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Vista Sucks......
NigeEss - 4/3/10 at 11:22 AM

Actually, it's not even that good.

I've finally had it with the BOS platform and am reverting to XP.

Has anyone got a copy they no longer use or know where I can buy one very, very cheap !

speedyxjs - 4/3/10 at 11:24 AM

Iv been trying to install XP onto my Vista laptop for ages and have yet to succeed

m8kwr - 4/3/10 at 11:29 AM

if you can get Windows 7 then install that, i never went to vista as i agree with you it sucks

But I must add do a fresh install whatever...

cd.thomson - 4/3/10 at 11:30 AM

get windows 7, well worth the money I paid.

only thing is, it doesnt seem to want to run my megajolt software if anyone knows why?

[Edited on 4/3/10 by cd.thomson]

britishtrident - 4/3/10 at 11:31 AM

Windows 7 or Mint Linux


Try Mint Linux it is free and comes with all the software most people ever need just down load and burn to cd and you can try it out by just running from the CD although running off CD it will only run at about 1/5 normal speed.

[Edited on 4/3/10 by britishtrident]

stevec - 4/3/10 at 11:34 AM

quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
Windows 7 or Mint Linux


Try Mint Linux it is free and comes with all the software most people ever need just down load and burn to cd and you can try it out by just running from the CD although running off CD it will only run at about 1/5 normal speed.

[Edited on 4/3/10 by britishtrident]




A guy at work swears by Linux as well.
Showed me how simple and Free it is.
I think we all tend to think we have to run Bill Gates crap but you don't.

Steve.

britishtrident - 4/3/10 at 11:43 AM

Mint Linux is the pick of the bunch I tried dozens of different version of Linux until I found Mint about 4 or 5 years ago and have been using it ever since. All the office and multimedia application are included on the CD and more can be download and it is all free.


Mint installs in about 1/10 the time it takes to instal Xp + drivers + MS Office.

http://www.linuxmint.com/download.php

[Edited on 4/3/10 by britishtrident]

mcerd1 - 4/3/10 at 11:44 AM

I'm also stating to like Win7 now I'm getting used to it, but it took me a long time to get used to XP so thats nothing new (I'm still really a win2K / 98SE fan)

NigeEss - sorry don't have a spare copy of XP, but untill very recently you could get a new OEM copy quite cheap - maybe some places will have some old stock if you search around a bit.


speedyxjs - what problems are you having ? and what make/model of laptop is it ?


Craig - have you tried a compatabity mode ? and are you running 64 or 32 bit ?

[Edited on 4/3/10 by mcerd1]

cd.thomson - 4/3/10 at 11:47 AM

32bit dual core architecture.

I have heard that 7 can emulate an XP-type environment, I'll google it and have a go later.

NigeEss - 4/3/10 at 11:59 AM

quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
Mint Linux is the pick of the bunch

http://www.linuxmint.com/download.php

[Edited on 4/3/10 by britishtrident]


Been contemplating Linux.

What's the difference between Mint, Ubuntu or Linux RPM ?

The particular software I want to run supports the latter but no mention of Mint.

Thanks BT
Nige

iscmatt - 4/3/10 at 12:15 PM

Go Mac!!

mcerd1 - 4/3/10 at 12:16 PM

quote:
Originally posted by cd.thomson
32bit dual core architecture.

I have heard that 7 can emulate an XP-type environment, I'll google it and have a go later.
the pro version can get a free download of 'virtual machine' and the 'XP mode' to go with it from the MS website.....

but before you get into all that, find that actuall *.exe file that runs the program, right click on it, go to properties, then the compatibility tab and pick 'XP SP2', ok/apply that then try running it again

I'll try it later on mine, but I'm running 64bit on a new'ish i7 - but I keep my old xp laptop for this stuff (its got a serial port)

MikeRJ - 4/3/10 at 12:19 PM

quote:
Originally posted by stevec
I think we all tend to think we have to run Bill Gates crap but you don't.


Sometimes you do have to unfortunately.

mcerd1 - 4/3/10 at 12:28 PM

quote:
Originally posted by MikeRJ
quote:
Originally posted by stevec
I think we all tend to think we have to run Bill Gates crap but you don't.
Sometimes you do have to unfortunately.

what he said ^^

if your just using it as an office machine then you can pick whatever OS you like

(forgetting games and things of now)
it used to be the case that all the pro CAD stuff was on Linux, but these days its almost all on windows

britishtrident - 4/3/10 at 12:45 PM

To explain a bit about Virtual Machines and running Windows program on Linux and other operating systems.

You can run just about any operating system inside any other operating system using what is called a virtual machine, such as VM Ware or Sun VirtualBox* I run Windows Xp within Virtualbox on Mint Linux so I can run the software interface for the LPG on the tintop and other windows car diagnostic software.
NB it has to be Sun VirtualBox not open source version of VirtualBox to allow access to USB ports.

One big advantage of doing this is that you can easily keep a cloned copy of the complete Windows installation so if a virus or other bady behaved program destroy the windows installation you can have a fresh undamaged installation up and running within 30 seconds.
http://www.virtualbox.org/

Alternative other less demanding Windows programs that don't need to acess USB ports and other hardware directly can be run using the Linux Windows emulator Wine.

