Has anyone......re Vista

article on Vista security that addresses UAC. Also an interesting article, "Surprise! You May Have More Firewall Than You Need". It answered some nagging questions I didn't know I was asking.

I tried installing Vista Basic on a socket A motherboard with 768 megs of memory and 64 megs of that shared to video. Said it wouldn't install to a computer without ACPI. The motherboard has an AMI bios and does have ACPI capability. I had installed XP Pro on it though with that option turned off. So, I turn it on and still same error msg. Discover NT system needs a reinstall if you switch to ACPI power system control, can't just do a "repair", so reinstalled XP Pro over itself with ACPI enabled in the bios, which I'd also updated to the last available in 2003. XP still showed "Standard PC" in Device Manager under computer type, instead of ACPI enabled. Vista again failed to install on a "non ACPI" computer. Vista Basic won't directly upgrade XP Pro anyway, but I had the files loaded to hard drive in separate NTFS partition where I was also going to load it.

It may work on my socket 754 motherboard in other computer, not tried that one yet. I didn't want it on my newer main computer, not yet at least, wanted to test it out first on the other. If I find a work around I'll let you know. As for now, I'd suggest anyone with a socket A motherboard seriously consider NOT upgrading to Vista.

Oh,I also ran the compatibility guide and it claims it can't even run on a motherboard using the Sis 730 chipset, which is on this motherboard.

My advice? Probably better to wait till you buy a newer computer with Vista already on it and continue happily using one of the XP or Win2K versions on your older computer. As for me, although I have XP Pro, I've never really migrated over to it and continue mostly with win98se.

I tried the latest Live CD version of Knoppix, (version 5) and it worked great on both my computers, worth the download, or as I did, order a nicely labeled CD from Ebay vendor cheaply.

I'm going back to bed.

BTW as to my comment about cluster sizes, I'm sure you knew that, but I was just dotting t's and crossing i's on the thread.

And, when you guys say "live CD", do you mean running the OS with the disc in the drive?

I've tried out Knoppix system on a CD and it's at least up to win95 quality for ease of use. I have Ubuntu and Linspire coming on a order. I still run win98se for myself, it still does almost everything one needs, with some exceptions, most related to latest restrictions at sites for it's use with video. Divx Player won't run the latest videos, demand win2k or XP, but Media Player with divx codec will run the latest videos if you can download the files. ABC TV episodes recently blocked win98se users from accessing their videos and even using HTTP referer spoofs in Firefox only gets one a little closer to viewing it. Win 98 SE can be had at market shows and ebay for $25-30. I have winxppro, but not running it. I also have win2k server edition. I still prefer to use win98se though for now. You might be interested in win2k software available on ebay, but sometimes it runs almost as much as XP. It's NT version 5 and XP is NT version 5.1, but Win 2000 has no activation required. When service pack 4 is loaded you are very close to what XP is. The advantage of no activation software, just loads using the product key is you can run more than one bootable harddrive, which is invaluable when one goes down and and you have the other to boot from and do things like run antivirus or change some files. My current main computer is double boot win98se.

Have you used any of the Linux versions yet? If so, what's your opinion of the particular one you tried?

Microsoft's approach has irritated me for years about this activation crap, one reason I've not switched over yet to XP. I don't mind them trying to stop piracy, or even what they term "casual copying" but I prefer using software that doesn't have a corporation getting in my way anytime I may want to make some major changes on my computer, especially harddrive or motherboard. Microsoft needs to find something less demanding, less interfering than their current system.

My older children both have laptops with XP on them, and I've used them at times. I don't see anything it really does better for me than I can do with win98se, albeit sometimes with third party software instead of something microsoft included. For win98se I also have that final update CD microsoft issued with all the patches and updates throughout the life of win98 system and for the most part my win98se system has proven to be stable. I think those who complained it wasn't stable enough probably just didn't know enough and were creating most of their own problems.

I too have 98se. I had xp on the H/D that went south, and I can't seem to find my installations disk. So I put 98 on the new [used] computer while I sort out the replacement-disk issues with Big Brother. My big problem is using Opera, my browser of choice. After a while the graphics rendering goes crazy, and I must either restart the whole machine or switch to IE6 (slow, clumsy, security like swiss cheese). This forum thread

http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6620_102-0.html?forumID=5&threadID=252780

and some related links is where I learned that the probable only cure is to upgrade to xp.
Aug 07 PCWorld has a review of Ubuntu Linux that makes it sound very attractive. And I quote:
"Ubuntu Linux shrinks your Windows partition, making room for itself. A migration assistant scours that partition, rounding up your ... documents, your music and image files ... copying everything over to the new Linux partition." Also includes the OpenOffice.org Win Office workalike. I don't know about the big problem: Will my other hardware work with it? Anyway, the price is right, so I may give it a try. (Comes with a Firefox version.)

I agree with MS that piracy is bad, even directed against the world's richest man. (!) But I agree with you and many others that their system is too cumbersome. Side note: MS is currently getting rave reviews for its handling of the Live Earth concerts streamed on the web. I'm not a pro, but I gather the software challenges were enormous. And they can't find a way to keep me from stealing bread from the mouth of Mrs. Gates?!

Another suggestion: Let Dragon (post above) install Linux, tear his hair out, and then tell us how to do it right.

