Michael Louis Scott's Microsoft Vista
Beta Notes: http://www.geocities.com/mikelscott/visbeta.htm
http://www.geocities.com/mikelscott/
Microsoft Vista
beta web site http://connect.microsoft.com/ .
Note:<999> 02/02/07 Friday 1:15 A.M.: Cheaper Vista Get Vista upgrade, never pay full price . CIO
Note:<999> 01/24/07 Wednesday 2:40 P.M.: Microsoft Windows Vista: Windows Vista Homepage
Note:<999> 01/23/07 Tuesday 3:15 P.M.: Note if you look at the OEM notes in the links below, it says the Vista OEM copies are only good for installing on one computer, and the OEM copies can not be transferred to another computer or used on the same systems that have been upgraded with new hardware such as motherboards. I am not sure what the real case is or not.
Newegg - The" Wow" starts now.Get Windows Vista Today
Newegg.com - Symantec Norton Internet Security 2007 Single User free Vista Version upgrade - OEM $27.99 and $4.99 shipping Update with Windows Vista ™ Information Center - Symantec Corp. and download Symantec Home & Home Office Store Norton Internet Security 2007 15 day trial to activate you www.newegg.com copy. I do not know whether the OEM copy of Vista can be used as an upgrade or not, but all copies of Vista are suppose to be the same, so one should be able to install it as an upgrade. Installing as an upgrade takes much longer. CIO
OEM, means "Office Equipment Manufacturer" which means if you buy it cheaper that way, I do not think you get tech support. CIO
Note:<999> 03/06/07 Tuesday 2:25 A.M.: On my Vista Ultimate install, the Complete PC backup to DVD does not work, and it repeated the first DVD over and over again. A tweak for Vista, I found is that if one runs "msconfig" , one can make a list of one's startup programs and take any off the list that one does not need. Then one unchecks all of the startup programs and reboots. Then one checks the startup programs from one's list and reboots, and the startup programs start up in much better order, and the computer works better. In my particular case the three Nvidia graphics card startup programs when in the new boot order caused my Nvidia graphics card to perform twice as fast. I was given a copy of Office 2007 Professional at the Office 2007 launch event. I noticed with Word 2007, when one has a file opened, one can not publish it to another server, until the file is closed, and then it is not system protected, which seems sort of cumbersome. Vista Ultimate with Office 2007 Professional is working just fine on my primary Vista computer system http://mikelouisscott.com/computer.htm and http://geocities.com/mikelscott/computer.htm .
My computer's Windows Experience Index Base Score is 2.6
Subscore:
Processor 3.4
Memory (RAM) 4.0
Graphics 4.1
Gaming Graphics 2.6
Primary Hard Disk 5.4
CIO
Note:<999> 02/01/07 Thursday 3:45 A.M.: I bought the CompUSA.com: Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1600 ATSC NTSC Hybrid Video Recorder TV Tuner - 1178 - Computer Upgrades » TV Tuners and WinTV-HVR-1600 , and I installed it in my primary computer http://mikelouisscott.com/computer.htm running Vista Ultimate with the Vista Media Center program, and it works fine with the Vista Media Center which recognizes it. When installing the Vista drivers Hauppauge Computer Works: Support for WinTV-HVR-1600 , I installed the Vista drivers, and then I ran the Vista install program and configured the TV card, and then I ran it a second time, and I also ran the XP Happauge install program from the DVD, and I deselected the programs on the XP install that the Vista install wanted to install, and I first installed the XP programs and then the Vista programs. The WinTV 2000 program recognized my analog channels off the cable system, and when I switch the channel to channel 3, I can use the switch I have installed with the Radio Shack cable switch, and I can also watch the Digital Cable box channels on the channel 3. I tried connecting the Digital port to directly to my cable system, but it did not recognize any other channels, however www.cablevision.com is gradually changing their service to all digital in the future, so perhaps the digital connector will be useful in the future. The Hauppauge remote control recognizes and runs the Vista Media Center program on Vista Ultimate. The Vista Media Center configured my WinTV-HVR-1600 card, and it runs it TV programs with it just fine. CIO
Note:<999> 01/30/07 Tuesday 6:45 P.M.: Fix the Vista boot manager if you are having problems with it with multiple boot systems with Download EasyBCD 1.52 - NeoSmart Technologies . CIO
Note:<999> 01/24/07 Wednesday 5:25 P.M.: I installed the latest Nvidia Vista driver for my Nvidia card NVIDIA Drivers , so the card in Vista now recognizes my television monitor which is connected to the Nvidia card, so I can watch WebTV http://wwitv.com/portal.htm with the Vista Windows Media on my larger television, when I use the Nvidia program to switch from the second monitor the television. I can also watch the desktop on the television, since it can be mirrored to be viewed on the monitor. CIO
Note:<999>
01/24/07 Wednesday 2:10 P.M.: Discover
AOL: Vista Information .
Note:<999>
12/16/06 Saturday 2:10 A.M.:
Note:<999> 12/12/06 Tuesday 2:30 A.M.: I installed the Logitech program for the Logitech QuickCam 4000, but instead of using the Logitech QuickCam 4000 program, I install the XP driver from the CD, and then I install the Vista version of Logitech - Support > Downloads QuickCam® Pro 5000 for Vista which has a few more bells and whistles. I also installed the final releases of Microsoft for Vista IntelliType Pro and IntelliPoint Download Software Microsoft Vista Keyboard and Mouse: . CIO
Note:<999> 12/05/06 Tuesday 3:40 A.M.: I downloaded and install AOL for Vista AOL 9.0 VR , and it seems to work just fine. It works with the Windows Media Player, so it does not attempt to install Real. CIO
Note:<999>
12/01/06 Friday 9:10 P.M.: I received the product registration key
for my installation of Microsoft Vista Ultimate edition final release on the
primary computer
http://mikelouisscott.com/computer.htm . I installed it.
