Vista makes life easier? OEM a warning...

something daft already!! · 29 Jan 2007 at 18:03

My Vista Experience: Home Premium 64 bit OEM

I hope I can get to the end of this without it crashing.

Installed in 25 mins . No sound even though the Vista advisor said sound (ac97) was supported and after much searching and installing I finally found a 64 bit driver to make it work, with lesser functionality than in XP. Nvdia 7800gs agp card, display shuts down and restarts or BSOD every few mins in aero. I am unable to install some DVD games as I get corrupt archive errors, the same for installing some patches I have downloaded for one game I got installed. I cant use multi rar files as they will corrupt. Moving files can cause BSOD or display lock ups and takes much longer than on XP, same with unpacking zip files. Display shuts down (intermittent) when clicking a link in IE. IE often will not open and sends error report, same with outlook 2003 (latest service packs). Thus far I have had (I just tried to check the "Problem reporting tool" for the number of problems, but it closed itself! From last night, it was 427 in a week. I left it on last night and it behaved! This morning however, while idle, rebooted. I am losing data as it is getting corrupted by Vista. I have had to run CHK disk a number of times to repair the drive after yet another BSOD. I was concerned that maybe my memory was the issue, so I have run the memory tester which says all is good. The IDE channells will alarming clunck and shut down, then restart. I have set the power setting to never sleep the HD. On more than one occaision the IDE has shut down altogether, the HD lights on PC remain on and static. Vista locks and the only way out is to depower the PC. After this upsetting and unsettling crash, the hard drives no longer will be detected by BIOS. It says I have no HD's or DVD rom! After leaving it and rebooting several times, the IDE controlling will kick back in again and it will boot back up. My system is not very old, I have an AMD 4000 64 bit, Abit AV8 3rd eye Mobo, 2.25 GB ram DDR400, 2*320gb HD + USB 320gb HD, 480 PSU. In desperation I even considered getting a new PSU, so today I had my VGA card on its own rail and the IDE drives on another, disconnecting the DVD, so only the bare minimum was connected. I did this lunchtime today, left PC, nothing running, and lo and behold, it crashed while I was out, restarted but the screen was screwed. Task bar was a bit win 2000, grey, not black and had lost its aero look, but it was not in safe mode.

Ok I thought, I have had enough of this, phone Microsofts helpdesk and explain my issues there. Oh no, I am not entitled to support, OEM version.

Makes life easier does it? Hmmm? I think not, my pc is screwed since installing this early Beta like product, I ran RC2 for a while and had the exact same issues with Display.

If anyone has any suggestions other than DONT BUY OEM, DONT BUY VISTA or DONT USE 64 bit then please post. I am sticking with send it back and boot back into XP, Vista sucks, big time.

sid · 29 Jan 2007 at 18:23

It is well known that you are not entitled to support with OEM version.

It is for people who know what they are doing (Large manufacturers ,etc), clearly you aren't an expert if you think that 64bit Vista will just work out of the box without any problems.

The operating system came out just today so cut it some slack. I didnt migrate to xp for over an year, just because of Driver issues,

As an early adopter you are asking to face these issues so theres no point in complaining tbh.

If you had asked on here, most people won't suggset 64bit vista as it doesn't have a mature driver set.

sid

dirtydog · 29 Jan 2007 at 18:25

Yep it goes with the territory for early adopters I'm afraid.

the-void · 29 Jan 2007 at 20:08

lol, please tell me you have not installed the drivers from nVidia... I wouldn't, they are pants.

weringo · 29 Jan 2007 at 20:19

Is it advisable to buy the 32 bit version of Vista then? I was thinking about getting it in the next few days but the 64 bit version seems to have a lot of problems. How does the 32 bit version handle?

TC1 · 29 Jan 2007 at 20:48

32-bit seems the way to go if you want trouble free Vista!

Valo · 29 Jan 2007 at 20:52

weringo said:
Is it advisable to buy the 32 bit version of Vista then? I was thinking about getting it in the next few days but the 64 bit version seems to have a lot of problems. How does the 32 bit version handle?

Don't let this put you off. Microsoft will not digitally sign drivers for 32bit(x86) without the producers writing drivers for 64bit(x64) versions of vista getting rid of the driver support issues they had in WinXP x64. Drivers will be available just be patient, I'm running x64 Vista Ultimate perfectly fine and it's superb!

If your hardware supports x64 go for it as in my view it maximises your investment.

jaric · 29 Jan 2007 at 20:55

64-bit working fine for me. Got all the apps I need working fine. Just waiting for proper x-fi drivers from Creative.

hashcake · 29 Jan 2007 at 20:58

howiepoohs said:
My Vista Experience: Home Premium 64 bit OEM

I hope I can get to the end of this without it crashing.

After this upsetting and unsettling crash, the hard drives no longer will be detected by BIOS. It says I have no HD's or DVD rom! After leaving it and rebooting several times, the IDE controlling will kick back in again and it will boot back up.

That alone indicates hardwares issues not the OS.

Also the fact that you've run chkdsk so many times indicates either a faulty data cable (doubtful), faulty hard drive or a faulty IDE controller.

