VISTA
"Visually Intriging System of Terrible Applications"
Yes, I am also a degreed IT professional with lots of letters after my name.
IMHO Vista sucks. It is a unicycle on black ice.
Well, to be fair, if you discount the gluttony for system resources, phoning home, stupid questions, inability to play well with mid sized networks (not an issue at home), and worst - all office applications re-written to hide every function you ever knew how to use, it's not too bad.
Vista - just say no. It's Millennium Edition with a big appetite.
The mind is like a parachute. It works better when it's open. www.stremy.net
rclarkdc wrote:Geez. I knew Vista was disliked but I didn't expect to generate this. Sorry!That said, there are a couple of useful tips in the thread which I can try in a couple of days. If I have any luck, I"ll report back on a new thread to try to help out the next lucky buyer of a budget vista laptop. One responder asked if the it was the installation or the program that failed. To clarify, the system spontaneously aborted the installation about 2/3 of the way through. The makes me suspect the program control "feature", and I'm glad to know how to shut it down. FWIW the AV is McAfee, and that's sometimes a crapshoot as well. I do take comfort from three or four posters who installed Xtrak on vista, no problem.Thanks to all !
Geez. I knew Vista was disliked but I didn't expect to generate this. Sorry!
That said, there are a couple of useful tips in the thread which I can try in a couple of days. If I have any luck, I"ll report back on a new thread to try to help out the next lucky buyer of a budget vista laptop.
One responder asked if the it was the installation or the program that failed. To clarify, the system spontaneously aborted the installation about 2/3 of the way through. The makes me suspect the program control "feature", and I'm glad to know how to shut it down. FWIW the AV is McAfee, and that's sometimes a crapshoot as well. I do take comfort from three or four posters who installed Xtrak on vista, no problem.
Thanks to all !
Try reposting this on the XtrkCad Yahoo Users's Group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/XTrkCad/?yguid=229245731). There have been reports of problems installing on some Vista systems, but not all. Most have been able to overcome their problems with the help of the group. Since the focus of the group is using and improving XtrkCad, there is no arguing about which OS works better, or doesn't.
Unfortunately, I can't help more directly because I personally chose to remain with older hardware and XP. But I've installed Vista systems for friends in the past 6 months, and most of the early bugs seem to have been worked out. But none of them were model railroaders, so I still have no personal experience with XtrkCad on Vista.
XtrkCad sure seems worth the effort to install and learn (I'm still barely proficient), as compared to the more limited Atlas RTS.
Fred W
I've got two Vista Ultimate machines and four XP machines (3 Pro, 1 Home).
They all perform brilliantly alone and networked together.
Installing software designed for one OS on another is always a risk, no matter what platform you are on.
And don't go cheap on hardware!
Craig
DMW
All I can say about vista is i always wanted a computer with 1gig ram to run as slow as win95 did with 8 mb ram. Yea right. Oh and another thing win 95 was 50 mb on the hard drive win98 was just over 200mb, wix xp 2gig without the 1.8gig service pack 2. So we think vista will be just as fast as xp when its almost 8gig on the drive hogging memory and phoning home all the time saying yep im legit. Thanks but ill stick with xp pro. Joe
PS all the bigger corporate IT guys i run into wont even dream of upgrading because it is so bad.
I suggest two options:
1) Run Vista in XP/2000 compatibility mode using the Program Compatibility Wizard when installing/using software that was originally designed for XP/2000. Click on the Help and Support icon on your start menu for details about Program Compatibility Wizard.
2) Microsoft is scheduled to release service pack 1 for Vista in the very near future. You could install SP1 and then try to install Xtrak again in the default Vista mode.
At the same time they release SP1 for Vista, Microsoft will release SP3 for XP. So even venerable "old" XP still requires updates. Operating systems evolve over time and service packs are released to improve their functionality.
If installing doesn't work, I usually try first disabling antivirus software (after making sure machine is clean) and then turning back on after the install is done.
That said, Windows Vista does have some issues, and with several versions out there, this may be a problem with just some Vista computers.
I have also experienced problems installing software when it turned out a memory chip was going bad (only showed up when fully utilized).
Just a couple of ideas to try.
BlueHillsCPR wrote: Shilshole wrote: mearrin69 wrote: BlueHillsCPR wrote:If you say so... What problems, exactly, are you having with Vista? It's the ubiquitous PBCAC virus... Don't you mean PEBKAC?Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair...
Shilshole wrote: mearrin69 wrote: BlueHillsCPR wrote:If you say so... What problems, exactly, are you having with Vista? It's the ubiquitous PBCAC virus...
mearrin69 wrote: BlueHillsCPR wrote:If you say so... What problems, exactly, are you having with Vista?
BlueHillsCPR wrote:If you say so...
What problems, exactly, are you having with Vista?
It's the ubiquitous PBCAC virus...
Don't you mean PEBKAC?
Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair...
We always blamed user/program problems on "The Nut Loose Behind the Keyboard" :-D
And if you think Vista is a nightmare to navigate, you should see the ^&*! Microsoft is trying to push coders into using. Complete and total resource hogs with huge amounts of overhead. No wonder Vista really needs 2 Gigs of memory to run well.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
rclarkdc wrote:A few minutes ago I tried without success to install Xtrak on a new laptop which runs under microsoft vista.
Did it not install, or not run properly AFTER the install?
There are several things you can try
If the problem is in the installer, make sure you are logged in as administrator. Then right click on the installer and select under the properties, "Run as administrator"
If the problem is in the program, right click the Xtrak program and from the properties, run in Win XP compatibility mode and as administrator.
tinyurl.com/28yfmh
I have a dual boot box, one HD has XP, the other HD has Vista.
