F is for Frustration

CodeZTM · Post by **CodeZTM** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:06 am

Allow me to, for a moment, vent my frustration at the Windows Vista OS. I need some assitance, if anybody is capable of providing it.

First and foremost, the Windows Update Service. I had the bad luck of possessing my laptop BEFORE the first service pack was sent out. So my laptop had all the bugs. Eventually they got so bad that I had to re-intall the OS (for it to even function).

However, after the re-install, Windows Update refused to work for me. I thought to myself: no big deal. I'll just download the service pack and catch up on updates whenever I can by just directly downloading them.

However, the only problem was that I can't install the service pack. I get an error, and nothing on the internet (I searched for nearly 4 days online and found nothing that worked) . So I thought to myself. "No big deal. As long as it works, I guess I don't absolutely need the updates or the service pack!".

Wrong again. Almost any of my favorite and necessary programs for my job at the newspaper require you to install the first service pack to run them on Vista. >_< Thus, I had a conundrum. What to do? Simple enough. Since I couldn't get Vista to run them or do anything right, I instead just installed the software on my parent's computer (which runs XP) and use it when I do work. Annoying yes, but functional.

That worked for a while. I was happy and healthy for months. Sure, it was a royal pain to do all the stuff working around Vista's stupid bugs, but I love the OS, and my laptop cannot have Vista removed for some reason (it's like it's intergrated into the hard drive and cannot be partitioned or removed NO MATTER WHAT). If ANYONE can tell me how to undo that, I will give them an opinion on ALL of their videos, and kiss their ring fingers till the sun goes down, so I can run my darling XP again.

However, now things have gotten ridiculous. I'm surprised I haven't gotten bluescreened while writing this. BAsically, my computer bluescreens every 2-3 hours, and without any warning if I open more than 3 programs at once. It has gotten RIDICULOUSLY slow, taking nearly 10-20 minutes to open adobe-based software, and even 5 minutes to open my openoffice software.

I did online research and found that almost all of those issues are Vista-related bugs (others being viruses, which I have removed already) that updates in windows update can fix. Especially the frequent bluescreens. However, I can't GET the WINDOWS UPDATES. What's worse is that a fix to fix that problem (fixing Windows Update service) is actually a windows update file. >_>

So far, my computer is alive thanks to Glary Utilities, and I can still function for a while. However, I need to resolve this issues as soon as I possibly can.

Also, here are just random pieces of information if you need them.

1) I use a wireless internet service at home which is how I connect to the internet
2) Computer Specs

Please help me. >_<

EvaFan · Post by **EvaFan** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 1:33 pm

Is backing up important files onto an external and buying a new hardrive an option?

My lappy has an easy swap bay so I thought this might work for you. You have a chance to upgrade it as well as changing OS / reinstalling.

CodeZTM · Post by **CodeZTM** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 2:25 pm

It may come to that. I contacted Microsoft (yes. I was quite desparate), where I was drug around my computer for nearly 45 minutes only to hear a "you can send it in, and we'll fix it for you and see what the deal is".

Ironically, I never thought about just buying a new laptop hard drive. I suppose it's "easy" to do, right? I've never done one on a laptop before, but I'm assuming if I can build a computer myself, then things will be fine, correct?

/checks things

Edit: On the same note, how hard would it be to upgrade a processor. O-o

Orwell · Post by **Orwell** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 2:35 pm

It seems odd it can't be purged, I'd just back up everything and look for how to purge the hdd. Can you add much to a new laptop? I was under the impression that it was a unit unto itself, with the most you could swap around is the hdd.

EvaFan · Post by **EvaFan** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 2:40 pm

Code wrote:Edit: On the same note, how hard would it be to upgrade a processor. O-o

Well its not all that hard to do but you need to consider other things before doing it. Your power supply, is your cooling system sufficient enough for a higher-end processor, and there could be alot of compatibility issues with other things in your laptop or even the mobo. When you buy computers from manufacturers they are already made with stuff that works well with other components so I don't recommend changing processor unless absolutely necessary... If you do decide to, I recommend staying with whatever company created your old processor at the very least, Intel, AMD, etc... You should check your mobo's booklet if one came with the lappy before making any decisions on that. If one didn't come with it then you gonna have to look online.

I can't say its easy but its not much different for the HD part. It depends how accessible your HD bay is on your lappy. Mine just has a screw open compartment so there’s no problems switching.

*Edit* I guess I should add that most of your time spend upgrading the processor will probably be put into taking apart the notebook and putting it back together. It's a total pain.

Kariudo · Post by **Kariudo** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 2:57 pm

Code wrote:It may come to that. I contacted Microsoft (yes. I was quite desparate), where I was drug around my computer for nearly 45 minutes only to hear a "you can send it in, and we'll fix it for you and see what the deal is".

Ironically, I never thought about just buying a new laptop hard drive. I suppose it's "easy" to do, right? I've never done one on a laptop before, but I'm assuming if I can build a computer myself, then things will be fine, correct?

/checks things

Edit: On the same note, how hard would it be to upgrade a processor. O-o

The problem with doing a fresh install is that you have to hunt down drivers for your laptop's proprietary hardware :/
it's [probably] possible, but is also a pain

laptops are a little different (and the procedure will vary between models and manufacturers)
it pretty much entails unscrewing some screws, pulling the bottom off of the laptop (mine has a little section covering the HD bay, and only requires me to unscrew 2 screws to remove the cover), unscrewing the drive and then pulling it out of the connector

before you get a new laptop hard drive, you should know what interface your current one uses

changing the cpu is a more involved and is harder than replacing the cpu in a desktop. Laptops often have very limited upgrade options due to the way the mobos are made. Usually you can find information in the user manual about what cpus you can upgrade to (You can't switch between intel and amd [or Via].)

if you can't re-install vista to get system update working again, you may consider putting linux (Fedora, Ubuntu, and a host of others have GUIs) on something like a WD Passport and try running your programs with Wine

CodeZTM · Post by **CodeZTM** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 3:17 pm

if you can't re-install vista to get system update working again, you may consider putting linux (Fedora, Ubuntu, and a host of others have GUIs) on something like a WD Passport and try running your programs with Wine

Question regarding that. For years I've wanted to have a linux machine, but I needed the software, and I'm really excited about the software that has now been put in front of me (never heard of wine before).

Have you got any experience with Wine, and could I possibly hear a testimonial.

Also, how does the application work? Do I install applications like Premier Pro and AMVAPP onto the linux machine, and then run them with wine, or how does that work?

Kariudo · Post by **Kariudo** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 6:05 pm

I have no experience with wine, but here's a link to their site

about installing applications
you open wine, and the use it to run the windows installer, and then you can use the windows program in linux via wine

BasharOfTheAges · Post by **BasharOfTheAges** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 6:22 pm

Kariudo wrote:you open wine, and the use it to run the windows installer, and then if the program is one of the small number of programs that are heavily supported you can use the windows program in linux via wine - otherwise you spend endless hours trying to tweak settings to meet your needs and hope it works

there - fixed that for you.

As to your problem with not being able to install XP over Vista... what happens when you put in the XP CD, boot from CD, and try to format?

If worse comes to worse, you could always just boot&nuke the drive.

CodeZTM · Post by **CodeZTM** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 7:01 pm

See that's the problem. I can't boot and nuke it. The hard drive partition with the Vista OS is protected or something, and it won't let me touch it no matter what I do. When I insert the XP disk, it basically just doesn't work unless I have an external hard drive connected, and then it tries to install it on that one.