Vista - Vista has ruined my PC gaming experience

I need HELP. Once upon a time, when my computer ran Windows XP - I had a very
stable and enjoyable PC experience, all the way around. Applications started
when I wanted them too, and ALL the games I wanted to play ran without
question.
I was excited about Vista, and defended it when all my other gaming
buddies bagged on it and me for making the switch. Now, I feel like an idiot.
Battlefield: 2142 crashes on stage loads. Sure, it has the "this game has
only been tested on Windows XP 32-bit" but the compatibility mode on Vista
doesn't even let the copy-protection scheme on Battlefield 2142 work
correctly - so it won't load.
Titan Quest - simple enough game - crashes for random things now with
little or no explanation as to why.
XFIRE used to be a wonderful tool for ingame chat. Now, it's a prime source
for PC crashing.
So, then these wonderful VISTA only games come along so -- my idea was to
dual-boot. That led to a total train wreck of an XP intsallation that led to
a total re-load of Windows Vista and STILL no dual boot capability into
Windows XP.

I used to HATE console gaming, but now I hate my PC even more. I spent A
LOT of money building a pretty awesome gaming rig. 2x 8800GTX to go in an
Asus Striker Extreme motherboard with a Core2Duo processor, 2 Gigs of RAM and
a very nice 30" LCD monitor. To bad its all pretty much a paper weight with
Windows Vista isntalled.

Well, I think there is some hope, but I will give you the generic lecture.
If you had a stable platform and had no real reason to upgrade, then you
should have waited until you had a real reason to upgrade.

Dual booting once Vista is already installed is probably going to be a
little tougher, since it normally like XP installed first and then Vista.
But you should look at a program called Vista Boot Pro
(www.vistabootpro.org) and see if you can't use that program to get you a
dual booting config. Of course, I encourage you to put XP on a seperate hard
disk, versus sharing a partition.

Not sure why BF2142 is not working for you. I've played Much hours of BF2142
under Vista 64. You do have to make sure to run the program with the "Run as
administrator' option. But that shouldn't be causing crashes on Stage loads.
When you say it won't load, are you talking about installing the game or
loading a map. When you go to install the game, you probably need to also
run the setup.exe as administrator as well.

If nothing else, try turning off the UAC and see if that fixes the problem.
You can find the UAC option under Control Panel - User accounts.

I don't play Titan Quest, can't help you there and I haven't used X-fire in
years, but I had heard alot of problems being caused by that under Vista. I
think it also needs the Run As administrator option, but more than likely it
needs a Vista update.

Just remember, there is always a price for being on the cutting edge.




"Khatoic" <Khatoic@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E021D818-B580-4B3D-A5B2-96860C3D1FAB@microsoft.com...
>I need HELP. Once upon a time, when my computer ran Windows XP - I had a
>very
> stable and enjoyable PC experience, all the way around. Applications
> started
> when I wanted them too, and ALL the games I wanted to play ran without
> question.
> I was excited about Vista, and defended it when all my other gaming
> buddies bagged on it and me for making the switch. Now, I feel like an
> idiot.
> Battlefield: 2142 crashes on stage loads. Sure, it has the "this game has
> only been tested on Windows XP 32-bit" but the compatibility mode on Vista
> doesn't even let the copy-protection scheme on Battlefield 2142 work
> correctly - so it won't load.
> Titan Quest - simple enough game - crashes for random things now with
> little or no explanation as to why.
> XFIRE used to be a wonderful tool for ingame chat. Now, it's a prime
> source
> for PC crashing.
> So, then these wonderful VISTA only games come along so -- my idea was to
> dual-boot. That led to a total train wreck of an XP intsallation that led
> to
> a total re-load of Windows Vista and STILL no dual boot capability into
> Windows XP.
>
> I used to HATE console gaming, but now I hate my PC even more. I spent A
> LOT of money building a pretty awesome gaming rig. 2x 8800GTX to go in an
> Asus Striker Extreme motherboard with a Core2Duo processor, 2 Gigs of RAM
> and
> a very nice 30" LCD monitor. To bad its all pretty much a paper weight
> with
> Windows Vista isntalled.

