Short cuts and other tips Vista Tips Discuss Short cuts and other tips in the Windows Vista forums; Ok, maybe my sense of humor is a bit warped, however in the interest of Felix's post and my love/hate affair with MS go read the comments regading ...

[Galt]

Ok, maybe my sense of humor is a bit warped, however in the interest of Felix's post and my love/hate affair with MS go read the comments regading the free uogrades. Some are a riot!!

Link: http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513-6129027.html

Here are a couple of examples: First by Mike Cox:

Beautiful thing...
I have mandated all of our MCSE staff go out and purchase new machines capable of running Vista. In order to get full compliance, my rep recommended I dock their pay $3000 to purchase the latest and great Dell XPS Workstations capable of running the Vista eXPerience in all its glory. In order to get it through finance, I made bogus payroll loans to these folks and then sent in the paperwork. Some of the MCSEs will not be receiving checks again for a couple of months until the $3000 is paid off. But my rep said it was mandatory to get these valuable coupons. My rep took me for Starbucks to thank me for doing the right thing


And by itanalyst

Holiday PC buyers get Vista upgrade promise

What a nice offering by Microsoft to allow the user to promise to upgrade to its powerful new operating system. Imagine the glee and joy when you wake up Christmas morning and have a Vista coupon in your stocking. I can hardly contain my excitement in expectation of this marvelous offering from Microsoft!

[felix8406]

Well, what can I say? Like everyone else, Microsoft wants a large piece of the Christmas spirit!

[felix8406]

I just wanted to point out that if you purchase a PC tomorrow, or after, with the idea of upgrading it to Vista OS and taking advantage of the upgrade offers, you must look for units that are labeled “Windows Vista Capable.” Another thing, make sure you ask for the coupon.

Note: Not all PCs that you purchase, whether it's tomorrow or next week, will be available for the upgrade. It's important for you to ask and make sure you get it on writing.

[felix8406]

Today is the day when you can start taking advantage of Microsoft Windows Vista’s upgrade offers. However, before you go and get your PC, you must take a few things into account.

Like a mentioned on the previous post, “Know what you are getting in advance". Don't assume that you will get an upgrade coupon”.

Find out what fees you have to pay and consider if you are better off just waiting when Vista is launch and getting a PC with the OS already installed.

Do a Google search and find out about the latest offers and prices. Some prices from manufactures have started to leak, here are some preliminary examples:

Dell:
1. Windows XP Home to Vista Basic = $45 (plus shipping and handling)
2. Windows XP Media Center to Vista Premium and Windows XP Pro to Vista Premium = Just shipping and handling.
3. No need for any “proof-of-purchase requirements”, whatever that means.

HP Pavilion or Compaq Presario desktop and notebook PC, and HP Digital Entertainment Center, with a “qualifying” Windows XP operating system bought after Oct. 26th will be eligible for a free upgrade to Vista.

1. XP Home to Vista Home Basic
2. XP Media Center Edition 2005 to Vista Home Premium
3. XP Pro to Vista Business

Gateway

All eMachines and Gateway PCs bought on or after Oct 26th will be eligible for a free upgrade to Windows Vista.

1. XP Home to Vista Home Basic
2. XP Media Center Edition 2005 to Vista Home Premium
3. XP Pro and Tablet to Vista Business

[felix8406]

Originally Posted by felix8406

Today is the day when you can start taking advantage of Microsoft Windows Vista’s upgrade offers. However, before you go and get your PC, you must take a few things into account.

Like a mentioned on the previous post, “Know what you are getting in advance". Don't assume that you will get an upgrade coupon”.

Find out what fees you have to pay and consider if you are better off just waiting when Vista is launch and getting a PC with the OS already installed.

Do a Google search and find out about the latest offers and prices. Some prices from manufactures have started to leak, here are some preliminary examples:

Dell:
1. Windows XP Home to Vista Basic = $45 (plus shipping and handling)
2. Windows XP Media Center to Vista Premium and Windows XP Pro to Vista Premium = Just shipping and handling.
3. No need for any “proof-of-purchase requirements”, whatever that means.

HP Pavilion or Compaq Presario desktop and notebook PC, and HP Digital Entertainment Center, with a “qualifying” Windows XP operating system bought after Oct. 26th will be eligible for a free upgrade to Vista.

1. XP Home to Vista Home Basic
2. XP Media Center Edition 2005 to Vista Home Premium
3. XP Pro to Vista Business

Gateway

All eMachines and Gateway PCs bought on or after Oct 26th will be eligible for a free upgrade to Windows Vista.

1. XP Home to Vista Home Basic
2. XP Media Center Edition 2005 to Vista Home Premium
3. XP Pro and Tablet to Vista Business

Just wanted to add tha apperently there are no upgrade offers to Vista Ultimate Edition...although it's to early to tell.

[felix8406]

System Restore allows you to easily restore your system to a previous state when you run into problem with Vista. You can start the System Restore tool from the command prompt if necessary. This might be useful if your PC doesn’t start normally or in Safe Mode. To start System Restore from the command prompt simply restart your PC and press F8 during startup. From the boot options, select Safe Mode with a command prompt. Launch the System Restore tool by typing C:\Windows\System32\rstrui.exe. Happy computing!

[crabby]

Don't you think you should mention the repurcussions of performing a system restore Felix. Like what happens to installations/drivers, and how files are dealt with etc

crabby

[felix8406]

Originally Posted by crabby

Don't you think you should mention the repurcussions of performing a system restore Felix. Like what happens to installations/drivers, and how files are dealt with etc

crabby

Better than to have a dead PC.

[crabby]

I completely agree... but people should note that any installs (which includes drivers and windows updates) are removed HOWEVER the files are not, which can mean junk EVERYWHERE after a few restores Windows restore literally works by taking a shot of your registry and some of it's important files and reverts to a backup. But it doesnt alter files because if it did people would lose valuable information (imagine that CV you have been working on just disappearing!).

So, your files are kept, your installs/drivers are gone... that's all I was saying, just incase people get the wrong idea about a 'restore'... it's not like an image restorer, it wont be exactly the same as it was.

crabby

[felix8406]

Before using System Restore, you should try to correct the issue. If it was a program or a driver that you just installed, then you should try to uninstall the program or the driver. If that doesn’t work then using System Restore will allow you to get back to a point where Vista was functioning correctly. System Restore will not affect your files; you cannot use the program to restore a document for example.

There’s a post here in this forum, by Znod I believe, where he stated that before he installed a program, he creates a restore point. This is important, because if a problem occurred, you’ll be able to get your system back to the way you had it just before the problem occurred. I would also like to suggest that once you installed the program or driver and have everything running to perfection, you should create a restore point. This way you’ll be able to get your system back to this point if something happens to go wrong in the future.