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Post by surfborg on Jan 6, 2008 8:41:36 GMT -5
What gets me is that Microsoft's own Vista Compatable software wont work with Vista. How much sence does that make? I could understand more if it was 3rd party software, but Microsofts own stuff? I wonder if Vista was actually made buy the same chinese kids that put my old Wildfire together? Surf
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Post by natefromogden on Jan 6, 2008 12:00:03 GMT -5
Dawg, my suggestion is to do what Dell does- go back to XP. Either pay the GeekSquad or somebody to do it or do it yourself and ditch that Vista. There is simply no excuse for any new operating system to be so incompatible with everything for the sake of pretty colors and transparent boxes
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Post by WarrenS on Jan 6, 2008 12:10:17 GMT -5
You could try Ubuntu Linux. They will even send you a disc for free. You can run it from the disc and see if it will work for you. It comes with Open Office and Firefox. I am using it as a dual boot with XP. If all you want to do is surf the internet and do spread sheets, write, do presentations it is pretty good. It also does photo shop type things and sound and video stuff. I don't like it for solitaire as the games are pretty primitive. It isn't as geeky as it used to be.
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Post by "Big Guy" on Jan 6, 2008 12:45:05 GMT -5
...microsoft has built into it's operating systems since win98 a key logger called index.dat that logs every picture, application, website, and a host of other stuff that you do with your machine. Leo, index.dat is not a reporter or spyware. It is a local data file that simply compiles a list of websites, history, form fields and URLs for the resource hog IE browser to load more quickly. It has no other system associations like some people say. Although it is a locked file, it can be deleted on 95, 98 and ME. Simply delete this file by renaming the temporary internet folder using winfile.exe (in C:\windows) and then restart your machine. You can also use simple programs like Tracks eraser and the like that overwrite the .dat file on XP and newer machines. While I am not a fan or personal user of MS products (because they are proprietary and not open source), the index.dat files are not harmful in any way, other than they might grow to a very large file size and slow down your browser. The only people who should be afraid of these files are criminals and petafiles who use their computers for their criminal activities, but then again, these degenerates already know how to protect themselves. I believe that if you must use Windows, go and get the Firefox browser. It is the best Internet browser to run over Windows in my opinion.
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Post by "Big Guy" on Jan 6, 2008 12:55:30 GMT -5
Oh, and I almost forgot, I happen to use Linspire for all of my home computers. It is Ubunto's version of Linux and really a flawless O/S. This operating system blows away Winblows! And with a CNR membership (click and run) you can get literally thousands of software titles for free. Every software title you will ever need is available at CNR, and the best part is, there is no installation or system slow downs. We use Linux at work and will never "upgrade" (downgrade really) to WIN or MAC. If you try it, you'll get hooked: linspire.com/ or www.freespire.org/ for the free version.
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Post by Dennis D on Jan 6, 2008 19:55:01 GMT -5
For anyone who decides to try to live with Vista... here is a page with solutions that might make it easier. Black Viper's suggestions for whidh services to start-up/disable, along with the tweaks for XP ceratainly made XP a way more responsive environment to work with, at least on my computer. Be aware that many tweaks that would compromise Microsoft's idea of security, are things that give you back some control of your own computer, instead of letting Microsoft make all the decisions as to what's best for you, as well as monitoring you to make sure you're "remaining legal". www.blackviper.com/WinVista/supertweaks.htm
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Post by YellowScooter on Jan 7, 2008 19:05:54 GMT -5
We have the greatest bunch of members here. I will say that Vista sucks and the glitches are just too numerous to list. Just a couple are the puter shutting down for no reason and I'm sick of giving permission twice every time I try to do something. I had heard that Vista sucked but I didn't think it would suck with such force. I just find it difficult to believe that anyone at such a major corporation would allow release of this operating system. I'm looking at your suggestions and will likely end up finding a way to get XP on here. Thanks for all the feedback. I don't know what kinda computer you have and Im not sure this can help you any, but My desktop is a P-III/500MhZ (see fossils) I was able to reset the BIOS to boot from the cd drive, which had XP-home in it, reformat the hard drive, (which erases everything) and installed XP from scratch. You may or may not need to get a new hard drive with nothing on it in order for that to work. Like I said I don't claim to know all computers, just my own fossil that shouldn't be capable of running xp to begin with (lol) Now I don't know how much control you have over your pre-boot sequences, but on the older machines, there was some left that MS didn't take away fully. When you 1st turn on the machine, there should be a momentary oportunity to hit one of the "F"-keys and goto your boot setup. You'll need a windows xp cd of corse... Hope I was able to help.
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Post by YellowScooter on Jan 7, 2008 19:09:12 GMT -5
According to the diffrent publications I read, XP is due to phase out support sometime in 2010.
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Post by mcrofutt on Jan 12, 2008 1:54:28 GMT -5
Interesting thread... I'm a bit of a pc freak meself. Read that geek if you like... , and I've been running different "flavors" of LinuxOS for the past 2 or 3 years. On my box right now is Mepis 2007, PCLinuxOS Gnome 2.22.12, PCLinuxOS mineme... BRAND NEW release, and WinXP. The ONLY time that I use XP is if I get an itch to kick someone's butt at a game of backgammon. The "full" versions of most Linux Distros come with Open Office and nearly anything else that you'd need for everyday computing and most ane "newbie" friendly,making the transition from Windows a snap! Mark
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Post by memturbo on Jan 12, 2008 8:55:18 GMT -5
just download windows xp black
its an auto install of xp with most all the bells and whistles of vista
Its pretty cool
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Post by stewntexas on Jan 13, 2008 9:50:58 GMT -5
Conversely, you could just switch to XP on your 'new' Vista machine. It is my understanding that if you have a strong enough magnifying glass to dig through the paperwork that came with your Vista PC, you can find information that will allow you to 'downgrade to XP at no charge, Microsoft providing the necessary disks.
This was told to me by one salesman at Best Buy, confirmed by another salesman/tech at Circuit City.
My magnifying glass is not strong enough, or my patience long enough to dig this out for myself. Advancing age may also have something to do with it.
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