In article <E021D818-B580-4B3D-A5B2-96860C3D1FAB@microsoft.com>,
Khatoic says...
> I need HELP. Once upon a time, when my computer ran Windows XP - I had a very
> stable and enjoyable PC experience, all the way around. Applications started
> when I wanted them too, and ALL the games I wanted to play ran without
> question.
> I was excited about Vista, and defended it when all my other gaming
> buddies bagged on it and me for making the switch. Now, I feel like an idiot.
> Battlefield: 2142 crashes on stage loads. Sure, it has the "this game has
> only been tested on Windows XP 32-bit" but the compatibility mode on Vista
> doesn't even let the copy-protection scheme on Battlefield 2142 work
> correctly - so it won't load.


Works fine here even on a version bought via EA Link.

--
Conor

Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright
until you hear them speak.........

"Khatoic" <Khatoic@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E021D818-B580-4B3D-A5B2-96860C3D1FAB@microsoft.com...
>I need HELP. Once upon a time, when my computer ran Windows XP - I had a
>very
> stable and enjoyable PC experience, all the way around. Applications
> started
> when I wanted them too, and ALL the games I wanted to play ran without
> question.
> I was excited about Vista, and defended it when all my other gaming
> buddies bagged on it and me for making the switch. Now, I feel like an
> idiot.
> Battlefield: 2142 crashes on stage loads. Sure, it has the "this game has
> only been tested on Windows XP 32-bit" but the compatibility mode on Vista
> doesn't even let the copy-protection scheme on Battlefield 2142 work
> correctly - so it won't load.
> Titan Quest - simple enough game - crashes for random things now with
> little or no explanation as to why.
> XFIRE used to be a wonderful tool for ingame chat. Now, it's a prime
> source
> for PC crashing.
> So, then these wonderful VISTA only games come along so -- my idea was to
> dual-boot. That led to a total train wreck of an XP intsallation that led
> to
> a total re-load of Windows Vista and STILL no dual boot capability into
> Windows XP.
>
> I used to HATE console gaming, but now I hate my PC even more. I spent A
> LOT of money building a pretty awesome gaming rig. 2x 8800GTX to go in an
> Asus Striker Extreme motherboard with a Core2Duo processor, 2 Gigs of RAM
> and
> a very nice 30" LCD monitor. To bad its all pretty much a paper weight
> with
> Windows Vista isntalled.

No problems playing the following with Vista

Rome Total War
Rome Barbarian Invasion
Medieval Total War 2
Stalker Chernobyl
Silent Hunter 4
Virtual Tennis 3

Translation : I am a dumbie



"Khatoic" <Khatoic@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E021D818-B580-4B3D-A5B2-96860C3D1FAB@microsoft.com...
>I need HELP. Once upon a time, when my computer ran Windows XP - I had a
>very
> stable and enjoyable PC experience, all the way around. Applications
> started
> when I wanted them too, and ALL the games I wanted to play ran without
> question.
> I was excited about Vista, and defended it when all my other gaming
> buddies bagged on it and me for making the switch. Now, I feel like an
> idiot.
> Battlefield: 2142 crashes on stage loads. Sure, it has the "this game has
> only been tested on Windows XP 32-bit" but the compatibility mode on Vista
> doesn't even let the copy-protection scheme on Battlefield 2142 work
> correctly - so it won't load.
> Titan Quest - simple enough game - crashes for random things now with
> little or no explanation as to why.
> XFIRE used to be a wonderful tool for ingame chat. Now, it's a prime
> source
> for PC crashing.
> So, then these wonderful VISTA only games come along so -- my idea was to
> dual-boot. That led to a total train wreck of an XP intsallation that led
> to
> a total re-load of Windows Vista and STILL no dual boot capability into
> Windows XP.
>
> I used to HATE console gaming, but now I hate my PC even more. I spent A
> LOT of money building a pretty awesome gaming rig. 2x 8800GTX to go in an
> Asus Striker Extreme motherboard with a Core2Duo processor, 2 Gigs of RAM
> and
> a very nice 30" LCD monitor. To bad its all pretty much a paper weight
> with
> Windows Vista isntalled.

