Is Vista any better these days?

[plastick]

So I just bought a cheapy $550 Compaq Presario C770US laptop from newegg last week. I just wanted something for school work, primarily... Its an Intel Dual Core system and it came with Vista and all the normal extra stuff they put on there. Well I immediately killed that and put XP on it instead. I found out that the XP drivers dont seem to work perfectly and the Wireless drivers dont work at all. I'm kind of getting pissed and I cant restore to Vista since I deleted the 13GB Vista recovery portion of the 160GB hd

So now I am sitting here trying to figure out if I want to go out an purchase Vista or not. I would certainly lower the settings as much as possible and make it less bloated, but would it still weigh my system down? I don't know much about it still, but I do know that I would at least have full use of my hardware. I love XP but if Vista would run better, then I would use that.

Someone let me know

Thanks

 

[wiredbits]

Why not go to HP's site and order the recovery DVD, would cost a lot less.

Oh, When I used HP's recovery DVD (wanted to check it out) it deleted and repartitioned my hard drive so all data was lost...no biggie since I had it all backed up.

 

[ViRGE]

With the specs Amazon lists, I don't see why you'd have a problem. The processor is powerful enough, and 2GB of RAM will do.

 

[nerp]

I'd run Vista. It should run good.

Just find or borrow a Vista disc and install using the key on the bottom of your laptop. I wouldn't buy a copy unless you have no alternative. And, in that case, I'd just use the DVD and save the key from that and use the key on the bottom of your laptop anyway.

 

[Agman]

Have you even tried Vista before or did you just automatically wipe it oout without giving it a try to see how it performed??

Anyways, like wiredbits said, I would call HP and have them send you a recovery disc it should be a LOT less than going out and buying your own copy of Vista.

 

[plastick]

Yeah I was just thinking about getting a recovery disc, but apparently it would just wipe out my partitions. I have two and one has all my files from my other system on it. it was kind of a lot of work and I would be pretty mad if Vista wiped it out for no good reason.

I think I will just borrow a Vista CD and use the key I payed for with my laptop.

 

[Genx87]

Define Irony: I dont like Vista because I heard it doesnt work very well. Install XP and it doesnt work very well.

 

[corkyg]

Vista's fine - especially with SP1. Boots and loads fast. The more you use it the better you like it. Yeah - borrow DVD and use your key. That will work if you choose the right version for your key.

Another DVD that will work is Microsoft's Windows Anytime Upgrade DVD with your key. One of those came with my Lenovo T60.

 

[extra]

2gb ram: stick with xp
4gb ram: no reason not to install vista.

 

[Wuzup101]

People blow Vista problems out of proportion (especially now that it has had time to mature). XP is still more suited to older/lower power machines. However, for modern machines like your notebook, Vista works just fine. TBH I'd rather run Vista than XP (though that is not what I said when Vista launched - as if any launch OS from MS has been great).

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: extra
2gb ram: stick with xp
4gb ram: no reason not to install vista.

Nonsense. Vista works spectacularly on 2gb, and works great on 1gb.

 

[Diogenes2]

I heard Vista 32 was limited to 3gb just like XP ... Not true ?

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: Diogenes2
I heard Vista 32 was limited to 3gb just like XP ... Not true ?

All Windows desktop O/Ss are the same in that regard. It's a limit of MSs implementation of 32bit.

 

[Fallen Kell]

Originally posted by: ViRGE
With the specs Amazon lists, I don't see why you'd have a problem. The processor is powerful enough, and 2GB of RAM will do.

2GB isn't really enough for Vista. I have been fooling with that for a while. I have a HTPC which I started out with 2GB and it had issues just opening new programs because it was swapping to the hard drive page file. The minimum I would use with Vista is 3GB. It is pretty sad when you have to use the maximum allowed by the OS (32bit at least) as the minimum needed. My server is running 64bit Vista because the max 32bit allowed wasn't enough to do video editing. I'm now running 8GB and it works like a champ. It just screams through everything I throw at it.

 

[evident]

I really am thinking of upgrading to vista 64 bit from 32bit xp pro. there is a slick deal out for ultimate for $65 for students I just don't feel like doing a complete reformat /reinstall right now since i'm really lazy and don't want to mess up all my config's. if only there was an easy way!

also, i'm waiting for better support from creative for my x-fi elite pro and emu 0404 usb

 

[aceO07]

I only have experience of Vista SP1 on my new laptop/tablet. It works fine, though I wish bootup was faster. I haven't tried XP on this laptop since Vista is supposed to provide better tablet support. I have C2D 1.6ghz, 3GB RAM and 7200rpm drive.

 

[Renob]

I love Vista 64 all my apps and games run great, now that being said I have a Q6600 running overclocked at 3Ghz, 4gigs of PC 1000 and running my FSB at 1300mhz.

I had one small issue that required a sound card driver update after a windows update.

 

[Pardus]

running Vista Ultimate 64 also for 2 mos or so, there is a lot of tweaking..once all the junk is disabled, it works well. you can always dual boot to xp as well.