The
Note:<999> 11/26/06 Sunday 10:45 P.M.: I seemed to be having a security problem with intruders, so I downloaded and installed Norton Internet Security: Download for Vista 30 day beta demo - Symantec Corp. , and I am doing a Complete PC scan with it. Before installing the Norton demo, I had done a Complete PC restore eliminating any problems that intruders might have caused. I had a problem with my Plantronics DSP 500 headset working properly, but from the Vista "Recording Devices" applet, I was able to fix it by selecting the "Restore Defaults" for the Plantronics headset. CIO
Note:<999> 11/25/06 Saturday 2:20 P.M.: I was able to fix the "Recording Devices" applet that when I opened it, it cause the computer system to crash. The problem was NOT caused by the Creative SoundBlaster Audigy 2 Value card or its drivers. It was caused by the Pinnacle USB video capture device. I removed the Pinnacle USB video capture device, and I set it up on the server in XP. Thus the Vista audio problem is now solved on my primary computer. CIO
Note:<999> 11/25/06 Saturday 10:05 A.M.: VistaMaNiA- Windows Vista - Drivers . Driver for my video card http://mikelouisscott.com/computer.htm at Catalyst® Beta Display Driver for Windows Vista RTM (32 bit) . I will now install it. Here it say NOT to install the Creative Vista driver on the SoundBlaster Audigy 2 Value card which I have done VistaMaNiA- Windows Vista - Drivers , but the XP one for it does not seem to work either. CIO
Note:<999> 11/25/06 Saturday 8:00 A.M.: This works for me in Vista Final release CA Consumer Online Store CA's award-winning CA Anti-Virus for Vista . However, I am using version 7, since the newer version 8 would not work for me in beta. CIO
Note:<999> 11/24/06 Friday 11:50 A.M.: In Vista Final release they have an option to chose one's own startup image, so I put in a picture icon *.tif file of myself on the beach in Florida Michael Louis Scott's Résumeé . I set the back ground to a dark green. I set the desktop icons to smaller icons. I did a number of other small tweaks. I did a Vista Complete PC backup from the first hard drive to the second hard drive. Basically I have it all up and running just fine. Of course the manufactures of hardware and software still have a bit of work to do making their older products work with the new Vista operating system. The official launch is suppose to be next Thursday in Times Square in Manhattan, so more than likely next Friday you will hear more about it in the media. I also unchecked about eight startup programs with "run" "msconfig" , so Vista runs more quickly. The one feature I miss is that there is not Desktop icon for Internet Explorer, but one can make a short cut from the Tray Internet Explorer Icon, but it is not one of the first in the left column as before. Also on my primary computer http://mikelouisscott.com/computer.htm , I have two large Dell monitors with a dual 256 meg. ATI video card, but with dual monitors enabled, the screen saver does not work on the right monitor. I do not have that many current programs to test with Vista Final, but what I have is running just fine. CIO
Note:<999> 11/24/06 Thursday 10:10 A.M.: I tried installing other drivers for the Creative SoundBlaster Audigy 2 Value card, but none of them worked any better. I beta once I was able to get the "Recording Device" applet to work by changing the SoundBlaster setting from 6.1 speakers to 2.1 speakers, but that does not work anymore. I tried installing the SoundBlaster Audigy EAX card from the server computer, and that would not boot in the primary computer Vista partition. I tried changing the PCI card slots with a LAN card and the SoundBlaster Audigy 2 Value card, but that caused something like product activation to kick in and the computer would not boot. When I changed the cards back to their original location, the computer worked all right. I did some minor cosmetic system tweaking. CIO
Note:<999> 11/22/06 Wednesday 7:40 P.M.: After installing the Vista Final Release X86 version on my primary computer http://mikelouisscott.com/computer.htm I configured it. I only had one problem, and that is the Creative Live Audigy Value 2 sound card works, but in Vista when one clicks on "Recording Devices" the system crashes. I have the latest Creative Vista beta driver installed for the sound card. In the Vista beta cycle, I had the same problem, and I was able to fix it with the January 2006 Creative XP driver for the card, but I am not sure where to find it now. I also put version 7 of the CA Eztrust Antivirus program for Vista on the system. After configuring the system, I did a Complete PC backup from the first hard drive to the second hard drive, and then I did a Complete PC backup from the first hard drive to the Maxtor External hard drive. CIO
Note:<999> 11/22/06 Wednesday 9:40 A.M.: I did a new install of Vista Final Ultimate Edition on my primary computer http://mikelouisscott.com/computer.htm of the X86 version, and it installed without any problems in about 15 minutes. I am now configuring it. CIO
Note:<999>
11/21/06 Tuesday 9:00 P.M.: Yesterday, I put a new almost identical
motherboard in a new my primary computer
http://mikelouisscott.com/computer.htm , and it seems that the old one had a
faulty onboard IDE controller, so the computer is working just fine. Once
I receive the Vista Ultimate product registration code, I will try to do a new
install with it. Also I took out the SATA hard drive from my primary
computer, so I am only using two new IDE hard drives. I also will do
this hardware upgrade with Vista Ultimate.
Note:<999> 11/20/06 Monday 6:55 A.M.: On Friday afternoon, I download the free copy of Vista final release that Microsoft is giving to their beta testers that filed error reports. I did file some error reports beside running this page, but there were actually not that many errors for me in the beta cycle of over 1 and a half years. I tried installing Vista final a number of times over the weekend. The only problems I had is that my vintage D-link hub with LAN interfered with its installation. I tried installing it both on a separate hard drive and a second partition on the first hard drive. However, when one installs it on an XP machine in a different partition it now cripples the XP boot manger, so only Vista boots unlike in the beta. I tried a few works arounds without success. One is able to eliminate the Vista Boot Manager if one needs to get back to XP by booting XP CD, and selecting System Recovery, and from the boot drive running "fixboot.exe C:" or whatever drive your XP boot partition is on however, one will not have Vista. One can get Vista to work by running the repair option from the Vista DVD, but then XP will not work. There must be a better way. However, the number of times that I installed Vista, although the free copy can be installed and used for 30 days without a Product Activation code, Product Activation kept kicking in and disabling Vista for some odd reason. Since I need my XP setup with certain features, I might not be installing Vista right away, until I can replace those features with Vista enabled features. CIO
Note:<999>
11/14/06 Tuesday 5:00 P.M.: I installed on the primary computer
http://mikelouisscott.com/computer.htm the
Note:<999> 11/09/06 Thursday 9:10 A.M.: I was able to tweak a problem with Vista beta 2 RC2 build 5744 on my primary computer. Basically when I install the free Real player, it tries to upgrade and reboot itself in a continual reboot cycle, so I finally uninstalled it. However, I went ahead and install the AOL open ride and security versions, and it also installed a different version of the Real Player which works. However, in installing it, it crippled my Windows Media player from playing CDs in the DVD player. I worked until about 4 A.M. figuring out the problem. Basically the problem was not caused by the free AOL from what I can tell, but with my Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Value card with the latest Creative Vista drivers, when from the Creative Media counsel, I change the setting from 2.1 speakers to my 6.1 speaker settings, the Windows Media Player did not play CD material, but gave an error message. However, if one switches it back from 6.1 to 2.1 it all works just fine. I then cleaned my DVD /R /RW drives with the AT&T lens cleaning CD. I then did a Complete PC backup of the server to 4 DVDs -r, and then I did a Complete PC backup of the primary computer to 10 DVDs -r. I also made a copy of the Vista beta 2 RC2 build 5744 DVD to go with the backup DVDs in case it is needed for a restore operation. Assuming it is the same as the Complete PC backup restore operation from hard drive to hard drive that would mean it needs to be restored to a hard drive that is 160 gigabytes or larger on the IDE0 Master cable. Of course Vista is more finicky about being restored to other computers than XP, so possibly a restore to a dissimilar computer would not work. I also did a Complete PC backup from the first hard drive to the second hard drive on the primary computer. CIO
