Should I go Vista?

[tickyour]

Hello everyone,

I'm upgrading my rig to the following:
CPU: E6600
Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3
RAM: G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
GPU: BFG Tech GeForce 7950GT 512MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16

I currently have a Maxtor 300GB partitioned in to 2 partitions: one for OS (XP), the other for data. Naturally, I would like to install a new OS on the smaller partition which is 25 GB. Of course I need my other partition to stay in tact, since it has all the valueable data on it. I'm really scared on loosing the data.

My question is, should I install Vista right away on the partition, or should I stick with XP pro? I'm a little apprehensive with going Vista, although on the other hand I don't want to have to reinstall from XP again in the near future, as Vista comes out.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: tickyour
Of course I need my other partition to stay in tact, since it has all the valueable data on it. I'm really scared on loosing the data.

Your hard drive could fail at any time. You should have a better backup strategy than hoping it doesn't fail (or get wiped by an operating system reinstallation either). How about getting a second hard drive and making a backup copy of your data?

 

[bruceb]

I would stick with XP myself ... they have Most of the bugs out of it by now.
Also, some folks say there are a lot of potential problems with Vista and DRM
and not all hardware has Vista Drivers yet ... plus it is a Memory Hog

You would be better off with just XP or XP Media Center Edition

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: bruceb
I would stick with XP myself ... they have Most of the bugs out of it by now.
Also, some folks say there are a lot of potential problems with Vista and DRM
and not all hardware has Vista Drivers yet ... plus it is a Memory Hog

You would be better off with just XP or XP Media Center Edition

Media Center Edition's support lifecycle ends fairly soon (two years from the release of Vista, which is basically now). So if support matters (think security updates here), then WinXP Professional would be the better pick from the Windows XP family. It gets an additional 5 years of extended support.

 

[bruceb]

True .. but Media Center is based on XP Pro .. and since it was just introduced
in 2006 or a bit earlier, you would expect a longer support cycle.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: bruceb
True .. but Media Center is based on XP Pro .. and since it was just introduced
in 2006 or a bit earlier, you would expect a longer support cycle.

That appears not to be the case, judging by the lifecycle page. They might give people an extension like they did with Win98, I suppose. At any rate, the OP's hardware looks like it can handle either WinXP or Vista just fine.

 

[bsobel]

I've moved a majority of the house machines to Vista, the wife likes it better (if thats any factor for you ) and I only have one or two items which I'm waiting for updated drivers on (all in all it installs and runs fine). My advice would be (since your doing a fresh install) try it.

 

[Shawn]

If your PC can handle it I would suggest Vista over XP, and your PC can handle Vista just fine.

 

[SilentRunning]

Originally posted by: mechBgon

Originally posted by: bruceb
True .. but Media Center is based on XP Pro .. and since it was just introduced
in 2006 or a bit earlier, you would expect a longer support cycle.

That appears not to be the case, judging by the lifecycle page. They might give people an extension like they did with Win98, I suppose. At any rate, the OP's hardware looks like it can handle either WinXP or Vista just fine.

Most security/critical updates should be the same for XP Home, XP MCE, and XP Professional. Unless Microsoft plans some trickery I think they should be able to be just as patched as XP Pro until its lifecycle ends.

 

[sjandrewbsme]

Personally, the only thing I want out of Vista is DX10. Until the applications that make DX10 a dealbreaker for me ship, I will be sticking with XP. The price on vista will drop, and you'll benefit from other people beta testing it for you.

As far as your installation is concered. mechBgon is right: you need a valid backup strategy. I would suggest getting another drive and a non destructive partition manager (like partition magic). If you're running on a Maxtor, I think you're living on borrowed time anyway.