Five easy fixes to five common Vista problems
Vista has been out for just under two months and reports of bugs issues and exploits are pouring in. Personally, I have only experienced one of these issues but if you are using Vista you should be aware of them.
Users of AMD processors have noticed that they can’t install the Cool n’ Quiet drivers and there is a very good reason for that. Vista has a built-in Cool n’ Quiet driver, there is no need to install it. This same built-in driver works with Intel processors as well.
Here’s how to configure its settings, go to the Control Panel then System and go to Performance, select Adjust Power Settings, pick any plan in the list and click Change Plan Settings now go to Advanced Power Settings then look for Processor Power Management in the list, here you will be able to set the percentage of CPU resources to be used under the given power scheme, for instance set 100% across the board for gaming performance or between 1% and 50% to conserve battery life. You can also access Power Options by simply typing in “Power Options†in the Start menu search box.
For those who don’t know AMD Cool n’ Quiet sets CPU speed and voltage to go into low power states when its full processing might isn’t required. I don’t use AMD Cool n’ Quiet on my desktop, it serves no purpose as I’m always doing some high-end multi-media stuff, it does help conserve laptop battery life and in my opinion is the only legitimate use.
That being said, this same process also applies to Intel processors as both mobile AMD processors and Intel processors support the same mobile power options.
Vista has a problem with its VPN system. Even if you were able to connect to a VPN in Windows XP, after you upgraded to Vista or even clean installed Vista you might not be able to connect to the VPN. It’s not your fault, it is a problem in Vista itself, and Microsoft has released an update to address the problem. Windows Update should have installed it or if you do manual updates, it is available from Microsoft. That’s about all you can do, if it still doesn’t work, contact your IT department and ask them for help.
I think I can speak for everyone when one of the first things you do after install Windows is to download and install Adobe Reader. But wait… Vista doesn’t like Reader, especially if you have turned off UAC. That UAC prompt is essential to getting Reader installed, if you have UAC turned off, the installer will fail.
There are only two options to get past this, turn UAC back on, redownload and reinstall Reader and then if it is your preference to have UAC off, feel free to turn it off again. The other option is to install Reader using XP Compatibility Mode, right click the Reader Installer, select Properties, go to the Compatibility Tab, check the box and select the operating system, in this case, Windows XP SP2, now launch the installer.
The other thing Vista doesn’t like besides Adobe Reader and VPNs is none other than Firewire. Personally, I don’t like Firewire, it’s no better than USB 2.0 and is far less standard, even Apple has given up on Firewire so what’s the point. A few rare and expensive camcorders do indeed have Firewire ports, if you are unfortunate enough to have purchased one you have my sympathies.
If you have put your Vista PC into sleep or hibernate mode with a Firewire device attached you probably got the “DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE†error. Wow, that’s intuitive. Well, whatever, Microsoft has an update for that too. My advice is to just not use Firewire devices any more and buy stuff that supports USB 2.0.
Yes, my laptop and desktop both have Firewire ports but I don’t use them, in fact I found them so useless I don’t want them sapping power so on both my desktop and laptop, I have them disabled in Device Manager, it added about 8 more minutes to my laptop’s battery life, I’d rather have the 8 extra minutes.
Lastly, here is a problem that affects at least 85% of the people on the planet. We all know about iTunes 7.1 and we also know about all the problems iPods have had under Vista, from crashing iTunes to corrupting their files, problems never seemed to end. It probably wouldn’t have occurred to anyone that the issue lies with the way Vista “safely removes†the iPod from the system. That’s right using the “safely remove†hardware feature of Vista or from within iTunes will lead to nothing but disaster for your iPod and the fix couldn’t be simpler… simply unplug the iPod without using the “safely remove†hardware feature from either Vista or iTunes, just don’t use it. Trust me, this works.
It would be easy to blame Vista for at least the iTunes/iPod problem but it’s safe to say that at least some of that responsibility lies with Apple. This is the problem I mentioned I have experienced at the begging of the post, however, it didn’t take me long to find the solution on my own, I rarely “safely remove†hardware anyway so it just seemed a natural step to try it with my iPod (the only device I ever used it with).
