Windows Vista and Windows XP Issues

Linda in NY · 06-09-2007, 11:13 AM

Please help,

Before I pull all my hair out !

Hubby just bought an Emachine with Windows Vista on it, (by the way I hate the Windows Vista !). I can't get the printer to work on it, it's not compatible but supposedly it's set to so it can find drivers and when I ran the installation disk, it said there was an error and installation can't complete, tried it 3 times.

I was going to put the printer on my computer and then network, but I can't even network them together.

Before the computers were networked with the printer on his computer, now no network, can't install the printer. and of course just bought a 70 dollar toner cartridge, opened and used.

***My question, if the computer has windows Vista on it, and we have the Windows XP disks, can I just install Window XP over the windows vista.***

Or is there going to be an issue of uninstalling the Vista system first and then installing the XP ?? I don't know if I have the knowledge and capacity to do that ? Is it going to be difficult to uninstall an operating system and putting the other on.

Or is there some type of way around the networking problem I have, its hardwired not wireless also.

I've looked at all the help issues etc and done what they've said, nothing works. His computer found mine, but cant do anything with it.

My computer doesnt even find his.

Oh my god, I cant take this ! Help !

Thanks,
Linda

Linda in NY · 06-09-2007, 01:33 PM

Update I got the printer to work on his computer finally.
Now I'm just having networking issues.
On his computer my computer is showing up, but its saying there is a DNS issue.

It says path not found, and no matter what I do I can't network.

And when I check in Control Panel under network stuff, under my network places, when I click that, then click on view group computers, it tells me I don't have access and to check with the server administrator.

Holy poop this is frustrating.

chicgeek · 06-09-2007, 04:13 PM

I so wish I could help, but I know not much about Vista things.

*massages your shoulders and fills you with water before sending you back into the ring*

Linda in NY · 06-09-2007, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicgeek

I so wish I could help, but I know not much about Vista things.

*massages your shoulders and fills you with water before sending you back into the ring*

I know one thing about Vista, I dont like the networking software in it ! I'm a computer dork, but when it was 2 XP OS I had no problems networking them and having the printer work etc.

The other thing, if anyone isn't aware, because I wasn't, Vista doesn't have Outlook Express, you have to use their Windows Mail, but you just set it up like Outlook, keeping the same email address etc.

Thanks for the massage and water. My neck and shoulders are killing me, I've been at this off and on for 20 hrs now !

Instead of water, could ya send me some oh say alcohol ?

ScriptMan · 06-09-2007, 06:13 PM

For the benifit of anyone other than the OP, to completely get rid of vista and be able to install XP I had to full format the hard drive. The d%$# thing was like a virus.

GreekCrusader · 06-11-2007, 02:34 AM

I hate vista, in fact this weekend, i m going to reformat my hard disk and put back winxp pro.

Costin Trifan · 06-11-2007, 03:58 AM

Oh, boy!

No offence please, but there's something that everyone should know before using a new product: RTM. Especially when dealing with Vista.

I have great respect for you guys, and maybe I'll get a red rep for this, but it doesn't matter

The second thing to know, is that Vista is more than XP will ever be. Of course, XP has its own good parts but have a lot of bad parts in comparison with Vista.

There are a lot of stuff that you can do in XP to make your work easier but Vista extends them all.

If you don't want to RTM and just want to reinstall, this is what you can do :
there's no need to uninstall the current OS (I'd like to know how can you do it, formatting HDD with the OS disk inside the CD-Rom it's not a valid option, because this is the normal installation technique), all you have to do, as I already said it, is to insert the XP disk and then format the partition you want to install to (I think that will be C) and then install the OS on that partition.

Good luck!

One more question:
What will you do when Microsoft will stop shipping XP? hehe...

I'll just love my Vista...

ScriptMan · 06-11-2007, 05:26 AM

Quote:

If you don't want to RTM and just want to reinstall, this is what you can do :
there's no need to uninstall the current OS (I'd like to know how can you do it, formatting HDD with the OS disk inside the CD-Rom it's not a valid option, because this is the normal installation technique), all you have to do, as I already said it, is to insert the XP disk and then format the partition you want to install to (I think that will be C) and then install the OS on that partition.

My XP is OEM and the CD could not be read with Vista installed. I used my "Ultimate Boot CD" to boot to linux and then DOS. After that I made the monster go away.

Perhaps what you wrote would work if one had a full retai version of XP.

Costin Trifan · 06-11-2007, 05:48 AM

maybe...I never had Linux, Suse or any of that OS's so I can't give a straight answer

StupidScript · 06-11-2007, 10:44 AM

Linda, are you doing all this while logged in under an Administrator account on both machines? Your issue with viewing networked computers sounds like it may stem from trying to run under a "limited"-type account.

BTW, you should almost always be running under a limited account, unless you are installing software, doing upgrades or configuring the system for the first time. Running all the time under an Administrator account defeats most of the "new" security "features" of XP/Vista.

Frankly, it's irritating as hell to have to jump through the new hoops put in place by Vista's new TCP stack (oh yes, they changed it because they think it's better than the TCP stack everyone else is using!). Sharing directories is completely bass-ackwards, too. You can only access a directory as a limited user if it is stored in that user's sub-directory ... but you can't share anything in that directory!

