[John C]

I don't know if this is the right place to go but here's the issue:

As I told my PC died this week, and I had to buy a new one. The new one came with vista. I gave Vista a chance, but it just isn't a happy marriage. If I understand correctly , I cannot use the XP recovery disk for installing xP on the new PC.

However, I am planning to install the 2 HD from my old PC into my new one. I gues that the proper way to keep XP would be to install both HD, and leave the one HD wich is currently in the new one out, reformat that one if I need to(on a other PC), and then plug it back into my new machine.

can somthing like this work ? Can I properly regain my files from my old PC ?

All help is welcome

John

[OldBuzzard]

First, if you have only had that PC for a week or less, then you haven't really "Given Vista a chance".

I've just installed Vista 64-bit, and I've only had it for less than a week, and I VERY HAPPY with it. One thing you really need to do with Vista, at least if you are a 1/2 way savvy user, is turn off all of the "Operating System for Dummys" options that Vista has set ON by default. The most important one being that damned "Spawn of the Devil" UAC.

I did that, managed to 'take ownership' of all of the folders, and "Life with Vista" is getting to be very good.

Now, you COULD do what I'm doing and use an application called HyperOS. It allows me to use multiple Operating Systems, and boot back and forth to them at will.

Don't give up on it yet. You were smart enough to post here asking for help, and that indicates to me that you are probably smart enough to get Vista working to your satisifaction.

Yeah, it's new, and some things don't work quite like XP which we were all used to, but we can learn. I did, and I'm 62 years old! You aren't going to let an old fossil like me show you up are you?

[John C]

well here are some real issues I have with vista;

Why can't I see and change file extecions? I regulary do those sorts of things but now they seem to be locked ? I want this changed!

When I want to delete files or place disks in my computer why do I need to confirm these thing 100 times ? When I say delete I want it to be deleted PRONTO, not opening windows. To make things worse you can only chose opions with mouse.I didn't mind the yes/no in xp, but I don't like the way it is "locked" in vista

When I pres ctrl-alt-del why do I get an Intro screen ? I used to use this fucktion to swap opened EXE's so I could play a game and chat MSN the same time. now however it is impossible, it opens a new screen and when I pres task managment, my game does not minimise, instead it remains executedand I can't even go to the taskbar, becouse it just keeps running the game like I did nothing at all.

also when I install games (wich don't have a option to add a schortcut, like EXP packs for games) the shortcut was installed on the desktop. Vista however refused this, so I need to find the EXE file itsefs (wich is also a problem since it no longer shows to me that it is a EXE file.

If you could help me with these, I'll be a happy man

[OldBuzzard]

To turn off UAC, open HELP and Support. Type in UAC in the search bar. The 2nd item listed will tell you how to turn off UAC. With UAC turned off you won't get all those prompts.

For taking ownership of files and folders, see this post and the answers I got:

http://www.hardwareheaven.com/windows-...rol-vista.html

You 'see' file extensions the same way you did in XP. In the folders options you uncheck the 'hide extensions for known files'. I also make sure that it lets me see System and hidden files.

All it takes is a little research, and a bit of Googling, and you can turn Vista into something that you will like. Google for TWEAKVI...it's a TweakUI for Vista which will help you with a lot of settings.

As for getting shortcuts to the desk top, yeah, sometimes it isn't automatic, but is it really all that hard to go to programs, and drag a shortcut to the desktop?

It's really too bad that a lot of you folks weren't around for Windows 3.11. That sucker took a LOT of work just to install a driver...no 'point and click' with that OS

[mkk]

I'll try to answer some of those questions, without intending to talk you into using Vista.

Why can't I see and change file extecions? I regulary do those sorts of things but now they seem to be locked ?

Those are hidden the same was as in XP, by a setting in the Folder Options(control panel).

When I want to delete files or place disks in my computer why do I need to confirm these thing 100 times ?

It's the added security feature called User Account Control that puts up those extra warnings. In some cases these warnings are quite justified but in places it gets hyperbolicly redundant like you've seen. You can turn UAC off/onn in the User Accounts part of the control panel.

When I pres ctrl-alt-del why do I get an Intro screen ?

I'm sure they simply mean to give users access to more options there. I'm unaware of any way to change this behavior back and instead use another keyboard combination to launch the Task Manager. Make a shortcut for it and assign a keyboard combo in the preferences for that shortcut. Or try a separate program like The Wonderful Icon to do this and lots of other cool stuff through the keyboard.

also when I install games (wich don't have a option to add a schortcut, like EXP packs for games) the shortcut was installed on the desktop.

Vista comes with its Game Explorer gadget that is supposed to work as a hub for all installed games. While smartly designed newer games give you an option to also place a shortcut on the desktop, many just end up in Vista's Games list, or in a few cases nowhere at all.

[Alistair]

<CTRL>+<SHIFT>+<ESC> will get you the task manager.

[OldBuzzard]

Or, just right click in an open area of the TASK BAR, and select it there.

