I installed Vista (32 bit version) and to be honest, I really liked what I
saw. It is more sophisticated and less cartoonish than its predecessor.
Unfortunately, I had to uninstall it almost as quickly. Why? Drivers, for the
most part. Or, rather, lack thereof. Although my printer driver was available
through Windows updates, I couldn't send anything to the printer, no matter
what I did. I can't use most of my mouse functions because the driver is not
compatible. My GeForce 6200 only has 64mb of RAM available (instead of 256mb)
because nVidea's Vista compatible driver doesn't work with TurboCache yet. My
Microsoft Intellitype Pro keyboard doesn't even have a compatible driver and
you manufactured the thing! How can this OS be properly beta tested in any
way if one cannot use their hardware or perform even simple funtions like
printing because there just aren't any drivers out there, not even for your
own products? Also, I was annoyed more than I can say by the User Account
Control, especially when trying to install software. I agree that more
security was needed but this is too much. It added a few extra clicks to
everything I tried to do. It adds up. But, when it is disabled, one keeps
getting reminded that their computer security is in peril by the Security
Centre to the point of having to choose between the lesser of the two
annoyances. So, my beta test lasted just a couple of days before I'd
completely had it and accepted that it's like fighting a losing battle. I had
to get back to my work . So, I'll wait to try Vista again when more of the
driver and security feature bugs are worked out. Probably when it's in its
SP2 production.

Be sure to forward your valuable feedback to MS. This is not a managed
newsgroup and comments made here do not reach MS.

"LW" <LW@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:C4D5FE94-AC1E-4460-A67A-DF0EE0F93A26@microsoft.com...
>I installed Vista (32 bit version) and to be honest, I really liked what I
> saw. It is more sophisticated and less cartoonish than its predecessor.
> Unfortunately, I had to uninstall it almost as quickly. Why? Drivers, for
> the
> most part. Or, rather, lack thereof. Although my printer driver was
> available
> through Windows updates, I couldn't send anything to the printer, no
> matter
> what I did. I can't use most of my mouse functions because the driver is
> not
> compatible. My GeForce 6200 only has 64mb of RAM available (instead of
> 256mb)
> because nVidea's Vista compatible driver doesn't work with TurboCache yet.
> My
> Microsoft Intellitype Pro keyboard doesn't even have a compatible driver
> and
> you manufactured the thing! How can this OS be properly beta tested in any
> way if one cannot use their hardware or perform even simple funtions like
> printing because there just aren't any drivers out there, not even for
> your
> own products? Also, I was annoyed more than I can say by the User Account
> Control, especially when trying to install software. I agree that more
> security was needed but this is too much. It added a few extra clicks to
> everything I tried to do. It adds up. But, when it is disabled, one keeps
> getting reminded that their computer security is in peril by the Security
> Centre to the point of having to choose between the lesser of the two
> annoyances. So, my beta test lasted just a couple of days before I'd
> completely had it and accepted that it's like fighting a losing battle. I
> had
> to get back to my work . So, I'll wait to try Vista again when more of the
> driver and security feature bugs are worked out. Probably when it's in its
> SP2 production.

Drivers not being included are the hardware manufacturers fault - not
Microsoft's. Unfortunately, most hardware vendors with the exception of a
few do not publicly release their beta drivers for a beta operating system,
and if you contact them regarding it they will tell you that Vista has not
released and they only support released operating systems. I know, it's
very frustrating, but that's part of beta testing.

Driver support is getting better, although you would think drivers for every
piece of hardware ever made should included on that 3.0GB+ ISO image

