• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

I just want my stuff to work - Which OS should I switch to?

M

MeddyDuo

Senior member
I have Vista RC1 x64 right now, and nothing is working. Quake 4 won't play, FRAPS won't record audio from my games, I can't install my sound card, I can't install my video capture card, and there's probably other stuff I'm forgetting.

What I want to do:
Play games
Record games
Work on my websites
Edit videos for my website

That's basically it, so should I switch back to XP, or should I try Linux? (I know nothing about Linux)
 
Use XP.

Linux is about finding better ways to get stuff done. But it rarely does everything you want right away.

XP is good at getting stuff to 'just work', but in a inflexible and rather brittle manner.

Plus unless you want to play games like Torcs, Nexuiz, Quake4, Tremulous, Xmoto, and a few others">http://www.happypenguin.org/</a> then your better off running XP. Big corporate commercial gaming support for Linux is almost non-existant.
 
Originally posted by: Sunner
Originally posted by: StopSign
If XP doesn't work, nothing will...
Click to expand...

While Windows is certainly the better choice in this case, that's a rather stupid statement.
Click to expand...

Hmm, I think what he meant was WinXP is a consumer-oriented system that an intermediate-level user can use without busting their brain. (Beginners can and will screw up anything they can get their hands on)

I recommend XP. Leave Automatic Updates on, don't open e-mail attachments from strangers and don't go surfing shady cracks/warez/free-pr0n sites and you will never see a virus or malware.

BTW, I think your Vista issues have more to do with the 'x64' edition than Vista itself. Lot of people have great things to say about the 32-bit x86 Vista Edition...and these people agree x64 is premature.

You can install x86 and x64 from the same install disc, right? I say give the 32-bit version a chance. Pretty soon (soon is a relative word), everyone will be moving to Vista and you might as well get used to the shift.
 
Originally posted by: MeddyDuo
I have Vista RC1 x64 right now, and nothing is working. Quake 4 won't play, FRAPS won't record audio from my games, I can't install my sound card, I can't install my video capture card, and there's probably other stuff I'm forgetting.

What I want to do:
Play games
Record games
Work on my websites
Edit videos for my website

That's basically it, so should I switch back to XP, or should I try Linux? (I know nothing about Linux)
Click to expand...
As soon as you said, 'Play games', the question was answered. WinXP
 
Well for games, I heard about WINE so I figured I could play them on Linux..

theprodigalrebel - I know everyone will be moving to Vista, that's why I was trying to stick it out until the 30th. But I can't install the 32-bit version because I downloaded the file instead of getting the DVD (which I still think only comes with either 32 or 64 bit version, not both).

My website is my job right now, so I need to be able to make these videos for it.

Oh, and I hate automatic updates. They always seem to download when I am playing a game, causing me to lag like crazy. I always turn them off.
 
Use XP. It has been around for 6 years now and most of the bugs have been ironed out.

If you want to use vista and have everything work use the 32bit version. Almost everything works in my experience.
 
Stick with XP.

I'm surprised Quake4 won't work for you, but you are using RC1. Maybe wait for Vista RTMand get a copy and try it for a few days (you can warez it i'm sure, just probably won't be able to activate it, but it'll still give you a good idea on whether it'll work with your stuff).

You can set Automatic Update to download at certain times (in XP, go into Control Panel > Automatic Updates, and set when you want it to download).

I definitely would not try Linux if i were you. You're going to be sooo confused, and it looks to me like you want things to work, and not play around with things. Stick with XP for now, and maybe try out Vista when you get a RTM copy... or wait 6 months when it's really supported and you can find a good deal somewhere.
 
Originally posted by: Smilin
Vista x86. Drivers for 64 are still wanting.

Quake 4 runs great.
Click to expand...

I've run x64 for almost two months now and no problems. Only drivers that will suck it on x64 will be older hardware. For instance finding a driver for one of my printers from Canon is hopeless.
 
Originally posted by: MeddyDuo
Well for games, I heard about WINE so I figured I could play them on Linux..
Click to expand...

For Windows-only games you can use Cedega.

There are lots of games aviable for Linux natively, but it's not like you can go down to walmart and buy any game and expect it to work.

theprodigalrebel - I know everyone will be moving to Vista, that's why I was trying to stick it out until the 30th. But I can't install the 32-bit version because I downloaded the file instead of getting the DVD (which I still think only comes with either 32 or 64 bit version, not both).
Click to expand...

Very very few people are going to upgrade to vista when they already have XP installed on their machine, aside from geeks and such.
 
Hmm, I think what he meant was WinXP is a consumer-oriented system that an intermediate-level user can use without busting their brain. (Beginners can and will screw up anything they can get their hands on)
Click to expand...

An intermediate-level Windows-user you mean, in other words the user has to learn how to use the system no matter which is chosen.

Oh, and I hate automatic updates. They always seem to download when I am playing a game, causing me to lag like crazy. I always turn them off.
Click to expand...

I think you can tell it when to check for updates and the default is 3AM, so if you're regularly playing games at 3AM move it to 5AM or something.
 
If you just want things to work, then definitely xp. While some games (including Quake IV I believe) will play natively in linux, things don't "just work" in linux. While most things can be made to work and it is extremely flexible, even getting your monitor to display the right resolution can be tricky. The linux forums are filled with unanswered posts about getting sound cards, video capture cards, and about every other piece of hardware to work. Wine works nicely with some things, and with others that people with similar hardware and distro had no problems with, it just gives errors. While people who are willing to put in the time can usually get everything resolved and are then left with a wonderful, flexible, stable os, reaching that point is difficult.
 
I think you can tell it when to check for updates and the default is 3AM, so if you're regularly playing games at 3AM move it to 5AM or something.
Click to expand...
That is the time when the updates get installed. There isn't a way to control when they get downloaded AFAIK, but you shouldn't notice that at all. It just a (usually) small download happening in the background, using BITS.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top