[John C]

Or, just right click in an open area of the TASK BAR, and select it there

when playing a game there is no taskbar, that's the point of bringing it up :P

<CTRL>+<SHIFT>+<ESC> will get you the task manager.

thanks , becouse for some or the other reason I cant get the desktop with ctrl alt del. I get a selection screen , then take taskmanager, and then ... then the game just keeps runnig full screen ! no way to pick other tasks.

It's the added security feature called User Account Control that puts up those extra warnings

Is it normal, when I disable this, I lose all my game saves and profiles :S, becouse that just happend to me ! (not all games thoug, about 50%). I hope that they'll stay this time !

anyway, I'm concidering a dual boot install. the thing is I never done this before.I found this guide wich seems to be pretty decent

How to dual boot Vista and XP (with Vista installed first) -- the step-by-step guide

one of the many I found on the net regarding this topic.

However, at this site I found a tool called Vistabootpro 3.3. The thing is, I don't completly understand how it works. If I install my 2 old HHDs, I assume evrything should work properly, and hopefully i get a normal startup. I know how to "create a new OS option" within this program, but how do I assign the name I gave that OS(the way it is been displayed at the startup bios) to a specific drive ?

[OldBuzzard]

If you are going to multi-boot, nothing beats HyperOS!
HyperOs Systems

I've been using it since the 2003 version, and it's that cat's ass.

It allows for up to 22 seperate systems using any mix of 2000, XP, Server 2003, and Vista, including all of the 64-bit versions. Gives you the ability to backup those systems, and the ability to clone a system if you wish. There is also one member/beta tester that has Server 2008 working with iit too.

I will note that I am a beta tester for them, so I could be a bit biased, but take a look at it.

There is also a pretty good users forum here:
Team HyperOS Community Support &bull; View forum - Announcements

[Mousey]

Originally Posted by John C

When I pres ctrl-alt-del why do I get an Intro screen ? I used to use this fucktion to swap opened EXE's so I could play a game and chat MSN the same time. now however it is impossible, it opens a new screen and when I pres task managment, my game does not minimise, instead it remains executedand I can't even go to the taskbar, becouse it just keeps running the game like I did nothing at all.

CTRL + Shift + Esc = Instant task manager.

[temeteus82]

Originally Posted by Mousey

CTRL + Shift + Esc = Instant task manager.

Does it echoes in here??

Originally Posted by Alistair

<CTRL>+<SHIFT>+<ESC> will get you the task manager.

[Mousey]

Originally Posted by temeteus82

Does it echoes in here??

Why yes, yes it does

[alpha patrick]

Hi bros. I bought a second hand Sony vioa labtop VGN-FE41M. It came with an unknown code and no reinstallation CD and DVD such that I could not access it. So I formatted it and tried to install windows vista upgraded version which I bought and it will not install to the finish. The message send is that installation was not successful. I did several of such attempts but without any success. So I finally decided to install quite a different operating system that is windows Xp service pack 2. With this now I cannot get sound, I cannot be connected to the internet and many other driver problems. The mit integrierter kamera cannot work also there is no screen drivers, no Bluetooth and mikrofon drivers. Please I really need help. These are the specifications of the laptop:

CPU: Intel core 2 Duo processor T5500, supports enhanced Intel SpeedStep technology, 1.66GHz.
WLAN: 802.11a/b/g.
Memory: 2GB/Go DDR2 SDRAM (2x1024MBMo) (667MHz)
Screen: 15.4” WXGA (1280x800) X-black LCD.
Graphics: NVIDIA, GeForce, Go 7400 GPU.
OS (operating system): Windows Vista Home Premium (remember that I formatted and I am on Xp pack 2 but I still have the upgraded windows vista DVD that will not install to the finish).
The model written beneath the laptop is PCG-7VIM

[sashe44]

I was ready to scratch Vista on my new computer and try to load Xp from my Dell Op.Disk but it said on the disk not to use on anything but a Dell, humph! So i stumbled across this site where answers to Vista problems were helpful. Now, my question. I like my screen saver off during the day so I set it for 800 mins and it still comes on every 10 as apparently preset. I have had email conversations with apparently techs abroad for over 2 weeks now saying try this, try that, send us this, etc but still no cure. Anyone had this probloem or have a solution?

[Dyre Straits]

Originally Posted by sashe44

I was ready to scratch Vista on my new computer and try to load Xp from my Dell Op.Disk but it said on the disk not to use on anything but a Dell, humph! So i stumbled across this site where answers to Vista problems were helpful. Now, my question. I like my screen saver off during the day so I set it for 800 mins and it still comes on every 10 as apparently preset. I have had email conversations with apparently techs abroad for over 2 weeks now saying try this, try that, send us this, etc but still no cure. Anyone had this probloem or have a solution?

I thought I replied to this question. ??? Maybe it was another member. ???

Why not just disable it altogether if it's only during the day you want it off? Just select "None" in the selection box and then select what you want to use when you do want it to work.