Khatoic wrote:
> I need HELP. Once upon a time, when my computer ran Windows XP - I had a very
> stable and enjoyable PC experience, all the way around. Applications started
> when I wanted them too, and ALL the games I wanted to play ran without
> question.
> I was excited about Vista, and defended it when all my other gaming
> buddies bagged on it and me for making the switch. Now, I feel like an idiot.
> Battlefield: 2142 crashes on stage loads. Sure, it has the "this game has
> only been tested on Windows XP 32-bit" but the compatibility mode on Vista
> doesn't even let the copy-protection scheme on Battlefield 2142 work
> correctly - so it won't load.
> Titan Quest - simple enough game - crashes for random things now with
> little or no explanation as to why.
> XFIRE used to be a wonderful tool for ingame chat. Now, it's a prime source
> for PC crashing.
> So, then these wonderful VISTA only games come along so -- my idea was to
> dual-boot. That led to a total train wreck of an XP intsallation that led to
> a total re-load of Windows Vista and STILL no dual boot capability into
> Windows XP.
>
> I used to HATE console gaming, but now I hate my PC even more. I spent A
> LOT of money building a pretty awesome gaming rig. 2x 8800GTX to go in an
> Asus Striker Extreme motherboard with a Core2Duo processor, 2 Gigs of RAM and
> a very nice 30" LCD monitor. To bad its all pretty much a paper weight with
> Windows Vista isntalled.


Okay, this is an IF...

Many recent MBs have an option to choose which drive you boot from, in
the case of this here Gigabyte MB it's F12.

Install XP on one drive, Vista on another (ONLY have one drive in the
machine when you do this) and the BIOS drive sector will allow you to
choose. You MUST remove the drive you are not installing on...

It's not as elegant as VistaBootPro claims to be but that doesn't
actually work so elegant or not there's no point.

Does you MB manual or website give any data about such an option?

The world thanks you for that inspirational insight. You don't by any
chance have such an erudite solution to the problem of international
terrorism do you?


will_s wrote:
> Translation : I am a dumbie
>
>
>
> "Khatoic" <Khatoic@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:E021D818-B580-4B3D-A5B2-96860C3D1FAB@microsoft.com...
>> I need HELP. Once upon a time, when my computer ran Windows XP - I had
>> a very
>> stable and enjoyable PC experience, all the way around. Applications
>> started
>> when I wanted them too, and ALL the games I wanted to play ran without
>> question.
>> I was excited about Vista, and defended it when all my other gaming
>> buddies bagged on it and me for making the switch. Now, I feel like an
>> idiot.
>> Battlefield: 2142 crashes on stage loads. Sure, it has the "this game has
>> only been tested on Windows XP 32-bit" but the compatibility mode on
>> Vista
>> doesn't even let the copy-protection scheme on Battlefield 2142 work
>> correctly - so it won't load.
>> Titan Quest - simple enough game - crashes for random things now with
>> little or no explanation as to why.
>> XFIRE used to be a wonderful tool for ingame chat. Now, it's a prime
>> source
>> for PC crashing.
>> So, then these wonderful VISTA only games come along so -- my idea was to
>> dual-boot. That led to a total train wreck of an XP intsallation that
>> led to
>> a total re-load of Windows Vista and STILL no dual boot capability into
>> Windows XP.
>>
>> I used to HATE console gaming, but now I hate my PC even more. I
>> spent A
>> LOT of money building a pretty awesome gaming rig. 2x 8800GTX to go in an
>> Asus Striker Extreme motherboard with a Core2Duo processor, 2 Gigs of
>> RAM and
>> a very nice 30" LCD monitor. To bad its all pretty much a paper weight
>> with
>> Windows Vista isntalled.
>

I cannot run STALKER, it freezes up about five minutes into gameplay. I
cannot run ArmA combat operations, it immediately stops working and sends an
error report. Farcry freezes constantly. I have 2 gb ram, an intel core 2
quad q6600, Nvidia Geforce 8800 GTS 640mb superclocked x2. I have downloaded
all the latest patches for the games above, but still no luck. Any ideas
from the people who can run these without a problem?

