compatability isues

[Guest]

does vista have a fix that will allow devices that are working on xp and
older systems to be compatable?

I just bought a new laptop with Vista installed, I also bouht a new webcam.
The cam works with XP on my old machine, but gets no video on the Vista
machine.

I thought that Vista would at least support Legacy drivers and devices. Why
does Vista not run certain applications due to "compatability issues" and
also not support older devices?

Quite frankly, if I had XP setup disks, I would dump Vista like a hot rock!

I basically have a boat anchor that won't run my older business apps.

Must I wait for Microsoft to fix their bugs? or is microsoft putting the
responsibility off onto the suppliers to work out microsofts errors?

Please telll me if there are available patches.

thank-you

 

[Robert Moir]

does vista have a fix that will allow devices that are working on xp and
older systems to be compatable?

Not devices, no.

I just bought a new laptop with Vista installed, I also bouht a new
webcam.
The cam works with XP on my old machine, but gets no video on the Vista
machine.

If you purchased the camera at the same time as you purchased the laptop I'm
a little confused as to why you didn't make sure you were buying a camera
that would work with your new system. You probably won't want to hear this
but frankly some of the blame there rests with you.

I thought that Vista would at least support Legacy drivers and devices.
Why
does Vista not run certain applications due to "compatability issues" and
also not support older devices?

Well you see with the applications thing, some apps behave "nicely", that is
they only do the things that you're supposed to do when it comes to working
with the OS and other apps. These apps tend to work on a newer OS without
too much trouble. Less well behaved apps tend to have more trouble.

I've just played an old game through again, Deus Ex, which first came out 7
years ago in 2000 and it runs on Vista just fine, so it isn't like Vista
just doesn't deal with old software at all.

As for device drivers not working, it's worth reminding you at this point
that Vista is a *new* operating system. It works in a different way to XP as
you've surely noticed if you've been using it. Old device drivers don't work
on Vista for much the same reason that the modern Italian language is
different to Latin; things evolve and move on.

Quite frankly, if I had XP setup disks, I would dump Vista like a hot
rock!

Go for it. Disks are available for sale out there.

I basically have a boat anchor that won't run my older business apps.

Again, if you're running a business and you leaped into Vista without
checking the apps you need will work then some of the responsibility sadly
lies with you. Surely a business owner understands the principles behind
managing and minimising unnecessary risks to their business?

I'm sure you've actually made use of the built in help function by now and
found that there is quite a lot written about application compatability
which may prove useful. Have you worked through all the suggestions there?

Must I wait for Microsoft to fix their bugs?

Yes. Microsoft have problems of their own they need to fix. Vista is not a
bed of roses at the moment, that is for sure. It's worth remembering that XP
provoked pretty much the same reaction in people like yourself when it was
first released (though I personally think Vista is struggling more than XP
did) and yet XP turned out OK in the end. I have my doubts about Vista but
it's too early to write it off just yet.

or is microsoft putting the
responsibility off onto the suppliers to work out microsofts errors?

Well it _is_ the responsibility of hardware manufacturers to provide drivers
and support for their own products. This isn't Microsoft passing the buck
onto anyone and I'm not sure why you would think that it is.

 

[JW]

Software compatibility between Windows 98 and later applications and Vista
is not normally an issue.
It is hardware and hardware drivers where the problems occur.
Prior to Vista a hardware driver could load part of its code down into the
OS kernal to improve perforamnce. This capability was removed in Vista in
order to make Vista less likely to crash and even more importantly to
prevent security problems by misbehaving drivers written by hackers.
Due to this change almost all hardware drivers have to updated for Vista by
the hardware manufacturers and then submitted to MS for testing in order for
their harware to be included on the Vista WHQL

 

[Rock]

does vista have a fix that will allow devices that are working on xp and
older systems to be compatable?

No such thing. Either the XP driver will work (which some do) or you must
get a Vista compatible driver from the device manufacturer. They are
responsible for it.

I just bought a new laptop with Vista installed, I also bouht a new
webcam.
The cam works with XP on my old machine, but gets no video on the Vista
machine.

So have you checked for a Vista compatible driver on the webcam
manufacturer's web site? Is the device supported by the manufacturer in
Vista or will it be in the future?

I thought that Vista would at least support Legacy drivers and devices.
Why
does Vista not run certain applications due to "compatability issues" and
also not support older devices?

Vista is a vastly different OS. Software and hardware are two separate
issues. I've already discussed hardware. For software XP programs might
work as is. Also Vista has a compability mode which sometimes helps, or you
might need an upgrade for the program from the software author.

Quite frankly, if I had XP setup disks, I would dump Vista like a hot
rock!

Yeah, so?

I basically have a boat anchor that won't run my older business apps.

Maybe you should have done a modicum of research before purchasing? Checked
with the software authors?

Must I wait for Microsoft to fix their bugs? or is microsoft putting the
responsibility off onto the suppliers to work out microsofts errors?

Device drivers are the responsbility of the hardware manufacturer's. Same
with software. They have had ample time to get things in shape. Don't you
realize this is what happens with any new OS release? Some things work,
some don't. It's called change.

Please telll me if there are available patches.

For what? You haven't given any info. How about doing some research eh?
Check with the software vendors and hardware manufacturer's? Post some
specifics.

thank-you

Good luck.