A list of grievances against (and issues with) Vista

Tek7

Tek7

CGA President, Tribe of Judah Founder & President
Staff member
As mentioned in this thread, the hard drive indicator light on my computer stays on nearly constantly.

I have machine lag at odd times, including some times when I'm typing in OneNote or Firefox. I understand Windows lags when it first boots and when the notebook comes out of suspend, but it shouldn't be as frequent as it is.

I think we already know about Vista's sporadically lousy file transfer rates. I think that's just a known issue Vista users live with (though if I'm wrong, please tell me).

Quake Live will sometimes start stuttering in the middle of a match for no apparent reason and won't stop until about 30 seconds have passed. I have a ATI Radeon HD 3650 installed, my notebook's processor is an Intel Core Duo 2 with each core running at 2.0GHz, and the notebook has 2GB RAM installed. The hardware is up to the task and it is NOT network lag. (I've been playing shooters online since Quake II and I can recognize the difference between machine lag and network lag.)

Often, when I try right-clicking or SHIFT+DEL'ing a file in Windows Explorer, the Explorer process will lock up. I resolve this issue by hitting CTRL+ALT+DEL, running Task Manager, killing the Explorer process, and restarting the Explorer process. I am then able to right-click files or SHIFT+DEL files without any issues.

At this point, I want to throw a brick at Vista. Unfortunately, I don't have the funds to purchase a copy of Windows 7 when it releases and I'm not sure if all my notebook's hardware will be supported under Windows XP. (My notebook is a Dell Studio 1737 that shipped with Vista pre-installed.)

I really really REALLY DO NOT WANT to wipe and reload. I received my Dell Studio 1737 (a replacement for an Inspiron E1705) in March of this year; it's only been running for a five months now. Re-installing my programs isn't even the worst of it. The worst part is backing up all my data and settings and re-configuring my programs after the reload.

Is there anything I can do to resolve some of these issues in Vista? I thought switching anti-virus applications might help, but HCS mentioned that his hard drive indicator light stays lit most of the time in Vista and he doesn't run an anti-virus program on his Vista machine (though I know he runs it on his network).

EDIT: If it comes down to a wipe and reload, I'll seriously consider moving to Windows 7. Why go through the hassle of a wipe and reload only to have to repeat the process in another 3-5 months?
 
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I wiped and reloaded with Win7 RC last weekend and I can say that I am giddy with joy. I have not been this excited about an OS since Tree gave me my PowerbookPro a couple years ago. Win 7 has so many awesome little things that are constantly making me smile through out the day. I am in LOVE with Win7 !!!!!1 It is so heads and shoulders above Vista, and XP feels like pong now.

It is so stable and smooth. It found 100% of my drivers with 0 input from me. The install was the easiest I have ever done. The new task bar is so full of WIN I could go on for days. Every program I use is working perfectly right now if not better then before. Wow I can't believe I just gave MS this much praise.

Oh and the RC is good till 5/2010 so you got 9 months+ of free OS till you have to pay.
 
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ewoksrule said:
Oh and the RC is good till 5/2010 so you got 9 months+ of free OS till you have to pay.
Click to expand...
I registered for a Windows 7 key on the Microsoft web site, but when I went to download the ISO, I noticed it was build 7100. Build 7600 was leaked a few days ago, so I'm wondering if a key for the RC (release candidate) will work on the leaked build. Why use an old build when there's a newer version available?

I'd still prefer to fix Vista than install a new OS, though. There's just so much work involved in a wipe and reload that I'm very, very resistant to the idea.

I uninstalled Avast and rebooted Windows. I'll probably run without anti-virus installed for a day or two, then install AntiVir and see what difference it makes.
 
I love Vista actually. o.o ONLY problem I've had is when a program would install an audio codec and cause me to Bluescreen now and then (I also can't install MOHAirborne, but I blame EA :p). It's fast, very stable (besides for that driver), sees all of my USB items and my games run past 60FPS at 1680x1050.

I hate XP. HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEEEEEEEEEEET.

