Existing Software & Vista

[jcampi]

Does anyone know how much software that will currently run on Windows XP will run with Vista? I recall this being somewhat of an issue when transitioning from Windows 98 to XP, but most software programs made the transition and work with XP.

[kern]

Does anyone know how much software that will currently run on Windows XP will run with Vista? I recall this being somewhat of an issue when transitioning from Windows 98 to XP, but most software programs made the transition and work with XP.

Like XP, Vista has "compatibility mode" option for software designed to run on older versions of Windows.

[mylanta]

Yeah except I have yet to see compatibility mode in Vista help anything.
So far I have found most soundcards are an issue, almost all wireless adapters,
Acronis and Ghost Image File programs, Partition magic and Disk Director partitioning programs, most graphics viewers, Word Perfect before X3 version, and most antivirus programs at this point will not work. Only image creation program I can see that works, though it takes forever is NTi backup. Sas and Win Patrol produce error messages at startup buty they do work.

[mylanta]

UPDATE: I realized I had not tried Acronis 10 in Vista which I am now doing. It does install and it does create an image file. Now I will return if I can restore the image file.

[PeteF]

Does anyone know how much software that will currently run on Windows XP will run with Vista?

To date, the link below is the best resouce I know of
for determining which software is compatible with Vista.
http://www.iexbeta.com/wiki/index.php/Windows_Vista_Software_Compatibility_List


Some people say not to switch to Vista until the first
service pack is released, but I'm thinking that it would be
wise to wait 1 year after SP1 is released in order for all
the software vendors to catch up to Vista's first service
pack.

On the other hand, if you like to be on the cutting edge
of technology and don't mind spending hundreds or
thousands of dollars on new software and hardware,
then go for Vista sooner.

---pete---

[Dan18960]

Darn Pete, your going farther out on the limb than I do :eek:

I usually wait for the first sp pack before I introduce it to my clients. But this one may be a "jump" OS. So far I don't see much I like that would make me drool and a lot more I don't like that has me just forgetting about it.

But like you said - and Rich seems to be confirming - Thousands in software (seems you ONLY want software that says XP on the box - forget about W2k minimum) and RAM, RAM, RAM, RAM, Hard drive, hard drive, hard drive, DVD drive, DVD drive, DVD drive and the fastest processor / mbd FSB you can get your hands on. FORGET about what you can AFFORD - with a 4 GIG +/- operating system (and you ain't loaded ANY other apps/utilites/games/music/videos OR drivers), because this os is going to not settle for the minimum that M$ is "recommending".

I have better than the minimum and at the high end of the recommended and it hammers my hard drive(s) during loading.

Oh yea, AND this is the version that was released to the OEM's in December - not the beta.

[mylanta]

Well Acronis will not only not restore from within or by rescue disk, rescue environment cannot even see usb drive so I have emailed Stephen Lawton to see if there are any newer versions. NTi Backup which worked in Beta version n ow does not so I didn't waste my time with Norton Ghost as I know the answer without trying.

[Dan18960]

Well Acronis will not only not restore from within or by rescue disk, rescue environment cannot even see usb drive so I have emailed Stephen Lawton to see if there are any newer versions. NTi Backup which worked in Beta version n ow does not so I didn't waste my time with Norton Ghost as I know the answer without trying.

It looks like IF John wants to build with Vista he will have:

Vista
Office 2007

Hmmm, seems like a REALLY short list.:mad:

[jcampi]

Dan - Don't tell me that! I was planning on using Office 2003. I was particularly interested in Mylanta's post about True Image 10. I had thought version 10 was compatible with Vista. This might really effect my pc build. I have Windows XP home and will receive Vista Home Premium. I prefer to perform a clean install using mainly the Vista disc, but the software issue concerns me. I guess the way for me to go might be to install XP Home. Install my software. Then, when the time is right I'll install Vista to a new folder and perform a 'clean' install. Then, I'll delete the old Windows folder and the 'old' Program folder and reinstall compatible software.
I don't think I'll renew any software or licenses until this stuff hashes out. I would hope the antivirus software and other software manufacturers will work this out with MS.

[mylanta]

Well I was wrong. I hadn't noticed that my usb drive was Fat32 and I have read that in Vista you cannot store image files in fat32. I reformatted it reinstalled Acronis and made and restored the image file easily.
BTW will Ms never learn. The new Vista Backup allows image file, files and folder, and explorer etc...does not offer choice of compression so it backlups up 31 gb in 31gb? What kind of image program is that. Acronis backed it up in 12Gb. Vista backup took 2 hours to make image file and Acronis 40 minutes with full compression. Then for Acronis you have a rescue disk and fro Vista Backup you can either restore to recovery console or do some "squirrely" system restore using F8 to get to a menu option to proceed with restore that I bet will work about as well as System restore always does. You would think with all the years they have had to work on this, it would get improved.
Oh and John I am on new Puppy linux2.13 writing this and it is fast!!!!!
As for clean install idea John, there will be some problems with that as Vista will dual boot both but then it is not as simple as deleting a Windows folder and you will need a second hard drive to do that right.

