Notebook OS Reinstall

I'm getting a new laptop, unfortunately it's going to be Vista.

If I reinstall an OS from a generic boot disk, will that make the things bundled with my laptop (eg. camera, bluetooth) unusable or unstable? Do laptop OEM's stick custom optimization in their laptop OS's?

And if I get an English version of Windows, is there any way to change the language without reinstalling the OS?

Thanks in advance.

 

Not sure about your language issue, someone else may be able to help you there.

When you say unfortunately vista, have you tried it recently, since SP1, it has become a very stable OS, some say it's even more stable than XP, certainly more secure.

If your going to put a different OS on it, I'm guessing XP, you shouldn't have to many issues installing the devices on it, but the best thing to do would be to try and find the drivers before installing the OS, that way you know for sure your going to be able to install all devices.

What is the laptop by the way, someone with the same machine may be able to tell you of any issues.

 

Which laptop is it?

 

Unfortunately Vista? - there are many reasons to like Vista and I would recoomend staying with it.

Now to your next part:
Things like camera's, bluetooth, etc. generally will work - but you may run into trouble if the manufacturer doesn't support it - for example Fn keys on Vaio need shared libraries which Sony only supplies for the "original OS" - for hardware the hardware supplier will generally have drivers available.

Language changes wihout reinstalling the OS is possibly only in Vista Ultimate with language packs.

 

Thanks much, here's a rabbit.

 

Reasons to stay with Vista:

Better RAM usage/management
safer (User Acount Control)
more stable - not every bad driver causes a BSOD
Vista also doesn't decay like XP does under usage

Also, now, driver support is superior in Vista
then, Aero takes load of the CPU

about the languages - I don't know how exactly its implemented - but the only Microsoft OS with the ability to switch languages is Vista Ultimate where you can instal a language pack - no other Windows Version allows this.

Edit: Are you sure its a "Penryn" ? Isn't that a processor "group"... and looking at it, isn't it a Santa Rosa platform?

 

Ya vista greatly improved when sp1 came out. I remember when it barely came out and the sp1 wasn't out so many bugs and issues and started to hate on vista so much. Gave it another shot on sp1 and it has given me minor errors not like before. So if you have a very powerful computer stick with vista if its not that powerful xp can be fine.

 

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UAC is a "controversial" piece - because, yes, it obtrusive, but then it isn't.

I originally switched it off - now I have switched it on again.
And yes, it is actually quite unobstrusive.

Do you know why it is so annoying - I got this information from another member - it opens effectively a second desktop that only your mouse can control - so no malware can auto execute.

While it may seem like a nuissance - it is a security feature - my suggestion: Switch it off, set up your computer, then switch it on.


Penryn versus the old one (don't know the code name)

The T series have 35Watts (the poerful ones) TDP the Penryns 25Watt TDP - but that's only under full load. Depending on the cost it may or may not be worth it. I have a T9300 processor in my laptop and get 4-4,5 hours out of an 80% battery charge - if I charged it fully (incrreasing wear) I would get well over 5 hours.