A Technician’s Guide to MS Vista Software

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What it is:

This is designed to be an informative technical guide for the implementation of Microsoft[1] Windows Vista [2] operating system whether by clean install or upgrading from the approved operating systems. I hope to see an ongoing community collaboration of updated materials as this will greatly simplify research for the average technician and home user alike by centralizing information into one resource location. This book's Sole intent is to help technicians plan ahead for the purchase of Windows Vista. These are experienced but not necessarily expert opinions on compatibility issues when installing Windows Vista. It is primarily up to the readers to research the material in this book and is meant solely for a reference resource only.

Contents

[edit] Software Issues

This is the list of known software issues (please provide reference e.g. Windows Vista error screenshots etc.)

[edit]

Example: Software vendor name and version

[edit]

Windows Vista Home Premium:

Alphabetically Listed: HP OfficeJet 7130 will not run on Windows Vista

Tally accounting packages don't run on Windows Vista Home Premium. "error in TDL" message appears====

Windows Vista Home Premium:

====

Alphabetically Listed:

[edit]

Windows Vista Ultimate:

Alphabetically Listed:

  • Symantec Antivirus Corporate Edition Version 10.1.6: Program installs, but the driver won't load and the application won't run. Use the free upgrade to 10.2 from Symantec to fix this issue

HP Laserjet 6124 does not have a driver from the manufacturer for Windows Vista, but you can substitute the 990c, it will just not always print correctly

[edit]

Windows Vista Business

Alphabetically Listed:


  • AVS free DVD player: simply will not execute after upgrade. Tried uninstalling and reinstalling it but to no avail. No dialog box, it just doesn't respond.
  • DivX: will need to be updated to the latest codecs.
  • Outlook Express: Windows Mail replaces Outlook Express in Windows Vista. If you use Outlook Express for accessing HTTP-based mail providers, such as Windows Live Hotmail, this functionality is instead available in the Windows Live Mail application.
  • SoundBlaster Audigy 2 ZS applications:, has many issues under Windows Vista that remain unresolved by Creative.
  • Sygate Firewall 5.6 :Incompatible.
  • WinDVD 5 :Advisory said WinDVD 5 would not run, but after install I was able to play a movie using it.
  • WinDVD 8 :Advisory - Installed trial WINDVD 8 - Does not allow for uninstall in VISTA remove programs?

[edit] Hardware Issues

This is a list of known hardware issues (please provide reference e.g. Vista error screenshots etc.)

[edit]

Example: Card type, Chip type

[edit]

Windows Vista *All Editions:

Alphabetically Listed:

  • Asrock 775VM800 Motherboard AC'97 Sound not functioning or downgraded to 2ch
  • Cisco AIR-CB21AG 802.11a/b/g wireless CardBus adapter is included in the Cisco disclaimer below. However Vista recognizes it (perhaps because of its Atheros chipset?) and it is marginally functional.
  • Cisco AIR-PCM350 802.11b wireless PC card adapter is currently unsupported.

[edit]

Windows Vista Home:

Alphabetically Listed:

[edit]

Windows Vista All:

Alphabetically Listed:

Total Video Converter : Unable to run Total Video Converter. Also not able to register it vi reg entry file

[edit]

Windows Vista Ultimate:

Alphabetically Listed:

[edit]

Windows Vista Business

Alphabetically Listed:

Video Cards:

Sound Cards:

  • Audigy 2 ZS: As with Creative software, see above.

[edit] How To's

This is a list of "How To's" for features and functions under Windows Vista.

Disclaimer:
Use these instructions at your own risk. They have not been verified by Microsoft or any other certified expertise on Vista and are the instruction opinions of the editors and do not guarantee OS functionality and stability upon following these instructions. The editors of this book are experienced technicians as well as general OS operators and should be researched and used with caution.

[edit]

Example: Turn Off services


  • Windows Search Service: The Windows Search service indexes user areas of the hard disks in order to provide instant search from the Start Menu. If you wish to revert back to the old Windows XP-style manual search, you can turn off this service to increase performance.
  1. Turn off the service: SO I set off to disable the service all together which is just one option to help try and regain resource usage. If you go to "Administration Tools" and then to "Services" and drill down to "Windows Search" you will see that service is set to "automatic" and "started".


  2. Disable rarely searched file extensions:


  3. Manually remove a folder ĐĐfrom being indexed:
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