David Jenkins - 4/3/10 at 12:52 PM

quote:
Originally posted by NigeEss
Been contemplating Linux.

What's the difference between Mint, Ubuntu or Linux RPM ?

The particular software I want to run supports the latter but no mention of Mint.


Most linux systems are based on somebody else's distribution. For Mint the tree is

debian - ubuntu - mint

In other words, ubuntu is debian with bits added. Mint is ubuntu with more bits added (and also configured to work better straight from installation).

RPM isn't an operating system - it's the method of shipping code around for installation (think of Window's MSI files). I think they're associated with Red Hat and/or Mandriva versions of Linux.

Most worthwhile applications come in forms acceptable to all of the major Linux types. Even if the app you want isn't available for your Linux, they'll often supply the code for you to compile it yourself (not as tough as you think - and the compiler's supplied with the Linux distribution, and also free).

The really big thing about mainstream Linux is the software that comes with it at zero cost. Open Office replaces MS Office, GIMP replaces Photoshop (mostly), and so on. With Windows you get an operating system and little else. With Linux you get just about everything you would need for a home/office installation.

It also runs quickly and, if an application crashes (as they all do), Linux is far more 'polite' about the way it handles it - the app crashes, but the system carries on. I think I've only ever had the equivalent of the Windows 'Blue Screen of Death' once - and that was partly due to me mucking about.

There are also versions of Linux that will run on very old machines with slow processors and little memory (e.g. Puppy Linux) although on the whole they're not as user-friendly as the mainstream distributions (closer to 'real unix' ).

HTH

iank - 4/3/10 at 12:56 PM

As David says RPM's are a distribution file.
What software is it? I've had success using alien to convert rpm's to deb's (used by debian, ubuntu and presumably mint).

Hugh_ - 4/3/10 at 01:04 PM

Vista is fine if your computer is man enough to run it. The only issues I had were getting 64bit drivers for it.

As it happens I've upgraded to Windows 7 as after a reformat it said I'd used all my Vista licenses, which was a bit of an arse.

britishtrident - 4/3/10 at 01:10 PM

Linux Versions

Mint is really a version of Ubuntu customised for easy desktop use. In turn Ubuntu is based on a cutting edge testing version of Debian Linux.

Most version of Linux are free, The versions of Linux around split roughly into two main groups those based on Debian or those based on Red Hat.

In the early days Linux it used to be difficult to install programs and keep them up todate but two systems were invented to make it all much easier and programs were packaged in either .deb files or .rpm so they could be easily installed with just a couple of mouse clicks.

Debian, Ubuntu, Mint and many others use .deb packages.

Red Hat Linux (non free) and Fedora (free testing version of Red Hat) and a good few others use use .rpm packages.


These are the main software package management systems used but aren't the only systems used and they can be made to install on each others systems.

Up to date info on all the various Linux distributions can be found at
http://distrowatch.com/


To install most Linux version just go to the download site down load the .iso file which is an image of a Linux install CD or sometimes DVD and use Nero or similar software to burn the iso file to CD or DVD as appropriate.
This then gives you a bootable CD which can be use to install Linux or run it from Cd to test it out.

[Edited on 4/3/10 by britishtrident]

David Jenkins - 4/3/10 at 01:54 PM

and if you aren't sure about burning an ISO image onto a CD-ROM - keep an eye on the Linux magazines on the newsagents' shelves. One of last month's mags had the latest Linux Mint on the cover disk.

NigeEss - 4/3/10 at 02:16 PM

quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
and if you aren't sure about burning an ISO image onto a CD-ROM

Ok with that thanks. Infact have done it and This is me using Linux


quote:
Originally posted by iank

What software is it?


Itunes and SqueezeCentre.

I'll have a go at running them.
One thing I have noticed already is that web pages seem squashed to the left but the header/address bars fill the screen. Guess it's a page setup thing ?

iank - 4/3/10 at 02:28 PM

quote:
Originally posted by NigeEss
quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
and if you aren't sure about burning an ISO image onto a CD-ROM

Ok with that thanks. Infact have done it and This is me using Linux


quote:
Originally posted by iank

What software is it?


Itunes and SqueezeCentre.

I'll have a go at running them.
One thing I have noticed already is that web pages seem squashed to the left but the header/address bars fill the screen. Guess it's a page setup thing ?


See http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=130664
or use google chrome.


For itunes you can try this
http://www.ehow.com/how_5197743_download-itunes-linux-ubuntu.html
or read here
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/itunes

Squeezecentre redirects here
http://linux.softpedia.com/progDownload/SqueezeCenter-Download-42758.html
which has a debian/ubuntu version which should work on mint (run synaptic to see whether it's already available prepacked).


[Edited on 4/3/10 by iank]

scootz - 4/3/10 at 02:33 PM

I'm up at my folks for the week, so having to use their laptop which runs Vista... PITA!

Mind you, I'm a Mac-Man, so anything involving PC operating systems does my nut in!

