The Vista install was fairly straight forward after I figured out that it will have a sulk if it isn't being installed on HDD0. Although if you didn't know that, because it gives no information about why the selected partition isn't suitable for a install partition, you would be buggered. Once started it is fairly fool proof, but really really slow and frustrating because it gives no information of where it is up to and how much longer it will take.
The Linux install process was relatively fast and easy, it informed the user about what was happening and gave an indication about how much time was left. The difficulties encountered with the graphics problem would have turned off a Linux newbie instantly, but in saying that it is unlikely a newbie would have previous drivers installed to conflict the way I did.
The update process in Vista is annoying because you have to get some updates restart, get some more restart, get some more and then you are done. Linux on the other hand gets all the required updates and installs them, it happens once and that is it....the continuing updates happen just like in Vista, but when it comes to the initial updates Linux wins hands down.
So after installing both systems, Linux took about half the time, was less frustrating and on install has useful programs installed (office, graphics editing programming languages etc...) Vista has really nice media software, looks better (until I get around to installing Beryl and Compiz) and the graphics driver is just better...ATI catalyst control for windows is much better then the corresponding version for linux.
So both have their advantages but I would much rather install Ubuntu any day of the week.
P.S. Vista = gaming, and for that I can forgive it many flaws. when Linux has the same support for games as windows OS's do then that will be a great day.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Fixing the problems
So reboot into Linux, looks promising....BOOM colours are all screwed up again, oh well i'll just fix it like this I can kinda read the screen.
First thing the little update notification comes up saying there are updates, click there are 254 updates...sweet press go. This process takes 15 minutes to download and about 16 minutes to install.
During the updating process I fix the graphics problem (luckily I know what is wrong, not that I have seen it before) essentially what has happened is, I manually updated the ATI catalyst control driver to the latest one, so in my home directory there is something telling the computer to look for this driver which isn't there.
So using the terminal in conjunction with firefox I go to http://wiki.cchtml.com/ (I still have the driver archive file in my downloads folder) so no need to re-download them.
Using the very helpful directions and the terminal (black and white still looks black and white in psychedelic colours) the colours went back to normal, after a restart which I had to do after all the updates were installed.
One of the big differences I did notice between Linux and Vista was shutdown and restart after getting updates.....Vista pisses around really badly, Linux doesn't seem to at all.
First thing the little update notification comes up saying there are updates, click there are 254 updates...sweet press go. This process takes 15 minutes to download and about 16 minutes to install.
During the updating process I fix the graphics problem (luckily I know what is wrong, not that I have seen it before) essentially what has happened is, I manually updated the ATI catalyst control driver to the latest one, so in my home directory there is something telling the computer to look for this driver which isn't there.
So using the terminal in conjunction with firefox I go to http://wiki.cchtml.com/ (I still have the driver archive file in my downloads folder) so no need to re-download them.
Using the very helpful directions and the terminal (black and white still looks black and white in psychedelic colours) the colours went back to normal, after a restart which I had to do after all the updates were installed.
One of the big differences I did notice between Linux and Vista was shutdown and restart after getting updates.....Vista pisses around really badly, Linux doesn't seem to at all.
The Ubuntu install
So I have just finished installing Vista (maybe I should have sacrificed a goat to make things go easier). On to the free software.
Put disk in, restart computer.
Go to start install process, can't see anything...remember from last time I did this, restart put into safe graphics mode and start install process.
Choose language -> choose time zone -> set up partitions (I have done this a few times so was not confused at all, first time I needed to do a bit of research on what to do) -> user name and passwords -> and go.
Frustration is kept to a minimum due to the fact that there is a status bar telling me what is happening and where it is up to in the install process.
28min later I boot into Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex again...that seemed easy and if this was a fresh install this is where it would stop just get the updates and all done....but conflicting drivers like to kick.
I was running in safe graphics mode, but the resolution of the screen was all wrong so I changed it, and BOOM!!!!! out of safe graphics mode and into normal mode colours were psychedelic and trippy........balls quick restart...
Put disk in, restart computer.
Go to start install process, can't see anything...remember from last time I did this, restart put into safe graphics mode and start install process.
Choose language -> choose time zone -> set up partitions (I have done this a few times so was not confused at all, first time I needed to do a bit of research on what to do) -> user name and passwords -> and go.
Frustration is kept to a minimum due to the fact that there is a status bar telling me what is happening and where it is up to in the install process.
28min later I boot into Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex again...that seemed easy and if this was a fresh install this is where it would stop just get the updates and all done....but conflicting drivers like to kick.
I was running in safe graphics mode, but the resolution of the screen was all wrong so I changed it, and BOOM!!!!! out of safe graphics mode and into normal mode colours were psychedelic and trippy........balls quick restart...
The hell of Vista updates
Ok so i'm in Vista for the first time, just curious about how much space it has taken -> C: properties...10.7GB WTF that is freaking huge...oh well I can't say I didn't see it coming.
So windows updates, yep 52 updates 190 MB, takes about 1/2hr to download not too bad. Takes about 15 min to install them, but I also use this time to get the driver for my ATI HD4850 so a small bit of time saved.
I get AGV anti virus off my flat network and firefox 3.0.6, and try to install those, but NO!!! that would be easy.
AGV is telling me I need some Vista update or it will run really slow, so I think (stupidly) that the update will be coming in the current lot, so I will just install AGV after the restart...no problem...
Ok so i'll install firefox, NO!!! or specifially "you may not have permission to do this" sure so I put in the administrator password and it seems to start but NO, the process just ends....no firefox...strange...try again 4 times...oh bugger it all i'll fix that later.