Still haven't tried Windows 7, but it did look impressive. May upgrade in a few months.
 
Uninstalling Avast may have resolved the "right-click locking Explorer" issue.
 
Tek7 said:
As mentioned in this thread, the hard drive indicator light on my computer stays on nearly constantly.

I have machine lag at odd times, including some times when I'm typing in OneNote or Firefox. I understand Windows lags when it first boots and when the notebook comes out of suspend, but it shouldn't be as frequent as it is.

I think we already know about Vista's sporadically lousy file transfer rates. I think that's just a known issue Vista users live with (though if I'm wrong, please tell me).

Quake Live will sometimes start stuttering in the middle of a match for no apparent reason and won't stop until about 30 seconds have passed. I have a ATI Radeon HD 3650 installed, my notebook's processor is an Intel Core Duo 2 with each core running at 2.0GHz, and the notebook has 2GB RAM installed. The hardware is up to the task and it is NOT network lag. (I've been playing shooters online since Quake II and I can recognize the difference between machine lag and network lag.)

Often, when I try right-clicking or SHIFT+DEL'ing a file in Windows Explorer, the Explorer process will lock up. I resolve this issue by hitting CTRL+ALT+DEL, running Task Manager, killing the Explorer process, and restarting the Explorer process. I am then able to right-click files or SHIFT+DEL files without any issues.

At this point, I want to throw a brick at Vista. Unfortunately, I don't have the funds to purchase a copy of Windows 7 when it releases and I'm not sure if all my notebook's hardware will be supported under Windows XP. (My notebook is a Dell Studio 1737 that shipped with Vista pre-installed.)

I really really REALLY DO NOT WANT to wipe and reload. I received my Dell Studio 1737 (a replacement for an Inspiron E1705) in March of this year; it's only been running for a five months now. Re-installing my programs isn't even the worst of it. The worst part is backing up all my data and settings and re-configuring my programs after the reload.

Is there anything I can do to resolve some of these issues in Vista? I thought switching anti-virus applications might help, but HCS mentioned that his hard drive indicator light stays lit most of the time in Vista and he doesn't run an anti-virus program on his Vista machine (though I know he runs it on his network).

EDIT: If it comes down to a wipe and reload, I'll seriously consider moving to Windows 7. Why go through the hassle of a wipe and reload only to have to repeat the process in another 3-5 months?
Click to expand...

slow network problems and many other niggling issues with Vista can be cured by killing UAC.

If you have a copy of xp available i'll find you the drivers you need..:)

also pm me you system serial number so i can use my business's connection at dell to get some better drivers for either vista or xp..:)
 
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Hescominsoon said:
slow network problems and many other niggling issues with Vista can be cured by killing UAC.
Click to expand...
I disabled UAC a few months ago.
Hescominsoon said:
If you have a copy of xp available i'll find you the drivers you need..:)
Click to expand...
Aye, I kept the Windows XP key for my old notebook...somewhere. I would need to find it, but I'm sure it's around here somewhere.
Hescominsoon said:
also pm me you system serial number so i can use my business's connection at dell to get some better drivers for either vista or xp..:)
Click to expand...
Sent my service tag via PM.
 
if the key was on the notebook and xp with that mahcine WILL NOT work with the new one as the xp is tied to that machine. If you have a non-orm version of xp then you can instlal xp onto your studio(once i find the drivers..<G>)
 
Hescominsoon said:
if the key was on the notebook and xp with that mahcine WILL NOT work with the new one as the xp is tied to that machine. If you have a non-orm version of xp then you can instlal xp onto your studio(once i find the drivers..<G>)
Click to expand...
Even if I did have a working key for XP, I would prefer to move to Windows 7. Maybe by the middle of next year, I can afford the $120 or whatever it's going to cost to upgrade.
 
Soo....pretty sure the "slow" network thing has nothing to do with UAC. I've posted SS in the past that show perfectly fine transfer speeds on a gigabit network with all Vista settings as default.

