When it rains it poors, and here it is almost tax time, one expense after another.  

AS long as I keep fooling around with these computers, I do not think I am going to have any money to retire on!  But, I am so addicted these monsters.

Virtual PC does require that you are running the Vista OS as host, Basic does not qualify, before you can add other Microsoft OS’s as guest.  It looks a little like a clone of a Linux program I won't mention.

You make an interesting point, and I am not sure whether you can have a legacy device, other than USB, or Firewire, plugged into the mobo and still virtualize. 

I would check on this with MS.

Good point, the heat inside of a case can build quickly and then transfer than heat over to the CPU within an hour or two.  

I know there are those who will disagree, but I used to build cased for the big companies, IBM, etc.  We found that if we had a good intake and exhaust fan, sometimes it made no difference, because the power supply was the major heat source.  By just opening the case or in extreme conditions adding gently air flow, the heating stopped.  

I say gentle air flow, becasue if you add too much airflow you will reduce the intake effeicency of the CPU fan and it will fail to cool and casue more overheating. 

Personally, I think your mobo and video card are history and it is time to build new.  Sorry that is not much help.

I forgot to mention, I did have one grip with the retail version, maybe it is cleared up with the Free version.  The textures you create when tiled sometimes do not blend as expected, and it kind of looks like a floor pattern.

That is nice, now I do not have to pay for the retail version anymore.

I am too old to get mad at anyone.  You might be interested in this URL;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_leak 

Yes I believe most would be better off staying with Win XP for the short term.

I have the 64 bit on its way and should install it in about two weeks to see what will occur and if I can get it stable.

So, in your Computer World, Software and Hardware have no relationship? Therefore, your Software runs in its own Virtual World, and the Hardware runs in its own Virtual Environment?

Then that would mean that if you Run Vue on your Hardware, it would have to happen by Immaculate Conception?

Interesting theory!!  

jc didn't start anything, you picked it up.  And if you were truely the gentleman you are trying to make yourself out to be, you would forget your frustration, and help solve the problem related to this thread.  Instead of trying to beat a dead horse, who cannot get up and go. 

This is my last post on this matter, because I am a gentleman, and I can see you are going to take this to the extreme, until you get satisfaction from VUE.

You should leave your disappointment and frustrations with Vue out of this discussion.

Whether Vue admits there is a memory leak is not important and does not mean that it is caused by bad programming.  It could easily be something else generic in nature, such as a changed dll they now have to deal with. What is important is the bugs get fixed.

Although you are entitled to your option, and you may have forgotten, so are the rest of us.

I have spent my whole life dealing with people concerning software and a few with your attitude.  But the fact always remains that a few will always be affected, by software and hardware incompatibility,  The rest of the 100, 000 or so users do not have the issues that you have with VUE.

Just as you post, “Injustice will be avenged!” You my friend are doing VUE a terrible injustice!!! And the rest of us will pay with delayed software and higher costs because of your continued vendetta.

A Forum is a community where people come together to solve and resolve issues, not a Soap Box Opera for the disenchanted!!

If you are concerned about installing Vista, there is another option called Virtual PC from Microsoft.

Overview

Save time and money as Virtual PC allows you to maintain the compatibility of legacy and custom applications during migration to new operating systems and increases the efficiency of support, development, and training staffs.

With Microsoft® Virtual PC 2007, you can create and run one or more virtual machines, each with its own operating system, on a single computer. This provides you with the flexibility to use different operating systems on one physical computer.

For more information about the ways you can use virtual machines, see Virtual PC at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=78095.

It comes in two forms, 32bit and 64bit, and is a 31 meg download.

Supported Operating Systems: Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86); Windows Server 2003, Standard x64 Edition; Windows Vista Business; Windows Vista Business 64-bit edition; Windows Vista Enterprise; Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit edition; Windows Vista Ultimate; Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit edition; Windows XP Professional Edition ; Windows XP Professional x64 Edition ; Windows XP Tablet PC Edition.

An x64-based or an x86-based computer with a 400 MHz or faster (1 GHz recommended) processor with L2 cache.

