What to do with a new Vista PC

[I Am Herenow]

Cheers!

[Husar]

You have to resist the evil temptation and get XP, using Vista is supporting dictators and terrorists.
That said, I turned the UAC off but then Whacker says my PC is as open as a barn door(a pretty well-running barn door though, I like to think the hackers keep it running because it's important to them somehow ).
What it does is when you copy files into your program files folder, it copies them elsewhere but shows them in the program files folder but your game or other program won't find them there as they aren't really there. You may also not be allowed to edit any files there etc. It should work fine until you start modding games, changing .ini files etc. and I'm obviously too much of a noob to tell you how to do that without turning the whole thing off. *runs into corner in unimaginable shame*

[Bijo]

Yes, yes, run little rabbit, run... but the hunting has just begun.

[Blodrast]

What to do with a new Vista PC

Ooh, ooh, I can help with this one!

I'm soon going to get a new PC with Vista and have heard various rumours floating about of additional security, loopholes in security, security stopping normal programs working, security installing files in strange places and all sorts of other crazy things.

Basically, could someone post a nice, easy-to-follow set of instructions for when I get my PC as to what to do to let me work normally (i.e. enable Program Files, for example, and what dangers this might present), and which security features are actually quite useful and should be enabled?

You need to get the Ultimate Tools for Vista.

You asked for a nice, easy-to-follow set of instructions that will let you work normally ?
Look no further! Ask and ye shall receive!
Here is the nice, easy-to-follow set of instructions that will allow you to get the most out of your Vista experience.

1. Go to the Ultimate Tools for Vista site here.
(Ooops, that site seems to be down for now, you can use an alternate one: here).
2. Choose your favourite flavour of the Ultimate Tools for Vista.
3. Download, burn on a CD.
4. Install.
5. Enjoy!

I personally guarantee that after this nice, easy-to-follow set of instructions, you will never have any problems with your Vista PC again!




Sorry, I couldn't resist.

[caravel]

IPsec security policies are nothing new and not M$ specific, but is turned off in XP and 2k by default.

The UAC seems like a very fragile method of limiting damage a user can do to their own system. UNIX/Linux has always been better at this and probably always will be.

[Lemur]

And I do want to use Vista, as there aren't going to be any XP-only games in future, after all.

You're going to base your choice of OS on Shadowrun and Halo 2? Even though there are easily available workarounds to run them on XP?

Nobody but Microsoft is going to be releasing Vista-exclusive titles. Why would anybody else bother? Adoption rate is so low, and the number of people who have DX10 software and DX10 hardware is vanishingly small. No publisher in his or her right mind is gonna cut off 90% of the market just to be forward-thinking.

Will the situation be different in three years? Heck yeah. But maybe not as different as all that. I have a feeling that Microsoft's fumble of Vista is going to mean DX9-compatible titles for a long time.

[macsen rufus]

Hmm, I'm surprised no one suggested the obvious....

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

... it involves a sack, some cement, and a deep, deep river

[I Am Herenow]

Er, right, so if I install games into some local user folder, everything should be fine?