Computers+Vista and all that other $#^+

[W5LZ]

The next time 'Vista' says I should up-grade something, and if I even hint/think that I might, would one of you please shoot me?!
Considering the number of times I've had to go through this same fabulous experience, You'd think I'd know better by now! But, nooooo, not me! I did it anyway. It said it had been a whole 2 months since the last up-date. For some odd reason the thing is getting 'jerky', takes a second or two, or three to get the @#$ mouse to do anything. Why? I don't have the faintest clue! I thought the @#$ up-date would take care of that. WRONG! All of a sudden the little speaker in the notification area is gone. Spent an hour trying to find/remember how to turn the stinking thing on again. Re-booted. Same thing again. Thought this @#$ thing was supposed to remember the settings! Cleaned up the registry, again. No change. Did that before, why would I expect it to do any good this time? Didn't do any good. Went through all the 'tweak' thingys. Nothing. Mouse still jerky. No @#$% idea what else is going to show up, or not show up would be a better way of saying it.
Anyone else having this much fun? Any idea how to cure this female camel of a computer and operating system? don't say change to 'XP', been there, tried to do that, you don't wanna know what happened! I would love to have 10 minutes alone with Mr. Gates... I really would. I seriously doubt if a jury of my peers would convict me of anything! An auction on eBay of a couple of his body parts might set me up for life even after the attorney fees.
Rants over. But I'm serious about the fix this thing thingy. Any ideas besides "c:\reformat"?
- 'Doc

 

[Moleculo]

It sounds like you have a hardware/driver problem with your sound card. I would go to the website of the manufacturer of the soundcard and download & reinstall that driver before I did anything else.

FWIW, I've been testing the release candidate of Windows 7 for about a month now. I didn't want to test it, but work made me. It actually is much better, faster and overall a good upgrade compared to Vista. So, if you can't figure out the problem with your computer, maybe Windows 7 will do the trick.

 

[W5LZ]

Mole',
Any idea when "7" might be out? It certainly sounds better than this 'kloodge' of a mess.
No idea if the sound card is part of the problem or not. I wish it were an after market card, I'd know how to handle that. This came 'built-in', so what can you say. I asked about reloading the drivers some time ago and was told they didn't furnish them after any up-grade, they were only available on the original machine. Ain't that a hoot?
Oh well.
- 'Doc

 

[Robb]

Oh, don't get me started on Vista!
Woof!

Here's an idea to deal with your dilemma. Get a USB flash memory drive (~2gb or so in size) - and load all of your important stuff on it. Remove flash drive. Take out your copy of Xp and put in the CD player. Restart your computer and go into the bios on your motherboard (during startup) to boot options. Put it on the 'setup' mode and restart the computer. Have Xp re-format the hard disc and put Xp back on. Take your copy of Vista and put it in a mailer and address it to Microsoft along with a note demanding your money back - or a copy of Windows 7 ( I also have been running the trial copy for evaluation from MS) so that you won't be part of a class-action lawsuit against them.

Now, no more problems!

 

[park]

If computers where auto's there would be class action law suites out the ying yang !

 

[C2]

Doc, I bet your hardware is not "7 compatible." And if you plug anything else in, like a printer or camera, better be prepared to crack open your wallet for new periphs...of course none of your current software will work on 7 either, but the good news is that there will probably be a virtual Vista mode on 7 to allow you to relive these special moments.

Have you ever thought of Linux?

 

[SR385]

If you aren't using payware that requires you to have Windows...get a linux 'live' CD, boot from it and check it out. If you find you can get what you need done, install it.

I keep Vista on a dual-boot for a few things like the programming software for some radios and remote controls etc. Otherwise I don't use it at all. I've run linux as my desktop/workstation full time since 1995.

Takes a bit of time to get used to it, but really for the avg Joe just surfing the web, they won't know what OS it is once it's set up. My wife and step-son have also used linux full time since 1995 and they are non-technical users...just web surfers and email users.

I just created an account for my sister-in-law on the wife/kid's computer and she was off and running in minutes, never having seen it before.

