Community Newsletter: Q&A forum: Is my current software compatible with Vista?

Maybe this will help.
Applications that have earned the "Certified for Windows Vista" logo
http://mysharedfiles.no-ip.org/vista/ApplicationCertified4Vista.html

Applications that have earned the "Works with Windows Vista" logo
http://mysharedfiles.no-ip.org/vista/ApplicationsThatWorkWithVista.html

No my PC isn't ready for Vista but that's only because by already
downloading the program from Microsoft it tells me that a few devices
I have installed such as my webcam will probrably not work or may not
work with Vista installed. I guess that other drivers or a new web cam might need to be installed. I also see that other devices may need to be uninstalled before my PC is able to have Vista installed
which is a cost as usual and a pain at the same time.

I too have rejected Vista because old programs I use often don't work with Vista. I read an article recently (sorry can't quote source) where an industry pundit suggested that it would cost people $18 to sort out incompatabilities for every $1 they spent on a Vista upgrade.

the advisor is very good, too good if anything, don't just stop at the initial page that tells you that your setup is OK for Vista, dig deeper and you will find some caveats, my setup is OK but I can't download the upgrade on my C drive, not enough space but gigs of space on my D drive, beaut but I can only download the full version and pay for it on my D drive as XP is in my C drive, expensive isn't it? It also says that I have no DVD drive, funny I have been watching DVD flics for the last three months on my current setup!

I just acquired Vista Home Premium and have already experienced software compatibility problems. There is a whole new learning curve on Vista also, which I am trying to get thru. Nothing is where we are use to finding it. So far, about the only way I have found out compatibility issues is by trying it, then seeing if it works. Not sure that I like Vista so far. Would like to hear from other users.

Well you are not alone I believe. I had a same problem no one old program worked.Do you think if you go to the store to buy a new software that will be ready for VISTA no I think. When I try it to download the upgrade for the programs which I have no one has been ready for Vista. What I did? Computer with VISTA which I purchased is back in the store and I am happy to use my old one with Windows XP. After all I was very dissapointed and wonder if I would like to have a Vista at all. Tru is it has more features is funcy but for my use I need simplicity which works!!

Just finished building my new computer and installed Vista 64 bit, Asus MV2- MX Motherboard, AMD AM2, 940 dual core 4600 X2 CPU, 2 GIG DDR2 memory 667 and the usual assortments of HD's, 1 Sony DL DVD recorder and 1 Sony DVD recorder.
Pros:
MS Office PRO 2002, weather reporting software (2 years or older), MS Streets and trips 2006, Turbo Tax 2006 and all of my older hardware works fine
Cons:
Roxio 5 and 7 will not load, Not all of the sub programs of 9 work (the one I use the most), Software that came with the Sony DVD recorders will not load. As I convert assorted home media to DVD or CD depending upon customers home equipment, the fact that Roxio programs do not do what I need. So I use my old slow machine to get the jobs done.

I turned the annoying "protection" off but you still get annoying reminders that it is OFF. Sometimes you have to leave it on to install programs (Adobe 8.0 Reader for example).

My old Epson Photo 300M's drivers and software loaded fine and using XP 64 bit drives for Okidata C5200ne, it also works.

Progress is progress, my first HOME computer was a Radio shack TRS 80 with 4, count them, 8" floppy drives, next a dos IBM clone with a 20 meg HD; and I WAS UPTOWN with 5 1/2" floppy and a 720 3 1/2". I even wrote Basic Programs. Then Windows 3.1 hit the streets, and that was better than sliced bread. And then woe of woes, to keep up with the Jones' of the computer world, I HAD to have Windows 95 (a, b & c) and a more up-to-date computer and printer. We progressed through Windows 98, 98SE, 98ME, several versions of XP and now we have Vista ranging from kindergarten (Home Basic) to full doctorate.

