Microsoft Attacks its Biggest Enemy: Windows XP

**edyzmedieval** · 09-29-2007, 14:49

My Vista didnt crash so far, except that a system restore totally destroyed my stuff until I had to undo the restore...

**Bootsiuv** · 09-30-2007, 06:41

My vista has been generally stable....it's never "crashed"....it does hog a lot more ram, that much is obvious, and the cancel/allow crap can get a little annoying.

I'm surprised I haven't heard anyone speak of DX 10. It's light-years ahead of DX 9c. There is really no comparison.

I still have XP on my gaming rig, but I will be updating to Vista by next year, when I get around to buying a DX 10 capable video card.

**Husar** · 09-30-2007, 13:33

What I noticed lately in Vista was that it uses around 41% of my 2GB RAM after startup. Then, after playing Mount&Blade and exiting the game, the RAM usage was around 21% and didn't go up again, swap file was the same size IIRC. So my guess is that it loads a lot of stuff on startup but reduces it's RAM usage when needed elsewhere. Might still use more than XP but my games run fine anyway.

**Beirut** · 10-05-2007, 01:12

This is the only recent Vista thread I could find, so I'll post here.

So, what with a DX10 patch coming out for FSX in about two months, and my addiction to flightsims with Haagen-Dazs eye-candy, as well as a recent PC Gamer article that said a lot of what was broken with Vista has been fixed, I'm considering, well, you know...

Aside for the Chicken Little stuff, and assuming I have adequate specs to run it (Vista + DX10), which I think I do, is it really as bad as everyone says to get it?

Also, If I back up all my stuff on an external HD, and those backups are done under XP, will Vista take them back in or leave them on the doorstop?

Also Pt:II, I have a brand new version of XP on my rig that I got about two months ago. If I Vista-ize, can I install my "old" XP on another machine that I want to set my buddy up with? Will it authorize online?

Thanks.

**Bootsiuv** · 10-05-2007, 02:57

Hmmm, sounds like a slippery slope legally. I would look at canadian copyright laws maybe? Or microsofts site?

I really have had no problems whatsoever with my Vista. Aside from a few older programs not running, I fail to see why it has gotten such a bad rap.

I don't remember one OS coming out that was completely bug-free...

**Beirut** · 10-05-2007, 03:23

Originally Posted by Bootsiuv

Hmmm, sounds like a slippery slope legally. I would look at canadian copyright laws maybe? Or microsofts site?

So if I "upgrade" to Vista, my two months old $120 XP disk is a drink coaster? Bummer.

I'll look into the copyright stuff. Thanks.

**Edit - From the Win XP EULA at the MS site.

13. SOFTWARE TRANSFER. Internal. You may move the Software to a different Workstation Computer. After the transfer, you must completely remove the Software from the former Workstation Computer. Transfer to Third Party. The initial user of the Software may make a one-time permanent transfer of this EULA and Software to another end user, provided the initial user retains no copies of the Software. This transfer must include all of the Software (including all component parts, the media and printed materials, any upgrades, this EULA, and, if applicable, the Certificate of Authenticity). The transfer may not be an indirect transfer, such as a consignment. Prior to the transfer, the end user receiving the Software must agree to all the EULA terms.

So unless I'm mistaken, I can off my copy to my buddy and put the cash towards Vista.

**lars573** · 10-05-2007, 03:38

Originally Posted by Beirut

Also Pt:II, I have a brand new version of XP on my rig that I got about two months ago. If I Vista-ize, can I install my "old" XP on another machine that I want to set my buddy up with? Will it authorize online?

Thanks.

So long as you give him the license number, the # on yon sticker somewhere on ye rig case. And that Vista upgrade pack comes with a new Vista only license number. If all those things come together. then yes.

**Xiahou** · 10-05-2007, 05:31

Originally Posted by lars573

So long as you give him the license number, the # on yon sticker somewhere on ye rig case. And that Vista upgrade pack comes with a new Vista only license number. If all those things come together. then yes.

I think technically, if you buy the upgrade version of Vista, you're supposed to have a valid copy of XP that you upgraded from, as well. You'd need it regardless if you ever had to reinstall, because I believe you always need to install XP first and then upgrade it. However, if you buy the full blown version of Vista, I wouldn't sweat it.

*I'm not a lawyer.... yada yada.

**Husar** · 10-05-2007, 11:03

I'm with Xiahou, I'd advise you to get the full version, not the upgrade. In that case there should be no problem giving your XP to someone else.

Concerning how bad Vista is, I'm thinking about abandoning XP completely. Pretty much the only reason I kept dual-booting was that my TV card and one or two games I played ran better/only in XP. Now I have two TV cards, one doesn't find half the important programs anymore and the software of the other crashes at startup.

Anyway, most decent programs should run fine in Vista, the bugs are almost nonexistant as far as my experience goes and erm, it's just like XP only nicer.

My last advice is get Home Premium, only if you feel rich and think you need a lot of stuff you may never use anyway should you get Ultimate.