Windows Vista forum: Debating Windows Vista

Is there a particular place I can find if Drivers are available for my computer? My comp is a HP Pavilion Dv9700 Notebook PC.

A few of the drivers are located at the link below. Still, you'll need to verify each and everyone is comparable to the devices currently installed on your machine.. They may, or may not be the correct device.:

HP Pavilion dv9000
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareList?os=228&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&product=1842189&lang=en

In order to verify the devices and their drivers, you'll want to check the Device Manager, then write down ALL of the names of the devices, processor type, etc., their manufacturers and their version numbers so you can compare them to the XP version..,

Hope this helps.

Grif

I read field a lot of questions regarding Vista through my IT business. Customers that have solid hardware builds don't tend to have problems with Vista. Most users have problems with Vista when they have applications and/or hardware that are clearly uncompatible with Vista. Although you bought a new computer, the chipset of your motherboard and the hardware components could be 1 or 2 generations old. In that case, you will have problems. Most of my clients use Vista. I also use Vista Ultimate SP1 on a 2 year-old whitebook that I built and I have no problems. I think you verify that all of the applications you are using are compatible with Vista. If so, you should return the computer. Buy a system with the Intel 4 Series chipset. At the end of the day, I think the manufacturer's build is probably the problem; not Vista.

It's funny, because when XP came out, people said a lot of the same things about it, and how they were sticking with Win98/Me/2000.

Yes, the uptake for Vista's been a bit slow, but it was so long in development that XP had a good long time to become entrenched. People are creatures of habit, and we tend to resist change, even when that change is for the better.

Truth is, Vista's not all THAT bad if you just make sure to run it on decent hardware. It has its share of warts, but so does XP and every other version of Windows. Frankly, IMO, it's been downhill ever since Windows 3.1. I'm not a big fan of this desktop metaphor crap that Microsoft has never managed to do even half as well as Apple. Frankly, I'd like to see some actual innovation in the market, not just gradual evolutions of an existing idea with more features tacked on. I pretty much gave up on Microsoft being this company about 13 years ago when they came out with Windows95. At least the Windows 3.1 Program Manager was different. Mac OS X was only moderately different by including the NeXTStep Dock to what is otherwise largely the same UI they've been using since around the Apple ][ days. And sadly the open source world seems intent on copying whatever Microsoft and Apple are doing.

In any case, 3-4 years from now, everyone will be talking about how they're not going to upgrade to Windows 7 (or whatever it's called then) because there's nothing wrong with Vista. This has been going on with every single Windows upgrade for over a decade. It's a little sad really when you think about it. Especially people who make up their mind about things without having even tried it, but rely on second or third hand information. That really is one of the saddest things of all. For all you know, Vista could be the perfect OS for you, but you refuse to even give it a chance. Truly a pity.

Where exactly did I say that YOU specifically made those claims? I just said that people, referring to the amorphous group of all computer users, were saying the same things about XP as they were about Vista.

More than that, while Vista is hardly the upgrade promised years ago, I look at it more as an interim release that lays a lot of the foundational groundwork for future releases. Aero is one such example. It has yet to be seen whether or not Microsoft will do much of anything with Aero, or even third party developers, but it allows any desktop app to utilize DirectX features which is a huge thing. It opens up all kinds of possibilities. How many of them will actually be realized is unknown at this point in time, but future releases of Windows could use the foundation that is Aero, and build upon it.

And so far I haven't had any problems with getting my stuff to work on Vista. I'm even using the 64-bit Vista, so that should complicate things further. I just haven't had any significant problems getting things to work period. Hardware, software, all of it works just fine. Had some minor issues getting my Xbox 360 to be able to stream media off of my desktop, but that's just because Microsoft insists on you having to use their software for everything. And considering it doesn't hold a candle to Xbox Media Center for the original Xbox, unless I start running across a lot of 720p and 1080i/p content, doubt I'll be using it much.

How much have you actually used Vista personally? If you've used it a fair amount and don't like it, that's fine, but to claim to hate something you haven't even used is just stupid.

i've been using vista for almost a year...i have both a vista laptop and my older one with xp...the xp unit is now a dust collector...not that it doesnt work...but vista for me is so nice to work with...i'll stay with the new stuff thanks...

In correlation with your questions:

1. It might be possible to install XP using the disc you got from your Gateway machine on your HP machine because more-in-likely it is a OEM disc. The problem is that usually those type of disc's that come with a machine are for that company's brand so although it may install fine it might not automatically activate Windows so you might need a valid XP CD key anyways or just call Microsoft with the number it gives you if activation fails.

2. If your computer comes pre-installed with Vista on it and does not come with a XP rollback disc (Like Dell does or did offer) then more-in-likely you will need to reformat the hard drive, which will wipe Vista off and then you can install XP. You can upgrade from XP to Vista, but not downgrade from Vista to XP. Unless something has changed that is your only options I think.

I have used Vista since it came out in 2006 and early on yes it had a lot of bugs and problems, but now two years later sure it still has it's faults but it as greatly improved since. I use it and have no major errors, but encounter the occasional minor ones.

Before un-installing Vista and re-installing some flavor of XP (by the way I don't think the Gateway rescue disks will work. Gateway "builds" the disks for the hardware on that particular system) try to do a little research on what is actually causing the problems. Look for updated drivers and such from HP and also look for software patches and such. HP usually will not release a laptop without testing and retesting the hardware for Vista compatibility.

Also check the XP/Vista compatibility for your older software that ran on XP. Sometimes there is a patch and sometimes not. You can usually solve the problem by running the software in compatibility mode(right click .exe and select compatibility).

I built my computer to Vista specs when Vista was a brand new OS and have VERY good success with it. In two years I have had to reinstall twice, both due to hardware changes. I personally love this OS although the 64bit drivers where hard to come by at first.

I doubt putting a new OS on the PC will help. If you are getting "5-10" per day plus programs "consistently" crashing. You have a hardware problem. I have 3 different HP laptops all running Vista and have never seen a Blue Screen of Death. I know it if popular to bash Vista, but the OS is fine when running on the right hardware. If you have a new HP, you should take it back to your dealer and get it checked out. You are wasting your time to try to retrofit a new os on bad hardware.

sadly it is becoming increasingly hard to put XP on newer machines. Driver support is limited and XP is no longer in production. However do not fear. Vista is going bye bye really soon thats all i will say.