Note:<999> 11/08/06 Wednesday 10:15 P.M.: On the primary computer http://mikelouisscott.com/computer.htm in Vista beta 2 RC 2 build 5744 with Sun Java "jre-1_5_06-windows-i586-p", the Westchester County - AirportMonitor - by Megadata - powered by PASSUR DOES work, so it is a peculiar problem with my FIC server computer, possibly the Nvidia video card. I will now do Complete PC backups of both the primary and server computers to DVD. CIO
Note:<999> 11/08/06 Wednesday 8:10 P.M.: On the FIC server computer, I tried installing Sun Java on the Vista beta 2 RC2 build 5744 partition. There was a problem, the latest build "jre-1_5_09-windows-i586-p" would not install properly, but a copy of the earlier build "jre-1_5_06-windows-i586-p" that I had saved installed properly, and past the Sun Java installation test. However, on the FIC server computer with my current configuration http://mikelouisscott.com/computer.htm, when I logged onto Westchester County - AirportMonitor - by Megadata - powered by PASSUR , its JAVA page would not work with either version or the beta version either. Perhaps there is a problem with my new Nvidia video card. I also did Vista Complete PC backups of both the primary and the server computers. CIO
Note:<999> 11/07/06 Tuesday 10:10 A.M.: I configured Vista beta 2 RC2 build 5744 more on the primary computer. There was one small problem with American Online Free Ride, and that was that when I installed the Free Real Player, it uninstalls the American Online Real Player, and when one reboots, the Free Real Player goes into an endless loop of upgrading and rebooting, so I uninstalled the Free Real Player, and American Online installed its version of the Real Player. I do not know if is a Vista beta problem or not. Still Vista Beta 2 RC2 build 5744 seems to be running fine enough. I do not know when the beta expires, but it is usually six months after its release. CIO
Note:<999> 11/07/06 Tuesday 3:50 A.M.: I have installed Vista Beta RC2 build 5744 on the server in a secondary partition on the first hard drive. I have almost finished configuring it the same way I have the Vista beta configured on my primary computer. I noticed the HP printer drivers are not included. I also installed Free AOL Openride on it. I also tried to set it up as a server, but the Optimum Online Optimum Boost Dynamic DNS program will not work with it. Also the free Optimum Online Rhapsody music program will not work with it. I also installed free Basic Real on it. Thus the server beta has a couple more programs. I will do a Complete PC backup of it from the first hard drive to the second hard drive, once I have finished configuring it. CIO
Note:<999> 11/06/06 Sunday 7:00 A.M.: I installed Vista Beta RC2 build 5744 on the server after installing two 160 gigabyte hard drives http://mikelouisscott.com/computer.htm . However, I am not running the server with it yet. The Western Digital 160 gigabyte hard drive, I installed on the server was originally for the primary computer, but both the Vista Complete PC backup restore and the XP Pro ASR backup restore will not restore to it, since it is 3.61 gigabytes smaller than the Maxtor 160 gigabyte hard drive, the backups were made with, which is why I have the systems configured the way they are currently. On the server with both 160 gigabyte hard drives installed on IDE0 as master and slave with Cable Select pin settings, the Complete PC backup successfully did a backup, which it would not do on the primary computer, except as IDE0 master and IDE1 slave. I will configure Vista on the server later. CIO
Note:<999>
11/04/06 Saturday 9:10 A.M.: On the primary computer
http://mikelouisscott.com/computer.htm , I installed
Note:<999> 10/17/06 Tuesday 9:10 A.M.: With the IDE cables configured as listed in the note just below, I was able to do in Vista beta RC2 build 5744, a Complete PC backup from the first hard drive to the second hard drive. I was also able to do a Complete PC backup from the first hard drive to the Maxtor external hard drive. Thus I would say it is safe to say Vista beta 2 build 5744 is working just fine on my primary computer http://mikelouisscott.com/computer.htm . CIO
Note:<999> 10/17/06 Tuesday 7:00 A.M.: I think I was finally able to get the Complete PC backup feature of Vista working on my computer. I could not initially get it to work with the previous mention cable configuration. I finally decided to remove the second NEC DVD/RW drive, and I ran the primary IDE cable from the motherboard to the first hard drive as a master. The cables are not long enough to also connect the NEC DVD/RW drive. The second IDE cable connects the LX 16X GAS-4167B DVD +/- RW Dual Layer DVD ReWriteable Drive as the master, and I have the second hard drive connected to the second IDE cable as a slave. All threes drives at set to Cable Select "CS" . In this configuration the Complete PC backup program for Vista seems to work properly. I did restore my backup with it that I made before working on the computer. I will now test it some more with a couple of backups. CIO
Note:<999> 10/17/06 Tuesday 3:00 A.M.: In Vista beta RC2 build 5744, on my primary computer http://mikelouisscott.com/computer.htm , with Vista installed on the first hard drive in a second partition, I was able to get the Complete PC backup to work. I rearranged my two hard drives, so each is a slave on a separate IDE channel, and each of the DVD/RAW drives are master on each of the IDE channels. I was able to do a successful Complete PC backup without it stalling. I set the dip pins on each of the four drives to "CS" Cable Select. I use the longer new Cobra cable for the first IDE channel, since it is a longer stretch in my tower case, and I lowered the upper DVD drive to the third bay. I raised the second hard drive to a higher bay so it was nearer the second DVD drive in the four bay, and I use a new IDE cable with a shorter reach, thus both IDE cables in the primary computer are new. I tried testing it first with a new IDE cable before switching cables, and I also tried disconnecting the USB cables, but the success came with each hard drive on a separate IDE channel. CIO
Note:<999>
10/15/06 Saturday 10:00 P.M.: Complete PC backup will not
work. I keep getting the error message
Note:<999> 10/12/06 Thursday 2:05 P.M.: I installed the Microsoft One Care beta, but one can not activate it. I did a Complete PC restore yesterday after I had to reinstall a new IDE cable, and the Complete PC restore works just fine, but the option to uncheck the restore partition option does not work, so one has to restore the same partition size. CIO
Note:<999> 10/08/06 Sunday 8:10 A.M.: I had to do a Complete PC Backup restore, since the XP partition for some reason had problems. On my computer http://mikelouisscott.com/computer.htm , the USB 2.0 512 meg. pen drive plugged into the USB 2.0 hub plugged into the USB 2.0 PCI card kept the computer from booting the Vista DVD. I solved the problem by removing the connector from the USB 2.0 hub. After the system was restored, I plugged it into the motherboard USB 2.0 port which does not cause a problem when booting the Vista DVD. Both systems are now running fine. CIO
Note:<999> 10/08/06 Sunday 3:20 A.M.: I installed the MS Vista mouse and keyboard drivers. I worked in Vista, and it seems to be bug free, and it does not seem to have any system problems. It works quite well. CIO
Note:<999> 10/07/06 Saturday 11:35 P.M.: Vista Intellipoint and Intellitype drivers Download Details . CIO
Note:<999> 10/07/06 Saturday 11:00 P.M.: Windows Vista RC2 . Windows Vista: Getting Started with Windows Vista RC1 . CIO
Note:<999> 10/07/06 Saturday 3:00 P.M.: I downloaded and installed Vista Beta RC2 build 5744 X84. The Creative Vista driver for the SoundBlaster Audigy 2 Value card works just fine. I configured it the same as before. I did a Complete PC backup from the first hard drive to the second hard drive, and then I did another one to the external hard drive. The new beta seems to run better. CIO