Processor: AMD Athlon/Duron, Intel Celeron, Intel Pentium II, Intel Pentium III, Intel Pentium 4, Intel Core Duo, and Intel Core2 Duo.

RAM: Add the RAM requirement for the host operating system that you will be using to the requirement for the guest operating system that you will be using. If you will be using multiple guest operating systems simultaneously, total the requirements for all the guest operating systems that you need to run simultaneously.

Available disk space: To determine the hard disk space required, add the requirement for each guest operating system that will be installed.

I do not get the Extras CD with Basic, and you have to order the 64 bit DVD.

Do you have Media Player installed and configured?

Some graphics cards do not support x64.  Check your graphics card to see if you have the correct x64 drivers installed.  Goto Control Panel and find Device Manager, and under Display adapters, right click on the graphics card name and select Properties, select the tab Drivers,  look through the Drivers Details.  Once you have the names of the files, you can search your drives and click on the files to get more info if needed.

If not go to the manufacturers web and see if they have updates.  If the new drivers do not work you can always roll back. 
  
Did you do the Windows upate and see if they have a new driver?  

I had trouble with my ViewSonic until Vista downloaded a new driver.

You are all correct to an extent. 

The incompatibility of software and hardware is a Vista wide issue. Vista was written for current hardware, about 2005 to newer, and software with new Security features that require a new type of installer that also requires a High Level Key (encrypted) from Microsoft an ID Identifier. This all lets MS know whether you have a friendly and currently written MS Installer and program or you are a security risk. 

Paula has a valid point, if you install current software with the new installer *.msp extension you should not have problems, but otherwise, you may encounter minor or even major problems, and that is why I provided the fix (workarounds) for installing. 

Also, beyond the User Accounts Control (UAC) you also have Windows Defender that monitors and scans for Malware, etc., and security risks as StartUp Programs. This program has the ability to stop, block software from running, and can actually remove a software package if a serious security threat. Even if you turn off Defender, the system has a backup that can also block or render software ineffective. It is all in the MS EULA.

Although my Plextor is new and the software is supposed to be Vista compatible, Vista will not allow the software to install in the Quick Launch bar, where Plextools will write to the Registry Keys. So I have to Lauch Plex Pro XL from the desktop each time I want to use it. The prog does not have the necessary Key to identify it as a friendly.   UAC will block opening the prog, the Shadow Clone will darken the screen to take a snapshot of the computer environment, and then I get the prompt, to Cancel or Allow running the software. 

In some cases if you do get an old prog installed, you may find it tries to access the MS Core environment, or the registry, and is deemed a security threat and may be disabled. In other cases when you have an old installer and add the prog, and find it won’t work, you may not be able to uninstall the program, because the installed has tried to put its file in an old area and now a Secure Folder. Access is denied and the file is lost in the system and the installer cannot find the new location.

Another consideration is that these new Secure areas, Folders and Files, are off limits even to the Administrator, and owned only by the System, and you cannot change privileged writes. If by some miracle you can get access and change or delete one of the Registry Keys or Secure Folders, you may be in for big trouble. I deleted one of the System Folders which only has pointers to other folders, and I took my desktop down. These are new Security features to stop attackers from reaching Core Files.

The 64 bit is only as stable as the system you install it on. I tried to install over Win XP SP2 and that will work, and does allow much of my old installed software to run, with the exception of Norton Internet Security, my DVD software programs, and a few older MetaCreations programs I had to ditch. However, after installation, I had a lot of errors and minor program difficulties. So I did a clean install, and it all went much better.   Remember the differences between 32 and 64, trying to install a 64 onto a 32, gets hairy if not impossible.

As for the Clean Install, You must install from the OS desktop, no CD disc Verification will work. There is an option to install into the current OS, and move all of contents of the partition to a single folder called Windows.old, which can access later, but cannot run the old OS.

Since I have worked with computer for such a long time, most of this stuff is a minor inconvenience. I just built a newer system three weeks ago to meet and match the Hardware Compatibility issues that Vista has, so I am current. Others that do not have completely compatible system hardware or configurations that meet the Vista Compatibity requirements may have problems. 

