Some issues I discovered while using SP1:

• Vista SP1 recognized my total 4GB of Ram . Before without SP1, only around 3.25GB of my RAM was recognized.  The question with this can we be sure that now all 4GB is used by Vista ?
• After running my PC for 2 - 3 days, my 2 processors are running at 100% and the only way to stop this is restarting the PC.

The only new software installed is Vista SP1, so no other software is installed the last months.

I also upgraded my media center.  After the upgrade I lost the digital output for my sound (output going through the optical cable connection to my home cinema set).  After contacting Acer and installing the latest driver they have the problem still exists. After looking at the website of the audio vendor, it seems that they just had released (half of June 2008) a new version of their driver.  As this was a newer version, I installed this driver.  And guess what now I got my digital output back.  So it seems that there are issues with SP1, where drivers don't work correctly anymore.  This is something that shouldn't be happen.

Just a little quick tip.

In Vista MC, you still see a standard folder for your ripped DVD.  The same as in XP MC.  If you want to have the DVD cover instead which is nice when browsing through your DVD collection, you can solve this easy.

Scan (or search the net) for your DVD cover, put the image in your folder and rename it to "folder.jpg".  If you now go to the "DVD Library" you will see that all your DVD titles now contains the cover image for browsing.

I you, like me, rip your DVD's (in DVD format, no MPeg decoding)on your Vista MediaCenter (which is very handy), you will see that you can't play them anymore.  In XP MediaCenter it was no problem.

When you go to your Video Library, and you add the disk where MC has to watch, you will see your titles.  Clicking on the title will normally starts playing your video (this was the situation in the XP MC).  Now it opens the map and shows you the AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS folder.  Clicking on the VIDEO_TS folder just opens this directory. And here you got following message

Luckily, I found a way to fix it.  But you have to hack the registry .  So doing this is at your own responsibility and be sure you always make a backup of your registry.  It's the definition on how the Vista MC will handle your DVD's.  By default it will only handles the DVD you insert in your player.

Ok, what to do, just follow the next steps :

1. Be sure that Vista MC is closed
2. Open the registry with regedit
3. Next navigate to following key : HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\DvdSettings
4. You will see that the value of ShowGallery is "Play".
5. Double click on this value
6. Change it to "Gallery"
7. Exit regedit
8. Start Vista MC again (or close it first if it's still open)

Now you will see that the "Play DVD" option is gone, but instead you have another option "dvd library". 

Now you can open the library, choose the option "Add movies" and follow the wizard which will ask you for the location of your movies.  Then click "add watch" for that folder.  If the scan is done by Vista MC, you will see all your titles under the "dvd library".  Just click on the title and it will start playing.

And if you want to play a normal DVD, you just can insert it in your player and the Vista MC will start playing this DVD.

Just one thing.  You don't see directories which containing AVI or WMV files.  As these are not recognized as DVD files under the dvd library.  But of you go to the section "Pictures and Videos", you can browse to them.  If these movies are mixed in the same root as your ripped DVD files, you also will see your DVD movies, but can't play them from here.  So best is to have a separate root if you also have other formats as DVD rips.

When you use VPC under Vista and you have 2GB on memory and the VPC needs a lot of memory the best you can do is to use the performance boost.

To setup this follow the next steps :

• Go to the control pannel
• Choose for Performance Information and tools
• Choose here Adjust visual effects
• Choose "Adjust for best performance"
• Next thing you can do best is to exit the sidebar

In this artcle we describe 3 registry hacks for Vista. The first one is to make accounts invisible on the logon screen. The second one describes how to make a better view on the map-window in explorer. And the third will give your PC a performance boost by keeping your most important system resource in RAM instead of the Virtual memory on hard disk.

Strange Error : Hotfix

First.  I bought a new portable HD and I want to copie the data of the old HD to the new HD.  After a while I got the error "Out of memory.  There is nor enough memory to complete this action".  Although I have 4 GB (of which with 32 bit system only 3.4 GB is known and no other programs are running.  I still had more than 2 GB free of memory.  So this was strange.

After searching the net for it I came to this article : "Vista Problem ? Fill Out This Form" on "The Information Week blog" written by David Dejean. It seems that there's a hotfix for this problem, but you have to ask !!!!! Microsoft for the hotfix by using this link.  After filling in the form you are indicated that someone will contact you within 8 business hours.  So I'm patiently waiting now for the answer and the link to the hotfix.