"Charlie Tame" wrote:

> Khatoic wrote:
> > I need HELP. Once upon a time, when my computer ran Windows XP - I had a very
> > stable and enjoyable PC experience, all the way around. Applications started
> > when I wanted them too, and ALL the games I wanted to play ran without
> > question.
> > I was excited about Vista, and defended it when all my other gaming
> > buddies bagged on it and me for making the switch. Now, I feel like an idiot.
> > Battlefield: 2142 crashes on stage loads. Sure, it has the "this game has
> > only been tested on Windows XP 32-bit" but the compatibility mode on Vista
> > doesn't even let the copy-protection scheme on Battlefield 2142 work
> > correctly - so it won't load.
> > Titan Quest - simple enough game - crashes for random things now with
> > little or no explanation as to why.
> > XFIRE used to be a wonderful tool for ingame chat. Now, it's a prime source
> > for PC crashing.
> > So, then these wonderful VISTA only games come along so -- my idea was to
> > dual-boot. That led to a total train wreck of an XP intsallation that led to
> > a total re-load of Windows Vista and STILL no dual boot capability into
> > Windows XP.
> >
> > I used to HATE console gaming, but now I hate my PC even more. I spent A
> > LOT of money building a pretty awesome gaming rig. 2x 8800GTX to go in an
> > Asus Striker Extreme motherboard with a Core2Duo processor, 2 Gigs of RAM and
> > a very nice 30" LCD monitor. To bad its all pretty much a paper weight with
> > Windows Vista isntalled.
>
>
> Okay, this is an IF...
>
> Many recent MBs have an option to choose which drive you boot from, in
> the case of this here Gigabyte MB it's F12.
>
> Install XP on one drive, Vista on another (ONLY have one drive in the
> machine when you do this) and the BIOS drive sector will allow you to
> choose. You MUST remove the drive you are not installing on...
>
> It's not as elegant as VistaBootPro claims to be but that doesn't
> actually work so elegant or not there's no point.
>
> Does you MB manual or website give any data about such an option?
>

You might get a better response reposting a new question with the title
Farcry, Stalker and Arma crashes and if you can find it include the
number of the video card driver you are using in the post.

Also, it's not impossible that it could be the sound card or drivers
causing trouble.

Are you running Vista 32 or 64?


blkgto wrote:
> I cannot run STALKER, it freezes up about five minutes into gameplay. I
> cannot run ArmA combat operations, it immediately stops working and sends an
> error report. Farcry freezes constantly. I have 2 gb ram, an intel core 2
> quad q6600, Nvidia Geforce 8800 GTS 640mb superclocked x2. I have downloaded
> all the latest patches for the games above, but still no luck. Any ideas
> from the people who can run these without a problem?
>
> "Charlie Tame" wrote:
>
>> Khatoic wrote:
>>> I need HELP. Once upon a time, when my computer ran Windows XP - I had a very
>>> stable and enjoyable PC experience, all the way around. Applications started
>>> when I wanted them too, and ALL the games I wanted to play ran without
>>> question.
>>> I was excited about Vista, and defended it when all my other gaming
>>> buddies bagged on it and me for making the switch. Now, I feel like an idiot.
>>> Battlefield: 2142 crashes on stage loads. Sure, it has the "this game has
>>> only been tested on Windows XP 32-bit" but the compatibility mode on Vista
>>> doesn't even let the copy-protection scheme on Battlefield 2142 work
>>> correctly - so it won't load.
>>> Titan Quest - simple enough game - crashes for random things now with
>>> little or no explanation as to why.
>>> XFIRE used to be a wonderful tool for ingame chat. Now, it's a prime source
>>> for PC crashing.
>>> So, then these wonderful VISTA only games come along so -- my idea was to
>>> dual-boot. That led to a total train wreck of an XP intsallation that led to
>>> a total re-load of Windows Vista and STILL no dual boot capability into
>>> Windows XP.
>>>
>>> I used to HATE console gaming, but now I hate my PC even more. I spent A
>>> LOT of money building a pretty awesome gaming rig. 2x 8800GTX to go in an
>>> Asus Striker Extreme motherboard with a Core2Duo processor, 2 Gigs of RAM and
>>> a very nice 30" LCD monitor. To bad its all pretty much a paper weight with
>>> Windows Vista isntalled.
>>
>> Okay, this is an IF...
>>
>> Many recent MBs have an option to choose which drive you boot from, in
>> the case of this here Gigabyte MB it's F12.
>>
>> Install XP on one drive, Vista on another (ONLY have one drive in the
>> machine when you do this) and the BIOS drive sector will allow you to
>> choose. You MUST remove the drive you are not installing on...
>>
>> It's not as elegant as VistaBootPro claims to be but that doesn't
>> actually work so elegant or not there's no point.
>>
>> Does you MB manual or website give any data about such an option?
>>

