If you're considering installing Windows Vista...

[hydster]

Just remember (unless you know the "secret"), once you install Vista, your old system's (XP) serial number is forfeited. You can't reinstall XP.

Actually once you own the XP disk and the key code you can uninstall and reinstall it as many times as you wish even after installing Vista.

It would be harder to get XP back on your machine IF you installed Vista by performing an upgrade from XP and kept all of your programs and files then unfortunately there is no way of returning to XP short of backing up your data and formating the partition.

BUT

If you installed by booting from the disc or doing a clean install (and got
rid of all your Windows XP files) then you can return to XP with all of your files intact.

 

[Aidensmom]

There are some software companies and internet service providers who are telling their customers not to upgrade to Vista yet.

Anytime you have an operating system that was just released, you will have some compatibility issues with various software and hardware until those companies can work out what they need to do (release software patches, new drivers, etc). There also may be bugs in the operating system itself that still need to be worked out.

 

[dcentity2000]

Installing Windows requires post graduate studies and a tonne of luck.

I'm sticking with my abacus, thank you.



Rich::

 

[Cool-Beans]

There are some software companies and internet service providers who are telling their customers not to upgrade to Vista yet.

Anytime you have an operating system that was just released, you will have some compatibility issues with various software and hardware until those companies can work out what they need to do (release software patches, new drivers, etc). There also may be bugs in the operating system itself that still need to be worked out.

My immediate thought when all this happened was, "Why don't they just go buy all the different laptops and computers and try the software out before actually selling it to people?" It isn't like Microsoft couldn't afford to do it. Then, they could fix the problems before people go buy it and get stuck with them.

I'm guessing there is a lot to it that I don't understand. So far, none of the tech people at Microsoft or Sony understand it, either. But I'm sure there are some guys stuck in a room right now, writing computer programs to fix it and am waiting patiently for them to finish.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

My immediate thought when all this happened was, "Why don't they just go buy all the different laptops and computers and try the software out before actually selling it to people?" It isn't like Microsoft couldn't afford to do it. Then, they could fix the problems before people go buy it and get stuck with them.

I'm guessing there is a lot to it that I don't understand. So far, none of the tech people at Microsoft or Sony understand it, either. But I'm sure there are some guys stuck in a room right now, writing computer programs to fix it and am waiting patiently for them to finish.

Actually unlike in the past, Microsoft waited to release Vista until all of its employees, business partners and I believe large corproate accounts were using Vista. So it is being used on a variety of computers. You can't plan for everything.

I'm going to buy a new system with Vista on it, for DH's new computer.

 

[Charade]

Actually once you own the XP disk and the key code you can uninstall and reinstall it as many times as you wish even after installing Vista.

It would be harder to get XP back on your machine IF you installed Vista by performing an upgrade from XP and kept all of your programs and files then unfortunately there is no way of returning to XP short of backing up your data and formating the partition.

BUT

If you installed by booting from the disc or doing a clean install (and got
rid of all your Windows XP files) then you can return to XP with all of your files intact.

That's not what I read. Maybe it's related to the current upgrade plan. If you bought XP or a PC with XP on it you can get an upgrade to Vista for free ($9.99 handling charge for the DVD) but you will relinquish your XP key. I'm only going by what I've read on another board.

 

[hydster]

That's not what I read. Maybe it's related to the current upgrade plan. If you bought XP or a PC with XP on it you can get an upgrade to Vista for free ($9.99 handling charge for the DVD) but you will relinquish your XP key. I'm only going by what I've read on another board.

XP keys and Vista keys are completely different. There is no correlation between them. If you upgrade you have to do a re-install to XP so you can't save your settings. It will blow everything out. Vista and XP are NOT related. ! My dh was is a Microsoft engineer/MCSE and is now a former Senior Network engineer and is currently a CIO of a company who was trained in Vista by Microsoft themselves. The rumor of the whole XP being un usable is a lie! You can do it if you can hard install it and if you are ok with losing your settings!

Don't know what site you got your info from but my dh has had extensive training with microsoft and the info you got is not correct.

 

[dreamcometrue]

Thanks for your input!

I am not going to install Vista at all. We'll probably get a new computer within the next year or two, and it will have Vista on it. My computer guy says it's best to wait a while after a new operating system comes out before you buy it/install it, because very often they haven't worked out all the kinks yet or things come up with costumers that they have been unaware of while testing it! I am happy with XP for now!

 

[bicker]

My immediate thought when all this happened was, "Why don't they just go buy all the different laptops and computers and try the software out before actually selling it to people?" It isn't like Microsoft couldn't afford to do it. Then, they could fix the problems before people go buy it and get stuck with them.

They did so. 500,000 of us participated in the beta testing. The reality is that there are literally millions of possible combinations, so 500,000 people can only test, at most 500,000 combinations, and in reality, we ended up testing the more common combinations more often.

 

[Mysteria]

....don't. << Answer to the original question.

Myst

 

[Feralpeg]

There were saying on television that you shouldn't even try to load Vista unless you have a pretty new PC. It is very hardware intensive. There is a way to turn off some features to allow others to work, but of course, they didn't say how on the news. It almost sounds like you need to buy a new PC with Vista already installed. I won't be upgrading.

 

[Grumpy_Disney_Dad]

Lol NEVER NEVER install the first public release of any WIndows product...Anyone recall Windows Me? Microsofts new motto...You have Questions? We have Dancing Paperclips! LOl

 

[Galahad]

I heard the other day that it is a bear to upgrade a computer with and that you are better off buying a new computer that already has it if you really want it.

I don't see any overriding reason to upgrade now. XP is just fine. I'll gladly take advantage of what's new in Vista when I get my next computer.