[InHuman]

KK, so I just came over a pretty big computer failure (my profiles were corrupted, and I almost lost all my documents and stuff)... this got me thinking that its about time I got a real O.S...

My question is, can I upgrade to Vista via download (upgrade is half the price of buying, and download is faster then getting CD) if my current copy of XP has failed microsoft's validation check?

[Kacen]

I'm going to be honest, since you don't have a genuine copy, that means it's illegal.

Now I'm not sure if upgrading from XP to Vista requires validation checks, but there is a good chance it does, and if it doesn't pass the validation then you could get in trouble, or at the very least it will not work.

Though, this is a personal suggestion, don't get Vista, it's unstable as all hell. I have it and it's given me nothing but hell however I can't tell if half the problems are to do with my hardware or IS. Vista 32 is what I have, though my brother and mom have Vista 64 perhaps the latter is more stable since they don't have the awful problem I have.

My comp takes 7 minutes to start up and it's specs are just fine for Vista or so they say. It takes approximately 1 minute at the first BIOS screen, approximately 1 minute at the second screen where it displays hardware, and approximately 5 minutes to get past the screen with the cursor ticking in the top left corner.

The is before it gets to loading Vista, the rest takes a roughly a minute once it gets to loading windows but it's everything before it that really gets me; it makes me wonder if it's hardware or what. Sometimes I worry it won't start up so I generally rarely restart, though I cannot say I've ever had an incident where it hasn't booted up that I recall.

But, the way I see it, your best bet is getting another XP operating system or waiting for Windows 7 (you can get Beta's today ether way). Ether one I would put way more trust on than Vista, which gives me anxiety.

This post has been edited by Kacen: 21 August 2009 - 08:50 PM

[village_idiot]

InHuman, on 21 August 2009 - 02:47 AM, said:

KK, so I just came over a pretty big computer failure (my profiles were corrupted, and I almost lost all my documents and stuff)... this got me thinking that its about time I got a real O.S...

My question is, can I upgrade to Vista via download (upgrade is half the price of buying, and download is faster then getting CD) if my current copy of XP has failed microsoft's validation check?

Here's my question: Why on God's green Earth would you even wantto upgrade to Vista? I downgraded my cp because Vista (for the most part) sucks...

[glyndowers heir]

Bad boy take a thousand lines.

However you used to be able to make a'penalty' payment to Msoft and they would then give you a validation code to legitimise your illegal copy.

Then you would be able to upgrade to vista (a contradiction in terms by the way! ) with a clean conscience

[__Kratos__]

InHuman, on 21 August 2009 - 12:47 AM, said:

KK, so I just came over a pretty big computer failure (my profiles were corrupted, and I almost lost all my documents and stuff)... this got me thinking that its about time I got a real O.S...

My question is, can I upgrade to Vista via download (upgrade is half the price of buying, and download is faster then getting CD) if my current copy of XP has failed microsoft's validation check?

Well if you have xp legally you can get help from microsoft-

Windows XP Genuine Advantage Validation Issues


You're better off waiting to get the Windows 7 upgrade option for the same price if you can.

[SupeRgirl]

If you can wait, wait for the Windows 7 upgrade. I used to have the same problems fairly regularly with long start up times. But this vanished after d/l the vista service pack 2 (I think) that came out a couple of months ago.

[Kacen]

Lady_Anvilabeel, on 21 August 2009 - 08:10 PM, said:

If you can wait, wait for the Windows 7 upgrade. I used to have the same problems fairly regularly with long start up times. But this vanished after d/l the vista service pack 2 (I think) that came out a couple of months ago.

I just installed Vista service pack 2, didn't notice a change in my startup time, then again the updates weren't fully installed until after it got past the BIOS screens.

So maybe on the next restart? =/ `Course if it's before it gets to loading Vista it could be a hardware issue...so no matter what I do to the OS won't make a difference.

[__Kratos__]

Lady_Anvilabeel, on 21 August 2009 - 07:10 PM, said:

If you can wait, wait for the Windows 7 upgrade. I used to have the same problems fairly regularly with long start up times. But this vanished after d/l the vista service pack 2 (I think) that came out a couple of months ago.

SP2 made everything a good bit better, it was fantastic.

Kacen, on 21 August 2009 - 10:28 PM, said:

I just installed Vista service pack 2, didn't notice a change in my startup time, then again the updates weren't fully installed until after it got past the BIOS screens.

So maybe on the next restart? =/ `Course if it's before it gets to loading Vista it could be a hardware issue...so no matter what I do to the OS won't make a difference.