Just follow all of these tips and you will have found your way to a better computing experience with Vista. If you didn’t find the answer you needed here, I’m sure you will be able to find it at PC Magazine.
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March 25th, 2007
Hello
I have a Mac and I am personally offended about what you have printed here on this page, where in the world did you hear, or even conceive of the thought that Apple is giving up on Firewire!?. The new imac has 2 of the little things, and so I dont understand your statement “The other thing Vista doesn’t like besides Adobe Reader and VPNs is none other than Firewire. Personally, I don’t like Firewire, it’s no better than USB 2.0 and is far less standard, even Apple has given up on Firewire so what’s the point.” USB 2.0 can NOT even begin to move Data at the download speed from most External any thing and has a problem with PAP, Data that is corrupted, Firwire 2 is also included on the Pro models as well, and that Sir makes USB 2,0 a No no to go go, and is proving that Firewire is perfection and that Firewire Can and is still doing a Better Job than the best thing that Windowz has to offer.
AND AS FAR AS this whole subject go’s! this is what you windows people Get for thinking you can even come close to what MAC OS 10.3 and Higher is.
if you want to do what a Mac will do, in the dark, Under water, in your sleep!. then give Up on your P,O,S. and get A MAC!. there is a saying, A fool and his money are soon parted!. any Person who believes windows is any thing other than a Badly conceived, poorly manufactured, and overly Pumped up Peace Of Trash, has a whole 5 years of Collage to go back and repeat! and Maybe you should fallow that advice as well?. Check your options and your words well be fore you speak about something you dont seem to know very well about before you put your foot in your mouth and get a Bad case of Athletes tongue, for the rest of your Windoze followers have fun dodging the next 2 years of Crazy Windowz B,S.
March 25th, 2007
I never said I thought Windows was better. Just like Mac OSX is no better than Windows. A secure installation of Windows is just as secure as default installation of OSX. For a time, Apple did not offer Firewire on some of their products.
I did not say Firewire was slower, in fact, I never even mentioned its speed. I wish people would stop implying things, it’s really quite annoying. I said, it’s no better than USB 2.0 and USB 2.0 is more standard, do you see anything about speed in there, I sure don’t.
There is one line, ONE line of flash drives that are capable of using Firewire. Okay, you can get external firewire hard drives and camcorders make use of Firewire. Name something else. I dare anyone to name something else that uses Firewire.
In fact, I don’t own a single device that uses Firewire, I’d still rather have the extra 8 minutes of battery life. Oh yeah, we have never said Windows was better than OSX, ever.
Yeah, I’d like a Mac, if the Mac I wanted didn’t cost right around $2,300. A Mini won’t do (slower processors, no dedicated graphics card), a MacBook won’t do, no dedicated graphics card and seeing as how I’d rather have a Mac laptop that leaves me with the MacBook Pro, the one I want at $2,300… maybe some day but not some day soon.
March 25th, 2007
Holy Mac fanboy! They’re rabid like Linux fanboys, but the delusions of grandeur make them even crazier.
March 27th, 2007
I guess I had better ‘fess up first off and admit that I am a long-term Mac user. I think a computing world of diversity and competition is a general good. I do not like Microsoft because it opposes that broad values approach. Anyway, out of curiousity I thought I would check out what was happening to Vista.
The news so far is not that good is it? In my travels I came across the item above. Mr Schlaffer’s approach to Vista’s problems is rather like a sea cruise entertainment co-ordinator telling the passengers to ignore the typhoon and concentrate on shopping for umbrellas at the ship’s store. All cheery in the face of what appears to be a product that is years late, offering capabilities are not new in the non-MS world, and manifestly clunky as a result of MS’ homage to Hollywood and disdain for the paying customer. As the old Whitechapel tailor used to say, “Never mind the quality, feel the width”.
I mean, in what other OS world would the news that this or that does not work, files cannot be deleted, files slow to move, and so on, be met with the idiot chinless wonder enthusiasm displayed here with the MS flagship!? Thats right folks, the right way to do it is not to use the “safe remove” function, it is so counter-intuitive that it truly must be the way to do it.