And don't get me started on the "help" files/wizards ... useless dreck.

And you should switch over to Mozilla's Thunderbird email client, instead of using Windows Mail. It's far more secure than Windows Mail, and has excellent anti-spam features.

Linda in NY · 06-11-2007, 10:55 AM

Under both computers as owner. Tried everything I tried when they were both xp machines and had them networked fine in about 15 mins. Now I can only see somethings, and can't get access to most, very frustrating.

I've followed some of there "help" suggestions and nothing has worked. I think xp is so much easier.

And as far as Vista, I could kind of give a crap about the security features as far as what's secure, the computers are mine and my husbands, and all the little ones care about is games or looking at images with us.

And as far as the little ones destroying or erasing files, after I forget like a few minutes of inactivity, the screen becomes locked and can only be unlocked when we put in our passwords.

And the older one has her own computer in her room.

Anyways as far as networking crap, on his computer when I click on my computer in the network its say the computer name is either spelled wrong or etc, when I ran their "wizard" it says there is a DNS problem.

When in go into my computer, under computers in the network, it only shows mine, and I've run the wizard, to add computers to the network. Then when I add his, and make sure both workgroups are the same name, it still not helping. pfffffffffffffft !!!!

Linda in NY · 06-11-2007, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StupidScript

And you should switch over to Mozilla's Thunderbird email client, instead of using Windows Mail. It's far more secure than Windows Mail, and has excellent anti-spam features.

Almost forgot, don't even get me started on that one. I can't even get him to download Mozilla, I told it I have IE, Mozilla and Opera on mine, and out of all of them I like Mozilla, the least amount of problems.

He doesn't like change at all. Plus I'm still trying to get him used to the tabs in the new IE !

He likes it when things are like they were back in the 1960s-1970s

StupidScript · 06-11-2007, 03:54 PM

Quote:

He likes it when things are like they were back in the 1960s-1970s

... yeah ... I miss Atari, too!

As I've been researching some Vista networking issues we are having, here at work, it looks like that ol' reconfigured TCP stack might be contributing to your printing/networking issues, and have something you might try.

First, set a restore point so you can roll back your system if this doesn't do it for you.

Next, you'll want to remove support for "IPv6", an expanded IP addressing protocol that is currently barely in use, and is certainly not a factor for any home user.

Apparently, Microsoft intertwined the standard IPv4 and the bleeding edge IPv6 protocols in order to better support an activity called "tunneling", where IPv6 packets are sent using a modified IPv4 schema. This has messed with many IPv4 networks (like your home network), and in particular their networked printing capabilities.

Removing IPv6 support should (a) allow you to see the other computers on your network and (b) print to shared printers hosted by them.

If it doesn't (and goodness knows that each set of MS systems will exhibit personality quirks), simply roll your system back to the restore point you set before trying this, and you'll be back to where you were.

Costin Trifan · 06-11-2007, 04:33 PM

I must say I agree with you on this one, because I had to do the same (disabling the IPv6 protocol and use only the IPv4)

This was the only way to see (and communicate with) my brother's computer on local network.

Linda in NY · 06-11-2007, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StupidScript

... yeah ... I miss Atari, too!

As I've been researching some Vista networking issues we are having, here at work, it looks like that ol' reconfigured TCP stack might be contributing to your printing/networking issues, and have something you might try.

First, set a restore point so you can roll back your system if this doesn't do it for you.

Next, you'll want to remove support for "IPv6", an expanded IP addressing protocol that is currently barely in use, and is certainly not a factor for any home user.

Apparently, Microsoft intertwined the standard IPv4 and the bleeding edge IPv6 protocols in order to better support an activity called "tunneling", where IPv6 packets are sent using a modified IPv4 schema. This has messed with many IPv4 networks (like your home network), and in particular their networked printing capabilities.

Removing IPv6 support should (a) allow you to see the other computers on your network and (b) print to shared printers hosted by them.

If it doesn't (and goodness knows that each set of MS systems will exhibit personality quirks), simply roll your system back to the restore point you set before trying this, and you'll be back to where you were.

Ok, at the risk of sounding like a total computer dork, alright so I am.
How exactly do I do this, do I have to do the roll back thingy or just the IPv6 thingy.

See the use of technical language (*****THINGY*****)

And by the way, even though I don't totally understand what you're saying and have no clue how to do it, I do appreciate the advice !

Linda in NY · 06-11-2007, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by costin_trifan

I must say I agree with you on this one, because I had to do the same (disabling the IPv6 protocol and use only the IPv4)

This was the only way to see (and communicate with) my brother's computer on local network.

I also appreciate the input as well, and if yourself or Script can explain how to do they in terms a doorknob could understand, I be oh so grateful.

Costin Trifan · 06-11-2007, 06:23 PM

In my opinion, to disable the IPv6 thing doesn't require a system restore point, so you don't have to do it if you don't want to.

Point to Start Menu > Network

From the menu bar, select Network and Sharing Center. This window will display all your network connections.

Locate your local connection and click on View status. At this point, the Internet Status window will appear.

Click the Properties button. At this point it will be visible a list of options; Uncheck the Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) option.

Click OK, then Close.