Microsoft Vista - Trial #1
Technorati Tags: aero, Microsoft, Vista
Being an IBMer has perks, I get to test some of our products for Microsoft Vista compatibility. I felt like blogging on this task because what I’m about to write will help those newbie Vista users if they run into problems.
The following is a list of what I did and the problems I ran into. I also have included the solutions to my experiences:
- Installing Microsoft Vista:
- I’ve never ever seen a more beautiful installation experience in my life. The install screen starts up when I boot the computer with the DVD. I am asked for the language and timezone that I am in, and I click Install Now. The installer will then ask me for the hard drive I’d like to install to, so I pick that and click continue. Almost 30 minutes later (or atleast thats how long it took me to eat and wash dishes) - Microsoft Vista is booting up for the first time!
- Good news: The thing I love about this install experience, compared to others, is the lack thereof configuration panes. I hate configuring systems upfront, because I usually tend to double check and alter configurations when I need that feature. This was pretty cool how it just got the job done and I didn’t have to watch my computer screen the whole time.
- Bad news: The progress bar on Vista when starting up pauses, for over 10 minutes - so I get curious and scared at the same time. I pull the plug on the computer and start up again, but this time I start Vista in safe mode. I find that Vista gets stuck again while trying to load the crcdisk.sys file. A little bit of Googling later, I find that if you unmount your pcmcia drivers then Vista may boot up.
- So I put the installation DVD back in, and try to repair my Vista from command prompt. I know from my XP machine where the pcmcia.sys files are (system32 and drivers directories). I simiply rename the files with .bak extensions. Restart Vista and presto!
- Using Vista
- Previous file restoration: To me its like CVS and its about time that I can restore a file to a previously edited version.
- Aero: A tricky one to get working. Apparenlty Vista rates your computer’s performance and if you have a 3.0 or higher for 3D gaming then Aero automatically turns on. I have a 128MB GeForce 6600 Nvidia card in my Toshiba M40, but apparently the display drivers that I got from Windows Update give this rating a mere 1.0! I thought of trying to install a different 6600 driver, I choose 6600 GT. Installed the driver, rebooted, and forced the recalculating of my computers performance, my index jumped from 1.0 to 3.9 on 3D gaming (take that sh*t
). Aero automatically turned on! - Using Aero: What can you do other than Windows Key + TAB for fancy Aero tricks? Other than the look and feel of the windows, this is lacking in my eyes. Whoopy ding-dong.
- Java: Java5 doesn’t install with Aero running - who knew. I got Java6 to install with Aero though, which is still in some RC or beta mode. So you’re pick, I haven’t had any problems with Java6 yet.
- Tagging: You can create contacts in your Contact list and tag pictures with keywords or contacts. Thus, when searching your files you get what you tagged. I think this is pretty cool.
- Side bar: I saw this with Google and Yahoo, why is MS so late on this? Anyways, its handy nonetheless.
