LIMEWIRE
Feb 27, 2007 9:41AM PST

DOES ANYONE KNOW IF THERES ANY WAY TO DOWNLOAD MUSIC WITH WINDOWS VISTA??? IM SO FUSTRATED I CANT DOWNLOAD ANYTHING!!!!!!!

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vista sucks
Feb 22, 2007 10:37AM PST

I bought my vista computer on the day it was released and every since it made my life a living hell. It's slow loading i bought a a usb flash drive that said it was vista compatiable to get some of my files off of my old xp computer.Everything went well on my xp computer when i tried to in stall them on my vista computer the software didnt load. I had to go to my computer to get to the files and for some reason it was deleting some of my vista files.I called the my pc's tech support to get help to reinstall vista they didnt know what to do they refered me to bestbuy.I take my computer there and find out four days later they cant do it my dsl internet dont work properly.Some times i spend minutes trying to get on and sometimes when im on i get kicked off or something happens.There are other problems im having with it but to fix all that im buying xp for my new vista computer.To any considering vista stick with xp till other software becomes more compatiable with it and microsoft fixes the bugs in it

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Vista is a piece of crap
Feb 26, 2007 4:44AM PST

I bought vista the home preimum version and loaded it ok over XP Sp2 and it took about 3-4 hours to do. Had to do a clean install. Then after using for a while I decided I would liked to have the features in the ultimate version so I paid the difference and then upgraded to visa ultimate and that is when the problems started. My Pc is now very slow. I have 1GB of memory, 106MB hard drive with 77MB free after loading ultimate. My video card is vista compatiable. If I can't slove this performance problem soon I am going back to XP Pro. Any body got any ideas.

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(NT) Add 1GB of RAM.
Feb 26, 2007 7:07AM PST
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1GB RAM
Mar 4, 2007 10:47PM PST

W3611 how do I add,why would emachines put vistas in a pc that does't have the memory needed to operate correctly?

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1 GB RAM
Mar 5, 2007 2:38AM PST

According to the folks we spoke with at Gateway (eMachines) their contractual obligations/information from Microsoft states that Vista will operate with 512K RAM. It does operate, just not very well or for long periods of time without freezing up.

Folks need to realize that Vista is a win-win situation for hardware manufacturers. Selling/installing RAM upgrades will keep Geek Squad and otehrs in business, in addition to Vista selling a lot of new hardware with 1GB plus of RAM and 3+GHZ processors to satisfy the performance levels currently enjoyed by less robust machines running XP.

You know Vista has problems when the federal government suspends deployment of Vista due to incompatibility (see informationweek.com 3/5/2007)

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RE: Vista Ultimate upgrade from Vista Premium, slow system
Feb 26, 2007 8:20AM PST

Vista Premium and Ultimate differ in networking components, you should not see increase in system demand. You probably have a bad install.

I've read accounts of upgrade install problems, fix was to wipe drive for clean install. Check MS Vista Forums for more details.

FIRST, check out your current install for cause and fix of your problem. Go to Control Panel, System; check System, Rating: It should be 3.0 or higher, click on the base score to view component ratings. Click advanced tools, poke around, keep notes. Adjust Advanced System Settings, Performance Settings: Visual Effects, set to performance. If you can't fix it after re-boot go to wipe/fresh install.

If your problem is related to memory you can add a flash memory card to boost your system cache.

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finally got vista fixed
Feb 26, 2007 9:44AM PST

Finally got vista fixed. Mcafee virus software was not compatible with vista. Had to download a fix from Mcafee. Also had to disable Microsoft defender. It conflicts with Mcafee. Vista Ultimate now runs extremely fast.