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  1. TopTop #1
    silverhaze
     

    I need advice regarding windows vista program

    i bought the program disc. my son installed it on his computer downstairs and i need to put it on my computer upstairs but it wont do it. what am i doing wrong. arent i able to use it on both my computers? my head hurts. tech support doesnt reply to my emails.
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  2. TopTop #2
    Barry's Avatar
    Barry
    Founder & Moderator

    Re: I need advice regarding windows vista program

    Quote Posted in reply to the post by silverhaze: View Post
    i bought the program disc. my son installed it on his computer downstairs and i need to put it on my computer upstairs but it wont do it. what am i doing wrong. arent i able to use it on both my computers? my head hurts. tech support doesnt reply to my emails.
    I'm pretty sure you can't run Vista on more than one computer.

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  3. TopTop #3
    Lenny
    Guest

    Re: I need advice regarding windows vista program

    Barry is right. Vista is made to run on only 1 computer. The bad news gets worse. if you do install it on a second computer then that computer will run 30 days and then not again!
    Many words about the above have been said and written, but when you are the 800 pound gorilla, Mr. Gates can do that.
    May I offer a couple of ways to do other things. You can find a "hack", but that has some dangers to numerous to mention. Stick, or get, XP (the operating system previous to Vista), as most folks find that much easier, user friendly, with a broader range and software ability to do "stuff". Many "old" programs don't work well with Vista.
    Or you could get "jiggy" and get an operating system like
    Ubuntu Linux which is free or about $5.00 to send you the disk, and is most user friendly. If all you want to do is email, listen to music, look at photos, then this is all you will need, plus Open Office, also about $5.00 or free depending on a few simple things.
    You say you "need" to put Vista on your computer. Sorry about that.

    Quote Posted in reply to the post by silverhaze: View Post
    i bought the program disc. my son installed it on his computer downstairs and i need to put it on my computer upstairs but it wont do it. what am i doing wrong. arent i able to use it on both my computers? my head hurts. tech support doesnt reply to my emails.
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  4. TopTop #4
    Tars's Avatar
    Tars
     

    Re: I need advice regarding windows vista program

    Quote Posted in reply to the post by Lenny: View Post
    Stick, or get, XP (the operating system previous to Vista), as most folks find that much easier, user friendly, with a broader range and software ability to do "stuff". Many "old" programs don't work well with Vista.
    I second that opinion. I've installed Vista on two machines here at home. I was hoping for the version-change performance improvement similar to what I got in the change from Win98 to XP. Sadly, I've found the opposite. Vista is clunkier than XP in ways too numerous to mention. I've found several programs that just don't work with Vista. Vista won't support my 5-year-old negative scanner - it's HP, not some off brand - the HP website says, "sorry, Vista doesn't support it".

    Fortunately(?) the major software packages I use - QuickBooks, PhotoShop CS, Dreamweaver, run under Vista, or I would've dumped the danged thing.

    While it was a nice gesture to score points with your son, suggest you wait to upgrade your own machine until "Service Pack 2". Vista is essentially still in beta.
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  5. TopTop #5
    pagan
     

    Re: I need advice regarding windows vista program

    I've noticed that business users do not use Vista but there are no non-Vista computers available in the big box stores.

    Also the top line of a full page ad for Acer notebook computers in The Wall Street Journal:

    "Acer recommends Microsoft Vista"

    Further down in the ad are two computers with their components listed. Both computers come with XP Pro.

    In my (most humble) opinion, Vista is Microsoft's failed attempt to play catch up with Apple.

    BTW, I am not an Apple user. Windows 2000 is my OS of preference. It is not available now and is not really well suited for entertainment.

    I would recommend Ubuntu. And we have replaced MS Word with Open Office to complete a 180 page manuscript that was originated in Word but Word had corrupted.

    Rumor has it that a new computer with Vista Home will lock out all other operating systems even with a hard disk reformat. Says Geek Squad. MS actually states that Vista Home cannot be upgraded to any other OS.

    I have found some HP notebooks called HP 6715b that are available with XP Pro and are certified for Linux (Red Hat). I construe that to mean that these computers do not have Vista proprietary hardware. They are competitively priced but not available in the local stores.

    HTH,
    Roger
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  6. TopTop #6
    BizWrangler
     

    Re: I need advice regarding windows vista program

    I also could not find a new laptop with Windows XP Pro, which I have on my desktop, so I bought a great reconditioned Lenovo T43 from TigerDirect.com with XP Home for only $499. It also came with a 12 month parts and labor warranty. It's all I need for my purposes, and it's running just fine. It also didn't come bundled up with a bunch of programs and trial offers I don't need or want, so I can load exactly the programs I DO want. They also have new computers - and many with XP. Their 'puters may not be the latest and greatest, but if you want to stick with XP (and I concur), try Tiger Direct.






    Quote Posted in reply to the post by pagan: View Post
    I've noticed that business users do not use Vista but there are no non-Vista computers available in the big box stores.

    Also the top line of a full page ad for Acer notebook computers in The Wall Street Journal:

    "Acer recommends Microsoft Vista"

    Further down in the ad are two computers with their components listed. Both computers come with XP Pro.