Note:<999> 10/01/06 Wednesday 8:30 A.M.: I was able to get the TV card working in Vista without any problems. I was also able to get the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Value card working in Vista by installing the latest XP drivers for it. However, it one uses the Creative control panel mixer to change the speaker setup from 2.1 to 6.1, it disables the Audigy 2 card, so one leaves is as it installs. Also in the audio setup the record setting still freezes, but one can change record setting with the Net2Phone Audio setup. Thus one can play the TV card with sound in Vista. However, the version of the TV card that I have installed is not recognized by the Vista Media Center. I changed the desktop theme to "AERO", which is more dynamic looking. I did a Complete PC backup of the entire system. CIO
Note:<999> 09/26/06 Tuesday 12:10 A.M.: I downloaded and installed Vista beta RC1 build 5728. The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Value card no longer works. Also on the record setting of the audio settings the system crashes. Another person in the newsgroups has the same problems. I reinstalled the beta a few times, so on the final install, I did not attempt to install the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Value card drivers. The system is configured as before. The audio still works through the Plantronics DSP 500 headset and the onboard audio through the wireless headset, but one can not change the record setting from the Plantronics to the onboard audio record. I did not install the Office 2007 beta 2 refresh, but the Office 2007 beta 2 programs are installed. The new beta shuts down faster. I have it totally configured. I did a Complete PC backup from the first hard drive C: drive to the second hard drive D: drive. CIO
Note:<999> 09/23/06 Saturday 7:05 A.M.: I ordered Surplus Computers Hauppauge WinTV-GO TV Tuner Capture Card for $15.99 with free shipping. According to Hauppauge Computer Works: Support and Hauppauge Computer Works: Support , it is suppose to work. Thus I will be able to test the Vista Media Center features. CIO
Note:<999> 09/23/06 Saturday 5:50 A.M.: The Lexmark X1185 scanner printer installs in Vista beta RC1, but its program does not. I installed the drivers for the USB Pinnacle Capture Device. I installed Nero 6.6 and its updates. However, the Nero Video Capture crashes, when I try to load the Pinnacle USB audio and video. This was also a problem with earlier versions of Vista. I will now do a Complete PC backup from the first C: hard drive to the second D: hard drive. CIO
Note:<999> 09/18/06 Monday 11:15 P.M.: I worked with Vista beta RC1. I reconfigured the fresh install. After installing Office 2007 beta 2, I installed the Office 2007 beta 2 refresh. However, after installing and configuring the Vista beta RC1, the Microsoft Office SharePoint Designer 2007 beta which worked when I originally installed it, did not work. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling it, but it would not reinstall, and just gave an error message. However, everything else seems to be working fine. Besides installing the same configuration as before, I also installed the D-Link Ethernet Broadband Router printer server which installed and works, however one can not change its default IP address in the Printer Port properties, but it does install the correct IP address. I did a Complete PC backup from the first C: hard drive to the Maxtor external hard drive, and I did a Complete PC backup from the first C: hard drive to the second D: hard drive. I also installed all of my printers, except for the Lexmark X1185 which in the past has caused problems with its software in Vista. CIO
Note:<999> 09/18/06 Monday 10:00 A.M.: I reinstalled Vista beta RC1 as a fresh install eliminating the upgrade install, and it works much better as a fresh install, and it does not seem to have any problems. I did a partial configuration. CIO
Note:<999> 09/17/06 Sunday 7:45 A.M.: I was able to download the Office 2007 beta files. I installed them, but the Office 2007 beta 2 refresh would not install over them, since I had already installed it. I did another Complete PC backup from the first C: hard drive to the second D: hard drive. CIO
Note:<999> 09/16/06 Saturday 11:15 P.M.: I installed the Office 2007 beta two refresh over the Office 2007 beta 1, and it seems to have installed part way. I can not afford to download beta 2 of Office 2007 to do a proper install. I worked with Vista RC1 for about the last 18 hours with a six hour sleep period. I was able to get the Logitech Webcam Pro 4000 to work with Vista by installing the Logitech Webcam Pro 4000 drivers from the Logitech installation CD. I then installed the Logitech Webcam Pro 5000 program to work with it with Vista. I was able to get the Creative SoundBlaster Audigy 2 Value card to work with Vista, by installing its drivers from the Creative driver CD, and then upgrading them to the last Creative Vista drivers. However, they system seems to be a bit buggy with the Creative SoundBlaster Audigy 2 Value card installed, since when one changes different audio settings in Vista RC1 Sound applet, certain Vista features quit working unless one reboots. Also one has to set up the Creative SoundBlaster Audigy 2 Value card in in the Creative console program. However, once it is set up, it sounds just fine. I uninstalled the Computer Associates Antivirus program for Vista, because it was not starting up all right. In trying to get Vista RC1 to be more staple in its current configuration, I reinstalled it as an upgrade, and went through the minor configuration tweaks that one needs to do after an upgrade. I will do a complete Vista RC1 PC backup in a little while after I do an XP ASR backup. Thus I have a working configuration of Vista RC1. CIO
Note:<999>
09/06/06 Wednesday 11:30 A.M.:
Note:<999> 09/06/06 Wednesday 1:40 A.M.: I installed Vista RC1 build 5600 as an upgrade over the previous build without any problems. However, the Creative Vista driver for the SoundBlaster Audigy Value 2 card does not work. Other than that, it seems to be working fine. CIO
Note:<999> 08/28/06 Monday 4:35 P.M.: I did some minor system configuration in Vista RC1 build 5536. It seems to be running just fine. CIO
Note:<999> 08/27/06 Sunday 5:50 A.M.: I did a Complete PC Backup with Vista RC1 build 5536, and it works just fine. CIO
Note:<999> 08/27/06 Sunday 1:20 A.M.: I installed Vista beta 2 build 5536 as an upgrade over build 5472. It installed as an upgrade without any problems. I installed it as an upgrade from within build 5472. I had to reinstalled the Creative Sound Blaster Audigy II Value Vista drivers which have been updated. The Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000 web cam still does not work. I have not tried the Complete PC backup yet. CIO
Note:<999> 08/22/06 Tuesday 5:10 A.M.: I worked with Vista Beta 2 build 5472, and there was an update to install the driver for my Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000 web cam, but the driver update would not install with or without the Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000 web cam program installed, so it still does not work with Vista. CIO
Note:<999> 08/02/06 Tuesday 11:00 A.M.: I read the Vista beta 2 build 5472 newsgroups, and I worked with its dictation feature which works quite well. CIO
Note:<999> 07/31/06 Monday 5:55 P.M.: In Vista beta 2 build 5472, the Lexmark X1185 drivers install, but the program does not install. It does show up in the scanner and camera folder. The Logitech X4000 web cam drivers do not install, but the program does. The HP Photosmart P1000 driver does not install. CIO
Note:<999>
07/26/06 Wednesday 10:05 P.M.:
Note:<999> 07/25/06 Tuesday 10:50 A.M.: I configured Vista beta 2 build 5472. I installed the PCCillan antivirus program demo that the beta recommends from its security center. The Creative Audigy 2 Value drivers for Vista beta 2 work with this build, so I now have surround sound with the beta. I installed short cuts for my hard drive music files. I might try to optimize my second hard drive used for backups, and that might enable the beta to do a complete backup, however I will have to do that at a later time. I also could try to use the Maxtor external hard drive for a backup too. There is nothing in the beta newsgroups about the Complete backup feature not working, so maybe it is something peculiar to my setup. CIO
Note:<999> 07/25/06 Tuesday 2:40 A.M.: I reinstalled Vista beta 2 build 5472 without configuring it or changing its basic install. I then tried to do a complete system backup from the first hard drive to the second hard drive, and the backup failed once again at about the point where it reads the Vista partition after backing up the XP partition. Thus I would say there is definitely something wrong with the backup program in this latest version of the beta. I will not bother configuring the beta further. CIO
