Posted by Pierces Notary Services on 2/13/08 10:22am
Msg #235114

My new PC

I posted a message a while back regarding a new PC that I got for free from a promo our local telephone company was having. I just talked to the guy that does our computers here for work and he suggested that I take Vista off and install XP - which is what I have on my other desktop? Has anyone else done this? I'm seriously thinking about doing that but wondering if that will screw up my warranty. I'm going to try to contact Dell about this. This Windows Vista sucks big time.

Reply by Ernest__CT on 2/13/08 10:30am
Msg #235117

I search and searched for an XP computer locally, but ...

... all I could find was Vista, so I bought online from Dell.

From all reports, both consumers and techies, Vista sucks big time.

Yes, go with XP.

Reply by Pierces Notary Services on 2/13/08 10:31am
Msg #235118

Re: I search and searched for an XP computer locally, but ..

Ernest did you load XP on your new one? I just wonder if it will mess up my warranty if I reformat and load XP? I'm trying to call them but I've been on hold a long time.

Reply by Ernest__CT on 2/13/08 10:34am
Msg #235120

No, I bought with XP installed.

As much as a PITA as it is, stay on hold. It's worth it!

Reply by Philip Johnson on 2/13/08 10:36am
Msg #235121

I would think that having the guy in the cubicle down the

hall from you switch out the operating system might effect your warranty with Dell. When XP came out, folks whined about it and longed for windows 98. I have both an xp and a vista machine as long as you have a gig or maybe 2 gigs of ram I don't see a whole bunch of difference.

Reply by Korey Humphreys on 2/13/08 12:19pm
Msg #235144

I agree....

My desktop computer is running Windows XP and my laptop runs Windows Vista. I have no problems with Vista whatsoever. I did upgrade the RAM from 512MB to 2GB.

Vista is releasing SP1 soon (I think it's already completed but won't be availabe through Windows Update until March). It should fix a lot of the problems people are claiming they have had.

Reply by Vince/KS on 2/13/08 2:27pm
Msg #235170

Changing Operating Systems

Each time Microsoft releases a new operating system it has likely been designed to be more user friendly with more redundant features and new special effects. Because of this, more and more RAM (random access memory) is needed. Any system running windows VISTA would likely run XP better. But, Microsoft will quit supporting XP before too much longer and you may develop some problems in the future as software changes are made. I still have systems running DOS, UNIX5.0, Windows 95 and 98 plus XP and Vista. Had a copy of ME but Microsoft actually allowed me to return it with full refund. A major problem is that most of these older systems are not capable of running modern software and the modern systems will not run some of the old software.

If you have a problem with your current system, a technical representative from Dell (or for that matter HP, Toshiba and others) may want you to start to solve the problem by restoring all original software before they will do anything. If you now change to XP, you’ll have your work cut out for you adding and dropping software changes once you fix a problem.

It’s been my experience that you may need to simply upgrade the new computer, if it has a decent processor (main CPU), by adding more RAM. Ask your local “expert” if he agrees with this idea.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 2/13/08 11:40am
Msg #235136

So true, so true about Vista

My husband and I just orderd two desktops from Dell with XP - while odering my husband told them I insisted it be XP, not Vista and the rep and tech support both said they didn't blame me - Vista has some major issues..

Reply by MikeC/NY on 2/13/08 10:36am
Msg #235122

Dell still ships with either XP or Vista

so you shouldn't have any problem switching from one to the other. I'm not aware of any manufacturer that makes the OS a condition of the warranty (which usually only covers hardware), but you may not be able to get tech support from them if you switch. Check with them to be sure first.

Reply by Shane_OH on 2/13/08 11:46am
Msg #235138

Why not have both?

I run my PC with Vista Home Premium, and for anything I need XP for, I run XP inside of Windows vista using Virtual PC 2007 (which is free).

In essense i run 2 operating systems on the same PC at the same time.

Reply by Julie/MI on 2/13/08 12:17pm
Msg #235142

I removed the factory installed vista....

my hp laptop came with that awful VISTA (remember the commercial making fun of it?) and my husband removed vista and I have been running XP, problem free.

There is no way I would ever want both operating systems on my PC. Vista is just the most annoying running system out there.

Reply by OR on 2/13/08 12:29pm
Msg #235149

Re: I removed the factory installed vista....

My husband Frank, went the other way form XP to Visa then the hard drive went out. This was a Dell computer and the warranty was fine. He had ordered Vista up grade form Dell. However I would call and ask before I made the change to my computer. I know that Vista is a lot of work, you have to change your operating programs to work with your equipment you already have, but very soon that will be the operating systems on everything, I would work the bugs out now if I could and get it over. My husband loves his vista now it is all the bugs are worked out it took a good 2 days and he was good to go. GOOD LUCK

Reply by Dennis D Broadbooks on 2/13/08 12:24pm
Msg #235146

If I Wasn't Dependent on VPN...

...(Virtual Private Networking) I'd be running Vista only right now. However there are some VPN issues with Vista that are SUPPOSED to be addressed with their first service pack to be released in the next month. If MS has corrected VPN so it now works I'll be migrating completely from XP Pro to Vista Ultimate shortly & won't be looking back.

Reply by Pierces Notary Services on 2/13/08 1:18pm
Msg #235155

I talked with Dell and they said they just wouldn't support the OS because it wasn't purchased with the computer. They would still support the hardware though. I am running XP on my old machine and have them networked - this new one is horrible. My computer tech said that even with the additional memory added it wouldn't run like my old one with XP. Right now I'm leaning towards upgrading the memory anyway and see how it runs after that. I didn't pay for this machine in a sense so it's worth it to me to upgrade and if it stills runs horrible I'll dump Vista and load XP.

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 2/13/08 1:47pm
Msg #235163

Did you read my post concerning the FSB?

It's a real issues that Dell has not admitted publicly to. I am running Vista right now on a very average computer without any issues, speed or otherwise.

The only issues I have had is with old, outdated programs ...

There are Dell people that will tell you "Nah, that's not true". But that very same computer that Dell sent to replace the slow XP one, I also loaded Vista on without issue ... (Mom wanted Vista).