I also agree with what others have said about the 64bit version of Vista.
If you take a look at motherboard manfufacturers websites, you'll see a lot if 32bit drivers are no longer beta and a lof the 64bit drivers are still in beta.

Glaucus · 29 Jan 2007 at 21:45

weringo said:
Is it advisable to buy the 32 bit version of Vista then? I was thinking about getting it in the next few days but the 64 bit version seems to have a lot of problems. How does the 32 bit version handle?

Either buy retail in which case you can get 32bit and 64bit or wait until april/may and get 64bit. 32 bit is old and you might as well go 64bit, just need a month or to for drivers and application patches.

Freakfish1 · 29 Jan 2007 at 23:02

Im running a business and gaming on my machine using vista 64. I have had no problems as yet and im running loads of softwear.

I'm just waiting for the drivers foir the 8800 series NVIDIA cards to come out. Cant wait! My sytem will be complete, for another 6 months

jamjar · 29 Jan 2007 at 23:14

AcidHell2 said:
Either buy retail in which case you can get 32bit and 64bit or wait until april/may and get 64bit. 32 bit is old and you might as well go 64bit, just need a month or to for drivers and application patches.

you don,r get x64 bit version with the x32 ,but you have a form inside to get it i think its £8 if this is correct :confused:

musx64 · 30 Jan 2007 at 08:15

Im running Vista Ultimate RTM x64 from work, I have had no issues with it. Playing games - Fear, Age of Empires 3. Fair enough the 64bit drivers are beta, but they seem to work fine.

One question though ?

I have 2GB Memory, according to vista 35-40% of memory is being used just on Vista alone. Which one consumes more memory, 32 or 64bit ?

thanks.

bikes · 30 Jan 2007 at 08:17

musx64 said:
Which one consumes more memory, 32 or 64bit ?

64bit mate

something daft already!! · 30 Jan 2007 at 11:00

The time has come

I have been running Vista 64 bit a week or so now and have desided to return it to overclockers for a number of reasons:

1 Product is OEM and being sold seperatly breaks Microsofts Liecensing
2 Product is not of Merchantable quality, please see the start of the thread for details.
3 No support from anywhere.

I have tired contacting overclockers on all their numbers this morning but I cant get through as the line is perminantly engaged, both lines. Hmmm

csmager · 30 Jan 2007 at 11:03

howiepoohs said:
I have been running Vista 64 bit a week or so now and have desided to return it to overclockers for a number of reasons:

1 Product is OEM and being sold seperatly breaks Microsofts Liecensing
2 Product is not of Merchantable quality, please see the start of the thread for details.
3 No support from anywhere.

That's utterly absurd:

1. It doesn't break licensing, this has been gone over many times

2. Yes it is. Your hardware's lack of drivers is at fault. It's working fine on three of my PCs

3. One of the major points of the OEM license is that you don't get any support.

And finally, by breaking the seal on the CD, you accept the license. There is no way you can return it.

KNiVES · 30 Jan 2007 at 11:06

I have OEM Home Premium 64 bit, and my _only_ problem is not being able to run games, even with the ATi drivers released only last night. Sounds like sheer bad luck on your part

Granted I had slooow file movement and unzipping, but that's because of Windows security scanning everything in sight as they move. Turned it off.

something daft already!! · 30 Jan 2007 at 11:09

csmager said:
That's utterly absurd:

1. It doesn't break licensing, this has been gone over many times

2. Yes it is. Your hardware's lack of drivers is at fault. It's working fine on three of my PCs

3. One of the major points of the OEM license is that you don't get any support.

And finally, by breaking the seal on the CD, you accept the license. There is no way you can return it.

1 Acording to Microsoft (I guess they know what they are talking about) It does break licensing. Spoke to a rep last night. He advised me to send it back to overclockers.

2 Drivers are "supposed" to be supported by OS. Vista advisor gave me the all clear, so how the hell am I supposed know I would have these serious problems:

NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GS NVIDIA No action required

VIA Networking Velocity Family Giga-bit Ethernet Adapter VIA Networking Technologies, Inc. No action required

VIA Bus Master Ultra ATA Controller VIA No action required

Primary IDE Channel VIA No action required

Secondary IDE Channel VIA No action required

VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller VIA Technologies No action required

VIA USB Enhanced Host Controller VIA Technologies No action required

USB Mass Storage Device Compatible USB storage device No action required

Realtek AC'97 Audio for VIA ® Audio Controller Realtek No action required

VIA OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller VIA No action required

3 OEM sucks, I was told that the only difference was the packaging by a rep from overclockers

Lysander · 30 Jan 2007 at 11:23

howiepoohs said:
Acording to Microsoft (I guess they know what they are talking about) It does break licensing. Spoke to a rep last night.

Regardless of whether the person you spoke to knew their onions or not, surely you could not have missed the BIG RED STICKER sealing the DVD into the packet which says WARNING: BY REMOVING THIS YOU ARE CONFIRMING THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE TERMS OF OEM SOFTWARE??

bfar · 30 Jan 2007 at 11:24

Honestly, it sounds like a hardare problem or a corrupt installation. I sympathise with the OP, what a nightmare.

In your case I would recommed sticking with XP until better driver support is available.

Vista makes life easier? OEM a warning...

Capodecina