| Author |
Topic: New Windows Services Packs Coming Soon |
Wiz Feinberg
From:
Mid-Michigan, USA
|
Posted 17 Mar 2008 11:53 am |
|
From the desk of the mild mannered Wiz, these news bytes.
Microsoft has completed testing and repairing the first service pack for Windows Vista. Barring last minute issues, it should be available for manual Optional Windows Updates downloading, tomorrow, March 18, 2008. It is expected that Vista SP-1 will be pushed out via Automatic Windows Updates towards the end of March, or beginning of April. I personally advise caution with this service pack, for production machines. There have been some driver failures reported by beta testers and Microsoft hasn't identified which drivers those are. If your computer has that unmentioned hardware your drivers for it will fail to reload after applying SP-1 and rebooting. I would wait a couple of weeks, for the chips to fall, before installing this on your primary PC.
The MS rumor mill also says that XP Service Pack 3 is about to be released, either later this month, or by next patch Tuesday. This will probably be the final service pack for Windows XP. It contains all previously released patches and hot fixes, as well as all improvements made in the previous two service packs. SP 3 adds a few new interoperability and networking items, but nothing major or earth shattering. I don't know if it will be available on a CD or not, at this time. If not, you will have to download it and run the updater/integrator and create your own integrated SP 3 bootable CD.
I will post more information when I get it.
_________________
"Wiz" Feinberg, Moderator SGF Computers Forum
Security Consultant
Twitter: @Wizcrafts
Main web pages: Wiztunes Steel Guitar website | Wiz's Security Blog | My Webmaster Services | Wiz's Security Blog |
|
|
|
Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
|
Posted 17 Mar 2008 12:18 pm
|
|
Everyone that has posted on the Dell forum that installed Vista SP1 are all working without problems.
New PC Vendors will have Vista SP1 machines in Retail outlets (e.g. Best Buy, Circuit City, etc) by the end of the month. Dell already has machines built with the SP1, just waiting to ship them.
I wouldn't be afraid to install SP1 on my machine, but then I don't have any "old" software or peripherals that would potentially be the most likely to be affected. |
|
|
|
John Roche
From:
England
|
Posted 17 Mar 2008 1:12 pm
|
|
Wiz, I have had XP Service Pack 3 for about four weeks,
Windows XP SP3 Release Candidate 2, but it won't install, gets half way then says internal error.. |
|
|
|
Wiz Feinberg
From:
Mid-Michigan, USA
|
Posted 17 Mar 2008 4:58 pm
|
|
| John Roche wrote: |
Wiz, I have had XP Service Pack 3 for about four weeks,
Windows XP SP3 Release Candidate 2, but it won't install, gets half way then says internal error.. |
It could be a permissions error, in the Windows Registry Local Machine branch. Open Regedit, right-click on each branch of the Registry and check the Permissions to see if your logged in user account has full read, write, modify, etc, permissions. If any branch is missing full control, grant it to your user name. Take ownership of that branch, in your user name, apply it, restart the computer and try to install the service pack again.
Also, turn off any anti virus checkers that run in the background, when applying a new service pack. They are known to interfer with such upgrades. But, scan for viruses first!
_________________
"Wiz" Feinberg, Moderator SGF Computers Forum
Security Consultant
Twitter: @Wizcrafts
Main web pages: Wiztunes Steel Guitar website | Wiz's Security Blog | My Webmaster Services | Wiz's Security Blog |
|
|
|
Chip Fossa
From:
Monson, MA, USA (deceased)
|
Posted 17 Mar 2008 8:57 pm
|
|
Just what is it with Vista where older software doesn't function properly? Why would MS deliberately throw out this monkey wrench?
I have 2 SoundBlaster sound cards: Audigy2Value and SBXfi Extreme Audio.
Neither of these will work properly with Vista. Audigy actually can be installed. Xfi cannot be auto-installed, and Xfi is a newer SB soundcard. Go figure.
Creative does have Vista updates. But they aren't clear as whether to install 'as-is' or in the 'compatible mode'. Confusion here. Xfi definitely is not Vista compatible, according to Creative's website.
