I am basically ready to strangle Windows Vista. DIE.

[pipistrellafelix]

So I got my old computer back, stripped of an operating system. I have to wait for a new power cord & then we're going to play with xubuntu. But nontheless I bought a new one (I got a good deal, although an implulse buy is really unlike me...), & of course it came with Vista.

I am so frustrated by this operating system. Not only is it aesthetically annoying (it took me much less time to get used to XP, so this is not just the newness of it all), but I am having the worst time trying to install my Creative software. I tried from the CD; it seemed like it had loaded, except then the actual explorer wasn't there; I plugged in the player itself & Vista had a fit (as it does with every new thing ever) & asked to install the driver. Which it then failed to find or install. So I have been combing the internet, including all the Creative support sites, & NOTHING WORKS. Essentially the message I just got is, "Oh well, it doesn't work. Sorry!" I am going to kill Vista. I do not like it. I do not want it. I want XP back. Or something. Agh.

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be having these problems if I had an iPod. & no, that doesn't make me want to go buy an iPod. It makes me even more angry at the fact that a few companies rule the computer software market & much better companies like Creative get stuck in the backwash & aren't compatible. ARGH I say. Just..ARGH.

Comments

[seachild-elf.livejournal.com]

I've been keeping my distance from Vista for a while and I don't plan to get near any time soon. The stories I hear are mostly bad. It supports pretty much nothing with a bit of age. So far if my 98 or XP computer breaks down, I don't plan to upgrade beyond XP. Besides, all my computer games are for old windows versions, no way Vista will be prepared for them.

In XP there's a certain setting that gets rid of the XP-look and goes back to the 'ordinary windows' look. My sister's boyfriend changed it for me, he said it is better for the computer as the XP-look is heavier on the graphic card. Honestly, I wouldn't know, but I'm kind of used to the old look and like to stick with it. But maybe the same setting is in Vista? I believe it was somewhere in the properties of Start and the Task bar.

And who needs an Ipod when Creative's got all you need? Same here.

[elanor-two.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I found that setting...I can change it to windows classic. I hadn't thought that it would be easier on the graphics card, although that is a good point. But honestly I'm just really frustrated by it overall. I really want XP back...

Up Creative! Way better than Apple..:)

[newredshoes]

From what I can see, Vista is trying desperately to be Tiger and failing miserably. I've got a metaphor somewhere about a girl who shows up to a dance having deliberately worn the same dress as another girl with better grades, and stabbing people in the feet when they try to dance with her, but it's not even eight in the morning, and I'm still on my first cup of tea.

Mrf. Frickin' technoloy.

[elanor-two.livejournal.com]

I don't know Tiger, but I hate Vista. Man, do I ever.

Hmm...get back to me with that metaphor after some more tea...:)

[lady-magpie.livejournal.com]

But if we make everything compatible then we can't have almost-monopolies on the market. And then where would we be?

Good luck. Not that luck probably has much affect on whether or not Vista will actually stop having a fit. But good luck anyway.

[elanor-two.livejournal.com]

We'd be in the free market with diversity! Oh noes. :)

[lady-magpie.livejournal.com]

Can't have that! :)

(by the way, I love my Creative. Even if the poor thing freezes sometimes. And I should probably stop dropping it every now and then.)

[elanor-two.livejournal.com]

(i know, aren't they lovely? i like them much better than ipods.)

[lady-magpie.livejournal.com]

(My brother just got one of the fancy video-playing ones to replace his stolen iPod. I'll bet they get stolen a lot less frequently than the iPods, too.)

[elanor-two.livejournal.com]

Cool! Yeah, that's probably true. It's like buying a lame car so no one steals it, except it's not lame.

[lady-magpie.livejournal.com]

Exactly.

Though apparently, ten year old Corollas like mine are, like, #3 on top stolen cars in WA state.

Oh wait. They're really good cars.

Speaking of having cars, I should come up to Seattle again sometime soon not to argue with my parents but to hang out and have fun...any time in the next few months you'll have some time?

[elanor-two.livejournal.com]

yeah...i'll be around. probably busy as all hell, but if you call me when you're up here we can hang out.

[elwood012.livejournal.com]

Actually, an iPod wouldn't have helped you—Vista broke iTunes for a couple weeks until a patch came out, according to a number of articles that I've read.

I think M$ wants people to buy Zunes, and figures the best way of getting people to buy their knock-off of other people's products is to make their OS increasingly incompatible with everything else…

[elanor-two.livejournal.com]

Yeah. & that makes me really, really. & as far as I can tell, Creative doesn't have a patch for vista. Do you have a pirated copy of XP? :D

[elwood012.livejournal.com]

I don't have any pirated copies of XP available :p

Firstly, did your previous machine come with a real version of XP or an OEM version that was locked to that machine. If it's a real version, you *might* be able to move it to your new machine, although it's a longshot due to Microsoft's authentication process.

If that doesn't work, what you might want to do, though, is see if Seattle U has a site license or a bulk license for XP that hasn't been phased out yet, and "downgrade" to XP through their IT department. Pomona has such a program, although the main users tend to be owners of Intel-based Macs who want to dual-boot without buying a copy of XP.

Barring that, you'll need to buy or otherwise obtain a new copy of XP, and being a mac guy, I don't have any particularly good sources there, although I could ask Sylvia or Peter.

Good luck getting it to work.

[elanor-two.livejournal.com]

my old machine has a whole new hardrive, so it doesn't even have an os at the moment.

my teacher had the same idea re: it, though, so i'm going to try that....*cross fingers!*

[jptiger.livejournal.com]

This looks promising: http://mrinternet.wordpress.com/2007/03/10/creative-zen-nx-and-vista-working-together-finally/

I know it's not your exact player but it might work anyway.

[elanor-two.livejournal.com]

whoa! thank you...