Windows Vista Vista to XP

Hi
I just purchased a laptop which came with Windows Vista pre-installed (and the installation files are in a hidden partition).
I know NOTHING about Vista (I use XP on two desktop PCs) but seem to have read somewhere that it is not well liked. My laptop seems slow considering that it has a 2Ghz Intel processor but only has 1GB ram and I think that maybe I read that Vista is very resource hungry.

I found a website which explains how it is possible to replace Vista on a PC with XP.

I am wondering if this can cause problems especially on a laptop with Vista installation files on a hidden partition (how would I recover back to Vista should installation of XP fail).

I realize (according to the website) that I will need to reinstall my applications but this concerns me as the laptop appears to have applications specific to the laptop (how would I reinstall them).

Any thoughts/ideas would be appreciated.

 

Please provide details about your laptop.

In the meantime generally there shouldn't be too many issues but one important point (which you have mentioned ) is to make sure you can restore your system back to factory settings in case of any major issues.

Does your laptop not give you the ability to make recovery discs (check the documentation)?

 

My laptop DOES have recovery disks (6 of them - CDs). They are labelled Product Recovery CD for ThinkPad ..... For distribution Only with a new Thinkpad PC.

Strangely these recovery disks seem to be for Windows XP with SP2 as on each is printed (amongst other things) XP-P SP2 although I would imagine that there is more than just Windows on them as Windows doesn't occupy 6 CDs. Remember the laptop came with Vista preloaded and installed and with a COA sticker in the base for Windows Vista Business and the serial number.

I was more concerned about the Lenova utilities which were preloaded/preinstalled when I bought it. Maybe those utilities are also on the CDs - what do you think?

Also I have no instructions how to recover using those disks.

Also will my 2.0Ghz 1Mb ram system run better with XP (than Vista)? If it will then I would want to revert to XP.

Also why is there a hidden partition which I assume has the operating system etc for recovery? How can I view the folders/files of a hidden partition?

Thanks

 

Still waiting for details of your laptop...

Thinkpad doesn't tell us much

Model number as well please.

 

Hi JP,

I reckon you should look forward, not back. It won't be long before Windows XP is no longer supported by MS and you will need to go onto Vista or Windows 7. I don't mind Vista, it works as well as my Windows 7 computer. It's annoying when you are installing programs or doing administrative work with it's UAC, but after the initial setup, it is tolerable.

RAM might be the area, as you say. When you go to Start (orb) and click the power button, it goes into sleep mode, which stores the current (running) system into RAM. I think it can put some stress on the RAM. I ran Vista on 1GB of RAM for a year or so to see how it went. It was quite acceptable, but you can't let it go to Sleep with big (memory intensive) programs running or lots of programs open. In Windows 7, the default power "button" turns off the computer, it doesn't send the system to sleep.

Try going to Control Panel -> Performance Information and Tools. Look at the options under Tasks on the left-hand side. You should be able to change settings to increased performance. Say, if Aero is enabled, turn it off, because 1GB of RAM combined with mobile graphics will have trouble running it.

Can you get a full set of Windows XP drivers from the laptop manufacturer's website? It might need specific Win XP drivers.

Why don't you investigate getting more RAM? You need to know what sort of RAM it will take. Looking forward, you will probably need it if Windows XP becomes unsupported.

I would see if I could make it work. It worked for me.

Matt

 

Thanks for the info.

I have found some literature which came with it on how to recover using the recovery disks although I will have to buy an external DVD/CD drive to do that.

Regarding W7, I would consider this as I have read so many good reports and I have considered upgrading, problem is the cost as it is still quite expensive.

My Lenova is a X61, model 7676-A12. I decided to buy this as it is quite small and I will use it only when traveling so want to keep the footprint/weight to a minimum PLUS this has firewire so I can capture any video I have taken with my vidcam. I did have a netbook which was ok except that the vertical resolution is only 600 and there is software which only runs at 768 and higher (and it didn't have firewire).

I don't intend to use sleep mode. I would upgrade the ram except it is so expensive for a Lenova (maybe others too)

Tonight I decided to defragment to C: drive and although it is only about 35% full (65% free) defrag did not seem to be able to get rid of all the fragments. Is defrag a problem with Vista? I more that it is different from what is used in XP.

 

Hi JPArnold, I was skeptical about Vista too from all the bad reports I had seen. I'm running Vista Business 32bit on my comp for the last 6 weeks and I've been quite impressed with it.
I run 2Gb RAM on this comp and you could put another 1Gb in your Netbook for $16.00 USD Ex Kingston ValueRAM - worth looking at. Cheers Neil.