Humbug - 4/3/10 at 06:52 PM

quote:
Originally posted by scootz
I'm up at my folks for the week, so having to use their laptop which runs Vista... PITA!

Mind you, I'm a Mac-Man, so anything involving PC operating systems does my nut in!


So, is Linux a "PC operating system"? Both Linux and Mac OS originally developed from a Unix base. To my mind, Macs are nice, but expensive for what you get and proprietary, so you tend to have to go to Apple for things... I think if I was starting from scratch I would go for a generic "PC" with Linux: a bit like going for a Locost because lots of things are free/cheap to do to get almost the same as what you pay for in a Caterham but can't afford

britishtrident - 4/3/10 at 07:26 PM

UNIX, BSD, Mac, Linux, Solaris even the Windows NT family are all related to greatly varying extents.


For Joe Q Public the choice boils down to MS, Mac or Linux just a few years ago installing Linux wasn't exactly to be taken lightly now it is easier than loading an MS operating system and the required software.

Where MS operating systems tend to take massive leaps every Windows generation Linux tends to evolve with each distribution taking smaller steps every 6 or 12 months.

mcerd1 - 4/3/10 at 09:14 PM

quote:
Originally posted by cd.thomson
32bit dual core architecture.

I have heard that 7 can emulate an XP-type environment, I'll google it and have a go later.


Craig,

I've had a go just using the compatability mode (built into win7 - not the virtual machine stuff) - and it seamed to work on the v3.2.1 that I've got
(I know there are newer ones, but this one matches my MJ so why change)

http://locostbuilders.co.uk/upload/2MJ.jpg

used it on the installer (not sure if it needed it) the program doesn't seam to need it though

I can't connect to the MJ itself though - I don't have any serial ports or usb adapters

[Edited on 4/3/10 by mcerd1]

[Edited on 4/3/10 by mcerd1]

flak monkey - 4/3/10 at 10:18 PM

Vista is fine, I have no problems running it. The issues people experience is generally due to a poor spec machine, this is a downside to Vista....

Win 7 is by all acounts pretty damn good though.

Ninehigh - 6/3/10 at 11:07 PM

Does anyone know if Ubuntu fixed the one problem I had? I closed the lid on my laptop, it went into standby and Ubuntu threw a fit the size of Scotland and refused to load ever again.

Apart from that (and it wouldn't run any of my poker games) I was finding it brilliant

prawnabie - 6/3/10 at 11:44 PM

get osx 10.6 on there!

NigeEss - 6/3/10 at 11:51 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Ninehigh
Ubuntu threw a fit the size of Scotland and refused to load ever again.

And we thought MS gave us grief


quote:
Originally posted by flak monkey
Vista is fine. The issues people experience is generally due to a poor spec machine


Very true to a large degree. But things like the UAC popping up each time I even
fart, turn it off and just as often I get "UAC is turned off, click here.....".
I don't want a nanny OS any more than I want a nanny state

And why should I be forced to buy a top spec machine just to run the fecking OS !!
I'm setting up a simple server to stream lossless audio files, I don't need anything fancy.

[Edited on 6/3/10 by NigeEss]

Ninehigh - 7/3/10 at 07:45 AM

quote:
Originally posted by NigeEss
quote:
Originally posted by Ninehigh
Ubuntu threw a fit the size of Scotland and refused to load ever again.

And we thought MS gave us grief


quote:
Originally posted by flak monkey
Vista is fine. The issues people experience is generally due to a poor spec machine


Very true to a large degree. But things like the UAC popping up each time I even
fart, turn it off and just as often I get "UAC is turned off, click here.....".
I don't want a nanny OS any more than I want a nanny state

And why should I be forced to buy a top spec machine just to run the fecking OS !!
I'm setting up a simple server to stream lossless audio files, I don't need anything fancy.

[Edited on 6/3/10 by NigeEss]


Yeah, no idea what happened might have been something in the power settings...

That's the only bit of Vista I really don't like. "Windows needs your permission to run this program"
Well, errrrr, yeah.. I DID CLICK ON IT!

David Jenkins - 7/3/10 at 08:49 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Ninehigh

That's the only bit of Vista I really don't like. "Windows needs your permission to run this program"
Well, errrrr, yeah.. I DID CLICK ON IT!


At home I run XP on my main machine as a dual-boot with Mint (sometimes an application is only available on Windoze), and it's what we use at work. That OS is perfectly OK, as long as you ignore the financial aspect of 'everything is extra'. I also have a laptop supplied by my company that runs Vista - I hate it, for all the same reasons mentioned previously - the way it nanny's every single action.

Our company has skipped Vista entirely for its office machines - we're shortly changing from XP straight to Windoze 7, so obviously our very tough IT bods were impressed.

mcerd1 - 7/3/10 at 12:41 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Ninehigh
That's the only bit of Vista I really don't like. "Windows needs your permission to run this program"
Well, errrrr, yeah.. I DID CLICK ON IT!


win7 has that too - but you can turn it off on either of them

NigeEss - 7/3/10 at 01:39 PM

But when you turn user account control of it tells you "UAC is turned off" each time instead.