--
Jeff Warren


"LW" <LW@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:C4D5FE94-AC1E-4460-A67A-DF0EE0F93A26@microsoft.com...
>I installed Vista (32 bit version) and to be honest, I really liked what I
> saw. It is more sophisticated and less cartoonish than its predecessor.
> Unfortunately, I had to uninstall it almost as quickly. Why? Drivers, for
> the
> most part. Or, rather, lack thereof. Although my printer driver was
> available
> through Windows updates, I couldn't send anything to the printer, no
> matter
> what I did. I can't use most of my mouse functions because the driver is
> not
> compatible. My GeForce 6200 only has 64mb of RAM available (instead of
> 256mb)
> because nVidea's Vista compatible driver doesn't work with TurboCache yet.
> My
> Microsoft Intellitype Pro keyboard doesn't even have a compatible driver
> and
> you manufactured the thing! How can this OS be properly beta tested in any
> way if one cannot use their hardware or perform even simple funtions like
> printing because there just aren't any drivers out there, not even for
> your
> own products? Also, I was annoyed more than I can say by the User Account
> Control, especially when trying to install software. I agree that more
> security was needed but this is too much. It added a few extra clicks to
> everything I tried to do. It adds up. But, when it is disabled, one keeps
> getting reminded that their computer security is in peril by the Security
> Centre to the point of having to choose between the lesser of the two
> annoyances. So, my beta test lasted just a couple of days before I'd
> completely had it and accepted that it's like fighting a losing battle. I
> had
> to get back to my work . So, I'll wait to try Vista again when more of the
> driver and security feature bugs are worked out. Probably when it's in its
> SP2 production.

Agreed, although I have found some beta drivers by doing a search on "beta"
or "Vista" on these websites. Some of them just don't display them on the
general drivers downloads page.

"Jeff Warren" <user@domain.com> wrote in message
news:u1$%23KYWlGHA.4792@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Drivers not being included are the hardware manufacturers fault - not
> Microsoft's. Unfortunately, most hardware vendors with the exception of a
> few do not publicly release their beta drivers for a beta operating
> system, and if you contact them regarding it they will tell you that Vista
> has not released and they only support released operating systems. I
> know, it's very frustrating, but that's part of beta testing.
>
> Driver support is getting better, although you would think drivers for
> every piece of hardware ever made should included on that 3.0GB+ ISO image
>
>
> --
> Jeff Warren
>
>
> "LW" <LW@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:C4D5FE94-AC1E-4460-A67A-DF0EE0F93A26@microsoft.com...
>>I installed Vista (32 bit version) and to be honest, I really liked what I
>> saw. It is more sophisticated and less cartoonish than its predecessor.
>> Unfortunately, I had to uninstall it almost as quickly. Why? Drivers, for
>> the
>> most part. Or, rather, lack thereof. Although my printer driver was
>> available
>> through Windows updates, I couldn't send anything to the printer, no
>> matter
>> what I did. I can't use most of my mouse functions because the driver is
>> not
>> compatible. My GeForce 6200 only has 64mb of RAM available (instead of
>> 256mb)
>> because nVidea's Vista compatible driver doesn't work with TurboCache
>> yet. My
>> Microsoft Intellitype Pro keyboard doesn't even have a compatible driver
>> and
>> you manufactured the thing! How can this OS be properly beta tested in
>> any
>> way if one cannot use their hardware or perform even simple funtions like
>> printing because there just aren't any drivers out there, not even for
>> your
>> own products? Also, I was annoyed more than I can say by the User
>> Account
>> Control, especially when trying to install software. I agree that more
>> security was needed but this is too much. It added a few extra clicks to
>> everything I tried to do. It adds up. But, when it is disabled, one keeps
>> getting reminded that their computer security is in peril by the Security
>> Centre to the point of having to choose between the lesser of the two
>> annoyances. So, my beta test lasted just a couple of days before I'd
>> completely had it and accepted that it's like fighting a losing battle. I
>> had
>> to get back to my work . So, I'll wait to try Vista again when more of
>> the
>> driver and security feature bugs are worked out. Probably when it's in
>> its
>> SP2 production.
>
>

On Wed, 21 Jun 2006 11:35:03 -0700, LW <LW@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:

>I installed Vista (32 bit version) and to be honest, I really liked what I
>saw. It is more sophisticated and less cartoonish than its predecessor.
>Unfortunately, I had to uninstall it almost as quickly. Why? Drivers, for the
>most part. Or, rather, lack thereof. Although my printer driver was available
>through Windows updates, I couldn't send anything to the printer, no matter
>what I did. I can't use most of my mouse functions because the driver is not
>compatible. My GeForce 6200 only has 64mb of RAM available (instead of 256mb)
>because nVidea's Vista compatible driver doesn't work with TurboCache yet. My
>Microsoft Intellitype Pro keyboard doesn't even have a compatible driver and
>you manufactured the thing! How can this OS be properly beta tested in any
>way if one cannot use their hardware or perform even simple funtions like
>printing because there just aren't any drivers out there, not even for your
>own products? Also, I was annoyed more than I can say by the User Account
>Control, especially when trying to install software. I agree that more
>security was needed but this is too much. It added a few extra clicks to
>everything I tried to do. It adds up. But, when it is disabled, one keeps
>getting reminded that their computer security is in peril by the Security
>Centre to the point of having to choose between the lesser of the two
>annoyances. So, my beta test lasted just a couple of days before I'd
>completely had it and accepted that it's like fighting a losing battle. I had
>to get back to my work . So, I'll wait to try Vista again when more of the
>driver and security feature bugs are worked out. Probably when it's in its
>SP2 production.

Its not that bad, drivers are always a pain in any new OS especially
Betas. Printers are a pain in the bum on a fully supported OS let
alone a Beta. You got too much trick stuff on that PC, try bog
standard PS2 keyboard and Mouse and a cheap 128 Video card

UAC can be disabled and you can set it up to give you the option of
logging in as full admin (as opposed to user admin) if you wish. Also
the security centre (which I find extremely annoying on XP also) can
be disabled and prevented from running although its a bit trickier
than merely disabling the service in XP.

Hacks are here which make Vista Beta acceptable.

http://www.chris123nt.com/guides/5365/

Actually now I have got rid of the major annoyances I like it very
much.

BTW this NG is not run by MSFT it is just on their servers. They may
monitor it but most of the posters in here are just beta testing like
yourself and have nothing to do with MSFT. If you want a rant at MSFT
use the feedback system in Vista not this NG.

Jonah

I guess I'm pretty lucky, I have a combination of hardware that works with
Vista. Although I had to use XP drivers in some instances but I got
everything to work. I forget but I think I used the XP sound driver and the
network driver.

The only thing that doesn't work is my network printer, this is temporary
I'm sure, I'll have it figured out sooner or later. But the printer still
works when it is hooked up locally using XP driver.

I also have a GeForce 6200 but 128 MB RAM and runing at 1600 x 1200 and it
looks pretty. However there is no access to the advanced feature that nVidia
provides but again I think it's a matter of time.

My first installation went relatively smooth, then I swapped motherboard and
ram but took a significant amount tweeking to get eveything to work.

So to make a long story short, I think it depends on what hardware you have
and the amount of patience you have to figure things out. The safer hardware
to own are from manufacturer who supply drivers to microsoft for
distribution.

Hope this helps,
Mario

"LW" <LW@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:C4D5FE94-AC1E-4460-A67A-DF0EE0F93A26@microsoft.com...
>I installed Vista (32 bit version) and to be honest, I really liked what I
> saw. It is more sophisticated and less cartoonish than its predecessor.
> Unfortunately, I had to uninstall it almost as quickly. Why? Drivers, for
> the
> most part. Or, rather, lack thereof. Although my printer driver was
> available
> through Windows updates, I couldn't send anything to the printer, no
> matter
> what I did. I can't use most of my mouse functions because the driver is
> not
> compatible. My GeForce 6200 only has 64mb of RAM available (instead of
> 256mb)
> because nVidea's Vista compatible driver doesn't work with TurboCache yet.
> My
> Microsoft Intellitype Pro keyboard doesn't even have a compatible driver
> and
> you manufactured the thing! How can this OS be properly beta tested in any
> way if one cannot use their hardware or perform even simple funtions like
> printing because there just aren't any drivers out there, not even for
> your
> own products? Also, I was annoyed more than I can say by the User Account
> Control, especially when trying to install software. I agree that more
> security was needed but this is too much. It added a few extra clicks to
> everything I tried to do. It adds up. But, when it is disabled, one keeps
> getting reminded that their computer security is in peril by the Security
> Centre to the point of having to choose between the lesser of the two
> annoyances. So, my beta test lasted just a couple of days before I'd
> completely had it and accepted that it's like fighting a losing battle. I
> had
> to get back to my work . So, I'll wait to try Vista again when more of the
> driver and security feature bugs are worked out. Probably when it's in its
> SP2 production.