 

I agree with Neil and Matt, give Vista a go, upgrade your Ram, look in your Manual or if you don't have one download one to find out how much ram you can install in it.
Download CPU-Z, there you can identify the ram type that is installed and check out on ebay for an upgrade. I have just last week bought 2 Gig of Desktop Ram DDR2 for $16.- on ebay. Laptop Sodimm is a bit more expensive.
I use Auslogics

http://www.auslogics.com/en/software/disk-defrag/download/

to defrag my systems I find it much faster than the installed MS defrag.
Give it a go.
hawk22

 

Thanks heaps for your replies and information.
I will give Vista a go for a few weeks and probably leave it on as I will only use my laptop a few times a year when on holidays.
I do think though that memory is a lot more expensive than 'retiredlearner' suggests.
There is an issue though that Matt mentioned

I 'Googled' UAC and read a little and think that Matt is referring to the annoying popup window which asks ' do you want this program to makes changes to this computer' - am I correct Mastt or are there other 'issues' too?

ALSO (more importantly) I cannot set any user (using control panel User Accounts) to 'Administrator' as if I try to the 'apply' then is greyed out. Is it possible to set a user to have administrator rights? How do I log on as the 'administrator' anyway?

Can a user with only limited 'rights' install software? I am thinking 'yes' but that they can only install it for use by themself and not for 'all users' - am I 'on the mark'? I guess that I will quickly find out when I start to install applications.

I have found a website *(How-to Geek) which explains how to DISABLE UAC but at this stage I don't think that I will as it seems to have advantages so maybe only annoying.

Thanks in advance

John

 

Thanks Arie
I had searched for X61 memory on Ebay and found the genuine memory module which they were asking about $140.
I should have remembered that generic ram works just as well and you don't pay for the name.
I will have to check out to make sure the ram speed is correct.
I have found heaps of memory for sale on Ebay listed as DDR2 SODIMM 200pin which appears to match what I want and some even list the latency (CPUZ states that mine is CAS# Latency 5 clocks).
Does it matter if memory has a higher rated frequency than what CPUZ states mine is (ie 332.7MHz)?
It's just that once before I purchased ram for a desktop which would not work but I think that was a latency problem.

 

Install SIW or Lavalys (Home Edition) and you will be able to see exactly what the CAS Latency of the RAM is.

I'm pretty sure that when I looked up your netbook it said that there were 2 SODIMM RAM slots and max RAM to install 4GB and DDR2 PC25300 677Mhz.

I went to Kingston.com and had a look at SODIMM 1GB hence the price I noted.
You can purchase Premium RAM but the price skyrockets. You mentioned a tight budget - me too.

When retired - hands stay in the pockets when you are shopping just that little bit longer.

I don't think it would be necessary to install Max RAM as I understand Vista doesn't work much better than running with 2GB. Others may have more knowledge on the subject and I will bow to their input. Cheers Neil.

 

Thanks Neil
Hope all is well in your part of the NZ and that the Carbon tax isn't hurting (we are dead scared stiff that it may be introduced here). I am semi-retired (work 2 days/week) and so tend to keep my hands in my pockets too.
I have also found that a computer shop nearby sells 1GB SODIMM for around $20 so will go there rather than buy on Ebay as I can try it out in the shop.
John

 

I DID say though that "I don't think that I will" (disable UAC).
(In fact now I realise just how good it is as no matter how careful you are when checking new software with utilities such as Anti-Malware this (UAC) will prompt you to think again.

There are still a couple of unanswered questions which I will create a new post with (if I can't find an answer by Googling) and so close this post.
Thanks again everyone.
John

 

Hi John, We're still talking about Carbon Tax - it hasn't been introduced yet to my knowledge. I think it's supposed to be after the Elections in Nov.

Actually, the biggest talking point in NZ is about the cost of rebuilding the City of Christchurch after the earthquakes and the aftershocks which are still occurring. There are huge numbers of people leaving for Australia as they are scared stiff and can't sleep at night for the tremors.
They can only fly with Air NZ as the dust cloud from Chile has grounded your air carriers.

Nice to see you found a local shop with the RAM, but make sure you get matching units or a 2 pack which will be paired correctly.

I see Arie was appalled at idea of deleting UAC. I don't find it too obtrusive - it only takes a second to click on allow but it does give that added security.
LOL. Neil.

 

Point taken Arie