HW and SW questions

Question

Below are some things that me and my family and friends have/connect on my computer. I have tried the vista advisor programs and they say what does and doesn't work. Yet I keep hearing about the things that are supposed to work, yet don't. The advisors will say one thing, but I'm looking for real-world experiences.

I have a list of hardware and software below and was wondering if anyone has had any problems with them on Vista.

Thanks,
Nate

Creative Webcam Instant (0040)
Kodak Z760 w/cradle
Lexmark x1185
Linksys wireless G router
Samsung A900
Panasonic DV53D
PNY 1GB thumb drive

Flash Player
Adobe Reader
Age of Mythology
Apache Server
ATI Catalyst & Driver
Conexant Modem
Creative MediaSource
Creative Webcam Center
Dell Support
DesignPro 5 LE
DivX
DVR2WMV
Google Talk
iTunes
J2SE
jGRASP
Juniper
Kodak Easyshare
Macromedia Studio 8
MediaDirect
.net framework
firefox 2.0.0.4
MySQL Server
OpenOffice 2.2
PasswordSafe
Picasa 2
Quicktime
RealPlayer
Safari
Sonic RecordNow LE
Synaptics Touchpad Driver
TextPad
Trend Micro PCcillin IS v14
WinMerge

ae38cb5bb8b0410 · Answer

http://www.iexbeta.com/wiki/index.php/Windows_Vista_Hardware_Compatibility_List   http://www.iexbeta.com/wiki/index.php/Windows_Vista_Software_Compatibility_List   http://support.microsoft.com/kb/933305   http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927386   http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932246/en-us   http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929427/en-us

Clocks · Answer

If I may ask, what in the world is coming in SP1 that you are waiting for?

C3PO5 · Answer

Hi Clocks I am not waiting for sp1 and only Microsoft will know what is in sp1.

Clocks · Answer

Nates1705 indicated he is watiing, sorry CPO if i was unclear.

As for knowing what is in it, I am afraid that it is untrue that MSFT is the only one who knows whats in it. It is scheduled for release in the latter half of this year and as a result the testing program has already started with it.

http://www.vistasp1.net/

There are KB articles for each new feature or fix. Some of them are already released application fixes. There is the actual list. Additionally there will be a few things related to GPOs and administrative templates that microsoft has announced that are not already on that list:

Mark Williams [MSFT] (Expert):
Q: what improvements bring the ADMX files compared to the current ADM?
A: a) They are multi-lingual (associated with a single ADMX file are one or more ADML files - one per required language) b) We support the "central store" - a domain-wide repository of ADMX files (for example, when Longhorn Server / Vista SP1 comes along you'll be able to update this single store and all your admins will see any new policy settings) c) Use XML - we use a less-obscure syntax, as compared to ADM files. For example, Intellisense works in Visual Studio to walk you through the available elements...

...

Mark Williams [MSFT] (Expert):
Q: hey guys.., I have a quick question... is there any search feature we are providing to search for any of group policies in the machine... i believe there are more than 1800 policy configurations being deployed
A: Short answer is no - for Windows Vista. But... We are planning significant functionality in the Longhorn Server / Vista SP1 timeframe. We'll have search, filtering, comments and "templates". By the way, we'll be above 2,400 policy settings in Windows Vista so I do understand the value in this :-)

...

RhynierM [MSFT] (Expert):
Q: Are we getting advanced version of GPMC for group policy configuration in VISTA
A: If, with "advanced version" you mean more features than the current version of GPMC, then the answer is a qualified "no". There are no big new features for GPMC in Vista. However, the big news is that GPMC is now part of the operating system. For the Longhorn Server / Vista SP1 timeframe we will have a few cool new features such as keyword searching/filtering for ADMX based settings and support for GPO templates (only registry-based, though).

... taken from http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/chats/trans/network/06_0601_tn_wv.mspx

Most of the additional features are either enterprise management, network access protection, minor bugs, or application compatability enhancements.

nates1705 · Answer

Well, I am in fact waiting as described in my sig.

Like your sig Clocks, "And a bunch of other stuff...", sounds like me describing what i do at work. lol

SP1 replaces the entire Vista kernel going from 6.0 to 6.1 (the one being used in longhorn). Supposedly better, this I hope is true.