 

[plastick]

I went ahead and bought Vista home premium from Crap-Mart. An HP representative with an accent was rude to me when I requested restore discs for my new HP laptop. I told him I had trouble when I downgraded to XP and I needed to get Vista back. He said, so you are purchasing the recovery software. I was like, um, no, I have a warranty and I just bought this last week. He was like, No no no sir, that is not how it works. As if he was scolding me for downgrading to XP.

I know its my fault for not carefully finding the right laptop for what I want.. guess its a life lesson to not be a stupid ass. Anyway, I know not to buy from HP anymore since I cant get anything I actually want...

 

[gpse]

I also love vista x64, been using it since it went RTM, once you have SP1 installed it's a great OS.

 

[hans030390]

Originally posted by: Fallen Kell

Originally posted by: ViRGE
With the specs Amazon lists, I don't see why you'd have a problem. The processor is powerful enough, and 2GB of RAM will do.

2GB isn't really enough for Vista. I have been fooling with that for a while. I have a HTPC which I started out with 2GB and it had issues just opening new programs because it was swapping to the hard drive page file. The minimum I would use with Vista is 3GB. It is pretty sad when you have to use the maximum allowed by the OS (32bit at least) as the minimum needed. My server is running 64bit Vista because the max 32bit allowed wasn't enough to do video editing. I'm now running 8GB and it works like a champ. It just screams through everything I throw at it.

The OP is using it mostly for "school work".

2GB is enough. Anyone who says otherwise in this case is wrong.

I know a number of people running Vista perfectly on 2GB of RAM. What do they use their computers for? Mostly school work. Case closed.

 

[bullbert]

Originally posted by: hans030390
The OP is using it mostly for "school work".

You put "school work" in quotes, not the OP. But the latest definition of "school work" seems to be 3 hours per week of Office/Works, and 40+ hours per week of the-latest-and-greatest-multiplayer-FPS.

Parents spend $1000+ on a laptop, and even more for an external 24" monitor, 5.1 speaker set, external storage, etc for junior, and the parents wonder why junior flunks out of University after one or two semesters, moves back home, and has to restart at Community College. Assuming the University REQUIRES a laptop, parents should have gotten a $300 Hot Deals special, and if the University does not require a PC, junior should be satisfied with a calculator. Of course I am speaking as someone who went the BS (Bachelor of Science) Engineering route, and spent 70++ hours per week in classes, labs, and studying. I would image going the BA (Bachelor of Arts) route affords junior much more leisure time to waste on multiplayer online games.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: hans030390

Originally posted by: Fallen Kell

Originally posted by: ViRGE
With the specs Amazon lists, I don't see why you'd have a problem. The processor is powerful enough, and 2GB of RAM will do.

2GB isn't really enough for Vista. I have been fooling with that for a while. I have a HTPC which I started out with 2GB and it had issues just opening new programs because it was swapping to the hard drive page file. The minimum I would use with Vista is 3GB. It is pretty sad when you have to use the maximum allowed by the OS (32bit at least) as the minimum needed. My server is running 64bit Vista because the max 32bit allowed wasn't enough to do video editing. I'm now running 8GB and it works like a champ. It just screams through everything I throw at it.

The OP is using it mostly for "school work".

2GB is enough. Anyone who says otherwise in this case is wrong.

I know a number of people running Vista perfectly on 2GB of RAM. What do they use their computers for? Mostly school work. Case closed.

I've got 1.5gb in my HTPC (Vista32), and it rarely if ever has to hit the page file. More memory never hurts, but 2-3gb is hardly the realistic minimum. 512mb is a the MS minimum and thats way too low, but it really does run fine on 1gb (works great on my older laptop).

 

[soonerproud]

Originally posted by: Fallen Kell

Originally posted by: ViRGE
With the specs Amazon lists, I don't see why you'd have a problem. The processor is powerful enough, and 2GB of RAM will do.

2GB isn't really enough for Vista. I have been fooling with that for a while. I have a HTPC which I started out with 2GB and it had issues just opening new programs because it was swapping to the hard drive page file. The minimum I would use with Vista is 3GB. It is pretty sad when you have to use the maximum allowed by the OS (32bit at least) as the minimum needed. My server is running 64bit Vista because the max 32bit allowed wasn't enough to do video editing. I'm now running 8GB and it works like a champ. It just screams through everything I throw at it.

If you are using the swap file a lot at 2 gigs, you have a problem. I have been using 2 gigs with Vista for 1 1/2 years now without issue, and very little swap file usage.

 

[nerp]

Originally posted by: soonerproud

Originally posted by: Fallen Kell

Originally posted by: ViRGE
With the specs Amazon lists, I don't see why you'd have a problem. The processor is powerful enough, and 2GB of RAM will do.

2GB isn't really enough for Vista. I have been fooling with that for a while. I have a HTPC which I started out with 2GB and it had issues just opening new programs because it was swapping to the hard drive page file. The minimum I would use with Vista is 3GB. It is pretty sad when you have to use the maximum allowed by the OS (32bit at least) as the minimum needed. My server is running 64bit Vista because the max 32bit allowed wasn't enough to do video editing. I'm now running 8GB and it works like a champ. It just screams through everything I throw at it.

If you are using the swap file a lot at 2 gigs, you have a problem. I have been using 2 gigs with Vista for 1 1/2 years now without issue, and very little swap file usage.

Maybe he "tweaked" something thinking it would make a difference.