There are a million distributions out there, Ubuntu is the one I personally like the best...take a look.

http://www.ubuntu.com/products/whatisubuntu/904features/

 

[Cat Driver]

The next time 'Vista' says I should up-grade something, and if I even hint/think that I might, would one of you please shoot me?!
Considering the number of times I've had to go through this same fabulous experience, You'd think I'd know better by now! But, nooooo, not me! I did it anyway. It said it had been a whole 2 months since the last up-date. For some odd reason the thing is getting 'jerky', takes a second or two, or three to get the @#$ mouse to do anything. Why? I don't have the faintest clue! I thought the @#$ up-date would take care of that. WRONG! All of a sudden the little speaker in the notification area is gone. Spent an hour trying to find/remember how to turn the stinking thing on again. Re-booted. Same thing again. Thought this @#$ thing was supposed to remember the settings! Cleaned up the registry, again. No change. Did that before, why would I expect it to do any good this time? Didn't do any good. Went through all the 'tweak' thingys. Nothing. Mouse still jerky. No @#$% idea what else is going to show up, or not show up would be a better way of saying it.
Anyone else having this much fun? Any idea how to cure this female camel of a computer and operating system? don't say change to 'XP', been there, tried to do that, you don't wanna know what happened! I would love to have 10 minutes alone with Mr. Gates... I really would. I seriously doubt if a jury of my peers would convict me of anything! An auction on eBay of a couple of his body parts might set me up for life even after the attorney fees.
Rants over. But I'm serious about the fix this thing thingy. Any ideas besides "c:\reformat"?
- 'Doc

Every coupla weeks my mouse gets jerky on my vista computer like you say yours does. My solution was to unplug the mouse for about 15-20 seconds an then plug it back up...presto, mouse works fine again.....

 

[W5LZ]

SR385,
I appreciate the thought, but think I'll pass. I've been the 'alternate' OS route before, and while I know Linux has to be better/easier than the ones I've experience with, I just don't want to 'experience' a different operating system.. yet. Doesn't mean I won't, just not yet.
- 'Doc

 

[W5LZ]

Cat Driver,
I'm afraid that's one of the things I've already tried with no luck. That includes new drivers, new mouse, and everything except a new 'attitude'! Again, doesn't mean I'm not going to try it again, just that I gave up on a 'simple' 'fix'... Rats!
- 'Doc

 

[Cat Driver]

I'll be danged...Mine is a laptop with vista premium home OS and I have always used a mouse on it instead of the one built in.

I've had to do this for about 1 1/2 years that I have had it. It doesn't start it when I turn the computer on, it has always been running for awhile when this happens.

I guess thats just one of the luxurys of having vista operated computers....





P.S. is yer mouse a laser one or one with a ball in it? If its a ball type mouse, sometimes the little rollers in them get gunked up an won't turn/move, an that'll make them jerky too...

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Every coupla weeks my mouse gets jerky on my vista computer like you say yours does. My solution was to unplug the mouse for about 15-20 seconds an then plug it back up...presto, mouse works fine again.....

That's not a solution. It's called a work around. Like I have heard a lot of folks say about Vista "Upgrade it by installing XP"

 

[SR385]

The Vista install that I have (32bit) has been 100% for me so far, though it's only occasionally used. I test some SDR software during project releases on it.

It is Vista premium I think and was a factory install, though it did take me 4hrs to get all the adware that HP puts on it removed.

 

[Robb]

Doc; I want to add one thing more...
Once you put Xp back on (that is - if you do), go to the Windows update site and get Service Pack 3. With it, you will NOT be disappointed with your computer. It is near as bulletproof as one could want to have. I use CCleaner (a free software utility- just use the default settings after install) to keep it running clean and the registry running w/o error. I also recommend AVG anti virus - which is also free and makes your computer safe and running quickly - and uses little of the memory resources. MacAfee and Norton anti virus is painfully slow, obnoxious, and uses entirely too much memory resources - "NOT recommended".

If you get Windows 7; I think you will like it. You can use CCleaner on it as well. AVG - too. Windows 7 runs like Xp and looks like Vista - IMO...

 

[Cat Driver]

That's not a solution. It's called a work around. Like I have heard a lot of folks say about Vista "Upgrade it by installing XP"

Well...a 15-20 second work around a coupla times a month is not that big of a deal for me. Every thing else on vista has always worked perfect for me otherwise.