It makes me really appreciate XP.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
I have also installed XtrakCad on my Vista machine with no problem. I also run 3rdPlanit with no issues.
David
OP:
Not that this will solve your problem, but I had to download XtrakCad a couple times to get a file that would install properly. The proper d/l installed flawlessly on Dells running ME, XP, and Vista.
K. I'm out. BlueHillsCPR can argue with himself.
OP, if you'd care to try to resolve your issues with XTrkCAD and Vista feel free to shoot me a PM. I have it working on my setup and can maybe help you figure out what's going wrong.
If you'd rather replace your OS then you can chat with the folks on this thread.Cheers,M
mearrin69 wrote: BlueHillsCPR wrote:Apparently you like name calling? That's mature.Apparently you like to jump to conclusions. That's paranoid. It was in no way directed at you. It was a *joke* - one you, as an IT person no doubt hear frequently. Again, not helping the OP.M
BlueHillsCPR wrote:Apparently you like name calling? That's mature.
Apparently you like to jump to conclusions. That's paranoid.
It was in no way directed at you. It was a *joke* - one you, as an IT person no doubt hear frequently.
Again, not helping the OP.M
Apparently you assume I thought you were directing that at me? You know where assuming gets you. I was speaking in general. Again, as you said, your not helping the O.P....moving on now.
Apparently you like name calling? That's mature.
And hyperventilating over an OS is mature?
Microsoft makes it's money by delivering a bad product to the consumer and yet people still defend their crap. Go figure.
s/Microsoft/Digitrax
s/Microsoft/BLI
s/Microsoft/Athearn Bluebox
Go figure.
mearrin69 wrote:I was a working professional using computers daily when Windows 3.1 came out (in fact, when the Amiga came out)...so, I guess that maybe makes me more of an old-timer than you.
Yes I agree, most of what you might have learned in school is fairly outdated now.
As you said we should get back on topic here...I believe it was XTRKCAD AND Microsoft Vista...
BlueHillsCPR wrote:Don't you mean PEBKAC?
No, PBCAC is a more general variant. Don't need no steenking keyboard...
mearrin69 wrote: Shilshole wrote:It's the ubiquitous PBCAC virus... I don't know that one. I am aware of the ID-10T virus that sometimes comes into play where Microsoft products are concerned.M
Shilshole wrote:It's the ubiquitous PBCAC virus...
I don't know that one. I am aware of the ID-10T virus that sometimes comes into play where Microsoft products are concerned.M
In 12-13 years Microsoft has released seven operating systems. Win95, 98, 98SE, ME, 2000, XP, Vista...not including the various flavours for home, office, work or whatever. In all cases they released an OS that was full of holes, and bad code. Prior to getting a completely stable product they moved on to release yet another buggy OS. Microsoft makes it's money by delivering a bad product to the consumer and yet people still defend their crap. Go figure.
Very similar but more pervasive, even affecting Apple products. Usually infects computers lacking the RTFM widget.
BlueHillsCPR wrote:Ok time for a little perspective. I was in school getting a diploma in computer networking when Windows 95 came out...it is MicroButtKissitis?
Yah. Okay. Same level of experience as you...except I was a working professional using computers daily when Windows 3.1 came out (in fact, when the Amiga came out)...so, I guess that maybe makes me more of an old-timer than you. Microsoft stuff usually does suck out the door. It's the only show going though and Vista is better than most of their other OS rollouts.
There're always 50 guys that start complaining about MS' new products long before they're out the door - and they continue to complain bitterly about them until just after the next generation gets launched...then the old version inspires talk about the 'good old days'.
Perspective.M
N.B. None of this is helping the original poster. Can you maybe tell us in detail what's happening and we can try to help out a little better than asking you to change your operating system?
Bapou wrote:I have heard from several computer techs that Vista is junk "never buy it!". Who here heard of Windows ME? Well some people say Vista is as bad as that and that means really bad!
Yeah I remember the fools that thought ME was AWSOME too! Now most of us know better.
As for my problems with Vista. I have none on my systems becasue Vista will never touch my drives.
mearrin69 wrote: BlueHillsCPR wrote:If you say so... I do, in fact, say so. What problems, exactly, are you having with Vista? Works fine for me. Or is it just Microsoftitis? Maybe a move to Mac is in order if that is the case? Of course you'd have to run a Windows emulator if you want much besides artist tools...oh, wait, Adobe releases for Windows first now... M
I do, in fact, say so.
What problems, exactly, are you having with Vista? Works fine for me.
Or is it just Microsoftitis? Maybe a move to Mac is in order if that is the case? Of course you'd have to run a Windows emulator if you want much besides artist tools...oh, wait, Adobe releases for Windows first now... M
Ok time for a little perspective. I was in school getting a diploma in computer networking when Windows 95 came out. There was one guy there who thought Windows 95 was "AWESOME" Meanwhile Millions of others thought otherwise. There is always one guy who thinks the latest thing from Microsoft is AWESOME! Since then I have passed the CNA, (NOVELL) testing and am A+ certified. I have worked as a computer technician, contract on-site support tech, and managed a retail computer outlet where I spec'd, built, configured and repaired computer and network systems. I have spec'd and built video editing systems for professional editors using Avid products. I began my experience with computers with a commodore 64 with a tape drive. Next was a mac. Then I went to PC's with DOS and Window's 3.1 and have been with PC's ever since except for the occaisional foray into UNIX. Microsoftitis is not my issue with Vista. Bad codeitis is the issue as it always is when Microsoft issues a new OS. In your case maybe it is MicroButtKissitis?