Samsung UK Announces Vista Upgrade

The next installment of my encounter with Vista.

I first tried the upgrade option but after what seemed like a long time ended up with a Blue Screen of Death when Vista tried to start. So I rolled back the installation to return to XP (this bit worked) and then tried the clean install option.

Contrary to what was written on the piece of paper provided with the discs, the clean install doesn't start by formatting C:. It just shunts the old windows installation into an " " folder. Anyway, the clean installation worked and I then updated the installation with all the latest Vista Q35 drivers and software off the Samsung download site then finally added any other drivers / software off the DVD.

Unfortunately, the Vista which made it onto the production line lacks the one promised feature which I wanted, namely proper handling of display size / resolution / dpi and I find the visual effects to be annoying although the window previews are quite neat.

If Microsoft, at the Windows level, can't get the formatting right for a custom DPI then what hope is there for other software? See the attached examples. I didn't notice this same problem in XP.

My initial attempts to see the Q35 under Vista were showing a battery time of less than 4 hours with the screen at 2/8 brightness, no visual effects and no internet or wireless. I then disabled Bluetooth (had to be done under device properties - no "stop" option on Bluetooth tray icon unlike XP) and then I found a life of around 5 hours being predicted.

I am not validating this Vista installation so by Tuesday it will stop working and then I will replace XP. Perhaps I will put in a bigger HDD and then try to set up a dual boot system.

John

 

An update.

First, my second Vista upgrade arrived, 4 days after the first (but both were sent out on the same day).

Second, I have now set up a dual boot XP / Vista on my Q35. This requires installing Vista into its own partition (and is an option on the Vista DVD - no tweaking required), in which case it keeps the XP installation and puts up a boot menu on starting. Very good, because I can continue to use XP while giving Vista the same treatment.

Maybe I will do the same on the X60 plus, but I will have to make extra space. If only those Samsung 250GB HDDs would arrive in UK quickly.

John

 

I received the vista DVD, and I haven't install it on my x60plus, I am wondering if it can be installed on an ACER PC?

 

I would be curious to know what happens if you try. I just tried starting my Vista upgrade disc in my desktop. It got as far as the product key entry and refused to validate it. Maybe it is because I have already used that key on my Q35, but I haven't intentionally activated the Q35's installation (I may wipe it and start again), or maybe that the product key algorithm includes a code for the manufacturer, which is checked against the BIOS. Somewhere, these OEM discs are meant to be tied to the different brands.

John