curious_guy (imported) wrote: Fri Apr 13, 2007 11:04 pm If MemTest86 gives an error message it might not be the memory. My brother's computer had memory errors but when I switched the memory from my computer to his, it was still his computer that got errors. Both his memory and my memory tested bad in his computer and both tested good in my computer. It was not a speed issue either because my motherboard was faster and had a faster front side buss speed.

I have had Memory slots go bad, not really an unusual occurance.

Many times a new Motherboard will solve the issue.

I have run Vista throughout the Betas and have 1 copy of Ultimate in the RTM (release to manufacture) code.

I built a computer just for Vista Ultimate.

P4-2.8Ghz/800FSB/2GB dual channel DDR/300GB SATA/DVD RW/512MB AGP8.

I setup my RAM to actually take advantage of the dual channel capability.

It runs fine, but I turn off the Fisher Price/Wintendo front end & use classic menus.

I maintain a computer network of over 100 PCs, and Vista won't be coming anytime soon for us. I already talked the boss out of getting new machines this year with Vista installed. Maybe next year.

If Vista still sucks, I may build new machines and use XP Pro generic OEM which I can get fairly cheap.

I think Vista is NOT ready for prime time. Maybe after service pack 1 or 2.

MS tried to build in so much security into Vista that they made it like the old AOL software, trying to be useable for a green user & protect you from yourself.

If you didn't know anything, it might be OK, but for an experienced user, I think it's a joke.

If I want pretty, I'll go to an art gallery, not the picture on my desktop.

I want my computer to WORK and fast, not show me pretty pictures.

I finally broke down and bought a notebook PC with Vista Premium. I was rather enjoying it until it decided it can't find its own damn CD/DVD drive! I've had this thing 10 days! Yep, it's still Windows...

Wait! I'm not done bitching! Here's the lastest on my notebook (I'll try to keep it brief):

I finally found a restore point to get the CD/DVD drive going again. This, however, pissed off my software for a major, legitimate music download service. So, all the songs I paid for appear on the screen, I just can't play them. Attempting to do so the pissed off my anti-virus software (Starts with "N"). The anti-virus folks could only tell me to uninstall and re-install their software, which is what's happening right now. Yep, I'm on my shaky old XP desktop. Who knew it'd be the more stable one?....

stewie69 (imported) wrote: Fri Apr 13, 2007 12:24 pm I have a 5 year old XP system that has become rather crash-prone. I installed a new hard drive a few months back, which seemed to appease the Windows gods for a while, then, without warning, it crashed again. (System registry files corrupted or some damn thing ) Nobody (including Microsoft) can seem to explain exactly why it happens. Anyway, I'm tired of re-installing my OS (and everything else) over and over again, so I'm thinking maybe it's time to retire the old bugger and get a new system. I'd appreciate any input from you folks that have already taken the plunge and gotten a new Vista system. Is it worth my while, or is it just a version of Windows with more stuff to go wrong?

======

Take the plunge and get an imac.

CutEmInOz (imported) wrote: Fri Jun 01, 2007 3:32 pm ======

Take the plunge and get an imac.

Yeah, sometimes I kinda wish I had...

Sounds to me like getting windows vista would be worse than getting reamed by a twelvendyone inch purple double ended vibrating strapon...... Thanks but no thanks... I think my XP system will work until the day it dies then I'll pray they come out with something better... or get a mac.

Daughter (imported) wrote: Sat Jun 02, 2007 6:45 am Sounds to me like getting windows vista would be worse than getting reamed by a twelvendyone inch purple double ended vibrating strapon...... Thanks but no thanks... I think my XP system will work until the day it dies then I'll pray they come out with something better... or get a mac.

I guess I got what I deserved; I should have waited for Vista compatibilty issues to get sorted out. Overall, I like it, but some non-MS software does seem to give it fits.

You do paint quite a mental picture, though...

stewie69 (imported) wrote: Fri Jun 01, 2007 3:23 pm Wait! I'm not done bitching! Here's the lastest on my notebook (I'll try to keep it brief):

I finally found a restore point to get the CD/DVD drive going again. This, however, pissed off my software for a major, legitimate music download service. So, all the songs I paid for appear on the screen, I just can't play them. Attempting to do so the pissed off my anti-virus software (Starts with "N"). The anti-virus folks could only tell me to uninstall and re-install their software, which is what's happening right now. Yep, I'm on my shaky old XP desktop. Who knew it'd be the more stable one?....

That's not unusual with Vista.

I have it on one machine, but won't be moving to it until I am forced to, probably after SP1, hopefully SP2.

It's almost funny that MS built DRM into their new OS at the same time Apple announced they are removing it from iTunes.

I refuse to use anything labeled with the N word since Symantec bought them.

I would uninstall it and use either AVG 7.5 from http://free.grisoft.com

Avast from http://www.avast.com or clamwin from http://www.clamwin.com

All three offer free and functional versions. I use all on my network and can't see that any of them are truely superior, but any one of them is better than paying Symantec for slowing down your system.

If XP is crashing regularly, I would run spyware and virus scans in safe mode.

In normal mode, some spyware and virus can hide from the software or disable it. I also would do a run of DocMem to be sure it is not an issue with bad RAM. I had the RAM in the cache of a CPU die and it caused more problems than I have EVER had with a PC in many years of IT work.

In addition to Windows Defender, I like Spybot Search & Destroy (in the spyware section of http://www.majorgeeks.com) as well as Lavasoft's AdAware Personal (same site and both free).

If all else fails, you can do a repair install of XP.

There is a detailed step by step description of how to do a NON-Destructive repair install of XP on Fred Langa's site. Google is your friend...LOL