And lets not forget poor old iTunes. iTunes was there long before Vista, or at least it was there long before it shipped though perhaps not as long as MS has been piddling about trying to design a new OS. Point is that it makes sense that MS at some point should have been trying to make Vista compatible with iTunes rather than the usual MS strategies of misinformation, misdirection and refusal to allow that widespread non-MS technologies have a role to play in a Windows world. Given Apple’s experiences with MS and MS’ record in handling technologies it did not invent and cannot control, why should Vista’s problems with iTunes be Apple’s?
Vista’s problems are very real and disappointing. They are best dealt with by customers who are willing to bang on Microsoft’s door and say, “enough, this is bad and its your fault, right the wrong or give us our money back (and keep producing XP, do not end of life it!)”. These Vista problems will not be fixed by an inanely cheerful five ways fix a total cock-up and have a great Windows expereince approach.
Where is the outrage Mr Schlaffer, where you have to navigate a pathless OS universe and come up with fixes in an ad hoc total guesswork kind of way, turning things on and off just to load a program or get the program to work at all; do not use the safely remove feature that is almost an industry standard because it might totally screw your files altogether? Come on, lets have some outrage at such an outrageous situation.
Anyway, while you are plugging away at trying to make the Vista’s experience really actually work for you, I suspect most of your colleagues in the Windows world are loyally and sensibly sticking to XP. Me? Well, as I mentioned I have always been a Mac type so on so many levels it does not affect me one whit. I hope Vista does not distort the internet, my communications with Windows users, make DRM any stronger or otherwise negatively afffect my computing experience. I really am for a diverse multi-OS world, its the only way we might be able to keep MS halfway honest.
March 27th, 2007
As a matter of interest, are you guys taking the Microsoft dollar in any way?
March 27th, 2007
Alick, no, we don’t make dime one from Microsoft. As to the other points, yes, Vista does have its problems, no one is trying to deny that, I was just trying to help those that do have Vista with these various issues. You’re right, “don’t use add/remove” is counterintuitive but it works.
I honestly don’t know if Vista’s problems with iTunes and the iPod is within Vista itself or within iTunes. Whatever the case Apple won’t fix it because iTunes runs so much better and smoother on OSX, Microsoft won’t fix it because that would mean admitting a fault in the first place though they might sneak it in with Vista SP1 due before the end of the year.
The only reason I got Vista, the only functional reason I personally got Vista was for DirectX 10 so I can play the latest games in full graphically glory, I’d rather be prepared for them early than attempting to prepare for them just as they are releasing.
March 27th, 2007
Jonathan, Thanks for the civil reply. I do feel uneasy at a gut level since a sick puppy OS like Vista is not good for computing generally. it also seems par for the course for MS. Maybe they need forty years in the wilderness and a near death experience like Mac had a while back. Still, I stand by my first comment I think: send it back and demand to talk to the Chef, the Manager and anyone else responsible for what is something that does not meet the laugh test. As to games, I make do with a 12″ Macbook G4, 1.25Mhz, located in China using the “foreign” internet (i.e. it ports to the outside world) and it is slow and stupid. Anyway, WoW rocks on with only minor irritations.
March 27th, 2007
Well, call me an early adopter. Your statement is true, Vista is not yet ready for general computing. Those looking for new computers probably won’t have a choice though and those still using XP, keep using XP until at least SP1 comes out (unless you really really want a new computer). You can always install Vista and XP for a dual boot situation as well.
I’m pretty sure I’ll be one of the first with SP1 (and I’ll do my best to get a beta) so I can let everyone know if it’s better, worse or didn’t really fix anything at all. Stay tuned.
March 27th, 2007
[...] Even though this site is about Vista, I think everyone on the planet has to tip their hats to OSX which is not only beautiful but blends beauty with functionality. Vista is beautiful but it’s functionality is somewhat lacking, here’s hoping Vista SP1 fixes at least some of those issues. [...]