    In my (most humble) opinion, Vista is Microsoft's failed attempt to play catch up with Apple.

    BTW, I am not an Apple user. Windows 2000 is my OS of preference. It is not available now and is not really well suited for entertainment.

    I would recommend Ubuntu. And we have replaced MS Word with Open Office to complete a 180 page manuscript that was originated in Word but Word had corrupted.

    Rumor has it that a new computer with Vista Home will lock out all other operating systems even with a hard disk reformat. Says Geek Squad. MS actually states that Vista Home cannot be upgraded to any other OS.

    I have found some HP notebooks called HP 6715b that are available with XP Pro and are certified for Linux (Red Hat). I construe that to mean that these computers do not have Vista proprietary hardware. They are competitively priced but not available in the local stores.

    HTH,
    Roger
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  7. TopTop #7
    don's Avatar
    don
    Founding Member

    Re: I need advice regarding windows vista program

    You can get new Dell laptops with XP. I got one with Vista Home Basic and have had no troubles with it. Your mileage may vary.
    cheers,
    don

    Quote Posted in reply to the post by BizWrangler: View Post
    I also could not find a new laptop with Windows XP Pro, which I have on my desktop, so I bought a great reconditioned Lenovo T43 from TigerDirect.com with XP Home for only $499. It also came with a 12 month parts and labor warranty. It's all I need for my purposes, and it's running just fine. It also didn't come bundled up with a bunch of programs and trial offers I don't need or want, so I can load exactly the programs I DO want. They also have new computers - and many with XP. Their 'puters may not be the latest and greatest, but if you want to stick with XP (and I concur), try Tiger Direct.
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  8. TopTop #8
    Barry's Avatar
    Barry
    Founder & Moderator

    Re: I need advice regarding windows vista program

    My Vista laptop is not as slow and flaky as it was at first, but still not snappy or as reliable as XP. Service Pack 1 should be out in the next month or two and should help both responsiveness and stability. I have no doubtt that Vista will eventually be a worthy OS.

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  9. TopTop #9
    phooph's Avatar
    phooph
     

    Re: I need advice regarding windows vista program

    Quote Posted in reply to the post by pagan: View Post
    I've noticed that business users do not use Vista but there are no non-Vista computers available in the big box stores.
    Business users with networked computers do not use Vista because Microsoft released an OS that does not play with Microsoft server software. Duhuh!!! You can still buy computers with the XP option on websites that sell to businesses. Microsoft has also made a free downgrade to XP available for those who find Vista too problematic. (See following article.)

    After a year and a half administrating a Windows network I am so happy to be on my Mac.

    Ruth


    Ditching Vista: How To Downgrade To Windows XP
    Rick Broida
    Tue Jan 29, 9:05 PM ET

    Software incompatibilities. Sluggish operation. That darn User Account Control screen. Is it any wonder Windows Vista has being greeted in some quarters with a lack of enthusiasm? But your PC came with Vista, and that means you’re stuck with it, right?

    Wrong. You can replace stiff, awkward Vista with the comfy, compatible old slipper that is Windows XP. It takes a couple of hours, but it won’t cost you any money that you haven’t already spent. Here’s how.

    Start by backing up your system. At the very least, offload the data to CDs or, better yet, a USB flash drive or external hard drive. Even better: Take an image of the entire hard drive using a utility like Acronis TrueImage or Norton Ghost, for a complete system restoration. If the XP installation goes badly, having a backup or disk image allows you to restore your system to its previous state. You’ll still be running Vista, but at least you’ll still be running.

    Next, gather up all the drivers you'll need. Remember that your PC was built to Vista specifications and equipped with Vista-compatible software and drivers. Your PC doesn’t have XP drivers, and Windows XP might not have all the drivers built into it that your PC needs. Unless you collect all the right drivers before you do your upgrade, you run the risk of ending up with a crippled PC.

    To avoid this dilemma, poke around Windows Device Manager to see exactly what components are installed, then head to your PC maker's Web site and download the appropriate drivers. Essentials include video, audio, Ethernet, and wireless networking (Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi). Save everything to the USB drive so the drivers and other software and information are easily accessible when you need them.

    Round up the software CDs for connected peripherals like printers, PDAs, and iPods.

    Make sure you have a Windows XP Pro CD and a valid activation key. If you don’t have a CD available, you can beg or borrow one from a friend or co-worker.

    You can get the activation key from Microsoft. All volume-licensed versions of Vista, along with retail and OEM versions of Vista Business and Vista Ultimate, come with downgrade rights. That means you're entitled to an XP activation key from Microsoft or your PC maker. (Interestingly, you can downgrade even further if you wish: The license also entitles you to Windows 2000 Professional, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 98, or even Windows 95.)

    Finally, make a list of applications and utilities you'll want to install (or reinstall) after you've downgraded.

    Downgrade Or Sidegrade?

    Now you have to decide if you want to downgrade or “sidegrade.” “”Downgrading” is what Microsoft calls it when you revert from a newer OS to an older one.