At any rate, regarding the disk light being on all the time and "lagginess"

You can:

1.) Disable superfetch (this usually takes care of 90% of it)
2.) Disable windows search (which makes a lot of other things less useless so I don't recommend this)

SF is the largest contributer to high disk activity. In the worst case, you can disable both when you're playing games and re-enable search once you're finished, but I've found disabling SF generally does the trick. Good idea...not very well implemented.
 
And i have posted just the opposite on the network issue AND experienced it on not only my network but client networks.
 
Windows 7 has amazing driver support though...better than any Windows...always had trouble finding drivers for my laptop for both XP and Vista...7 had all the drivers in minutes after startup...nothing I had to look for or do...

As I see it: Windows 7 > XP > Vista...(I could come close to writing a book on why this is, so I am just going to leave it at that)...
 
Hescominsoon said:
And i have posted just the opposite on the network issue AND experienced it on not only my network but client networks.
Click to expand...

it's moot if i've posted evidence to the contrary ;) all you've proven is that either the hardware on the send or receive side is inadequate, the network is congested or any other number of factors...

the fact that it's been demonstrated that networking is *not* an issue in mixed environments makes a positive proof that there are not issues (the extent you claim) w/ the networking stack.

also, tek, you might want to turn off system restore points - if you're really suffering, that one can drag your system down as it starts pounding your disk to take a snapshot of the system before applying updates.
 
I have used Vista since release, in the Beginning it was very frustrating with Lack of support but I blame this on MS, since the updates come from thier data banks, Now I Like Vista very much but the Usage and Compatability does vary from system to system, Very Much So. I am switching to Win7 as well upon release, this is The most Stable operating system in a while[Xp was good but not even in the same League], Like HCS said there are things to Help Vista work better but it has been the Hardest OS for Compatability on Hardware, this aside I still do not regret the switch as it brought advantages as well, just not many:)
 
I have to agree with xp not being in vista's league as xp is in a much higher league of its own. 7 while a massive improvement over vista is not going to be as good as xp was either. The biggest thing chewing up resources in both vista and 7(this includes server 2k8) is the DRM infestation.
 
Blackbeard said:
I have used Vista since release, in the Beginning it was very frustrating with Lack of support but I blame this on MS, since the updates come from thier data banks, Now I Like Vista very much but the Usage and Compatability does vary from system to system, Very Much So. I am switching to Win7 as well upon release, this is The most Stable operating system in a while[Xp was good but not even in the same League], Like HCS said there are things to Help Vista work better but it has been the Hardest OS for Compatability on Hardware, this aside I still do not regret the switch as it brought advantages as well, just not many:)
Click to expand...

Hardware was 50/50 MS' fault. It was their fault for allowing people to attach the "certified for vista" sticker, but it as the hw mf problem for actually not having drivers. Heck, I blew 500 on a shiny new NVidia card at the time, only to have it be worth a fraction of that by the time they actually had stable drivers for it. I was pretty vocal about it on the interwebz to the point of getting press coverage (sorta...like, arstechnica and a few others were the best, soooo...anyway). Basically, the hw mfgs were lazy and thought it would be a simple port and skipped over the fact that it was a complete re-architecture of the driver stack.

None of this is really here nor there however...Tek's issues can be solved by turning off the aforementioend services (and they have nothing to do with DRM!!!).
 
Hescominsoon said:
I have to agree with xp not being in vista's league as xp is in a much higher league of its own. 7 while a massive improvement over vista is not going to be as good as xp was either. The biggest thing chewing up resources in both vista and 7(this includes server 2k8) is the DRM infestation.
Click to expand...

Vista was using 30% of my RAM, XP was using 25%, and 7 is using 23%...

Now to look at Windows Explorer alone...in Vista it was using well over 20 to 30 MBs of RAM, in XP it was 15-20, and in 7 I haven't seen it go over 10...

My own numbers show me that 7 is better than XP, and it does run faster than XP on my computer...
 
I've disabled SuperFetch. I'll try to remember to post a follow-up in a day or two to report how much it helped.
 
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