Note:<999> 07/19/06 Wednesday 12:50 P.M.: I tried to do a complete system backup with Vista beta 2 build 5472 backup, but it failed three times. In earlier versions with the same configuration, it has worked before. CIO
Note:<999> 07/18/06 Tuesday 10:45 P.M.: I downloaded and installed Vista beta 2 build 5472. The Computer Associates Antivirus Program for Vista CA Consumer Online Store does not work with it. It installs, but freezes on reboot. When one does a F8 Last Known Good Configuration, the CA Antivirus program loads, but it does not work. Also it changes the dual monitor setup. I did a minimal configuration of the Vista beta 2 build 5472. CIO
Note:<999> 06/28/06 Wednesday 1:45 P.M.: I did a little bit more system configuration of Vista beta 2 build 5456. I then did a complete system backup from the first hard drive to the second hard drive with Vista beta 2 build 5456 backup program. It seems to be running just fine. I put on the EZtrust Antivirus vista beta, Net2Phone, Weather Pulse, Ad-awareSE, and CCleaner. I will not bother with the Microsoft Office 2007 betas, since one can not save files with them. CIO
Note:<999> 06/28/06 Wednesday 3:40 A.M.: I installed Vista beta 2 build 5456. I did a minor configuration of it. CIO
Note:<999> 06/22/06 Thursday 6:20 P.M.: I worked briefly with Vista Beta 2. When I tried to open web pages with Office 2007 Word beta, the files were "Read Only", so I could not save them, so it is hard to work with Vista Beta 2 in my normal routine. Also when the system went to sleep, the mouse would not bring it out of rest mode, and the screen saver did not come up. It might be a CMOS setting. CIO
Note:<999> 06/17/06 Monday 2:55 P.M.: I made a complete system backup today from the first hard drive to the second hard drive, and it was 60.9 gigabytes in size. I then used the DVD backup feature, and the same backup took 9 DVD-r disks or about 6.676 gigabytes to a DVD-r disk. On my primary computer the Vista beta is on a smaller secondary partition on the first hard drive, and it backs up the larger XP partition also. The computer has two DVD/RW drives http://mikelouisscott.com/computer.htm . However, the Vista beta 2 backup only recognized the first DVD/RW drive, and the second one it recognized as a CD/RW instead of a DVD/RW drive. The first DVD/RW drive is a NEC 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE/ATAPI Model ND-3550A - OEM at Newegg.com and the second is a LG 16X Dual Layer DVD+-RW Drive - BEIGE - $43.95 , so I do not know if it is a hardware or a software problem, but it is probably a Vista Beta 2 backup problem, since the Vista beta 2 does recognize both DVD/RW drives. The restore feature in Vista beta 2 from the DVD disk works quite well, but I think the drive has to be the same size as the backup was made on, and I do not think you can restore to different size partitions. CIO
Note:<999> 06/11/06 Sunday 2:05 A.M.: I installed the basic Real Player, but I am not sure whether it works properly or not. It does not play on BBC video broadcasts. I tried to install the www.optonline.net Rhapsody player, but it does not work, so I uninstalled it. CIO
Note:<999> 05/30/06 Tuesday 12:20 P.M.: I had a system problem with my XP configuration, and I used the Vista beta 2 restore option from its DVD disk to restore my backup from the second hard drive, and it did it quickly without any problems restoring both partitions on the first hard drive. CIO
Note:<999> 05/28/06 Sunday 12:45 A.M.: In Vista beta 2, I installed
Note:<999> 05/25/06 Thursday 4:15 A.M.: I worked with Vista Beta 2. I uninstalled the Logitech X4000 program and drivers since they did not work. I installed the GIGABYTE - Motherboard - Products 7VT600P-RZ onboard audio driver and program which did work. I disabled the Creative Audigy 2 Value driver, since it does not install properly. I installed the Adobe Reader. The Norton Internet Security 2006 program will not install. One can install a Corporate Edition of Norton AntiVirus for Vista, if one has the Corporate registration key. However, for a beta that has eight months to go before release, it is a good beta, and it works fine for web browsing. CIO
Note:<999> 05/24/06 Wednesday 9:00 A.M.: I installed Vista beta 2 on my primary computer system http://mikelouisscott.com/computer.htm . It installed without any problems. All of the devices were recognized. However, the Creative SoundBlaster Audigy 2 Value sound card driver does not install. It did work on the Epox motherboard with the earlier Vista beta, so it is probably a problem with the Gigabyte motherboard drivers. Also the Logitech X4000 Pro webcam drivers do not work with Vista beta 2. The onboard gigabyte motherboard sound was recognized by Vista beta 2. I installed Net2Phone, CCleaner, and Ad-aware SE. I configured Vista beta 2, and it works just fine. Thus with Net2Phone and the onboard sound and the wireless headset connected to it, one can talk wireless over the internet. Also the Plantronics DSP500 headset was recognized. All four network devices were recognized. The Lexmark E238 laser was recognized plug and play. Thus I have done a minimum configuration with it. CIO
Note:<999> 05/18/06 Thursday 5:40 A.M.: On Vista Beta build 5381, the Gigabyte GIGABYTE - Motherboard - Products 7VT600P-RZ drivers do not work with it. CIO
Note:<999> 05/17/06 Wednesday 8:10 A.M.: I reinstalled Vista Beta build 5381 with the Gigabyte motherboard reinstalled http://mikelouisscott.com/computer.htm . The Creative SoundBlaster Audigy 2 Value drivers do not install and neither does the Plantronics DSP 500 headset. When I have time, I will try to install the Gigabyte motherboard drivers. CIO
Note:<999> 05/10/06 Wednesday 9:35 P.M.: On the primary computer in the second partition on the first hard drive, I installed Microsoft Vista beta 2 build 5381 with the IIS server. On installation on final configuration, it froze, but when I rebooted, it completed installation without any problems. I set up the two monitors, and the updates. I ran the File and Settings transfer wizard from the XP partition to the Vista partition, but although it ran to completion, it does not seem to have done anything. The beta seems to be more stable and faster. When I tried to install the additional Vista programs and Server IIS, it did not install any of them. CIO
Note:<999> 04/27/06 Thursday 10:50 A.M.: I installed Vista Beta 2 build 5365, and it has some nice new features, which I am not allowed to disclose. On installation, my system froze near completion, but when I pressed the reset button and rebooted, it finished installation, and the beta is running just fine. I will not bother configuring it. I think the dual monitor configuration feature might cause it to freeze on initial installation, but that is opened to conjecture. I have not read any vista newsgroups in about six weeks, so perhaps when I have the time, I will read some of them. CIO
Note:<999> 04/22/06 Saturday 8:50 P.M.: I installed Microsoft Vista beta 2 build 5342 on the primary computer with the new EPox motherboard on a secondary partition. It installed without any problems. CIO
Note:<999> 04/18/06 Tuesday 9:15 P.M.: I installed in the primary computer a EPoX Computer Co., LTD. EP-8RDA3+ motherboard , replacing the Gigabyte motherboard, and the Vista beta will not boot, so I need to reinstall it again, when I have the time. CIO
Note:<999> 04/04/06 Tuesday 5:00 A.M.: I started up Vista beta 2 build 5342, the Creative beta Audigy 2 vista driver works just fine. I installed them, and I now have audio. The www.optonline.net Rhapsody player will now install, and installation causes the Vista beta system to crash. The other programs such as www.ccleaner.com Ad-awareSE www.lavasoft.com , Adobe Reader www.adobe.com , http://java.sun.com install and work just fine. CIO
Note:<999> 03/31/06 Friday 4:20 P.M.: I tried to install the audio driver listed below for my Creative SoundBlaster Audigy2 value card, but on the driver installation it lists various Creative value model numbers, but not one with the Audigy name, so I was not sure which one to install, so I did not install a audio driver. The software that comes with the package did seem to install. However, I have not tried the Creative Vista driver yet either. When I rebooted back to XP, I got the blue screen of death on shutdown, and I did not reboot back to Vista yet. CIO