    “Sidegrading” is a less radical option. Instead of ditching Vista altogether, you can install XP alongside it, booting to either operating system as the need arises. That way, you get to run XP for everyday operations, while still poking around in Vista and getting acquainted with it more gradually.

    So, let's dive into actually doing a downgrade. (If you want to sidegrade, see the sidebar on the third page of this article). As I mentioned earlier, you should have a good backup in place along with all the necessary drivers and software for your system.

    Installing XP On The Side

    For the best of both OS worlds, consider setting up a dual-boot configuration: Vista stays put, XP and joins it on a newly created drive partition. Each time you boot your PC, you'll choose the OS you want from an options menu. It's easy to set up, and it requires only a few extra minutes on top of the standard XP-install process. Here's how:

    Click “Start” and type “computer.” Select “Computer Management” from the list that appears. In the left pane, click “Disk Management.” In the center pane, right-click your C: drive and choose “Shrink Volume.” When prompted to do so, enter the amount of space you want to allocate for the new partition; the one that’s about to receive XP. I recommend giving XP at least 10 Gbytes (meaning you'd type the number 10,000 into the size field), though obviously you may want to allocate a lot more space to accommodate programs and data. Now look for a box labeled “X gigabytes unallocated,” where X is the amount of space you entered in step 3. Right-click the box and choose New Simple Volume. Follow the wizard as it walks you through the remaining steps. Exit the Computer Management utility and reboot your PC, this time with your XP CD in the drive. From here you can follow the installation steps outlined in the main section, but make sure to select the new partition, not the C: drive. Once you've installed XP, you'll need to run a free utility (VistaBootPRO) to configure a boot menu for your system. You can find a more comprehensive tutorial (and the utility itself) on the VistaBootPRO site

    When you're all done, you'll still need to activate XP using the information provided in the main section.

    Boot your Windows XP Pro CD. Most new PCs are set up to let you boot from CD by default, but if yours isn’t one of those, you’ll have to venture into your manufacturer’s documentation or search Google to find out how to tweak the BIOS settings to allow you to boot from CD.

    When the first XP Setup menu appears, press Enter. Press F8 to accept the license agreement, then select your C: drive as the desired partition and hit Enter.

    Note that if you get an error message indicating Windows was unable to detect any hard drives on your system, it's because XP lacks the necessary drivers for newer SATA hardware. Unfortunately, there's no easy workaround. Although your PC vendor should have the drivers you need, you may have to attach a floppy drive to load them during XP installation. You boot from the XP CD, hit F6 when prompted, and hope the system is able to pull the drivers off the attached floppy drive. This can be a hit-or-miss affair. If you run into trouble, hit Google — or sweet-talk your local PC guru —for additional help.

    Now choose the option labeled “Format the partition using the NTFS file system (Quick).” On the final screen, press F to format the drive. This is the do-or-die moment; you’re completely erasing your PC’s hard disk. No turning back!

    From this point you can follow the remaining prompts to install XP in regular fashion. The entire process will take around an hour to complete.

    When the OS installation completes, install whatever drivers are needed so you can get on your local network and the Internet (those are the drivers you saved to your USB drive before the upgrade), adjust the video settings, install your favorite applications, restore your data from the USB drive, and otherwise customize Windows to your liking.

    There's no sense activating Windows until you know for sure that everything works like it should. Activation would just be a waste of time if you end up having to roll back to Vista or re-install XP again. XP gives you 30 days to use Windows and tinker before activation is actually required (though it'll nag you on a regular basis until you comply).

    Once you're satisfied that XP is in the groove, you're free and clear to activate. Make sure to select the "activate by phone" option; this isn't something you can do online. Dial the number provided, wade through the prompts until you reach a live rep, then explain that you're downgrading. Provide your Vista product key; the rep should walk you through the remaining steps. Note that you may be redirected to your PC vendor, depending on your Vista version and license.

    That's it! Now you can install your software, restore your data, and do whatever else it takes to make the system your own. Welcome back, XP — you were missed.


    See original article on InformationWeek.com
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  10. TopTop #10
    nbolmer
    Guest

    Re: I need advice regarding windows vista program

    Without getting into the pros and cons of Vista itself, MS does offer multiple license options at: https://www.microsoft.com/windows/pr...nse/howto.mspx

    Where you can simply get an additional license rather than buying an entire new package. Whether this saves money or not depends on which version of Vista you have and when you purchased it... worth checking out though.

    Also, another satisfied OpenOffice user, FWIW.

    Cheers!
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  11. TopTop #11
    pagan
     

    Re: I need advice regarding windows vista program

    Replying to:
    Ditching Vista: How To Downgrade To Windows XP
    Rick Broida

    "You can get the activation key from Microsoft. All volume-licensed versions of Vista, along with retail and OEM versions of Vista Business and Vista Ultimate, come with downgrade rights."
    My understanding is that MS will not offer a downgrade from Vista Home and that is the only Vista available in the big box stores.

    Also glossed over is the possibility that there are no downgrade drivers for the Vista Home notebooks that are currently available in the retail stores. Actually, I don't see that the manufacturers have much incentive to make those drivers available.

    Anyone have another workaround suggestion?

    Roger
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