The XP/Vista thing

[awolfe63]

So - I got the Vista Business to XP pro downgrade. Then I learn that switchable graphics isn't in XP.

I'm not sure if I want to switch - but if I did, where is my copy of Vista? Do I need to order disks from Lenovo? Can I install from my "system builder's" OEM media and enter my COA code?

[jdhurst]

When I got my T61p, I just ordered and paid for recovery CD's for what came (Vista Business 64-bit) and downgrade (XP Pro).

I am no fan of Vista, but I am trying to make it work. Wireless is one of the last frontiers, and if the Intel card I purchased actually fixes my problem, I will endeavour to load all my remaining applications and taking the machine into production.

I think once I use it every day, I can tweak to make it better.

I truly am torn, because I have Vista and my T41 XP machine serves me better. ... JDH

[awolfe63]

It's clear that you can get XP CD's if you originally had Vista. Can you get Vista CDs if you recently ordered an XP downgrade? Has anyone done it?

I suppose I could just call and see.

[jdhurst]

When I got my T61p, I just ordered and paid for recovery CD's for what came (Vista Business 64-bit) and downgrade (XP Pro).

I am no fan of Vista, but I am trying to make it work. Wireless is one of the last frontiers, and if the Intel card I purchased actually fixes my problem, I will endeavour to load all my remaining applications and taking the machine into production.

I think once I use it every day, I can tweak to make it better.

I truly am torn, because I have Vista and my T41 XP machine serves me better. ... JDH

Early days yet (1 hour to be exact), but the Intel wireless I purchased came today. I have it installed (here I am with it) and wireless seems to finally be working. /me crosses fingers. ... JDH

[awolfe63]

Keep us up to date. I would love to move to more than 3GB - but I know XP-64 is a disaster. I would love to get feedback on Vista-64.

[carbon_unit]

Awolfe, Make your own Vista Recover discs. Start/Programs/Thinkvantage/create recovery set. (Or something like that.)

[awolfe63]

I did that - I thought that what I got was XP recovery disks.

[hdahl]

So - I got the Vista Business to XP pro downgrade. Then I learn that switchable graphics isn't in XP.

I'm not sure if I want to switch - but if I did, where is my copy of Vista? Do I need to order disks from Lenovo? Can I install from my "system builder's" OEM media and enter my COA code?

Why do you actually want to downgrade? I have used both Vista Ultimate-32 and Vista Ultimate-64, currently I'm using the 64 bit edition, with my TP61p and it works excellently. For instance it's very practical to be able to see the current screens when you press the windows button and tab, if you have the aero theme running, but it's no challenge to a modern computer.

I have never seen any difficulty with my Vista. It's very evident that Vista is much more modern both in expression and when it comes to hard core computer science aspects, so why do you actually want to downgrade to the previous generation operating system?

Best regards,

Henrik Dahl

[jdhurst]

<snip>
Why do you actually want to downgrade? I have used both Vista Ultimate-32 and Vista Ultimate-64, currently I'm using the 64 bit edition, with my TP61p and it works excellently. For instance it's very practical to be able to see the current screens when you press the windows button and tab, if you have the aero theme running, but it's no challenge to a modern computer.

I have never seen any difficulty with my Vista. It's very evident that Vista is much more modern both in expression and when it comes to hard core computer science aspects, so why do you actually want to downgrade to the previous generation operating system?

Best regards,

Henrik Dahl

As time goes by, Vista becomes more mature and is finally starting to work. But it has been in the last 90 days that:
1. Windows updates has fixed some wireless problems.
2. For me (and not for others), a change of wireless card make fixed more problems.
3. Adobe Acrobat standard came out with a working 64-bit product.
4. Microsoft issued a registry change to me to actually make Windows Explorer work properly.

So you see (1) I am working hard to make Vista work and (2) at this point in time (Sept 1, 2008) XP can actually do more than Vista. I keep toiling away, but I thought I would give you a reasoned answer to your question.

I will actually get Vista in production reasonably soon now.
... JDH

[hdahl]

<snip>
Why do you actually want to downgrade? I have used both Vista Ultimate-32 and Vista Ultimate-64, currently I'm using the 64 bit edition, with my TP61p and it works excellently. For instance it's very practical to be able to see the current screens when you press the windows button and tab, if you have the aero theme running, but it's no challenge to a modern computer.

I have never seen any difficulty with my Vista. It's very evident that Vista is much more modern both in expression and when it comes to hard core computer science aspects, so why do you actually want to downgrade to the previous generation operating system?

Best regards,

Henrik Dahl

As time goes by, Vista becomes more mature and is finally starting to work. But it has been in the last 90 days that:
1. Windows updates has fixed some wireless problems.
2. For me (and not for others), a change of wireless card make fixed more problems.
3. Adobe Acrobat standard came out with a working 64-bit product.
4. Microsoft issued a registry change to me to actually make Windows Explorer work properly.

So you see (1) I am working hard to make Vista work and (2) at this point in time (Sept 1, 2008) XP can actually do more than Vista. I keep toiling away, but I thought I would give you a reasoned answer to your question.

I will actually get Vista in production reasonably soon now.
... JDH

Hello JDH,

Thank you very much for explaining your position. I must say that I've not seen any problem, as I wrote.

I have however seen that under Windows XP the printer spooler always halts after some time and needs to be restarted. Under Vista it works excellently. Perhaps the new version of Adobe will even accept a request to shut down instead of attempting to refuse shutting down. This would make it to work more reasonable to me.


Best regards,

Henrik Dahl

[awolfe63]

My answer is similar - XP works and I don't need the hassle of having any issues with Vista. I have 2 Vista machines and they are harder for me to keep running the way I want. It may just be my inexperience - but I have no reason to come up to speed on Vista right now.

Everyone seems to have missed my original point though.

My machine came with XP preloaded and a vista COA. How do I get vista disks that will work with my COA?

[carbon_unit]

My machine came with XP preloaded and a vista COA. How do I get vista disks that will work with my COA?

Did they send any discs in the box?

[awolfe63]

No. I ran "create recovery disks" and got 1+8 CDs. They appear to be XP restore CDs.

[cad3]

Hey Andrew,

Been about 5 weeks since your last post. How do you feel about Vista now? Has there been any improvement in the last 5 weeks?

I've personally not used it (I've seen it but not done any hard core testing). I have enough technical friends who have and most all of them said that it wasn't very good (but that's several months back).

The general consensus was that file transfers took too long because of the underlying DRM. We are all major photo hobbyists, and working on 39 MP image files that are 5 gb's in size is pretty common. Copy the file for backup purposes was taking upwards of 10 times longer than using XP. That simply isn't acceptable.

At this point, enough time had past that their need for a new system meant that they purchased a Mac (literally, all of them). I'm now the last and lone PC user among my friends.

I'm really not interested in going Mac, but I'm really not interested in Vista either. That stated, I don't want to drop $5k+ on a W700 that is running 5 year old outdated software w/ only 3 GB of ram because that is all it can see.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks!
-C

[awolfe63]

I've learned to live with Vista on the one machine (an HTPC) that I regularly use that runs Vista. I've decided that it's not that bad but I still see no reason to use it over XP in general. I'm still using XP on the 10 or so other machines that I regularly use. (including 7 thinkpads)


I would like to add more memory to some machines which would require 64-bit Vista - but I have not tried that yet.