As an old kid on the block, I like Vista very much. I think that given time, it will work out the few kinks it has. The equipment manufactures (OEMs) should make THEIR equipment work with this generation of Windows at least back to 3 years. As we all know, by the time a computer product get to market, it is outdated,

Think of the size of each new Windows OS installation, how much of it is just for drivers?

ever hear of trial and error. sometimes one has to stick their foot into the bathtub to see if the water is too hot.
ever hear of undo?
sometimes one has to understand that "undo is one's friend"
no matter what version of windows operating systems one is using, there is a way to undo the changes caused by trial and error.
and, it still the best way to learn...

that is intresting, and so is my answer. yes it is, there is a readyness test on Microsoft web site, a small program you down load and it will tell you what wont work,,, and with all the stuff I have on my main system I only have 1 thing that wont work, a backup program that I dont use any way... and a few maybes.. whats funny about this system, is I built it....oooooo....Id say around 3 years ago, it has both XP and MCE 2005, I have so much packed on it I have no drive letters left, if you would like to know more about "Purple Passion" ( main system) let me know, now on to "bigred" also yes, "Blue eyes" ( security cctv system) is but not getting it,,, then "shadow" also is, they each only have one or two things,,, mostly the video cards, ( too small) and by the way... all self built, I have 2 Dell systems, neither worth even trying, 1 is to old, and I have better plans for the other... my wife's computer is built for vista, and its from Dell... so all-in-all we are good to go, but I dont think we are planing to jump on untill vista has been out a while,,, for my version.. "ultamate" $400 + is a bit much with all the issues it has... lets see what it does in a year....

Start by assuming that they won't run. Then go to Microsoft's site, download and run Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor. Microsoft has also published two lists of programs that are compatible with Vista and have earned the Vista logo. One, which is fairly short only about 200 programs, lists those programs that are fully Vista compatible and the other indicates those that will run under Vista but will not take full advantage of it. This list is available at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/933305. Finally check with the software vendors' web site. Is this totally fool proof, not by a long shot but it will give you a fair assessment as to what should run after the upgrade. One final thought, assume that your AV software won't work.

I have been a staunch supporter of Micro Soft since 1984. But as your mail confirms, my computer (s) as I know them and have learned ins and outs over the last 23 years will not work properly if at all with Vista. This will be my first time ever saying anything negative about Micro Soft..........even with all the nay sayers over the years, I have not found the problems with Windows that they have, until NOW...and Vista is not the program of choice for the normal user, as I am. I do not wish to buy more programs or go to the vendor's site to upgrad all my programs to work with Vista.
Just give you one problem I have found that shouldn't even be a problem, I am using XP PRO, and I downloaded Vista ready AOL..now my security center and McAfee show errors saying I am not covered.

You probably have 1.1. Although I'm not sure I'd recommend it anyway, I got the 1.5 update automatically on my XP machines right about Vista release time.

Having been a Vista beta tester for the past seven months, I can honestly say that you should have no problems with software currently installed on your system running on Vista. Most of the software I had, already had updates to run on Vista or were in the process of releasing updates. The only issues I found were with my Norton Internet Security. As I found out, you cannot run antivirus or security software that is not built and designed for Vista. I believe Norton has just released a Vista version of their security software. You can go to the Windows Vista website where they have a list of available security software that works with Vista. All of the security software providers listed has a free trial period that lets you try out the software before you have to pay for updates.
Now, with that said, there are a couple of things everyone looking to upgrade should consider.

1. System requirements-With a minimum of 1gb of memory required, my system with only 512k, had a very hard time keeping up with Vista, running programs and handling the Internet. I ended up having to add an additional 1gb, giving me 1.5gb, just to be able start my system without Vista crashing. Even with 1.5gb my system still has trouble running multiple applications. Vista is very memory intensive. I would recommend for anyone looking to upgrade or purchase a new pc, do not buy or upgrade to anything less than 2gb of memory.

2. Graphics-Although you do not see too much said about the graphics requirements, I would not consider anything less than 256mb of dedicated memory to run anything on Vista. If you like to play games, edit video or pictures you will need this as a minimum just to get by. With my graphics at 128k I am finding that theyre a lot of features in Vista that my system cannot run. Playing any games such as Roller Coaster Tycoon is impossible because of the lack of power in my graphics card. Vista is graphics intensive as well.

3. Upgrade or clean install-I have done both for the Beta test and with the way Vista is designed and built, I would recommend a clean install. Although, you may be able to upgrade without a problem, over time you will start to see performance issues arising from the use of a Vista upgrade. The biggest being a system slow down as you try to open programs or make your way around Vista applications. I think a clean install is always the best way to upgrade an operating system. This also gives you the chance to wipe out any previous programs that are hidden on your hard drive.

If your not sure what your current system needs are or if it can run Vista, you can download a small software tool called Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor. It will help you to determine if your Windows XP-based PC can run Windows Vista. It creates an easy-to-understand report of all known system, device, and program compatibility issues, and recommends ways to resolve them. You can get to it here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/upgradeadvisor.mspx

I hope this helped those of you thinking of upgrading to Vista.