xp vs vista...?

if you want things to work e.g. your sound card/ older hardware then go XP but if your open to a few bugs then vista is probably the better option.yoyo462001

Who builds a new PC with old hardware?

I've had vista 64 for less than a month now and it is already quite annoying. The extra "security" will often cause problems with programs. I installed KOTOR on my computer (prompting a UAC box) and Vista's DEP prevented it from opening. I then added it to an exceptions list (pressed confirm for UAC), and it said i couldn't add that program to the list.

Any file in the program files folder is set to read only, so any modifications will require you to move the file (again prompting UAC) or will have to change the properties of the file (and press confirm on the UAC).

Rivatuner apparently requires administrator privelages, thus forcing me to go on google, find the command prompt, right click so i can press run as administrator (press confirm), and type in some obscure command. Needless to say, much the little time I have spent on my computer was used fixing vista.

Okay, with that said, the vista interface looks pretty and it uses DX10. If you want a 64-bit OS, go for vista because it has better support. XP will run games faster, especially in SLI if the gamespot review released recently was correct. XP is also more compatible with older games. Vista is way too secure for a power user. I suppose you could disable UAC, but it would only disable one of the annoying security features. The decision is up to you though.

If you don't want to use UAC then disable it. It's there for a really good reason.Deihmos

I probably will disable it, but if you read my post you will see that UAC is only ONE of the reasons why vista annoys me. Disabling it would mean one more tweak I would have to make (meaning more time fooling around with vista) and it would bring me back to the level of security XP has. Yes, it is there for a good reason, but a good user won't click on bad internet links or install weird files. If you do handle a lot of weird files then certainly buy Vista. The point is that the only reasons to get Vista are security (which I have little use for), Aero interface, DirectX10 (a nice bonus if your hardware can run it, but not necessary), and the search bar (I admit it comes in handy).

[QUOTE="Deihmos"]If you don't want to use UAC then disable it. It's there for a really good reason.Overclockd

I probably will disable it, but if you read my post you will see that UAC is only ONE of the reasons why vista annoys me. Disabling it would mean one more tweak I would have to make (meaning more time fooling around with vista) and it would bring me back to the level of security XP has. Yes, it is there for a good reason, but a good user won't click on bad internet links or install weird files. If you do handle a lot of weird files then certainly buy Vista. The point is that the only reasons to get Vista are security (which I have little use for), Aero interface, DirectX10 (a nice bonus if your hardware can run it, but not necessary), and the search bar (I admit it comes in handy).

It's not a matter of clicking on bad links. Hackers are becoming very sophisticated. Just the other day I saw on the news a hack involving google where a script is installed in the background without you knowing. The thing is a virus protector can only catch known threats but with UAC nothing can have admin rights without you knowing. That is basically all it does. It never bothered me either. There are a ton more improvements and new features that you are probably not aware of.

In regards to rivatuner. It is a program that requires admin rights so Vista will always block it and it would defeat the purpose if it allowed you to allow these programs on startup. Why are you shutting your PC down? Put it to sleep.

[QUOTE="Overclockd"]

[QUOTE="Deihmos"]If you don't want to use UAC then disable it. It's there for a really good reason.Deihmos

I probably will disable it, but if you read my post you will see that UAC is only ONE of the reasons why vista annoys me. Disabling it would mean one more tweak I would have to make (meaning more time fooling around with vista) and it would bring me back to the level of security XP has. Yes, it is there for a good reason, but a good user won't click on bad internet links or install weird files. If you do handle a lot of weird files then certainly buy Vista. The point is that the only reasons to get Vista are security (which I have little use for), Aero interface, DirectX10 (a nice bonus if your hardware can run it, but not necessary), and the search bar (I admit it comes in handy).

It's not a matter of clicking on bad links. Hackers are becoming very sophisticated. Just the other day I saw on the news a hack involving google where a script is installed in the background without you knowing. The thing is a virus protector can only catch known threats but with UAC nothing can have admin rights without you knowing. That is basically all it does. It never bothered me either. There are a ton more improvements and new features that you are probably not aware of.

In regards to rivatuner. It is a program that requires admin rights so Vista will always block it and it would defeat the purpose if it allowed you to allow these programs on startup. Why are you shutting your PC down? Put it to sleep.

Vista certainly is much more secure than XP, but it also brings in complications. I do recommend Vista if you feel unsafe about your internet, but even using XP I have never had a virus. I do prefer shutting down to sleep mode because it saves power and clears the RAM and things like that. Anyway, the problem is not that vista blocks rivatuner on startup, it simply does not allow me to tweak the settings. My post is a little harsh, but every one of those things happened. Vista does have a few nice additions, but it is more of an evolutionary OS than a revolutionary OS.

Well if you care about DX10, you have to get Vista as XP doesent support it. Sure DX10 has been far from impressive but if it does become impressive you want to have Vista to take advantage of it. It is also far more secure than XP and it looks prettier (I know, but if you look at your PCs for hours every day, you want it to look good).

The only things XP is better in IMO, is the fact that its friendlier to advanced users, and it just feels more stabile in general, XP also has far better program compatibility.

Still using XP myself.

Games will generally be smoother and faster with XP and it is less of a hog with the memory. You can get away with 2GB of XP where you will need 4GB on Vista. That is what people are saying as I've never tryed Vista.

Vista is greta in my opinion. But why shouldnt I turn off my PC, if im not using it??Alejo17

Hybrid sleep consumes 1-3 watts of power and your PC resumes from where you left off immediately. The only time I do a shutdown is if I need to restart.

ok, but when it is off it consumes nothing 0 watts i think, is there any other reason why i should not turn it off??Alejo17

Well its a hassle turning it off and on for one, another thing is that when turning a computer on or off it is under the most stress and that can lessen your PC's life span.

Why you dont think about Dual-Booting ?? Its agood option for people like you, who like to game with DX10 and having alot of concerns about their programs compatiblity with XP

Why you dont think about Dual-Booting ?? Its agood option for people like you, who like to game with DX10 and having alot of concerns about their programs compatiblity with XP

SearchMaster

Thats a lot of money to spend to simply get compatibility in some applications.

ok, but when it is off it consumes nothing 0 watts i think, is there any other reason why i should not turn it off??Alejo17

Your computer uses the same amount when off and 1 - 3 watts is very insignificant. The only way you will use 0 is if you plug everything out.

some nice comments thanks alot for the help i think ill be going with vista 64bit, my only concern right now is compatibility dont want to have to go through a bunch of trouble trying to install games etc.leslers

You should be fine installing newer games with few minor annoyances. Just beware that anything that requires an administrator could be harder to do than on an XP machine. If you definately want to go 64 bit then vista is a good choice.