Note:<999> 03/31/06 Friday 9:55 A.M.: In reinstalling Windows XP Professional on my primary and server computers, I uninstalled the Vista betas on them. I just installed Vista beta 2 build 5342 on the second partition on the primary computer first hard drive. It installed without any problems. I probably will not configure it. I might be able to get my Creative SoundBlaster Audigy X2 value card working with it. There is a link about it for Vista http://chris123nt.com/guides/Beta1_5112/#audigy , but I do not know if it will work with this build. I only did a system restore backup in the vista beta, and I enabled the dual monitor support. CIO
Note:<999> 03/14/06 Tuesday 9:45 P.M.: I worked with the Vista server for a couple hours trying to get headers to work, and although they are suppose to work, I guess the Vista server has not enabled those feature yet. I rebooted to the regular server, so my stats will show up on each page from the header that works on the regular server. CIO
Note:<999> 03/14/06 Tuesday 5:25 A.M.: The Vista server is not read only, the Office 2003 six month demo is crippled, so it will now save files. I put FrontPage Express on it, so I can write a note. However, I will write my notes on the primary computer, and move them to the Vista server http://mikelouisscott.com/visbeta.htm . I finished configuring the Vista beta with the same few programs that I had previously configured it with a few days ago before reinstalling it. It is running fine. I can not figure out how to install headers or footers. However, it is a beta, so possibly those features are not yet available. I will try running the Vista beta 2 build 5230 Internet Information Services Server version 7 with my web content for the time being. It is probably a more robust server. In the hardware devices, my USB 2.0 ports do not show up, but maybe Vista just assumes all of the USB ports are USB 2.0. CIO
Note:<999> 03/14/06 Tuesday 2:10 A.M.: New Networking Features in Windows Server "Longhorn" and Windows Vista . CIO
Note:<999> 03/13/06 Monday 1:00 P.M.: In Vista beta 2 build 5308 Main (Windows Vista - Longhorn Server) 32 bit on my Syntax server, I was able to get the Internet Information Services 7 server running by opening Port 80 in the Vista firewall. I installed the Office 2003 six month demo. However, for some reason my server directory on the Vista drive is "Read Only", and I was not able to change it with the Property attributes for the folder, so I can not edit and post new content on the server. I also could not get headers and footer to work. However, with Optimum Boost, it does work with my static IP address. Thus since I can not post content in the Vista server, I will not be running it from my server. I will have to look into it when I have time. CIO
Note:<999> 03/13/06 Monday 3:15 A.M.: I spent most of the day working with Vista beta 2 build 5308 Main (Windows Vista - Longhorn Server) 32 bit on my Syntax server computer. On the Add Programs I was able to install Internet Information Services 7. I was even able to get it to online by setting it up with a static IP address. I had to reinstall the beta and the server program, when I deleted a configuration file trying to fix an error I had made in the server configuration. I think it will go online with a static IP address with Optimum Boost without the Advanced Configuration DynamicDNS program which does not work with the beta. I think I need to open up Port 80 in the firewall. I will try that later on today. CIO
Note:<999> 03/11/06 Saturday 6:10 P.M.: A few days ago, I also installed Windows Vista beta 2 build 5308 Main (Windows Vista - Longhorn Server) 32 bit on my Syntax server computer in its second hard drive http://mikelouisscott.com/computer.htm . It installed without any problems. I was able to configure the Diamond Multimedia 32 meg. PCI video card with the XP S3 drivers. It recognized my MadDog AGP 64 meg 4 X video card. However, I can not find a server program in the beta. Also the Optimum Boost "Advanced Configuration DynamicDNS" program does not work with the Vista beta, and I get a "13" error. It might be a firewall problem is all that I can figure out. Thus I can not run a server with it anyway. The onboard LAN and the SoHo LAN card installed with its drivers. Today, I tried to install the Minolta 1350W laser printer drivers, and although they install, they install as "Print to File" port, and when I change it to the USB port, it does not work, so I uninstalled them. I installed Ad-awareSE, and it ran fine. I installed the Adobe Reader 7.7 . I installed Sun Java. The 2 month demo of Norton Internet Security 2006 will now install, and it gives a wrong operating system message. The Creative Live MP3+ audio card driver installed from the Vista beta as did the Syntax onboard audio. Thus the sound works with it. Since I can not get the only printer I have installed on the server to work, I figure there is not point installing the Office 2003 six month demo. I can not figure out what the difference is between the server edition and the regular edition of the betas are, unless there are some hidden features that I have not figured out. CIO
Note:<999> 02/24/06 Friday 3:25 P.M.: I installed the drivers for the Lexmark X1185, but its program does not work in Vista Beta 2 build 5308. I installed the drivers for the Lexmark E238, but its program also does not work in Vista beta 2 build 5308. I can not install the drivers for the Minolta QMS PagePro 1250W laser printer. I installed the six month demo of Office 2003, but its updates feature does not work. I installed http://java.sun.com on the Vista beta 2 build 5308. CIO
Note:<999> 02/24/06 Friday 12:20 A.M.: In Vista Beta 2 build 5308, my GIGABYTE - Motherboard - Products Motherboard 7VT600P-RZ motherboard drivers and its onboard sound drivers install from the motherboard CD. However, the Creative SoundBlaster Audigy2 programs and drivers do not install. The Logitech 4000 USB web cam program and its drivers do not install either. Norton Internet Security 2005 does not install either. Still Vista Beta 2 build 5308 seems quite a bit more stable that the earlier versions. The video card ATLANTIS RADEON 9600 Overview programs will not install from its CD, but Vista Beta 2 build 5308 did install drivers for it on installation, and the dual monitor feature works just fine. CIO
Note:<999> 02/23/06 Thursday 3:50 P.M.: Success. I copied the Vista beta 2 build 5308 to my second hard drive D: drive in its own folder. Then from XP Professional, I ran the install program. When I got "Custom", I had the same problem again. I exited back to the "Install" interface. I then ran "Install" again. However, this time I entered the second Product Key that I have, and when I chose "Custom", I was able to install to the second partition on my first hard drive or the K: drive. Vista beta 2 build 5308 installed with out any problems. It went through three reboots. It recognized my dual monitor configuration, which I enabled. I did not install any of the devices yet that were not installed such as my new Creative AudixyX2 sound card. However, I did activate it, and I changed the web browser to my interactive directory. It is running very smoothly and quickly, and as this point I am most please with what I see. I was able to get System Restore backup to work without any problems. I will start configuring it when I have time. It was about a 45 minute install. CIO
Note:<999> 02/23/06 Thursday 1:30 P.M.: I burned Vista Beta 1 build 5308 to DVD. I booted Vista Beta 2 build 5270, but Vista build 5308 would not install from it, since it could not gain access to my C: drive having booted from the second partition on the first drive for the Vista build 5270. I tried installing from a DVD boot, and I formatted my Vista build 5270 partition. However, when I selected the option for "Custom", it would not install to my second partition, say it could not find the install disk image. I tried installing from XP using the "Custom" feature, and there was the same problem. I do not want to install it as an upgrade to XP. In the newsgroups several other people had the same problem. If a solution does not come up soon, I could try to install it on my second hard drive on my backup computer instead of the primary computer. My primary computer configuration is at www.geocities.com/mikelscott/computer.htm . However, since I had planned to use the backup computer for a server that might not be an option. CIO
Note:<999> 02/23/06 Thursday 11:20 A.M.: I just downloaded Microsoft Vista Beta 2 build 5308. It took about 11 hours to download. I will now burn it to DVD and install it as an upgrade to Vista Beta 2 build 5270. CIO