I do a disk cleanup and then defrag my computer after such a major update, could help

[InHuman]

Windows 7 it is, a buddy of mine is using the beta, he's highly reccomanding it.

I'm just gonna try and play it safe till november, no more windows updates,,

[Kacen]

__Kratos__, on 22 August 2009 - 01:22 AM, said:

I do a disk cleanup and then defrag my computer after such a major update, could help

My comp auto-defrags. Also seriously the fact that it takes so long to start up in the BIOS before it even gets to Vista just leads me to believe it's some bios issue; thing is I'm not well schooled enough to trust myself to go into the BIOS and mess around in there. `Fraid I'll make **** worse.

Dunno, as long as my comp -does- start up. I never turn it off anyway, only restart if I have updates.

This post has been edited by Kacen: 22 August 2009 - 06:47 AM

[Superman]

I'm still going through grief counseling because of Vista.

Vista was going fine for a good 7 months on my computer. Then it was like a b**** switch was flipped and it decided to hate me.

I went through months and months trying to figure out what the hell was wrong with my computer; The desktop would freeze (but my computer wouldn't) whenever I left my computer idle. And it wouldn't shut down 9 times out of 10, it would hang at the 'shutting down' part.

I struggled and trouble shooted and struggled some more. Asked a few of my friends. once is a lead I.T. of a international company, and he troubleshoots computers from around the world - told me it was Vista. And you find work arounds.

And I agree, you do have to. My favorite is sleep mode on vista. Leave your computer idle long enough, it cuts power to your keyboard and mouse. it's suppose to bring power back when you use your computer again - haha. Nope.

Anyways, I had a hunch it was my firewall. And it was. I un-installed Zonealarm, got myself another firewall and now my computer runs like silk.

But I plan on upgrading to x64 Windows 7 when it comes out. Vista is a royal pain in the ***.

Also, shame on you for not having a legal install of XP.

[Kacen]

Hahahaha...God. People just don't think that firewalls and anti-virus programs can -really- interfere with your comp until it happens and you find out through trial and error.

Back in December '08 I installed some Windows Updates on my comp, it did parts 1 and 2 then restarted. At part 3 of configuring updates it got to 19% and hung there for...I think over an hour. It was at that point that I decided to shut down the computer, ignoring the thing telling me not to. Restarted and it got to the logon and said "updates installed incorrectly. Reverting...". That took approximatly 3 hours. So yeah I logged in and tried the updates again and I found out Windows Update stopped working for no apparent reason. Okay, fine. So I ended up turning updates off.

I just forgot about it for a while until one day to reset something I decided to log off and on. When I logged off and tried to get back on it went back to "reverting updates..." I had to wait another 3 ****ing hours. Turned out from then on until I could solve this issue anytime I would restart the computer or simply log off, I would have to wait through my already long startup time PLUS 3 hours of "reverting updates".

It was hell. It was just one day, I believe April or May 2009, I had a hunch and just uninstalled Comodo Firewall. EUREKA! I restarted the comp and it went right to the log in screen. I then preceded to try windows updates and it worked wonderfully and went through. At that point I uninstalled Comodo Memory firewall having distrusted anything to do with Comodo at that point, and holy ****, after that my Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance game started working. It never worked ever since I got the game in mid-2008; turns out Comodo Memory Firewall interpreted it as a "threat" when I tried to open the game. How asinine.

So yeah, I use Avira and Malwarebytes now, along with Vista's built-in firewall. Not the best firewall but conversely the least likely to interfere with anything, especially if it's Windows related.

This post has been edited by Kacen: 22 August 2009 - 08:41 AM

[Red_Foxx15]

Just a little update i thought i would throw in there. With the windows 7 beta (atleast the 7100 RC; havnt heard anything different though) you cant upgrade from XP to 7. You will have to do a fresh install. Also keep in mind that you wont be able to upgrade from the beta to the full version once its released. That means having to format your machine and start all over again.

Not that big of a deal in my opinion but some people find those things to be deal breakers

[little_dreamer]

Right now, I would back up any important files on a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM and keep it in a safe place.
Just in case your XP operating system decides to stop working before Windows 7 comes out.

I got Vista in 2007. OK for the most part but I do get memory freeze-ups. My mouse cursor will work but nothing else.
I have to pull the plug from the wall and start it up again. It's a real memory hog.

XP was the best Microsoft OS.

[Kacen]

little_dreamer, on 22 August 2009 - 10:19 AM, said:

XP was the best Microsoft OS.

Psh...hell no.

Windows 2000 was the best.