Luckely I don't have to wait that long as there's a site called "The Hotfix share".  All the Microsoft hotfixes are located here.  SO if you know the number you can search for it and download the hotfix directly.  Well in my case the hotfix number is 942435.  This is the direct link to it where you can download the hotfix.  You must be registered.  After installing it, it seems that the problem is solved.

Update : after one and a hlaf hour I already got the response back from Microsoft.  I received an e-mail with a download link to the hotfix and a password to extract it.  So this was very quickly and it's the same file as on "The Hotfix Share" site.  Also warning was placed in the e-mail :

WARNING: This fix is not publicly available through the Microsoft website as it has not gone through full Microsoft regression testing.  If you would like confirmation that this fix is designed to address your specific problem, or if you would like to confirm whether there are any special compatibility or installation issues associated with this fix, you are encouraged to speak to a Support Professional in Product Support Services.

Upgrade XP Mediacenter to Vista Mediacenter

As second, at home I have an Acer iDea500 XP Mediacenter.  I have upgraded it to the Vista Mediacenter.  Luckely Acer has a full guide on their site.  Also they have two zip files you can download.  After unzipping these zipfiles to a certain location, you can start their wizard.  This wizard will first upgrade your drivers.  Be sure to read all the text, because you can't reboot during the installation, but have to wait till hte wizard mentions that you can reboot.  After this step, the wizard tells you that you can insert your Vista DVD.  Be sure to take the upgrade step.  After the upgrade to Vista, the wizard starts again and will upgrade all the software that Acer provides.  After this step my Mediacenter was smoothly upgraded to Vista Mediacenter.  This is a nice service of Acer.

The only problem I have is with my wireless netwerk.  As my wireless network is invissible it seems that my Vista Mediacenter can't find it anymore, even after filling in all the correct parameters for my network.  This while my Laptop with Vista has no problem to find it.  So for the moment I have set the broadcast of my SSID back to visible and now my Vista Mediacenter can find it.  Also normally after once the Vista have found the network it will be no problem anymore.  So I set the broadcast back to invissible.  Again no network can be found by the Mediacenter and my laptop still can find it.  Have to look what the problem here is.

It seems that the security in Vista not always works correct.  I want to delete a directory and I got the message that I need to have the correct permissions.

Although I have given everyone full permissions on this directory.

After rebooting, I can delete the directory.

As I stated in this article, I have troubles with synchronizing my IPaq with Outlook.

Now with my new GSM, I still had the trouble.  But after repairing Office 2007, the problem was solved with my new GSM. 

And strangely also with my IPaq.  Although I did already repair Office, even uninstall and install Ofiice 2007 again.  Before the problem still exists. (BTW : txs to Seb also for his sharing his solutions with me).

So I'm happy now and can sync again my calenders (which where a big mess the last weeks).

 

It's been a while, but finally I had some time for a new post.

In my post "Vista #7: Software part 4", I mentioned the problem I had with installing SP1 for VS 2005.  A few weeks later, the SP1 came with the windows update and installs correctly.  After the installation I also installed the SP1 Patch for Vista.

Finally my VS2005 is up and running.  But when starting VS2005, I always got following message

When pressing the continue, VS 2005 starts up.  After a few quick checks it seems that VS2005 runs normally without any problem.  Trying to disable this warning, I set off the UAC, change the startup of VS2005 with admin rights, but nothing seems to help. 

My guess is that it's just a warning to be sure that you have enough rights for using VS2005.

If you have a Creative Soundblaster X-Fi, you will be happy to know that they have released a new version (2.13.0012) of their drivers for Vista.  Finally gone out of beta.  Download the driver here.

I just have installed them and I must say the sound is better now.

The first troubles with Vista are comming up.

I had installed the Windows Mobile Device Center.  I have succesfully connected to my PDA and have succesfully synchronized with my PC and Outlook 2007.

Since today I got following error when connecting my PDA with my PC :

This is strange as Outlook is installed.  Have to find a solution for this.

It seems that there's a problem with installing SP1 for Visual Studio 2005.  After a first try of almost 5 hours the installation file was still extracting and even not halfway.  I redownloaded the SP, and try again.  After almost 24 hours, the same result.

When trying to instal SP1 for Vista it says that I'm missing the correct patch.

Have to look why ? But it's strange.

For my work, I use remote desktop a lot.  Now there's a gadget for it.  Frameworkx has released this gadget.  You can download it here : http://www.frameworkx.com/frameworkx/download.aspx?id=294.  The latest version is 1.5.

