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Is it Vista or a bad computer
Vista. It didn't like my web cam and the manufacturer of it didn't think it was worthy of creating Vista drives for it. For me personally, I don't see the point of Aero. I don't like that my internet connection is always on unless I turn it off by right clicking on the little computer icon on the tool bar. Having the google search thingy doesnt' impress me. But then maybe it all would if I could actually spend time enjoying my computer instead of trying to resolve issues with it.
I have an ATI 650 Pro Theater combo tv tuner with all the up-to-date drivers and about every 7 to 10 days I get an error saying it stopped recording due to a system malfunction or power loss. One of my dvd drives had to be replaced twice. Microsoft doesn't know why this is happening. Is this the system or Vista? Not everyone is having this problem.
I've been getting blue screens-yesterday for example, I had been watching a recorded tv program, paused it to answer the phone and after about 5 minutes it went to a blue screen and restarted. This has happened several times in different situations. Now I have to wait for it to happen again so I can get all the info from the blue screen. Microsoft doesnt' even know why this is happening. Is this the system or Vista?
I was told to put my system back to factory default settings and the problems still happened. I was then told to do a fresh install. Yep, the blue screens still happen, plus now the system doesn't want to wake up from sleep mode. Is this the system or Vista? Microsoft had told me I shouldn't have to do that but that if I did and the problem(s) still happened then it would mean my system needed to be replaced.
I am not a guru of computers but I'm beginning to wonder if my system is losing power and therefore shutting down. Which would mean there isn't anything wrong with Vista. To be fair I can not say Vista is bad just because I am not impressed with it or because I am having all the issues. I was told that the fresh install is right from a Microsoft cd, which it does say Microsoft on it, then that tells me there is a huge problem with my system that needs to be addressed.
Oh, I have a Dell XPS 420 Intel 2 duo core E6850 3.0; Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT; SB Xtreme; 500 GB HD; Vista Home Premium; ATI 650 Pro Theater Combo; 3 GB RAM; 2 dvd drives
Thanks for listening.
fireberd
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April 13th, 2008 14:00
First, if you have a Dell computer, under warranty, you should be going to Dell for support not Microsoft. with the Dell supplied OEM version of Vista, Dell is responsible for support of the Operating System, along with the hardware. Usually, with an OEM version of the Operating System Microsoft charges for support.
We have seen USB connected Web Cams and TV Tuners be a source of problems (on XP and Vista). I would suggest disconnecting these devices and see if the system runs OK (maybe not like you want it to run but runs the way it's supposed to run). If it does, then connect one of the devices at a time and then see if the system starts to act up or is still OK.
thurmont
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April 14th, 2008 12:00
sumday
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April 14th, 2008 12:00
FYI, it was a Dell technician who told me to contact Microsoft because he said Dell is allowed to install the OS and to troubleshoot certain things but could not help me with this issue.
I do not have my web cam installed because the manufacturer of it will not be creating a Vista compatible driver. I've taken offense to this so maybe you can clarify "(maybe not like you want it to run but runs the way it's supposed to run)".
When I purchased this computer I expected it to run as advertised by Dell and Microsoft. I expect that the TV Tuner I chose from Dell's options would perform with Vista. If TV Tuners and web cams are problems then it would be false advertising to say they work.
fireberd
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April 14th, 2008 13:00
Unfortunately the Dell tech was not correct in telling you to contact Microsoft. When you buy a new PC with an "OEM" version of the operating system you get the operating system at a reduced cost over the Retail version and mainly because the OS vendor, in this case Microsoft, is not responsible for providing support and the OEM vendor takes that responsibility. It is the same with most OEM software, witch is why it's less expensive than the Retail versions.
What I meant by the comment was that a certain device MAY be causing a problem and if you remove that device everything else works. Although you took it as a smart guy remark it wasn't meant to be that.
I too would expect that a new PC, with options installed when the new PC was delivered, would all work flawlessly. Unfortunately that is not always the case and not just with Dell. But, Dell is responsible for making it work or replacing it with something that will work. We provide a lot of (non Dell employee) users helping users on this forum everyday but we can't fix all of Dell's problems.
One option, if the PC is less than 21 days from the date it was shipped, you have the option of contacting Dell customer service and requesting a return authorization.
sumday
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April 14th, 2008 16:00
I agree Dell is responsible for what goes wrong with my computer and software. But I disagree about Dell tech not being correct in telling me to contact Microsoft because it was actually refreshing to hear someone say they just didn't know why Recorded TV would just stop especially after ensuring all drivers were up-to-date; software was only what Dell shipped the computer with; they had me do a system restore etc and it all didn't work.
Just to be clear, I contacted Microsoft about the recording not about my system or anything else. I have read on other boards that some are having the same issue as I am and IF Microsoft becomes aware of it maybe they can find a solution. As of today, they don't know why. So as it stands now IF Dell or Microsoft can't resolve my issue then I have to settle for unreliable recordings, or don't use it at all and go back to VCR tapes. I paid to have TV on my system and Microsoft said it can be done through Media Center. If not then they should not have advertised it as such.
My very first computer was an IBM. It worked flawlessly for several years. My next computer was a Compaq once a few issues were ironed out it lasted 10 years - I gave it away. My sister has a compaq presario it's still running flawlessly after 10 years and one service call. My daughter has had a Dell for 6 years, yep, running flawlessly, my other daughter has an HP for the last 5 years running flawlessly. So, I'm thinking this is the age of disposable computers? Kind of like cars of today? LOL Just my humble opinions.
fireberd
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April 14th, 2008 22:00
I'm a retired Network and Hardware Help Desk tech/manager (I had the entire mid west for a large Federal Goverment Agency). We dealt with contractors for maintenance but it was the same way with them. e.g. If there was an Operating System issue that the contractor (who was responsible for support just like Dell) could not solve, they went to Microsoft to get the issue resolved. We (customer) didn't have to go to Microsoft and that is how it's supposed to work. One of our contractors was IBM and IBM would go to Microsoft if there was an issue they couldn't resolve with the workstations (PS/2 PC's).
The "old" Dell's worked fine but if there was a problem Dell had the US based staff to handle it. We had some (commercial side) Dell equipment in our network and our Help Desk techs had to take a test and be certified by Dell before Dell would allow us to handle the problems with the Dell equipment and then allow us to report the problem to Dell so they could resolve the hardware problems.
hopespringsnew
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April 15th, 2008 00:00
Sounds familiar. I had a 410 XP with tv tuner and Vista, and was having so many problems with it (replaced both optical drives, the battery, countless hang-ups, and on and on. Dell replaced it with a new 420 XP.
Happy as a clam for about a week with it.
Now the CD tray will not open and that is being replaced. I just noticed that the system is mis-recognizing the CD player now as a DVD-RW and the DVD-RW player as a CD-player. This is feeling too familiar.
Anticipating yet another re-loading of the operating system, I'm trying to move the television and movie files I have copied to an E-Book and get the message that the files are too large.
Which brings me to my question of how to change the size of the files in my E-book and why are they defined as smaller than the files in C:drive?
thank you