Vista and XP compared. Vista Bugs and Problems Discuss Vista and XP compared. in the Windows Vista forums; Originally Posted by Znod Quoting me: I gave it a shot felix. I ran Perfect Disk, Disk Cleanup, and Registry Mechanic. Here are the comparisons. .................................................. Before Maintenance....After Maintenance XP ...

[Znod]

Originally Posted by Znod

Quoting me: I gave it a shot felix. I ran Perfect Disk, Disk Cleanup, and Registry Mechanic. Here are the comparisons.

.................................................. Before Maintenance....After Maintenance
XP Pro............................................... .....278.9
Vista 5840--Best Performance....................274.2.............. .......289.6
Vista 5840--Vista Does What's Best............268.0......................263.5
Vista 5840--Best Appearance.....................263.6.............. .......267.7

OK, so I conclude that maintenance is good. But, I am not sure how good it is. Perfect disk concluded that I should degrag my system files and swap file--which I did. After doing so, my disk was only .3% fragmented. Registry Mechanic corrected a bunch of presumed registry errors--as usual. And, disk clean up deleted a bit more than 2 GB of files--of which 1.99 GB wouldn't have mattered because they were related to hibernation--which I don't use.

I took things one additional step. I reinstalled 5840 from within--thinking that doing so should fix anything Registry Mechanic fouled up. I also think of reinstallation from within as a shot-gun repair tool for difficult to find, fix, or to even know about errors.

After reinstalling, Registry Mechanic showed about 65 registry errors--about 1/3 of the amount before I zeroed them earlier. I declined to correct the 65 presuming that 5840 knows more about what's right for my system at this point than does registry mechanic. During my recent use, I have not convinced myself that Registry Mechanic knows what it is doing a sufficient enough amount of time for my happiness. I also ran Perfect Disk again to assess my state of defragmentation. My disk was .7% fragmented so I took no action. Below are the 3 ultimate sets of scores for your entertainment.

.................................................. .....Before............After...........After
.................................................. Maintenance....Maintenance....Reinstall
XP Pro............................................... .278.9
Vista 5840--Best Performance.................274.2...........289.6. .........287.7
Vista 5840--Vista Does What's Best.........268.0............263.5..........265.4
Vista 5840--Best Appearance..................263.6............267.7 .........268.0

The reinstall had little effect, but, of course, there was no reason to think a reinstall was needed. I emphasize that I have used this procedure to fix specific errors I did not know how to fix otherwise. So, reinstalling is a good idea sometimes. Also, reinstalling should defragment one's system files (as Perfect Disk will, plus the swap file).

[JDonner]

Originally Posted by Davehc

Sorry - had to cancel this, it was a benchmark test on Vista RC2 and XP. which I came across. I.ll hunt it down again. Point was - XP excelled in every of twenty tests.

I was already fiddling with computers before the PC was even invented, most of you guys weren't even born yet. So let me repeat this again; every version of Windows that's not final (in your case RC2) will ALWAYS be slower than the final version. Party because of improved code, partly because of pretty new drivers, but the main reason is debugging code that is removed. Now you're comparing apples with oranges buddy.

[Davehc]

Woh. Steady. Why quote my posting. Maybe you should have read the whole thread and, also, some of my other postngs. I don't think what you have to say is news to any members. The tests are ongoing and, as such, the remarks in threads, particularly with reference to comparisons, are ongoing. As I have stated before, I have been in the Vista Beta testing program for almost a year. During that time my opinion on different releases has swayed up and down. The RTM is not a Beta release but I do have free access to it via a local seller. This is close to the final release. All the software he has installed is compatible with full drivers,.The latter is probably the only update which will be made to Vista before the retail release. At this stage, I cancel the word excelled but still find XP faster in most respects except (possibly) Internet use.
By the way. I am 72 years old. My first "computer" was a ZX80.I set up my first LAN, on behalf of my small company, in 1997.

[Znod]

Ok, JDonner, you may be older than even me. My first computer was the K-Pro "portable," but, regardless, you make a good point that we should emphasize that our tests are not necessarily indicative of what would happen if testing against a released version of Vista. In my first tests, I took it for granted that anyone reading would so realize. I have done many more test now and have been including a caveat along the lines you suggest. And, welcome. I'm glad you are here. I still may be older though.

[JDonner]

Originally Posted by Davehc

By the way. I am 72 years old. My first "computer" was a ZX80.I set up my first LAN, on behalf of my small company, in 1997.

ZX80? Ha, I still have a ZX81 somewhere. Btw, that wasn't my first computer though.

Ok, that was off topic, no, I'm not 72, but I do know that I'm a Windows network/hard- and software engineer for almost 19 years and I've also been a programmer on IBM main frames, so yes, I do have that background to understand that comparing a final and matured Windows XP (and its matured drivers and applications) with a test version of Vista is like comparing apples with oranges.

[Znod]

Well, I'm 65. And, the comparison is not of apples and oranges unless one is attempting to generalize beyond the specific test being made. In other words, if I compare XP Pro and RTM, then the test is perfectly apples to apples unless I try unreasonably to generalize beyond the actual test I have made.

[Davehc]

Maybe we should change the name of the site. How about The elder babblers. LOL

[Znod]

OK, but I am waiting for you and JDonner to admit your ages. I did it. I've come out, and now I'm free. Given his grumpiness, I'd bet crabby is at least 92. And, felix is pretty serious. So, I'd day he is at least 87.

[Davehc]

I've told you mine. I could post my birth certificate but that could be "doctored"

[Znod]

But, I've forgotten.