If everyone said the car you really wanted had problems with the seatbelts, brakes, power steering, etc., would you want to get it? I wanted to install Vista, but with all the problems from the unexperienced AND pros, I'm not wanting to spend endless hours fixing them, when I could be having fun.

Just me I guess.

Nate

Clocks · Answer

I here these nebulous implications all the time but I for one have personally be part of multi-thousand seat migrations to Vista.

I have seen mass packaging, transitional data sets, some applications taht do not work, etc. I have seen some of the ugly side of Vista.

And yet, the honest truth of the matter is that 6.1 (Vista, SP1) really is not that huge of an improvement as the primary difference is the enterprsie featureset that is integrated into the Vista featureset, as I alluded to earlier in this thread.

I have multiple vista machines in my hjome office, both personal and work. I have a longhorn server in my lab at present. The truth of the matter is that the changes between 6 and 6.1 are small enough in the consumer space that I really cannot provide any justifiation for waiting.

Staying on XP so that you can have a "more secure" or "more complete" version of Vista seems to me rather like "I know that I am running through a hailstorm but I would rather run through naked until I can get a wooden umbrella than use the fabric one until the wooden cover comes out."

From a consumer standpoint, I have yet to see a single issue that would be a legitimate show stopper in my eyes. Enterprise, sure. Wait for updated GPOs. Wait for the updated GPMC. Wait for the updates to the administrative templates. Consumer? These things dont matter so waiting for small application compatibility changes as well as enhancements to the networking model seems rather difficult to rationalize.

Please understand I am not trying to attack you in specific here but I hear that from a number of people int he consumer space and I just cannot understand it from a technical point of view because no one can really explain to me a single concrete feature that I could rationalize being something to put on the brakes for completely rather than migrate now and apply the update when it comes out.

[Oh and the bunch of other stuff is certs, credentials, columns I publish, etc. Its always annoying when someone writes out the 32 things they do because first it says something about the inferiority complex the individual has and second there is always someone out there reading what you post that has more than you do so what is the point anyawy?]

Message Edited by Clocks on 06-24-2007 12:28 AM

Message Edited by Clocks on 06-24-2007 12:40 AM

Clocks · Answer

BTW i just logged onto my server and looked.  Longhorn Beta 3 identifies itself as 6.0 build 6001.

jmwills · Answer

Service packs are just rollups of all the current patches and fixes released in a certain time period.  In this case it will be from the initial release to the release of SP1. The Mods have been kind enough to place a sticky that I posted that has a fairly complete list of software that is Vista compliant.   I have chose to stick with XP for the time being because I frankly don't have the time to chase down these issues.  I work in a secure environment and I doubt we will see Vista for at least another year.  We were sayiunbg the same exact things about XP when it first came out so all of this will settle down within the next 9-12 months.  Vista is secure and about 95% of where we need it to be right now.   Having said that about Vista, I also have Longhorn Server and love it.  It just plain works out of the box in Beta now and hope we are allowed to migrate to it on some none mission critical areas.   Just my .02   Alos wanted to say a 'Welcome' to Clocks as anew Forum Member.  From his post you should all be able to tell he has a wealth of knwoeldge and his insight will be valued.

Clocks · Answer

Thanks, jmwills, I just discovered the forums the other day and its nice to have a reasonable technical forum to share in.   As for the updates usinv Vista, I hear that quite a bit and I understand why people approach it from that standpoint I guess its just not the course of action I would take, looking at the compromise vectors and underlying vulnerabilities inherent in the architecture of each model in Vista and XP.   Aside from that, you might want to note that if youa re working in a secure environment, the GPO set in vista will really be nice for your enterprise.   Have you obtained a copy of the Windows Vista Security Guide, yet?  I have a hard copy from MSFT sitting on my shelf, it has a great discussion of the structure of vista, the GPO settings for security, registry based security implementations, security models in the services structure, etc.   Soft copies are availible from Microsoft at: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=A3D1BBED-7F35-4E72-BFB5-B84A526C1565&displaylang=en [Download]   or   https://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvista/security/guide.mspx [Online]   And if you still anticipate being on XP for a long time: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/prodtech/windowsxp/secwinxp/default.mspx [Online]

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