March 29th, 2007
[...] Earlier this week, we reported that Vista was not necessarily compatible with iPods but that’s not the whole truth. The truth is Vista doesn’t like other digital audio devices. Users of Samsung, Cowon and iRiver digital players have discovered those players are not working correctly on Vista either. All these problems boil down to a single issue within Vista. [...]
March 29th, 2007
The link you gave in your article for the VPN didn’t work for me. Any other suggestions? Do you have to be hard-lined in, or does it work w/ wireless too?
March 30th, 2007
Well, I’m on wireless and it’s working for me. You can find the update manually by searching for Vista Update KB930163 in a search engine of your preference.
August 18th, 2007
I have a problem in vista. When i am making postscript file by FreeHand it says read or write access has been denied.
September 13th, 2007
Man you suck! so just trush all firewire gadgets, that’s your advise? Is that what you recommend? Firewire is so much better than USB in so many ways. Specially for external digital audio systems (e.g. my $400 Focusrite). Those things with USB just DON’T WORK, they put the processor to a crawl.
September 20th, 2007
Wow, three months after Vista release, and the mac kiddies are at full swing…
I still to this day, being that I am old enough to have used a TRS-80 Level One, do not understand the mac is better crowd? One thing I will agree with, is that a mac is better at keeping the user dumb. I mean, look at all of the possibilities you have with a windows base system, vs. a mac. Yes I know that Jobs has intel processor now, and you can boot strap to windows, and yada yada.
I have been using Vista Ultimate 32 & 64, and have found it as stable if not more than WinXp release… I have been very suprised at how well Vista 64 is able to run ALL of my old programs, with out problems. Some even run better!
Yes, I had ONE printer, HP 855Cse is not compatible with 64bit, but runs just fine with 32. I knew when I built the two machines, there was a good chance that my printer, scanners, and etc would have problems. The only reason I have the HP printer, is because someone gave it to me, and it came with a bunch of ink. When the ink is gone, I will place it in the same place I but the only iMac I will ever own, in the trash-ola…
The reason mac is as successful as it has been is simple! MARKETING
September 20th, 2007
Wow, three months after Vista release, and the mac kiddies are at full swing…
I still to this day, being that I am old enough to have used a TRS-80 Level One, do not understand the mac is better crowd? One thing I will agree with, is that a mac is better at keeping the user dumb. I mean, look at all of the possibilities you have with a windows base system, vs. a mac. Yes I know that Jobs has intel processor now, and you can boot strap to windows, and yada yada.
I have been using Vista Ultimate 32 & 64, and have found it as stable if not more than WinXp release… I have been very suprised at how well Vista 64 is able to run ALL of my old programs, with out problems. Some even run better!
Yes, I had ONE printer, HP 855Cse is not compatible with 64bit, but runs just fine with 32. I knew when I built the two machines, there was a good chance that my printer, scanners, and etc would have problems. The only reason I have the HP printer, is because someone gave it to me, and it came with a bunch of ink. When the ink is gone, I will place it in the same place I but the only iMac I will ever own, in the trash-ola…
The reason mac is as successful as it has been is simple! MARKETING
Steve Jobs understands better than most how important it is to have your product in ever movie, commercial, etc. Also, he knows: looks sell. He told this to me about 15years ago in Vegas…
The iPod is nothing more than a fancy Mp3 player, that he designed to be pretty… Creative was making the way before apple, and I feel is a much better product at one third the price…
So, if you want to be pretty, the apple is for your. If you want variety, then windows is the way for me…
jimmyjoe
September 20th, 2007
PS: What is firewire? just kidding. Just never had a need for it, and frankly do not think I ever will…
February 15th, 2008
Print Digital Photos…
Digital photographs are priceless in that they store our memories while retaining the vivid color and quality we originally snapped the shot in. However, one problem many of us face is the lack of any tangible pictures for our photo albums or scrapbook…
May 17th, 2008
[...] … As to the other points, yes, vista does have its problems, no one is trying to deny that, …http://vista.blorge.com/2007/03/23/five-easy-fixes-to-five-common-vista-problems/Apple MacBook Air User Review – NotebookReview.comI still use XP and vista sometimes, but my OS of [...]
June 27th, 2008
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