[jcampi]

Ok, back to ground zero. I have the mobo, cpu, RAM and Video card to get for the pc build. I might just load the Vista disc and perform the 'clean' install. I'd take my chances with running Vista. This would occur a couple of months from now when I get Vista and the remaining hardware. The only thing that would concern me is my existing software running on Vista (or not running).
Would this be preferable to installing XP Home, my software and Vista several months latter? This option seems the safest and most reasonable. I just would have liked a clean install of Vista without it 'upgrading' from the previous install of XP Home.

[jcampi]

The Windows Vista site does reference compatibility mode that suggests any software that ran on XP would run on Vista. How is this working for most software programs?
As far as True Image 10 using Linux that is fine with me. At least Linux is good for something! (I wonder how long 'Mr. T" will take to sniff this comment out?! I've been using True Image 10 and love it. I don't use any compression because I backup only 9GB of space from my desktop pc to a 300GB usb external hard drive. I don't need the compression so the backup flies and takes only about 10 minutes (compressed backup takes about 30 minutes depending on the compression choice).

[mylanta]

I have yet to see the compatibility mode in Vista make anything work right.

[Dan18960]

I have yet to see the compatibility mode in Vista make anything work right.

Ah come Rich, John wants to use VISTA and it seems that WE don't know anything.

I have resigned to let him take the path less travelled and HE can report back to US about it. You have already listed a whole toolbox of utilites, applications, and drivers that are not working and he comes back every time with Vista (Microsoft proganda) will work with this or that in whatever mode.

Oh well, back to my server setup - WHAT A MONTH! Was scheduled for 2 server installs but now up to 4 server upgrades, 5 workstation installations, Winfax lab configuration, and then it is the day to day repairs! Darn I can't wait for February (or maybe NOT LOL).

[PeteF]

I usually wait for the first sp pack before I introduce it to my clients. But this one may be a "jump" OS. So far I don't see much I like that would make me drool and a lot more I don't like that has me just forgetting about it.


Dan, I agree 100%. No big rush to switch from XP to Vista.
I don't see anything in Vista that really grabs me, but I know
eventually it will make good sense to switch once the software
developers catch up with the Vista OS.

---pete---

[Tortanick]

As far as True Image 10 using Linux that is fine with me. At least Linux is good for something! (I wonder how long 'Mr. T" will take to sniff this comment out?!

Not long, I've been reading this thread the whole time, just didn't have anything to say. I look forward to hearing from you're time in Vista land.

[jcampi]

Dan, I'm just hashing stuff our right now. I'm not necessarily in a rush to load Vista, I just want the cleanest installation possible when I load it. Sounds like I'll be installing XP Home and waiting to install Vista until I hear some news from you guys. I'm the first to admit I don't have the experience you guys do with this stuff (all of my time playing with the pc is after my full time job). I could always do a clean install of Vista later or even fdisk if that it the best choice. After all, discussion is what this place is all about. Where else would I ask questions and discuss this topic??

[Dan18960]

Dan, I'm just hashing stuff our right now. I'm not necessarily in a rush to load Vista, I just want the cleanest installation possible when I load it. Sounds like I'll be installing XP Home and waiting to install Vista until I hear some news from you guys. I'm the first to admit I don't have the experience you guys do with this stuff (all of my time playing with the pc is after my full time job). I could always do a clean install of Vista later or even fdisk if that it the best choice. After all, discussion is what this place is all about. Where else would I ask questions and discuss this topic??

John,

What I would DO is install the os that you are familiar with on the new machine. Remember you are entering a new experience and it is one thing to jump in to the fire with a fire suit and another to go in with a speedo :eek:

That way you will have a known expectation of the current os. When M$ releases the media with the first service packs included (there are already updates when you install Vista), you will know how your hardware works, have the opportunity to download and burn to cd/dvd the current drivers, have current software, and can give it that "college" try. AND what I would do is purchase a second hard drive and install Vista clean on THAT drive. This serves 2 actions - you retain your current working os, apps, drivers, printers, network settings - AND - you have a clean OS installation, drivers, network setups, AND access to your data on the "original" drive setup as a slave. NOTE: I am NOT saying to do a dual boot system! Because IF you find Vista to your liking after M$ has made the "final" fixes, there are utilities to tame some of the irritating UAC functions, and there are apps / utilities that are up to Vista os - you can load your apps and use the XP Home os as a slave drive (whether you want to reformat at that time you can decide).

And don't worry about your hardware not being up to par - IF you spend a few dollars more now your system hardware should easily have a 5 - 7 year lifespan in the home environment. Remember "me", I am still using a 1.7ghz 80% of the time that runs all my apps and utilities. Yes, I have newer systems - but with the exception of the Extreme system I built last year for a photographer demo - most of my systems are 4 years old in my dungeon.

[Tortanick]

You know, unless Microsoft is too strict with their keys all you need to give vista a try is a spare hard drive, put that in and play with vista, then take it out again when you need XP to do serous work.

[kern]

I have yet to see the compatibility mode in Vista make anything work right.

i havent had any issues with apps, only with wireless drivers, bluetooth.