Part 3 of software which I'm installing on my Vista Machine. This list contains the version I have and if they work or if you need a patch or a later version. Also problems during the installation are mentioned.

Part 2 of software which I'm installing on my Vista Machine. This list contains the version I have and if they work or if you need a patch or a later version. Also problems during the installation are mentioned.

Since yesterday I'm busy with installing the first software on my Vista machine.  I will list up what's working and what's not working.

First about the hardware :

1. Printer : HP Officejet 7310.  Although on the site of HP they stated that it will only work with basic functionality, my printer works fine.  I only have to test the scan functionality.
2. Scanner : HP Sscanjet 4070 : I haven't installed this one.  HP stated that there's no driver at this moment.  I'm just going to try.
3. Freecom FSG-3 storage drive : See this post on my blog.
4. Fingerprint reader keyboard : The latest drivers of Microsoft gives a fully working keyboard except for the fingerprint reading function.  The software for this will be availlable somewhere April - May this year.
5. Microsoft Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer : With the latest drivers of Microsoft the mouse has a full functionality.
6. IPAQ 2210 in craddle for synchronization : Use the synchronization center of Microsoft.

Next what about software :

1. Office 2007 : No problems
2. Kaspersky Antivirus : You need to download their latest version (at least version 6.0.2.614) which is Vista ready.  All previous versions won't install.
3. ACDSee Pro V9 : It installs but gives an error about a DLL that's missing under Vista.  Somewhere in March a patch will be availlable
4. 2Go Favorite Sync tool : It installs and works fine, but you have to setup following conditions :
   1. Compatibility Mode to run : Windows XP SP2
   2. Run as administrator

The next days I will update this list with my experiences.

At this moment I have a few problems that need to be solved :

1. When running a program from my Freecom FSG-3 storage drive, I got the message that I don't have the rights for running a program from a network location.
2. 2Go Sync tool, doesn't startup when booting the PC, because Vista doesn't trust this program.  I can run it from the message window that Vista shows me.  Then I got the question if I trust the program.  So in some place I need to setup that this program always can be seen as a trusted program.

Update : If you want to check if a program is compatible in Vista, checkout this site : Windows Vista RTM Software Compatibility List

After playing around this weekend with Vista, this is my second post about it. First of all, If you want to have the 3D look when tabbing between programs, you must have installed the Aero theme (which is by default enabled). Then Don't use the ALT-TAB key combination. This give you the old fashioned way of tabbing, but with screen preview (like the powertoy under Windows XP). Use WINDOWSKEY-TAB to use the 3D tabbing. Next something about dreamscene under Vista Ultimate...

After setting up my new machine I came to the first problem.  This is the situation :

I have a Freecom FSG-3 storage Drive (500GB).  I can connect to it through the admin page, but when I want to add it through a share, I can't login.

After searching to the problem I came to following solution (at your own risk):

1. Open mmc
2. Add snap-in : "Group Policy Object Editor"
3. You'll get a message pop up asking you to confirm what object you want to edit - local computer is in by default and this is correct so just click on Finish and then on OK
4. use the tree to navigate to Console Root\Local Computer Policy\Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options (phew!)
5. Changes following policies :
   1. Microsoft network client: Send unencrypted password to third-party SMB servers - set this to Enabled
   2. Network security: LAN Manager authentication level - set this to Send LM & NTLM - use NTLMv2 session security if negotiated
6. Restart your PC
7. Now you can login to the shared drives
8. Done!!

From what I understand is that the problem is with Samba which is the program the FSG would most likely be running to make it visible/accessible to windows.  The problem would be fixed in firmware 4.x, which will be relaesed ???.

I just got my new computer.  This is the configuration :

• Chieftec big tower case BX-02B-B-B
• PSU 550W Coolmaster
• Intel DG965WHMKR mainboard
• Intel E6600 Core2Duo CPU
• 4GB DDR 800 Mhz Kingston Ram
• WD250GB Sata2 HD
• WD120GB HD
• Cardreader
• DVD+/-RW AD7170 A Nec
• Asus EN7600GS Silent 512Mb Videocart
• X-Fi Xtreme Music Soundblaster

Pictures of my machine will follow.

I can only say that it runs smoothly with Vista.

Installed is Dual boot :

• Vista Ultimate
• Xp Pro

This is my score from Vista :

After this PC is fully blown into Vista, I will upgrade my Mediacentre, which is an Acer Aspire IDea500.