When you try to install Vista for the first time, Vista will do a complete system scan before install, that is the hardware, drivers, and software for any incompatibility issues. If Vista finds any issues it will tell you and then not install until you have corrected them.

Here are some of the Requirements. 

A fully ACPI compliant computer, that means all hardware, mobo, ps, and cpu. 

If you are going to run Vue, get a video card for your mobo, on board chipsets are good for word processing but do not support hardware accelaeration.

Drivers and software that meet the Vista Compatibility issue. Usually Anti-Virus Software, Firewall Blocks, DVD equipment and drivers, and other Utilities are the main source of concern. In my case it was Plextor, Norton, and Adobe Acrobat 6. The Auto Update of Adobe is a serious Security Threat and Vista would not allow me to install until the software was uninstalled. 

Note: When I tried to install Vista over Win XP, as soon as Vista was installed it blocked Norton, and Norton automatically sent me to the Web, removed my current Internet Security software, and then downloaded a new Vista compatible NIS. That is about how serious it gets. Luckily I know what I am doing, or I would not have any hair left.

Personally I have a lot of issues with MS, but I like the Vista desktop, graphically rich and incredible. And since I have a new system that hits the 5 scale on the Vista Performance scale nothing is running shabby. I can deal with all of the other garbage, but there are others that rely on specific hardware and software they may have to give up. So I would recommend you get a back partition software package and back up your current Installation just incase you do not find Vista compatible with your current system.

The other option is to install Vista into the current OS, Vista will not destroy the current Folder locations of the old OS as did previous editions. Or, repartition your harddrive and put Vista on a second drive letter and do the duel boot until your happy.

The 64 bit Premium edition has all of the nice software and extra perks, partition packup software, much more, and the new Areo transparent Desktop. You better met the 5 or better performance to run Areo and other graphic software on this system. And, I would suggest as much RAM as you can stuff in your system 4 gigs is nice, 8 gigs would be better if you are to run Vue. You might check eOn I think there is an issue about Duo Core versus Quad-core.

You did not say what mobo or power supply you have. 

Consider the following when purchasing a Video Card. If your mobo is 2 or more years old stay in the 7600 to 8000 range.  

Do not install an ATI in a mobo that uses an Nvidia. You are asking for trouble, irrespective of what others may tell you.

Do you have the older 20 pin or the newer 24 pin Power Supply, and what are the rated watts.

If you buy a card then consider whether Vue will support the card you want.

Does it support OpenGL and what version, 2 is current.

Check the required voltage the Video Card needs from the power supply, 300, 350 watts, etc. Do not underpower a video card.

What is the Bus type and version, the rated Bus voltage?  They all vary from Intel to AMD, old to new. 

Try to find out from your mobo manufacturer what cards are rated and tested for use.  
 

That should get you started.

Yes JC is correct, many do not read the specs for video cards when they buy and then have difficulties.  And, if that isn't enough Vue must support the card you buy.

Each card is rated for a specific power supply output, i.e. 300 or 350 watts, and is either 1.2, 1.5, or 2.0 OpenGl compatible.  You should also check the Bus version 1.5, 3.0 etc. and the Bus voltage 3 volts, 1.8, etc to make sure your new card is compoletely compatible with your mobo and power supply. 

Another difficulty you may encounter is using the Windows Model Graphic drivers which are often only 1.2 OpenGl compatible.  Sometimes they work sometime they do not.  YOu should use the drivers that came with the Video Card, and do not be tempted to upgrade the drivers, work with what came on the CD to make sure thing will work and then install updated drivers.  That way if they do not work you will know what will.

If you are not sure then go to the manufacturers web sites and get the specs.

Yes, swap the system or get a video card.  OpenGl Hardware acceleration is not supported for onboard graphics chips. 

Get an Nvidia GeForce 7600 GS or GT with 256 mem as a minimum.  Shoud be about $120 to 130.  NewEgg has some sales going on, or back to Fry's.