TIPS N' TRICKS: Vista SP2 Upgrade on Notebook

[VinDSL]

Greets from Arizona! I haven't posted in this forum in ages!

I wanted to let you guys know what happened the other night - when I upgraded my Vista lappy to SP2.

A little background...

I bought a Toshiba A215-4807 (Circuit City) in the spring of 2007. Since then, I have constantly tweaked it. As it stands:

• Toshiba A215-4807
• 4GB RAM / 4GB ReadyBoost
• Hitachi Travelstar 7K320 320GB 7200rpm 2.5" HD
• Multi-booted: Linux Mint x64 / Vista HP SP2 / 7b (recently uninstalled)

While I was wiping 7b from my drive, a couple of nights ago, I realized Vista SP2 has been released... sooo, I downloaded the standalone 5-language version and installed it.

After installing SP2 (took 20 minutes, minus D/L time) Windows Experience Index said it discovered new hardware, and had to be updated in Vista.

LoL!

Everything was the same, expect for my Primary Hard Disk rating - which went from '4.8' to '5.8'.

Originally posted on MS TechNet
In addition to all previously released updates since SP1, SP2 supports new types of hardware, and adds support for several emerging standards.

Whoa! Hello?!?!? 21% increase...

Of all the things I've done, the last 26 months, SP2 gave the biggest shot in the arm to Vista.

If you haven't done so already, I highly recommend upgrading YOUR Vista lappy to SP2! :thumbsup:

I'd be interesting to hear about your experience(s) with SP2 too...

Linkage: http://technet.microsoft.com/e.../windows/dd262148.aspx (TechNet - Service Pack 2 for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista)

 

[xSauronx]

so are you saying it actually performs better, or just that the index went up?

 

[coolVariable]

who cares about that index?
I haven't run it on any machine after the first time.

 

[Parasitic]

Is it actually faster? If not then the increases in indices mean nothing.

 

[Rottie]

Windows Experience Index sucks big time do you want to know why? Billy Gates forces you to upgrade everything to make him and Microsoft happy.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: Parasitic
Is it actually faster?

Hell, I dunno... I just keep it on there for nostalgia. I don't use it!

I boot into Linux Mint x64 99.9% of the time - runs circles around Vista.

Glad to hear you guys think Windows sucks though! LoL!

Just saying...

 

[Parasitic]

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: Parasitic
Is it actually faster?

Hell, I dunno... I just keep it on there for nostalgia. I don't use it!

I boot into Linux Mint x64 99.9% of the time - runs circles around Vista.

Glad to hear you guys think Windows sucks though! LoL!

Just saying...

I don't think Windows sucks, I just think meaningless increases in numbers are pointless.

 

[corkyg]

I updated my lappy and a desktop Vista systems with SP2. Basically, a non-event, but it does seem to load faster. I don't pay much attention to indices of experience, etc. What counts is how the apps run, and with SP2, they run just fine.

Where is Cow Springs, AZ? OK - got it - up in the 4 corners area.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: Parasitic
I don't think Windows sucks, I just think meaningless increases in numbers are pointless.

Huh?

WinSAT extrapolates "pointless/meaningless" numbers and converts them into a cogent index (WEI).

I don't know why MS used a 1-6 scale, but level 6.0 is the current max. Maybe they should have used 1-10...

Installing SP2 increased the bandwidth of my TravelStar HD to MVP status.

LoL! How can a 21% increase in disk bandwidth (to 5.8) be considered "meaningless"?

I think you're envious and/or don't understand how WinSAT/WEI works...

Are you a Vista user?!?!?

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: corkyg
I updated my lappy and a desktop Vista systems with SP2. Basically, a non-event, but it does seem to load faster...

Exactly!

Ppl don't get excited over a "non-event"...

If you don't mind me quoting myself, here are my comments in OS:

Originally posted by: VinDSL
Not bad - 20 minute(s) upgrade - mostly unremarkable, except...

It did NOT install IE8. Whew!

There was a LOT of ReadyBoost disk activity during Stage 1 & 2. Weird!

And...

I run the 'No GUI Boot' screen option on Vista.

I would swear the graphic was fullscreen when it booted at Stage 3, not 640x480 or whatever it normally is. That's always been a pisser for me...

I'll pay closer attention on the next boot.

EDIT: Yep! Just rebooted 3 times and it's definitely 1280x1024 (full screen) now. Hallelujah!

 

[Parasitic]

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: Parasitic
I don't think Windows sucks, I just think meaningless increases in numbers are pointless.

Huh?

WinSAT extrapolates "pointless/meaningless" numbers and converts them into a cogent index (WEI).

I don't know why MS used a 1-6 scale, but level 6.0 is the current max. Maybe they should have used 1-10...

Installing SP2 increased the bandwidth of my TravelStar HD to MVP status.

LoL! How can a 21% increase in disk bandwidth (to 5.8) be considered "meaningless"?

I think you're envious and/or don't understand how WinSAT/WEI works...

Are you a Vista user?!?!?

I run Vista x64 Business SP2 on my Macbook via Boot Camp, Vista x86 Ultimate SP2 RC1 on my Lenovo S10, and Vista Home Premium x86 SP1 on another desktop. When I upgraded the x64 installation from SP1 to SP2 I noticed no differences in operation, and my WEI didn't change for any of my components.

 

[firewolfsm]

Originally posted by: Rottie
Windows Experience Index sucks big time do you want to know why? Billy Gates forces you to upgrade everything to make him and Microsoft happy.

The experience index has actually helped the computer industry. It's a simple way for consumers to know that someone is selling them a POS computer. I'm sure it's helped spur sales and sped up development by a noticeable amount as well.

 

[coolVariable]

Originally posted by: Parasitic

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: Parasitic
Is it actually faster?

Hell, I dunno... I just keep it on there for nostalgia. I don't use it!

I boot into Linux Mint x64 99.9% of the time - runs circles around Vista.

Glad to hear you guys think Windows sucks though! LoL!

Just saying...

I don't think Windows sucks, I just think meaningless increases in numbers are pointless.

This.