Vista install help

[mat64]

Ok this is becoming irritating now, I've installed Vista (ultimate) twice on my laptop now and it keeps doing the same thing. It installs fine, asks me to create a user and that lot then the desktop appears as expected. However before I can even try to do something it restarts (which I'm used to considering the number of times it does it during the install process) but once it has restarted it informs me of a hardware error and asks in which mode it should boot. Any option I choose (safe mode or normal etc) just has the computer restarts and I am returned to the same place. I'm not really too sure where I can go from here, it will boot from CD and run the installer again and I have attempted to repair it but that doesn't seem to work either.

Any suggestions, decent ones will be awarded with rep.

[Kieran]

Hmm,
Seems to be a hardware capatability issue with Vista. Are you able to install XP on it and that works fine or does that restart the same?

[mat64]

Hmm,
Seems to be a hardware capatability issue with Vista. Are you able to install XP on it and that works fine or does that restart the same?
Well it had XP running on it previously, is that what you mean?

[DarrenToogood]

He is saying, I think, that your laptop can not cope with Vista Ultimate - after all it is the top end Vista.

[Tomm]

What are the specs of the laptop? Also did you perform a clean install or upgrade?

[Kieran]

Ye that's what I was getting at Darren. I was trying to see if it was just Vista causing the problem or his laptop. It does seem like your laptop cant handle Vista Ultimate.

[mat64]

The first was an upgrade and then I tried a clean install. I'll try find some specs later on for you, although I think the theory about it not be able to handle vista is plausible. My desktop could use a clean up later on anyway so I might try it with that, spec providing.

[DarrenToogood]

If you don't know the specs of your laptop, why did you buy Vista Ultimate :s I am a little confused why you would spend so much money, or time downloading without checking first.

[iFuseDan]

Okay quick step for you, if you can that is:

Most initial reboots are usually networking related (not 100% the case though), so make sure you dont have anything plugged in - when it does reboot go into safe mode - save to a usb flash drive if you can (they still work in safe mode) the most recent file from c:\windows\minidump - in there are small memory dumps from when the problem occured - if you can zip them and upload - i can run a debuging tool and tell you what device it is or what problem it is thats causing the problem. One advantage of safe mode is that it is driver free - so you shouldnt get reboots from improperly installed hardware.

[mat64]

Whenever I select safe mode I see a blue screen (not the standard BSOD), has a white bar accorss the top and about a paragraph worth of information split into 3 or 2 line paragraphs. That only appears for a split second though, and it does the same for any boot option I select. I'm trying to reinstall XP at the moment anyways.

[iFuseDan]

To be honest - you're better off with XP anyways; its a much faster OS without all the incompatibility nonsense of vista - only real downfall is the lack of directX 10.

[Kieran]

Which isn't exactly brilliant anyway I don't think :P
Not worth the hassle for it.

[Jamesy]

To be honest - you're better off with XP anyways; its a much faster OS without all the incompatibility nonsense of vista - only real downfall is the lack of directX 10.

I don't think DX10 is that bigger loss

I spent quite a lot of money on a medium spec 8 series for DX10 and realised my mistake soon after.


Should have bought a high range 7 series :(

[Recursion]

I have had no problems with Vista and DX10 so you lot that say its unstable, insecure etc are talking a load of ********.

DX10 is worth it:
http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/3896/01425sz1i13337800jy7.jpg

[Kieran]

We didn't say any of those,
I simply said its not worth the extra hassle of just getting vista to have it =)

[iFuseDan]

Tawm - instability is why Microsoft are stepping up Windows 7; The vista security model is to be honest a joke - using semi-virtualisation to try to secure parts which renders any software that needs access to parts of system that are not vista aware completely useless. Vista virtualises registry, system folders etc so when programs make relevent API calls they only get access to virtual clones which are read only - they then need to elevate permissions to gain full write access. This process in itself means that windows vista has unstable loading times (where cache'ing occurs).

Vista SP1 was very quickly released to address other bugs with installation monitor for example - falsly recognising completed installs as failed. There are also some really big holes in the kernel for windows too - which microsoft have yet to address.

The DEP facility - well its again not 100% because it has before even detected its own subsystem as falling under the illegal execution criteria and terminated thread/process - completely destabilising the OS.

I can go onto the problems that AV's have - other software incompatabilities - issues with modular runtime support for other languages (programming).

Tawm don't be ignorant enough to make the mistake of assuming because you have YET to face an issue that you wont; also I notice your example uses a Microsoft game...

DirectX 10.1 support in games is also documented to have problems ... There again I dont know if you've fully run anything DirectX 10.1.

I can give you more problems if you want :D

[Recursion]

Look at Crysis for a full DX10 Example then ;)

I am simply stating that I fail to see why everyone hates it, you turn UAC off, run a decent Firewall and Antivirus suite and bobs your uncle!

DirectX 10.1 hasn't been officialy released yet and so no games support it, and about one graphics card suupports it so far.

[Jamesy]

I have had no problems with Vista and DX10 so you lot that say its unstable, insecure etc are talking a load of ********.

DX10 is worth it:
http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/3896/01425sz1i13337800jy7.jpg

I didn't say I hate vista, I love it. I just got custom themes working so I'm very pleased.

I just don't play enough high level games so buying a dx10 card was pointless in my case.

But he is right, I haven't had any errors running on a pc built for xp.

[iFuseDan]

Look at Crysis for a full DX10 Example then ;)

I am simply stating that I fail to see why everyone hates it, you turn UAC off, run a decent Firewall and Antivirus suite and bobs your uncle!

DirectX 10.1 hasn't been officialy released yet and so no games support it, and about one graphics card suupports it so far.

What are you on about - it was released February this year (DX 10.1) - as far as I know ATI HD3xxx series supports 10.1.

In terms of DX9 games - http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/xp-vs-vista,1531-4.html - have a look at the benchmark results - Vista lost. Some programs will utilise vista virtualisation better, and the marginally improved CPU support means that CPU intensive programs (compression for example) will function better - some rendering programs for audio will too work better - however video processing is said to be the other way round (in favor of XP).

UAC I agree is best turned off (boot times on Vista vary ocasionally in excess of 1 minute when feature is on).

I have not said that DX10 is a better rendering model - its a shame the OS behind it isnt that great - the reason Microsoft is keeping support for XP is due to the lack of backwards compatibility in Vista and the large number of business' refusing to migrate infact it'll be supported after windows 7 is released (name of windows scheduled for release in 2010 [Also rumored to be futher stepped up to second half of 2009]).

It has already been said by many professionals in the IT field that Vista is the more modern equivilent of windows ME. Sales of Vista (in terms of people purchasing, as opposed to OEM) have also proved to be a flop - Microsoft are resorting to enabling Virtualisation in the Home Basic, and Home Premium versions just to spark general consumer interest.

[Stephen!]

Assassin's creed is the first DX10.1 game

[Recursion]

I've been told not to argue back by two people so I shall not :( And I haven't been keeping up to dat eon the 10.1 scene.

[Stephen!]

Well they are going to remove it in the next patch as putting it in actually killed peformance in DX10 for Nvidia users

[Recursion]

They released 10.1 far far too soon.

[lewissmiffy]

seems like ur labtop cant handle vista