I am running 64bit vista, and I have checked on the soundcard drivers, I am
running the latest nvidia drivers, so I don't know what the heck the problem
could be other then vista instability.


"Charlie Tame" wrote:

> You might get a better response reposting a new question with the title
> Farcry, Stalker and Arma crashes and if you can find it include the
> number of the video card driver you are using in the post.
>
> Also, it's not impossible that it could be the sound card or drivers
> causing trouble.
>
> Are you running Vista 32 or 64?
>
>
> blkgto wrote:
> > I cannot run STALKER, it freezes up about five minutes into gameplay. I
> > cannot run ArmA combat operations, it immediately stops working and sends an
> > error report. Farcry freezes constantly. I have 2 gb ram, an intel core 2
> > quad q6600, Nvidia Geforce 8800 GTS 640mb superclocked x2. I have downloaded
> > all the latest patches for the games above, but still no luck. Any ideas
> > from the people who can run these without a problem?
> >
> > "Charlie Tame" wrote:
> >
> >> Khatoic wrote:
> >>> I need HELP. Once upon a time, when my computer ran Windows XP - I had a very
> >>> stable and enjoyable PC experience, all the way around. Applications started
> >>> when I wanted them too, and ALL the games I wanted to play ran without
> >>> question.
> >>> I was excited about Vista, and defended it when all my other gaming
> >>> buddies bagged on it and me for making the switch. Now, I feel like an idiot.
> >>> Battlefield: 2142 crashes on stage loads. Sure, it has the "this game has
> >>> only been tested on Windows XP 32-bit" but the compatibility mode on Vista
> >>> doesn't even let the copy-protection scheme on Battlefield 2142 work
> >>> correctly - so it won't load.
> >>> Titan Quest - simple enough game - crashes for random things now with
> >>> little or no explanation as to why.
> >>> XFIRE used to be a wonderful tool for ingame chat. Now, it's a prime source
> >>> for PC crashing.
> >>> So, then these wonderful VISTA only games come along so -- my idea was to
> >>> dual-boot. That led to a total train wreck of an XP intsallation that led to
> >>> a total re-load of Windows Vista and STILL no dual boot capability into
> >>> Windows XP.
> >>>
> >>> I used to HATE console gaming, but now I hate my PC even more. I spent A
> >>> LOT of money building a pretty awesome gaming rig. 2x 8800GTX to go in an
> >>> Asus Striker Extreme motherboard with a Core2Duo processor, 2 Gigs of RAM and
> >>> a very nice 30" LCD monitor. To bad its all pretty much a paper weight with
> >>> Windows Vista isntalled.
> >>
> >> Okay, this is an IF...
> >>
> >> Many recent MBs have an option to choose which drive you boot from, in
> >> the case of this here Gigabyte MB it's F12.
> >>
> >> Install XP on one drive, Vista on another (ONLY have one drive in the
> >> machine when you do this) and the BIOS drive sector will allow you to
> >> choose. You MUST remove the drive you are not installing on...
> >>
> >> It's not as elegant as VistaBootPro claims to be but that doesn't
> >> actually work so elegant or not there's no point.
> >>
> >> Does you MB manual or website give any data about such an option?
> >>
>