My last message: Vista Problems

Hi All:

Yesterday, I posted a message about a friend who recently purchased a
laptop, but I looked throuhg the messages (oh, about three pages) and
I couldn't find the message; I am assuming that this group, therefore,
has a lot of posting.

Would it be proper for someone to e-mail me directly? Is this not
within the protocol of this group, or even Google Groups? I am
relatively new to Google Groups and very new to this group in
particular.

My real question was, essentially, based on the platform of Vista
itself. If the computer was manufactured by Dell, would it still be
possible for the laptop to be reformatted so that Windows XP can be
placed on the laptop, instead of Vista.

Heck, I am not even sure what Vista is; I am just glad I don't have
it. I have heard nothing but bad press about it. Can anyone tell me
about this platform, from where it generated, and if this is a MS
program, or a program that was developed, for example, by Dell?

Thanks,

Mark -- in Ocala, Florida

> Heck, I am not even sure what Vista is; I am just glad I don't have
> it. I have heard nothing but bad press about it.

If you swing a bannana around you will attract the last supporter of Vista
that is left. His name is Frank


"Mea505" <> wrote in message
news: oups.com...
> Hi All:
>
> Yesterday, I posted a message about a friend who recently purchased a
> laptop, but I looked throuhg the messages (oh, about three pages) and
> I couldn't find the message; I am assuming that this group, therefore,
> has a lot of posting.
>
> Would it be proper for someone to e-mail me directly? Is this not
> within the protocol of this group, or even Google Groups? I am
> relatively new to Google Groups and very new to this group in
> particular.
>
> My real question was, essentially, based on the platform of Vista
> itself. If the computer was manufactured by Dell, would it still be
> possible for the laptop to be reformatted so that Windows XP can be
> placed on the laptop, instead of Vista.
>
> Heck, I am not even sure what Vista is; I am just glad I don't have
> it. I have heard nothing but bad press about it. Can anyone tell me
> about this platform, from where it generated, and if this is a MS
> program, or a program that was developed, for example, by Dell?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mark -- in Ocala, Florida
>

"Mea505" <> wrote in message
news: oups.com...

> Yesterday, I posted a message about a friend who recently purchased a
> laptop, but I looked throuhg the messages (oh, about three pages) and
> I couldn't find the message; I am assuming that this group, therefore,
> has a lot of posting.

Yes I still see it down there.

> Would it be proper for someone to e-mail me directly?

Not really, this is a public group, for the benefit of all responses should
be public too IMO.

> Is this not
> within the protocol of this group, or even Google Groups? I am
> relatively new to Google Groups and very new to this group in
> particular.

I suggest using a proper NNTP client, like Windows Mail, Windows Live Mail,
or Outlook Express. These groups are carried on Microsoft's server at
msnews.microsoft.com, as well as numerous 3rd party servers.

> My real question was, essentially, based on the platform of Vista
> itself. If the computer was manufactured by Dell, would it still be
> possible for the laptop to be reformatted so that Windows XP can be
> placed on the laptop, instead of Vista.

Assuming the laptop has the required drivers for Windows XP - yes. Dell
will know for sure.

> Heck, I am not even sure what Vista is; I am just glad I don't have
> it. I have heard nothing but bad press about it. Can anyone tell me
> about this platform, from where it generated, and if this is a MS
> program, or a program that was developed, for example, by Dell?

Windows Vista is the successor to Windows XP. The bad press is the usual
stuff, go back and read the Windows XP newsgroups towards the end of 2001,
and 2002. Same old stuff, gets repeated every time.

I've been using Windows Vista since release on all of my machines, going
back to Windows XP feels like going back to the stone age.

My advice? Keep the machine with Windows Vista, it's the better operating
system, and it's going to replace Windows XP sooner or later either way.

--
Paul Smith,
Yeovil, UK.
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User.
http://www.dasmirnov.net/blog/
http://www.windowsresource.net/

*Remove nospam. to reply by e-mail*

Mea505 wrote:
> Hi All:
>
> Yesterday, I posted a message about a friend who recently purchased a
> laptop, but I looked throuhg the messages (oh, about three pages) and
> I couldn't find the message; I am assuming that this group, therefore,
> has a lot of posting.
>
> Would it be proper for someone to e-mail me directly? Is this not
> within the protocol of this group, or even Google Groups? I am
> relatively new to Google Groups and very new to this group in
> particular.
>
> My real question was, essentially, based on the platform of Vista
> itself. If the computer was manufactured by Dell, would it still be
> possible for the laptop to be reformatted so that Windows XP can be
> placed on the laptop, instead of Vista.

As far as finding your previous post, use Google Groups Advanced Search.
Search for your name, constrain the newsgroup to
microsoft.public.windows.vista.general (assuming this is where you
posted the original message), constrain the date, etc.

This is a Usenet newsgroup and posting using Google Groups is not the
best solution to using Usenet newsgroups. Here is information about
doing that:

About Usenet:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usenet
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/ - Usenet FAQs from the Internet FAQ Archives
http://www.cs.tut.fi/~jkorpela/usenet/dont.html - The Seven Don'ts of Usenet
http://www.cs.tut.fi/~jkorpela/usenet/index.html - further reading on
Usenet, including recommended reading for netiquette issues
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Usenet - a brief
explanation of newsgroups

How to Post:
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
http://aumha.org/nntp.htm - list of MS newsgroups
microsoft.public.test.here - MS group to test if your newsreader is
working properly
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/munad.htm - how to munge email address
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossposting - multiposting vs. crossposting
Replying/quoting properly when using GoogleGroups -
http://www.safalra.com/special/googlegroupsreply/
Also see "Google Groups and Netiquette" here - http://www.plainfaqs.org/

And no, it is unlikely that anyone will email you. You generally don't
want to post your unmunged email address on Usenet. See the link above
about munging.

To answer your question, your friend should contact Dell about
downgrading his/her machine to XP. Having drivers for XP for that
specific laptop is crucial and if Dell doesn't provide any putting XP on
the machine will be difficult, if not impossible. If no drivers are
available, your friend should return the laptop for one running XP.


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User