Creative support told me that in Audigy, all programs will work, EXCEPT, Surround EQ - which I really have to have. Why won't it work? I don't know. They explained it to me, but I forget - it was too lengthy.
So I have 2 SB useless soundcards. I tried to manually install both. They kind of install, but not all the way. Somethings never work, or don't quite work as they should. They are not Vista friendly - at least in my estimation.
So, if anyone is thinking about or has Vista already, here's where I'm at now. I'm using the OEM soundcard -Realtek. Chris, owner of Goldwave, advised me that Realtek isn't a top notch soundcard, but said if you keep up with their updates, it will be pretty good.
He was right. Actually, as I explored around in Realtek, I found that it does have some enhancement/effects and they work fairly well.
WMP v.11 is a real bummer. Many songs go up and down in volume when played thru WMP. Wiz advised me to raise up the buffering number. I did this, and things seemed OK for a while, but then that wavering started again. What a piece of junk.
So I went back and tried Winamp again, after many years of not even having it on my PC. The new Winamp (free version, too) works like a champ. Has an EQ, and other goodies.
So this is what I've come down to using now for sound. Everything is working very well with this setup; especially no sound flutter and waver as with WMP.
But, again, why all this hassle with Vista? In some respects, I feel rippped off. But Vista does have some nice fancy visual and operasting things that I have come to like. But my old programs - many work well, some not so well, and others just, don't work at all; in compatible mode or not - doesn't matter. |
|
|
|
Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
|
Posted 18 Mar 2008 2:41 am
|
|
Chip, you are having problems, but most are not having any problems. It was the same way when XP was introduced, a lot of the older hardware and software was not compatible and had to be replaced with newer XP compatible hardware and software.
WMP11 works OK for me, no problems playing audio or video or even using it for DVD playing.
As new Operating systems are introduced, they are designed to take advantage of newer technology hardware and for that reason some older technology will no longer work or work fully. Vista handles audio differently than older Operating Systems and that is the reason for some older hardware sound cards not working or working correctly. Hardware (and software) Vendors had several years to make their products work with Vista, if the product was capable of working with Vista, and again it was the same way with XP.
With older operating systems, Microsoft maintained the hardware capability and the BACKWARD hardware and software compatibility. However, starting with XP, Microsoft did not make XP 100% backward compatible with older software and hardware and thus began the direction that Microsoft wanted to go for years. Making an Operating system backward compatible requires a lot of extra programming and in some cases does not allow the new Operating System to fully take advantage of new technologies. It's a catch 22 situation for companies such as Microsoft - damned if they do and damned if they don't. As newer Operating systems are developed, which along with Operating system advances it will also be designed to take advantage of new and emerging technologies, there will be less, if any, backward compatibility (the next version of the Operating System is already in Beta testing - and all the hardware and software vendors have a copy of the Beta software). |
|
|
|
Chip Fossa
From:
Monson, MA, USA (deceased)
|
Posted 18 Mar 2008 12:56 pm
|
|
That's a fair-enuff explanation, Jack. I don't know why I have these problems. I haven't monkeyed around with the PC to mess things up, so I don't have a clue as to why I have these glitches.
All I do know, is that I have them, and they're real.
But, I'm satisfied enuff now, and the sound, sounds very good; sans SoundBlaster.
I'll just keep updating Realtek. |
|
|
|
John Roche
From:
England
|
Posted 18 Mar 2008 4:10 pm
|
|
Wiz, done what you said ,alas the same problem..
never mind xp is still working fine, |
|
|
|
Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
|
Posted 19 Mar 2008 5:41 am
|
|
SP1 was installed on my Dell E510 desktop (that has a D925 Dual core CPU) this morning. So far no problems - my SoundBlaster Audigy 2 Platinum EX sound card still works and my peripherals (Epson all in one) work OK - and I really don't see any difference (the only thing I see now is that Windows will report the total installed memory, e.g. my 4GB). But, there wasn't supposed to be any "visual" difference, everything was "internal".
It took 1 hour and 5 minutes to install, with 3 automatic reboots.
