RC2 bugging me Vista Bugs and Problems Discuss RC2 bugging me in the Windows Vista forums; I got an automatic udate for RC2 a couple of days ago. Almost immediately AvgFree stopped working (again) and a couple of my software programs, which had benn reasonably happy. ...

[Davehc]

I got an automatic udate for RC2 a couple of days ago. Almost immediately AvgFree stopped working (again) and a couple of my software programs, which had benn reasonably happy. In a fit of temper I reformatted the whole lot so cannot test out any of the suggestions/complaints for the time being. I still have the working image so maybe I'll put that back on, or wait a couple of weeks.

[crabby]

ROFL... stressy! I wouldnt expect a beta to be fully compatible with everything... I am also amazed at the number of people on this forum without a tinkering rig. We are all testers and so should have a PC which can be customized as such. I hear people talk about 'backing up' but if you have a proper setup it won't be needed. It all comes down to hard drives. Always have your media on a seperate hard drive from your operating system is the only real rule, then you just expand on the theme. For instance, right now I have 3 hard drives which consists of a 20GB (linux) a 60GB (vista) and a 250GB (media).

If you had that sort of setup dave... instead of formating vista you just move to your other os for a while then see if the issue has been resolved at a later date.

Seperate hard drives also mean valid boot sectors on each seperate drive! Which is a must with a beta

crabby

[Galt]

Originally Posted by crabby

For instance, right now I have 3 hard drives which consists of a 20GB (linux) a 60GB (vista) and a 250GB (media).

If you had that sort of setup dave... instead of formating vista you just move to your other os for a while then see if the issue has been resolved at a later date.

Seperate hard drives also mean valid boot sectors on each seperate drive! Which is a must with a beta

crabby

I've much the same thing only 60GB (XP) a 80GB (Vista) and a 160GB (media) and I only just did that after updating from RC1 to RC2, because of installed software having to be reloaded to work. I've also got a USB Drive (80GB) that I use True Image to image Vista too.

[crabby]

That's the way to do it!!

crabby

[Davehc]

Ah well. We all have our own methods. Rather than use MS restore, I make a drive image of each setup. (I have three at the moment). I have restored an earlier one which had all my software on it but not the update - all working perfectly again now and I am investigating the problem. Only thing I keep separate is the bootmgr and the "boot" directory which is automatically installed on the root OS. Your method obviously works for you. I have a couple of HD's on the computer of course, but have no need for the different boot sectors as I keep Vista on another partition, as an alternative to your method. XP remains, always, fully working, on a partition on the first HD. I keep the second HD for first time installs of new releases or even Linux when I feel like a hardware driver battle!

[Znod]

Hi Dave:

I always create a restore point before doing updates, etc. And, I use multiple drives and disk images so I can always go back to anywhere I want.

[ProCookie]

i dont have much on my harddrive that i value so i just redo the whole lot when a new beta is out

[Davehc]

That does limit your chances of bug hunting Anthony. If you bsod big time - your out of there and into a reinstall.

[Galt]

Originally Posted by Davehc

That does limit your chances of bug hunting Anthony. If you bsod big time - your out of there and into a reinstall.

I agree, it is more fun to throw everything you got at a new OS, and keep track of what works and what doesn't, at least as a Beta tester. Znod made a good point on a restore point, that I sometimes forget to do in the "Oh neat, lets try this....mentality"

[dazzlin]

restore point, that I sometimes forget to do in the "Oh neat, lets try this....mentality"

heh, been there, done that!