I use firefox and had problems on some sites that seemed deliberately to trash anyone accessing them with firefox. I downloaded a spoofing plug in and when I hit a page like that tell it to send HTTP Referer info that I'm really IE 5 or 6. It then sends the page optimized for that browser and it displays fine in Firefox. It's called User Agent Switcher if you want to try it out.

You could also need the latest video driver files, unless this ONLY happens when using a browser.

I like Firefox, but Opera is just that much better. As to spoofing, you can hover over a link, and Opera will present its URL. If it says Bank of America.com you're probably OK. The spoofer link will show http/www.egregious.ru or somesuch.

Some come on a CD and others are downloads. Some are made for less memory or smaller HDs, some are more suited to desktops and so forth.

I've been told that Linux is a completely different animal than Win, so I guess it'll be a completely new learning experience. Kind of like starting from scratch.

I remember when I first got online, I didn't know how to resize the screen or anything, but I imagine with past experience, I'll find some things are more intuitive.

My wife wants me to hold back until she gets a new computer -- she wants this laptop to be her backup. But I think I've convinced her to now worry about a new computer for awhile, by adding more RAM. We both only have 256. I still have my old computer, and haven't decided what to do with it. Maybe I'll try out some flavor of Linux on it. Still, the processing power is not what you can see on a newer machine, and it's a little sluggish on the Internet, compared to this Toshiba laptop. If they are right about Linux not needing as much memory, maybe the old one will work as if it has more memory.

I did download Knoppix and burn the iso to disc myself, but that's also why this time I opted to order Linspire and Ubuntu in a combined package from Ebay sellers. The cost is negligible and the CD will certainly look better than the one I burned, with it's black indelible ink magic marker description on the front of it. Truth be, for the price, even though I have broadband, I just didn't feel like downloading and burning.

I saw packages offered, but I'll just get the basic program working and then look for addons. That OpenOffice stuff, included on Ubuntu, is supposed to be as good as Office, only faster, better, free. I have Office2000 Pro (with Access) for when I need it for outside, but much of my writing is intended for personal consumption or simple stuff. It's irritating to have to wait for Word to load and wait for virus inspection (a necessary evil). OpenOffice will, I'm told, open any Office file I may get from elsewhere.

I used Open Office back when it was called Star Office. Still have a disc around here somewhere with version 5.2 on it. I think that was the last one before Sun Microsystems bought them out. Even at that time (win95 to win98 period) it was a bit behind times. It looked and worked about like a win3.11 program. That's the problem Linux has had in past, they've always been one generation of software behind Windows. I think they've gotten nearer to closing that gap now.

It also runs on Windows and can be downloaded separately at openoffice.org

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=6492

I wondered about the geneaology. I had Star bundled on my old eMachines and wasn't impressed. However, I doubt that I need more horsepower than it offers. As I said, I own Office 97 and 2000, both legally, both Pro with Access. On the occasions I need a relational database I can switch- or buy a ten-year-old Rim or some such for $10 bucks at a thrift shop. (I also have a 5-1/4 drive installed. No, I don't have a copier, I still use carbon paper. )

Also, I don't need more than a fraction of Word features; I often use WordPad or EditPadLite for correspondence. The latter is also useful for plain.txt stuff, since it opens, copies, prints and saves virtually unlimited file sizes. Notepad tops out at Vic-20 levels.
That is interesting that the same OpenOffice [apparently] runs on both Win and Linux.

So as long as my PC doesn't actually catch fire it looks like I'll be joining the ranks of the "Lips that touch Microsoft will never touch mine" fanatics.

I've got a few copies of DOS 6.22...at least one never opened...and a couple Windows for Workgroups 3.11 editions. I'm sure I can find you a cheap copy of MS Bob around as well. Bob didn't have many friends.

I used to have both 6.22 and ... (6.22)/2, but finally got rid of them. My s/w supplier of choice has plenty of both if I change my mind. But thanks for your ... Goodwill.

you sure you aren't Amish?

I think the new open office is entirely a Java based program, which of course means it's transportable between browsers and I guess other operating systems too. I'm guessing....

stop computing at sunset.

Java: Makes sense to me.

I wanted to wait before investing in a new machine, but I nursed the WMe for about a year and a half. When the monitor started to show signs of failing, that was it. I had spent $500+ upgrading the RAM and HD about a year and a half before that. If the monitor would have hung in for a while longer, I would have waited.

I went with a different OS. I did a lot of homework, and lured in the appropriate Help forums in this community to see about problems for over a year. I made the move about a month ago, and it was a lot easier than I thought. Still learning how to do things differently than I did in Windows.

You are much more tech savvy than I am, so I really think you could give Linux a try, and might find it is not actually starting from scratch, but just "different".

Angeline
Speakeasy Moderator

I meant 256 megs.

Maybe I'll order the Unbutu. It seems to be a favorite. But one guy suggested Slax. It also comes on a CD.

I don't think I'll have to do that, but I might put another stick in there.

BTW, my first puter only had 2 megs. What a difference 2 more megs made! And it costed me a lot more money then.

...until I figured in the cost of replacing a printer, scanner, software, etc. on top of the inflated prices of Macs in general.

We have two computers, a desktop and a laptop. The laptop is running XP Pro and I have no plans to upgrade it to Vista anytime soon. Our desktop is 7 years old and is running Windows 2000, and I'm hoping to replace it in the next few months. We just had a setback though when one of our cars decided to fling a piece of the air conditioner compressor out onto the ground with a loud squeal. $2k later I was watching our computer upgrade wave bye-bye for now...