HELP, HELP,

I recently purchased a new ASpire (ACER) computer with VISTA already loaded. I am not able to use my printer (Lexmark) drivers are not yet available to run with VISTA and there is another software I use for personalized books, which is not compatible and they say it will not be for about six months.

What are my options; I'm told VISTA is the os of the future as far as Windows is concerned.

I feel like I should take it back and find a system with XP OR I was told I could load XP on my current system - I am not sure about this.

What are the pros and cons to the above?

PLEASE HELP.

Myday

Thank you so much for your time. Because I am a novice, when you say right click in the set-up file and the shortcut to the app, do you mean once I have inserted the disk and started to install? I tried installing drivers from the printer, by loading program. That's when I got the message from Windows (not recognizable). I went to Lexmark's website and searched drivers for VISTA and they say not available yet.

Have you tried running your app in XP compatibility mode (right-click the setup file and the shortcut to the app and set compatibility options).

Lexmark had years to get ready, so they have no excuse. Have you tried just connecting the printer to see if Vista uses default drivers for now?

You could install XP on another partition and dual-boot, but that seems like an extreme solution. There is also VMWare to run both OS's at the same time.

Not as a general rule. Some XP drivers work fine in Vista, but you'd have to try them and cross your fingers. I'm actually using an NT4 driver because no other one would work.

Hi, I appreciate your feedback. I am such a novice. Perhaps I should have this done by someone who really knows computers? I have a friend who offered to reformat my hard drive and put XP on, but I felt there was much more to it, which is why I posted my question.

I will look into what you have suggested. What about a Dell computer. I am thinking of taking my system back, especially if not really upgradeable.

Thanks again.

I did not know that you could install XP drives in Vista..its' nice to know...

thanks

Virtually impossible to find a machine with XP on it now in stores, especially in Best Buy or Target. If you want to buy one with XP on it, best bet is to go to your local shop and order one. You probably will get a better deal anyway, with a lot more RAM and better everything, and one that is upgradeable. Aspire machines, though they are OK for beginners, I guess, but not known to be upgradeable later on. There is a way to dual boot Vista and XP with Vista already loaded on it, you'll have to search it out, I don't a have link for it.


Pros and cons

Pros for keeping Vista: In about 6-8 months, the bugs will be worked out, major patches will be released fixing everything, and all will be well. Vista is going to be awesome with business machines (already it's good) and Vista will be THE OS for gamers soon, not now, but soon.

Cons for keeping Vista: Nothing works for it now, games have compatible issues, and even simple stuff like printers, and scanners, all have issues with Vista. Microsoft has, it seems, alienated every XP user out there, and have thrown out every single common sense thing out the window! (no pun intended)

Pros for getting rid of Vista: XP is much more reliable and stable, no security risk, compatible issues dissapear, and everything works now.

Cons for getting rid of Vista: In 6-8 months you'll be kicking yourself for getting rid of it.

My recommendation: Spend a few dollars and get Ghost from Norton, make an image file of the system you have now. Do format and do a clean install of XP..you may have to disable it from the boot screen in your BIOS sense Vista controls your computer from even the BIOS, make sure you have all the drivers for all the peripherils of what you got (motherboard, network, and video cards being the most important) also you may need the SATA drivers for your hard drive, because XP will not see them without the drivers (push F6 at the beginning of install where it says to install a 3rd party SCIA drive and make sure the drivers are on a floppy disk) continue with clean install and your done. 6-8 months later, if you want to revert back Vista, pull out the image from Ghost and do a full restore.

that's it..good night

That would be advisable, though be SURE that this guy you know, knows about computers. Many people say they know, but really don't have any idea. If they can't explain it to you, don't let them touch your computer. You may not know what their talking about, but if they can explain it to you without getting fustrated and saying "it's complicated and I have to do it!" and not fumbling over how to explain it, let him at it.

Careful here...to dual boot Vista, XP would have to be installed first, then Vista so that would be a lot of work. Better to try to install the XP driver. I have had a lot of luck installing XP drivers into Vista but not by running autorun, by "exploring" the cd or driver and open the XP driver setup inside. You can also find the actual driver file (.inf) , putting it in a folder on "C" drive, and try to browse to it from driver update.