Restart computer....wait for "configuring updates"....sure...computer restarts but you have to wait again for the updates to be configured.
Then you have to go through the process again a couple of times to make sure your soul is completely drained. And by this point I didn't bother installing firefox.
All in all this process has taken just over 4 hours....what I have is a OS that cant really do anything, but iot looks pretty. After the first restart I did reconnect the other HDD's and crossed my fingers it all worked so that was nice.
Over all I have to hand it to the guy at microsoft whos job is to make the install process hell, he really pulled out all the stops for Vista.
So windows updates, yep 52 updates 190 MB, takes about 1/2hr to download not too bad. Takes about 15 min to install them, but I also use this time to get the driver for my ATI HD4850 so a small bit of time saved.
I get AGV anti virus off my flat network and firefox 3.0.6, and try to install those, but NO!!! that would be easy.
AGV is telling me I need some Vista update or it will run really slow, so I think (stupidly) that the update will be coming in the current lot, so I will just install AGV after the restart...no problem...
Ok so i'll install firefox, NO!!! or specifially "you may not have permission to do this" sure so I put in the administrator password and it seems to start but NO, the process just ends....no firefox...strange...try again 4 times...oh bugger it all i'll fix that later.
Restart computer....wait for "configuring updates"....sure...computer restarts but you have to wait again for the updates to be configured.
Then you have to go through the process again a couple of times to make sure your soul is completely drained. And by this point I didn't bother installing firefox.
All in all this process has taken just over 4 hours....what I have is a OS that cant really do anything, but iot looks pretty. After the first restart I did reconnect the other HDD's and crossed my fingers it all worked so that was nice.
Over all I have to hand it to the guy at microsoft whos job is to make the install process hell, he really pulled out all the stops for Vista.
The first problem....Vista
Step 1:
Turn on computer, insert Vista 64 business edition (all legal thanks to the good people at MSDN). Sure boot from DVD, and wait a lot. Still waiting....yep it takes forever for things to happen but they eventually do you just have to be patient.
So after choosing what language I want and my time zone I press the next button, and I wait some more, ok so a lot more. Eventually the "enter your activation code" window comes up, cool done. Wait a lot more (frustration increasing).
Disk partitioning section, sure i'll choose partition 2 on disk 1 (190GB) and press next, "this disk does not have the requirements for a system disk" ??? WTF ok format partition.....wait......same error.
Now i'm stumped, it has NTFS on it I just formatted it, I know format again...wait...press next, same error. Ok extream measures delete partitons on disk, good bye linux (home dirrectory is on another disk, no loss of personal info). Ok empty disk, partiton about 2/3 for vista format and leave the rest empty....wait...same error.
By this point the level of frustration i'm feeling is extreme, goodbye power....start again.
My frustration is inversly proportional to the amount of information being supplied by the process, since Vista just gives you a pretty picture to look at for most of the waiting time frustration rockets towards infinity.
After the restart same problem with the HDD, so far this has taken about 40min my frustration is through the roof and I can't stop as i have no system installed at all now...seeya power (again)....go make a cup of tea.
Remove power to other HDD's in the computer, try install again.....the computer gods are smiling the actual install starts....this shouldn't be long now.
So far it has taken approx 45min of my time just to start the installation process, and about an hour and a half later Vista starts for the first time. yay :(
Turn on computer, insert Vista 64 business edition (all legal thanks to the good people at MSDN). Sure boot from DVD, and wait a lot. Still waiting....yep it takes forever for things to happen but they eventually do you just have to be patient.
So after choosing what language I want and my time zone I press the next button, and I wait some more, ok so a lot more. Eventually the "enter your activation code" window comes up, cool done. Wait a lot more (frustration increasing).
Disk partitioning section, sure i'll choose partition 2 on disk 1 (190GB) and press next, "this disk does not have the requirements for a system disk" ??? WTF ok format partition.....wait......same error.
Now i'm stumped, it has NTFS on it I just formatted it, I know format again...wait...press next, same error. Ok extream measures delete partitons on disk, good bye linux (home dirrectory is on another disk, no loss of personal info). Ok empty disk, partiton about 2/3 for vista format and leave the rest empty....wait...same error.
By this point the level of frustration i'm feeling is extreme, goodbye power....start again.
My frustration is inversly proportional to the amount of information being supplied by the process, since Vista just gives you a pretty picture to look at for most of the waiting time frustration rockets towards infinity.
After the restart same problem with the HDD, so far this has taken about 40min my frustration is through the roof and I can't stop as i have no system installed at all now...seeya power (again)....go make a cup of tea.
Remove power to other HDD's in the computer, try install again.....the computer gods are smiling the actual install starts....this shouldn't be long now.
So far it has taken approx 45min of my time just to start the installation process, and about an hour and a half later Vista starts for the first time. yay :(
In the beginning
In the beginning there was only linux.
Ok so the goal was to install Vista on a 190Gb partition on one of my HDD's and then reinstall the grub boot loader to be able to get to both OS's.
Being someone that "KNOWS" what they are doing I didn't think this would be a difficult process. How wrong I turned out to be, here is the tale of my 5ish hour odyssey.
Ok so the goal was to install Vista on a 190Gb partition on one of my HDD's and then reinstall the grub boot loader to be able to get to both OS's.
Being someone that "KNOWS" what they are doing I didn't think this would be a difficult process. How wrong I turned out to be, here is the tale of my 5ish hour odyssey.
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