I sort of lied, it is a biggy to me. But...
I like to play with APRS. Want to use a received signal to do it, not the internet stuff. So, set up a laptop to do it with in the truck. After the 'normal' problems setting up a computer with Vista (or any other OS, but like to 'dis' Vista), it worked just fine.
UNTIL, I did the recommended up-grade for the sound card. Then, the associated program which converts the sound card to a TNC couldn't even find the sound card, much less even work! What's with this? So, spent at least 4 days looking for a 'fix'. There are others who have had this problem so got all kinds of recommendations for how to 'cure' it. None worked, and a few of them caused other problems. Did you know that there are over 75 different 'patches' from the manufacturor for this particular problem? That does not include those patches from Microsoft. After working my way through some not 'small' part of that list of things to try, I gave up. Actually, didn't give up, just got mad about the whole thing. Called the manufacturor. Was asked if I had made a recovery disk when I first got the laptop. I had. Was told to 'recover' it to it's original configuration to get the 'old' sound card driver, since they do NOT furnish it anymore. Hey! Didn't think of that. But then I got to thinking about exactly what that would mean. As in, what about the other things I loaded on to, and use, with the laptop? The customer service 'person' said, "Oh, it will be gone. You'll have to load them again.". Well, some of those thingys were a 'one time deal', you know? I'd have to buy the @#$ things again?! I politely said thank you and broke the phone when I hung it up. *You believe that, right? The 'polite' part?*
Cured the problem the easy way. Didn't say 'cheap' way, or the 'smart' way, just the easy way. Bought another laptop. NOT the same brand, and made sure it did NOT have the same sound card in it! (Another long story there, you don't wanna hear it.)
So, best advice I can think of is do not get an HP, Compac, computer with a 'Conexant' sound card. But if you do, and if it want's to up-grade the sound card drivers... DON'T! You -WILL- regret it.
Ain't all this stuff fun?
- 'Doc
After reading this my conscience is bothering me so I'll add this part. Compac/HP are not all bad. They do just what they are supposed to do, some of those things they do very well. Others not so well, kind of. One or two features that I really miss having. There are a few areas where I do think they could use a little 'attitude adjustment'. But then, they ALL could use a little of that at times. I can tell you that before making any further 'up-grades, I will also be doing a 'recovery' thingy first! That is such a 'comforting' thought, ain't it? This 'stuff' is still 'fun', ain't it?
I like to play with APRS. Want to use a received signal to do it, not the internet stuff. So, set up a laptop to do it with in the truck. After the 'normal' problems setting up a computer with Vista (or any other OS, but like to 'dis' Vista), it worked just fine.
UNTIL, I did the recommended up-grade for the sound card. Then, the associated program which converts the sound card to a TNC couldn't even find the sound card, much less even work! What's with this? So, spent at least 4 days looking for a 'fix'. There are others who have had this problem so got all kinds of recommendations for how to 'cure' it. None worked, and a few of them caused other problems. Did you know that there are over 75 different 'patches' from the manufacturor for this particular problem? That does not include those patches from Microsoft. After working my way through some not 'small' part of that list of things to try, I gave up. Actually, didn't give up, just got mad about the whole thing. Called the manufacturor. Was asked if I had made a recovery disk when I first got the laptop. I had. Was told to 'recover' it to it's original configuration to get the 'old' sound card driver, since they do NOT furnish it anymore. Hey! Didn't think of that. But then I got to thinking about exactly what that would mean. As in, what about the other things I loaded on to, and use, with the laptop? The customer service 'person' said, "Oh, it will be gone. You'll have to load them again.". Well, some of those thingys were a 'one time deal', you know? I'd have to buy the @#$ things again?! I politely said thank you and broke the phone when I hung it up. *You believe that, right? The 'polite' part?*
Cured the problem the easy way. Didn't say 'cheap' way, or the 'smart' way, just the easy way. Bought another laptop. NOT the same brand, and made sure it did NOT have the same sound card in it! (Another long story there, you don't wanna hear it.)
So, best advice I can think of is do not get an HP, Compac, computer with a 'Conexant' sound card. But if you do, and if it want's to up-grade the sound card drivers... DON'T! You -WILL- regret it.
Ain't all this stuff fun?
- 'Doc
After reading this my conscience is bothering me so I'll add this part. Compac/HP are not all bad. They do just what they are supposed to do, some of those things they do very well. Others not so well, kind of. One or two features that I really miss having. There are a few areas where I do think they could use a little 'attitude adjustment'. But then, they ALL could use a little of that at times. I can tell you that before making any further 'up-grades, I will also be doing a 'recovery' thingy first! That is such a 'comforting' thought, ain't it? This 'stuff' is still 'fun', ain't it?