Per Microsoft, SoundMax integrated audio (on the motherboard audio) WILL require an update from the PC vendor before you can install SP1. And you need the SoundMax drivers from the specific vendor, e.g. if you have a Dell you need Dell driver updates, if you have an HP you need HP driver updates, etc. If you have a Dell with SoundMax you can't update yet, Dell is still working on the updated drivers. I don't know about any other vendor. |
|
|
|
Chip Fossa
From:
Monson, MA, USA (deceased)
|
Posted 19 Mar 2008 1:36 pm Switching Default Browsers (Vista)
|
|
Where do you go to switch default browsers in Vista.
I went to Control Panel/Internet Options and thought I clicked on the right things to change from Internet Explorer to Firefox, but when I click on a 'favorites' from the start menu, I get a flag saying Windows can't find the browser.
I'm sure I didn't go to the right place to switch defaults.
Can someone please advise.
Thanks,
Chipper |
|
|
|
Chip Fossa
From:
Monson, MA, USA (deceased)
|
Posted 19 Mar 2008 1:39 pm
|
|
WHOOPS...
Sorry gang. I thought I was starting a new thread. Now what? Leave this as it is, or make a new post? I apologize.
Chipper |
|
|
|
Wiz Feinberg
From:
Mid-Michigan, USA
|
Posted 19 Mar 2008 3:18 pm Re: Switching Default Browsers (Vista)
|
|
| CHIP FOSSA wrote: |
Where do you go to switch default browsers in Vista.
Chipper |
Chip;
Open the browser you want to make the default browser and find the tab where that selection is available, check it, apply it, then test a link. The other browser may later complain that is has lost its default status. When that happens tell that browser NO, you do not want it to be the default, and check the box to not ask again.
_________________
"Wiz" Feinberg, Moderator SGF Computers Forum
Security Consultant
Twitter: @Wizcrafts
Main web pages: Wiztunes Steel Guitar website | Wiz's Security Blog | My Webmaster Services | Wiz's Security Blog |
|
|
|
Chip Fossa
From:
Monson, MA, USA (deceased)
|
Posted 19 Mar 2008 4:56 pm
|
|
Wiz, thanks.
But where would I find "that" tab in Firefox? I've been looking all over.
I've been able to do this in the past, but, alas, I don't know what I'm lookin' for anymore; because many more options are up and around for you to get cornfused over.
Is it in TOOLS? HELP? EDIT?
Could be I'm lookin' in the wrong bunghole?  |
|
|
|
Wiz Feinberg
From:
Mid-Michigan, USA
|
Posted 19 Mar 2008 9:15 pm
|
|
| CHIP FOSSA wrote: |
Wiz, thanks.
But where would I find "that" tab in Firefox? I've been looking all over. |
Open Firefox, click on the Menu item - Tools, then mouse down to Options and left-click on it. AT the bottom of the "Main" tab there is a checkbox labeled: "Always check to see if Firefox is the default browser." Check that option box, then click on the "Check Now" button. If Firefox is not already your default browser, you can "make it so," then "engage."
After changing the default browser you should open Internet Explorer, or whatever your prior default browser used to be. Before that browser opens a box will pop up notifying you that Internet Exploder is no longer your default browser, yada, yada. Check the box to not ask again and tell it no, do not make Internet Exploder my default browser.
_________________
"Wiz" Feinberg, Moderator SGF Computers Forum
Security Consultant
Twitter: @Wizcrafts
Main web pages: Wiztunes Steel Guitar website | Wiz's Security Blog | My Webmaster Services | Wiz's Security Blog |
|
|
|
Wiz Feinberg
From:
Mid-Michigan, USA
|
|
|
|
Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
|
Posted 22 Mar 2008 12:47 pm
|
|
As previously noted I upgraded my Dell Desktop with the SP1 and no problems with the SoundBlaster Audigy 2 Platinum EX sound card/system.
I upgraded my Acer laptop, that has the Realtek sound chip with the SP1 and no problems that I've found so far with it. The Realtek, or at least some versions of this, are on the Mircosoft known problem list.
Dell has issued an updated driver for their SigmaTel audio module laptops for SP1 compatibility. I haven't heard about an update for the Dell desktops that have the SigmaTel audio chip but if Dell issued one for the laptops already the Desktop is probably not far behind. |
|
|
|
Bob Knight
From:
Bowling Green KY
|
|
|
|