Note:<999> 02/17/06 Friday 2:25 P.M.: I tried to install the drivers for Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Value - Upgrade your performance with EAX ADVANCED HD Effects, 24-bit DVD-Audio and CMSS Technology in Vista Beta 2 build 5270, but they will not install. CIO
Note:<999> 01/18/06 Wednesday 11:55 P.M.: When I started up Vista today, the sound did not work on either the Plantronics DSP500 USB headset and the Creative Live MP3+ sound card. I can not figure out why, and I tried to get to work, but it does not work. Neither do my audio files from the C: drive play either. When I installed MusicMatch and later uninstalled it, it corrupted my Windows Media Player 11 putting in part of the MusicMatch interface. I installed the Hydravision™ upgrade. Basically Vista beta 2 build 5270 is working very well with the new faster video card, besides the sound problem. CIO
Note:<999> 01/18/06 Wednesday 4:45 P.M.: Vista beta 2 build 5270 installed the drivers for ATLANTIS RADEON 9600 Picture Gallery and ATLANTIS RADEON 9600 Overview plug and play with out any problems. I enabled dual monitor support. I then installed the drivers by using XPSP2 properties for the install disk driver program installer. It looked for two drivers files that I skipped because I could not find them, but they were probably already installed by Vista. When I rebooted the ATI program worked with the new video card. It is a low cost ATI card produced by http://www.sapphiretech.com/ , but it has high ratings Sapphire Atlantis Radeon 9600 Pro . CIO
Note:<999> 01/17/06 Tuesday 2:30 P.M.: These programs would not install Optimum Online - PCCare and Optimum Online - Internet Security Package . I ran the defragment program on the Vista drive without any problems. I am not able to log onto the C: drive with XP to copy files from it, so from the C: drive in XP, I copied my music short cuts to the K: drive for Vista. They now work. On Vista, I downloaded the Holiday movie, and I created a short cut for it. I uninstalled Music Match and the Logitech keyboard, mouse, and camera programs, since they do not work. I enabled the Creative Live MP3+ audio card, so sound plays from the speaker insert. I also ran Spybot Search and Destroy without any problems. CIO
Note:<999> 01/08/06 Sunday 9:25 A.M.: Although the Pinnacle Dazzle Digital video creator 80 USB capture device drivers load in Vista beta 2 build 5270, the Media Center does not do anything with the capture capabilities, and it looks for a television card. One has to reactivate the Media Center with a download from http://connect.microsoft.com/ . Well, its only a beta what do you expect. CIO
Note:<999> 01/07/06 Saturday 7:15 A.M.: I tried installed the Logitech 4000 USB web cam in Vista beta 2 build 5270, but it does not work. I installed two new Netgear FA311R LAN cards, and Vista recognized them plug and play. I installed the Video and Audio drivers for the Pinnacle Dazzle Digital video creator 80 USB capture device, and they installed with out any problems. However, when I tried to capture television video with Nero 6.6 Vision Express, the Vista beta 2 build 5270 system crashed. CIO
Note:<999> 01/01/06 Sunday 7:30 A.M.: I backed up Vista Beta 2 build 5270 from the Vista partition to the D: partition using Nero 6.6 backup. It would not back up to DVD, since as a complete drive backup the Vista drive was blocked by administrator privileges although I was logged on as administrator. Doing a file backup to DVD was restricted by the file lengths, but the drive to drive backup with Nero 6.6 seems to work with a few files that could not be copied because of file length. Thus I should have a good backup. I however to reinstall the backup would have to do a new install of the Vista beta then install the Nero 6.6 upgrade and restore my backup. CIO
Note:<999> 12/31/05 Saturday 6:15 A.M.: I setup the Lotus Notes and the Domino server betas IBM Trials & betas , on the Vista beta 2 build 5270 partition, and they seem to run fine. However, I was not able to get the Domino server online, because I have to figure out its IP address. CIO
Note:<999> 12/29/05 Thursday 6:05 A.M.: I tried for the last couple of hours to figure out a way to install Norton System Works 2003 or Norton Utilities 2003, so I could use Norton WinDoctor 2003 in Vista beta 2 build 5270, but I was not successful. CIO
Note:<999> 12/27/05 Tuesday 10:20 P.M.: I installed a new AMD Sempron 3000 in the primary computer www.geocities.com/mikelscott/computer.htm , and it is running just fine in Vista Beta 2 build 5270. CIO
Note:<999> 12/27/05 Tuesday 3:45 A.M.: I tried about 8 web cam drivers for the Creative Vibra web cam, but none of them worked. I installed Java. I installed Net2Phone. I edited out the redundant entries in both the XP and Vista bootup files. Vista is running just fine, but one can not start up Disk Defragmentation, but one has to schedule it. While taking the time to do a more advanced configuration of Vista beta 2 build 5270, I have not yet had much time to study some of its features. Still being about nine months out before release, it is a workable beta. I still also have to study some of the recent Vista beta newsgroups. CIO
Note:<999> 12/26/05 Monday 7:05 P.M.: Using the XP partition, the disk defragmentation program quit on the Vista beta 2 build 5270 partition at 26%. CIO
Note:<999> 12/26/05 Monday 3:00 P.M.: I setup the Vsita beta newsgroups. I setup the HP Photosmart 1000 as a USB connected with the HP Deskjet 952C driver, and it works fine. I installed the older version of the WeatherPulse program, since a more recent version a month ago messed up my XP system. I could not get disk defragmentation to work in Vista, so I will now run it from XP. CIO
Note:<999> 12/25/05 Sunday 2:10 P.M.: I tried to get the Creative Vibra web cam and the Intel web cam to work with the Vista beta including trying various other camera drivers without any success. This took quite some time. I installed the Acrobat Reader, and I was able to install the Intel Web Cam program upgrade, by setting its compatibility to XP. Vista beta 2 build 5270 is working well enough despite the web cam problem. I have older inexpensive web cams which work with XP, but it is not worth getting another one for a beta trial. Thus I just worked on Vista beta about 12 hours. CIO
Note:<999> 12/25/05 Sunday 5:30 A.M.: I worked configuring the Vista beta 2 build 5270 for the last few hours. I installed Real Arcade and the basic Real Player. However, when I activated the Windows Media player, I let it be the default player for all of the media files that it wants to be the default player for. I changed the back ground from the scenic seashore background to a basic Dutch blue color. I was not able to get Nero 6 to install, however the Nero 6.6 upgrade installs, and one activates it with one's Nero 6 Product Key. With Nero installed, once I have the Vista beta totally configured, I can make a DVD backup of it, which technically would be able to be restored to a similar computer for trial. Vista beta has a lot of system security features to protect the system. Media Center feature seems to be more fully developed, and it will interface with television capture cards, which I do not have one. When I boot Vista beta 2 build 5270, my XP C: drive files are made read only for some odd reason, so I can not work with them and save them. I guess it is another system security feature. Vista beta 2 build 5270 seems to be a fairly robust and well developed beta. The fact that some of my printer drivers do not work is because they would still be XP drivers. It is the nature of beta testing if the manufacture does not provide the driver or the beta, one does not get to use the device. On the Lexmark X1185, there is a Lexmark X1100 driver that should work, but for some reason it does not work. I am running Vista beta and configuring it as the Administrator, because I am the only person that uses the computer. However in configuring it from the administrator platform, I risk corrupting the system. Vista beta 2 build 5270 is suppose to be upgradeable on future releases, which is why I am configuring it. I put the icons that I use on the desktop, because that is they way that I work, but some people would find that annoying and prefer the start list. I should try to get the Creative Vibra web cam working. However, if it does not work with its XP installation CD, there is not much that I can do, unless it is compatible with a similar creative web cam, they provide a driver for. It is all a matter of trial and error. CIO
