Windows XP Pro or Vista

Just got my M1710 and have had a few bugs to work out. I have Windows XP Pro at my disposal and currently I have Vista loaded on my new lappy. My question is this:

Seeing how XP Pro can utilize both processors is it worth it to load XP Pro with Vistas bugs running amuck?

 

XP Home can even use both processors. XP Home only supports one socket, Pro supports two. But your two core processor is on one socket, so it doesn't make a difference...you're fine.

Anyway, if you have the opportunity to go back to XP, I would take it. Vista needs to be fixed.

 

I don't think dr_w's question was related to XP Home, but rather XP Pro and Vista.

Both XP Pro and Vista can handle a dual core processor, so in that sense neither OS has an advantage. The bigger difference is with features and compatiblities. Right now most would say that the compatibility issues outweigh the features and it's better to wait for Vista until SP1 is released by Microsoft, which would also allow time for driver and other software updates to occur.

 

I think you'll find Vista to be slightly faster due to SuperFetch, that's if you have enough RAM. 2GB should be about right.

 

What I meant was that either Home or Pro can handle dual core...I just didn't want him thinking that Home couldn't dual core that is all.

 

I see. I didn't know that. I think I'll try out the XP to see if it is as fast as VISTA.

 

NOt sure what SuperFetch is but I certainly have 2GB of ram.

 

It basically pre-caches the programs you use most often, so that the next time you use them, they'll open up a lot quicker.

 

Or you could get a RAID array...

 

What is a RAID array?

 

It allows you to use multiple hard drives like it is a single drive. Unfortunately, very few notebooks have more that one hard drive...the M1710 isn't one of them.

 

If you want eye candy, go for vista. If you want functionality use XP pro

 

You could skin XP to look like vista though. That way, you'll get the best of both worlds.

 

Actually i run vista for 'best performance' under the properties of my computer. Don't care about all the bells and whistles, to me it's just smoke and mirrors. Thanks for the insight on RAID...if my lappy is not compatible, not sure how I'd do this. maybe I can partition the hard drive (obviously sacrificing HD space) and load XP Pro on one half and Vista the other half. i'd have to boot differently but it seems do-able. That's just kooky talk, what a mess. Forget I even brougt it up.

 

What applications do you use? The biggest problems with Vista are compatibility with hardware and performance of applications and gaming. This will likely change over time.

If it were me, this is how I would do it. If I was in a situation where I know I will have Internet access for the next 6 months, I would go Vista and just work the bugs out. If something I really need just doesn't work due to lack of drivers or something, I would switch to XP. However, if you know you won't have Internet access over the next 6 months (like me), then I would go XP since it is stable and you know it works.

Yeah RAID is not really realistic for laptops unless you're using an external drive, and in that case you wouldn't be loading applications from it so it wouldn't really help for that either.

Vista might be faster at "loading" applications, initially starting them, but there are some apps such as many games, that once they are loaded, run slower than they do in XP. So in my opinion, having a faster loading application is not as big of a deal as how well it runs once it loads.

One thing you CAN do in a laptop to help apps load faster is get a faster hard drive. If you have a 5400 RPM drive, buy a 7200 RPM drive. It might put out a little more heat and use a little more power, but some of the newer ones are getting better at that stuff.

 

Applications: Mainly BF2. Its for deployment. I think I will have access to the internet and I have noticed that the game loads, initially quicker, but game play sucks right now. Very Frustrating. Can't seem to get my G5 gaming mouse, with the two side buttons thank you very much, working properly. I have a 7200RPM hard drive loaded already. Another thing that is happening is my Office programs are not loading properly, they continually hang up.

Right now I'm ghosting Vista to an External Hard Drive and am loading XP Pro. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

You going on a military deployment? Me too...

In that case I recommend XP for sure. You know it works, and if you're not going to have Internet access, something without a few features but is solid is much better.

 

Good choice, I also went back to XP after playing around with Vista. Vista does look better and seems faster.. I like the faster install and apps load time. But I got several crashes with my games, the sidebar and a few other annoying problems. Eventually Ill reinstall Vista but for now XP works just fine.

 

Yeah seems like everyone is getting tapped to go across the pond.

I have the Vista Disk and now, the ghost image if I want to go back.

 

Vista doesn't seem faster to me. Maybe because it constantly hangs up when I open Outlook or Word. Additionally I noticed that it takes its time booting up, then the default firewall program will go into looking for updates (which by the way, there is a new freakin update every stinkin time I boot up) and then requires a restart. I'd uninstall it but its my only protection right now. Furthermore the freakin' prompts. 'Are you sure you want to create a shortcut desktop here?", "Did you just tell me to run this program?" and "Are you sure you want to walk away to take a squirt?" It is just over the top. I made up that last one.

 

As I'm installing XP I'm getting an error that says "Setup cannot copy the file":
IPCFG.XML
OSINFO.xml
potscfg.xml
pppcfg.xml
xmlp_bec.xdr

Anyone know what this means?
Can I live without these files?
Can I get these on the internet?
Thanks.

 

Hmmm, interesting... well they are XML files so it might work without them.

Are you doing a fresh install or an upgrade? I always recommend a fresh install if at all possible.

Does it give a path to where the files reside?

 

Nope, didn't work at all. I'm so bummed. I wanted XP Pro instead of Vista. My main reason is that I can't get my G5 mouse to work on BF2 with Vista.
It was a fresh install.
No path listed.
I'm using the installation cd to reinstall Vista now...XP didn't work and neither did my ghost file.

 

Interesting.... I can't think of any reason setup wouldn't be able to copy those files if it is a fresh install to a formatted partition. Hope Vista works well for you. I'm starting to consider using it instead of XP.

 

I'm just finishing up installing all of my software and Vista seems to be running a little better than before (I think I was too critical on it). I'm just gonna roll with Vista, XP was too much of a hassle. I called Dell and they wouln't support me if I did so. I asked them if they could send me a disk and they said no.