24 replies to this topic

[Dauber]

Okay, I've not had much experience with Vista, so this whole thing was weird for me...and after this, I REALLY want to avoid Vista at all costs (heh...the IT folks where I work said, "We're getting Vista, but not this year; and not NEXT year, either.") -- I have a dual-booting XP Pro and Ubuntu tower at home, and my main computer is my MacBook...

But one of my coworkers brought me her laptop, with Vista installed, and asked for help with a weird problem. Judging from Yahoo!, Google, etc., it's a very common problem: after logging in, there's basically no desktop -- no icons, no start menu, no task bar, etc. Just the documents folder opened, and the only way to get the desktop up is to manually execute "explorer.exe."

I ran Adaware, AVG and several other malware detectors on the computer, and there were a few pieces of malware and 21 Trojan-infected files, which were disinfected. Didn't help. Checked the registry. Nothing. Eventually things got worse -- Firefox would crash immediately upon opening, and Internet Explorer refused to go online. iTunes wouldn't open. It took several attempts for me to mount my iPod on it as a USB drive.

Aaaaand...there are no system restore points, so a restore isn't an option.

I even tried creating a brand new account and logging in under that account. Well, when I tried logging in on that account, it just hags forever on the "welcome" screen.

At this point, I'm ready to just tell her to back up any important data files and completely re-install the OS.

Anything else I should check? I also tweaked the services on MSCONFIG, but that made no difference.

[bbcentral]

I lasted 6 weeks with Vista on my laptop (preinstalled) before I went back to XP. Spending 5 hours finding XP drivers was easier than using what came with the laptop.

I probably won't go to Vista for a few more years, and maybe 1 more service pack is released.

They have said service pack 1 has fixed a lot of problems, but I'd rather give it more time.

[Syd-Blues]

Why won't my FOLDERS GO AWAY!!?!?!??!?!??!?!?!?!??!?!?!?

[Mercer]

Syd-Blues said:

Why won't my FOLDERS GO AWAY!!?!?!??!?!??!?!?!?!??!?!?!?

Set to read-only?
Still content in them?

[bbcentral]

Mercer said:

Set to read-only?
Still content in them?

We couldn't figure it out:
http://www.bluesbrotherscentral.com/forum/computers-video-games-technology/7357-sigh-windows-vista-help.html

[Dauber]

Well, my coworker didn't have an install CD or anything, so she ordered one. And she just couldn't get the re-install working, so a friend of hers put Linux on the laptop!

[itsallblack]

Things will get worse as thousands of microsoft workers face the dole que

[Dauber]

Actually, she ended up not getting Linux after all; she was able to have HP tech support connect to her laptop remotely and fix everything except that when she puts the laptop to sleep, she gets BSOD; other than that, all works fine (well, in Vista standards, at least).

[bbcentral]

I'm sticking with XP until Windows 7 Service Pack 2 is released. Then I might look at upgrading.
Skipping over Vista entirely. And it will still depend on the reviews!

[Syd-Blues]

A friend of mine has a BEta of Windows 7, apperently it's GREAT!

I'm contemplating Linux...

[bbcentral]

Syd-Blues said:

A friend of mine has a BEta of Windows 7, apperently it's GREAT!

I'm contemplating Linux...

Yeah all the reviews I've seen so far are very promising, they've made a ton of improvements already.

As far as Linux, I'm planning to try out the new gOS at some stage.
Good OS - gOS and Cloud operating systems

It's based on Ubuntu but has full support for Google software

[Mercer]

bbcentral said:

I'm sticking with XP until Windows 7 Service Pack 2 is released. Then I might look at upgrading.
Skipping over Vista entirely. And it will still depend on the reviews!

To me, the thing with Vista is about the same as it was with Windows ME back at that time.
They released it and put it in the trash-ton right away because it made them no friends really.
So to me it will be the same as to you. I will use XP and wait for better times...

[bbcentral]

Wow, you're absolutely right! Vista is the new Windows Me!!!

Essentially it was just Windows 98 with a new theme to make it look like 2000.

Windows Me: "Mistake Edition"
I love this from an article: "users reported problems installing it, getting it to run, getting it to work with other hardware or software, and getting it to stop running."

Windows 7
Unlike its predecessor, Windows 7 is intended to be an incremental upgrade from Vista, with the goal of being fully compatible with device drivers, applications, and hardware with which Windows Vista is already compatible. *This is a good thing, it means all the Vista drivers written over the next few years should be completely compatible!

Windows 7 retains the Windows Aero user interface and visual style first introduced with Windows Vista, but many areas have seen enhancements.
Aero's performance has also been improved significantly, allowing it to run on lower specification hardware next to Windows Vista, with even older Intel GMA chips (which were precluded in Vista) able to display Aero's 3D Desktop.*So Windows 7 will run on computers that Vista previously rejected!

The new Windows 7 Taskbar:

The Windows Taskbar has seen its most significant revision since its introduction in Windows 95. The taskbar is 10 pixels taller than in Windows Vista to accommodate a new larger default icon size, though a smaller taskbar size is available. Running applications are denoted by a border frame around the icon, while applications can be pinned to the taskbar, so that shortcuts to them appear when they are not running. Within this border, a color effect (dependent on the predominant RGB value of the icon) that follows the mouse also indicates the opened status of the application. The taskbar is also transparent. This new taskbar can be customized though to look like previous versions or to "intermediate" version including window titles.

Here's a more complete list of new features:
Features new to Windows 7 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Honestly I'm looking forward to Windows 7 more than Vista, but as I did with XP I'll be waiting at least until a Service Pack has been released before I make the switch. And only after going to a few stores and seriously playing around with it for a while to make sure it works to my standards. I can't have the thing freezing on me while I'm trying to work on my sites, I usually have Windows Live Messenger, MediaMonkey, WAMPServer, Thunderbird, Firefox (with at least 6 extensions running, including Firebird, WebDev Toolbar, Colorzilla etc), Google Chrome, ConTEXT Text Editor, Macromedia Fireworks, 3-5 Explorer windows. And I expect every single one of those applications to load immediately when I click on them, delays are what make me forget where I was up to, or lose the idea I just had but didn't have time to implement before I forgot it!

[Dean Heuke]

So, you all really dont like Vista, right?

[Blueblood]

Apparently, when one installs Vista, the computer morphs...

[Dean Heuke]

Blueblood said:

Apparently, when one installs Vista, the computer morphs...

Ohh,

I have not really problems with VISTA......:BB:

[rocknrollchick]

If there aren't any restore points you probably need to either re-install Vista or replace the hard drive. I have Vista on my laptop and it runs great 45% of the time...lol...Personally, Windows 98 (aside from the poorer graphics) is my fave. In fact, I still have my old 98 desktop which I converted to a gaming computer with a new hard drive and motherboard. Now I just need a new processor

[vicious]

I still got Xp because i bought a second hand laptop, but i'm gonna buying a new one... maybe better one with windows 7 on it?

[The Soul Man]

Windows 7 in stores TOMORROW!! :D
I'm running Windows 7 RC Build 7100 (yes, the legal one). I love this new system. All drivers worked excelent, except my old soundcard... It's really worth the money !

[Mercer]

vicious said:

I still got Xp because i bought a second hand laptop, but i'm gonna buying a new one... maybe better one with windows 7 on it?

Stick to your XP.
Wait for Windows 7 to be a bit more tested and proofed good by skilled experts and common users like we are.
To me, XP is still the best Microsoft system available to date...

If I had Vista, I wouldn't hesitate to run in the shop and upgrade to 7...