Note:<999> 12/21/05 Wednesday 9:00
P.M.: I worked with
Note:<999> 12/20/05 Tuesday 10:45 A.M.: I downloaded and burned to DVD Microsoft Vista beta 2 build 5270. I formatted the Vista partition, since build 5270 can not be installed as an upgrade over build 5231. I installed build 5270 on the Vista partition. I then started configuring it the same way as before with build 5231. However, I was not able to get the printer drivers or programs for the Lexmark X1185 and the Minolta QMS PagePro 1250 to work. I did get the Lexmark E238 and HP DeskJet 842C to work. There are no longer network icons in the trays that one can enable. I also can not delete some of the printers that I tried to install unsuccessfully. I still have more configuration to do. System Restore still gives an error message. Norton System Works 2003 will not install, and it can not be run from CD. Still I have it working on the computer, and there are many new features that I have yet to explore. On the USB printers that do not install Plug and Play, one has to figure out which USB ports, they are on out of the six USB ports that I have showing. CIO
Note:<999> 12/13/05 Tuesday 9:05 A.M.: I booted in Vista beta 1 build 5231, and I tried to install the Lexmark E238 laser printer software Lexmark E238 -- Lexmark United States , but it prompted me to install it from the Vista beta printer folder. With the Lexmark E238 still connected to both parallel and USB cables, I used the Vista beta Add Printer wizard, and I connected it to the Siemens router parallel port the printer LPT port box is connected to, but the Lexmark E238 driver would not install, but the Vista beta has a driver for the E234 which is a similar machine, and I installed that driver without any problems. I tested it, and it worked. I then had to determine by booting back into XP which USB port the Lexmark E238 was on, but in XP, it only showed USB 5, but in Vista it showed 7 USB ports. By trial and error, I figured it was USB 6 port, and I installed it to the Lexmark E234 driver, and I tested it, and it worked just fine in Vista beta 1 build 5231 from either port. I changed the printer names in the icons from "Lexmark E234" to "Lexmark Laser E238 Siemens" and "Lexmark Laser E238 USB". My Minolta QMS PagePro 1250W in Vista beta 1 build 5231 is on the USB 7 port. I tested it to make sure it still worked while the Lexmark was installed and turned on, and they both work just fine together. CIO
Note:<999> 12/12/05 Monday 5:55 P.M.: The Vista beta media center is not fully developed yet, so it does not really work well. I can only get my USB headset to work in it, and the Vista beta will not switch over to my Creative Live MP3 sound card and its devices. I tried to scan with the Lexmark X1185 All in One program, and although it looked like it had installed it does not scan or fax. I uninstalled the program, but it would not reinstall, and although Lexmark X1185 printer and scanner drivers do install. The X1185 program does not seem to work with Vista beta 1 build 5231. However, Vista beta one build 5231 does work for some programs. The latest version of Sun Java installed in it. The Internet Explorer additions such as search and weather do not work with Internet Explorer 7. Real Basic does work with it. Nero 6 does install with it, but I have not used it, but it worked with the earlier beta when I made a backup. HP Photo Printing works with it. The ArcSoft PhotoImpression 3.0 software that came with the Vivitar digital camera installs and works with it. Zinio installs and works with it. Text Pad 4.0 installs and works with it. Microsoft Picture It 10 installs and works with it. The Adobe Reader 7.0 installs and works with it. The Plantronics DSB 500 program still does not work with it. Norton System Works 2003 control center does not work with it, but Norton Win Doctor 2003 does, but Norton Speed Disk 2003 does not. It takes a bit of time beta testing because anything can go wrong and frequently does. Microsoft Messenger 7.0 does work with it. I am now working in XP, because I tired of the hassles with the Lexmark 1185 program in Vista beta. The Creative Vibra Web Cam and its monitor and control programs work. I tried reinstalling the Creative Live MP3+ sound card program for XP with its drivers, but although it seemed to install which it had done before, its programs did not seem to install. One has to have the right version of the program to try a install. I installed the Visioneer 4400 Scanner programs and its drivers and its printer update, but I did not test them. One has to remember when working in a beta, it is not support to all work, and it can be like banging one's head against a brick wall trying to test it. Even after a final release of an operating system, it can take over a year to get most of the bugs out, and frequently hardware and software vendors do not support older products on newer operating systems. CIO
Note:<999> 12/12/05 Monday 2:20 P.M.:
I had a call from Microsoft Microsoft Office Live Meeting that I have been given a
free two week demo of LiveMeeting, so I found the
link in my email, and I downloaded it, and I installed it on my Vista beta 1
build 5231 partition.
Note:<999> 12/12/05 Monday 10:35 A.M.: I started working configuring
Note:<999> 12/11/05 Sunday 11:05
P.M.: At 4:30 P.M., I booted back into
Note:<999> 12/11/05 Sunday 6:40
A.M.: I started working in
Note:<999> 12/10/05 Saturday 10:40
P.M.: When
Note:<999> 12/10/05 Saturday 8:50
P.M.: I installed Net2Phone, but it is
hard to tell if the microphone setting is loud enough or not. I tried to install Office Meeting, but my
free demo time has expired. I have
Microsoft Messenger installed, so one can chat over the internet with
that. CIO
Note:<999> 12/10/05 Saturday 8:10
P.M.: I worked with the
Note:<999> 12/10/05 Saturday 2:25
A.M.: I first installed the first release of
About a week ago, I install
I installed Download ClamAV 0.87.1-2 - ClamAV FREE antivirus ! Open
source antivirus solution - Softpedia which works just fine with the
I clicked on the desktop icon on how to
report a bug, and I downloaded and installed the bug reporting program, and
then I filed a bug report.
I have a copy of FrontPage Express on
the
From http://connect.microsoft.com/ , I downloaded their
One minor annoyance in both betas at
least on my machine is that the Delete key does not work properly until, I push
the Num Lock key.
Also the Vista beta 1 build 5231 does
not install the classic file menu for both Explorer and Internet Explorer, and
one has to find it in the tool bar options to enable the Classic Menu in
Internet Explorer, and from Explorer in a menu options to show the Classic tool
bar.
It seems that possibly both sound
devices work at the same time, but possibly not, it hard to tell.
I set up the
System Restore starts to do a backup,
but then it gives an error message.
I ran c:\windows\system32\activate script, because in the earlier version it activated
certain features.
On installation, it recognized my MadDog AGP 4X 64 meg video card as a Nvidia
GeForce4 MX 440, but I had to install the drivers for my Diamond Stealth 32 meg
PCI video card using the XP driver for the S3 Inc. Savage 4 as a driver update.
I enabled both monitors, and then I moved the task bar and icons to the left
monitor. Moving the task bar is tricky, and first one has to unlock. I set up
the monitor resolutions. I enabled the desktop icons for the System
items. Vista beta 1 build 5231 installed my Gigabyte motherboard drives,
so I did not install the Gigabyte CD drivers.
I can not get the blank color back
ground to work, so I am using the brownish coffee cup back ground. Overall on
first impressions, Microsoft Vista Beta 1 build 5231 is running just fine. Of
course I have not installed many programs with it yet.
The boot time and shut down time is a
little bit slower than XP, but it was much faster in the first version of
On my Optimum Online Cable Modem Service
at 2 A.M. Eastern Standard Time with four Network Devices installed two Network
cards, and a USB network LAN, and a onboard LAN, I am getting at CNET Bandwidth Meter Speed Test - Bandwidth Test , with 914 area code, cable modem selected, and
Optimum. net Services, I am getting 1303.9 kbps.
Since I unchecked the two Network
settings, I have not had any problems, and the Vista beta 1 build 5231
operating system seems to be running smoothly without any problems, and it is
most responsive on my computer setup. I will now boot back into XP, and proof
this note with FrontPage 2002, and post it. CIO