Hi,
I'm thinking of buying a new computer and it has the new Vista operative system. If I buy it, I'd need to transfer all my old files and programs from this XP computer to the new Vista one.
I know that there might be some issues with the compatibility with the softwares when running on a new operative system.
I do NOT intend to use this XP computer to upgrade to Vista, I only need the programs and files from it.
Now I'm wondering if I have more to worry about before buying the new computer.
If anyone has had the same thoughts regarding this and got it sorted after buying the Vista, can you please tell me more about what to think of before making the deal.

I'm also wondering how to connect the PCs together when transferring the files between them. Which cable is needed?

Ex. of programs that I use now, and intend to use with the new Vista:
-Office 2002
-Games that had XP as requirement (The Sims 2?)
-Macromedia Dreamweaver 2002, Flash 8 Pro...
-Adobe Bridge, Illustrator, Photoshop...

And a graphics card, ATI RADEON 9200SE, will it work?

Hope to get some help regarding this ASAP.
Thanks.
Regards
Kimmi

Microsoft Vista Upgrade Advisor is what you want:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pr...

I'd need to transfer all my old files and programs from this XP computer to the new Vista one

I would not do it. IMO It's better to keep your Vista clean without any programs designed specifically for XP for greater system stability.

i_XpUser

"I would not do it. IMO It's better to keep your Vista clean without any programs designed specifically for XP for greater system stability."

Unless there's a known compatibility issue which the upgrade adviser should identify in advance, there is no reason to do this. Your apps should run fine. The only exceptions are OS specific utility type stuff like anti-virus that flat out was not designed for use with Vista. Of the list you provided, those all should work to my knowledge.

You really can't transfer programs. You can transfer settings for them as well as files you've created using them. Use the Windows Easy Transfer utility for that.

TECH-NO-LOGICAL ROMANCE!

http://www.homestarrunner.com/tgs12.html

There are several problems with Vista and Microsoft's own software.

Not all other software is to blame. MS has a lot of problems with it's own stuff. and Vista.

Sometimes I think I understand everything, then I regain consciousness

Such as?

It's stuff like this that lead people to believe Vista has horrible compatibility issues with lots of apps. That's simply not the case. There are some, but most apps that ran in XP run in Vista fine.

I have numerous apps I ran in XP. Not a single one had a problem with Vista aside from what I mentioned before: OS specific things like AV, software firewall, those kinds of things. Some gave me warnings there are known compatibility issues (older OEM version of Nero for example), and yet they still ran fine. Even Itunes, which has had some documented issues, it still runs fine.

This includes Office 2003, Visio 2003, Frontpage 2003, Microsoft Money 2002, WinRAR, Firefox, Ventrilo, VMWare client, WinSCP... I could keep going...

It also includes games not specifically made to run in Vista such as Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, Operation Flashpoint, Armed Assault Demo...

My wife runs a whole bunch of stuff that I don't. I recently replaced her XP machine with a Vista machine. Every single one of her apps runs in Vista perfectly fine. That includes things like Dreamweaver and Adobe Photoshop 7, some older version of Print Shop, Family Tree Maker, Hallmark Greeting Card maker app, Microsoft Digital Image Suite 2006...

So it makes me wonder when people claim even "Microsoft has a lot of problems with its own stuff and Vista", it really makes me wonder where that information came from.

Are there apps that have compatibility issues? No doubt there are, but they're the exceptions, not the rules. Most things run fine in Vista.

TECH-NO-LOGICAL ROMANCE!

http://www.homestarrunner.com/tgs12.html

Outlook will arbitrarily quote the wrong text in an e-mail when the reply or forward buttons are hit making for a potentially embarrassing situation.

And Frontpage will not post certain links or pictures when published to a web page.

This person writes a news letter along with other things and in his newsletter he often comments on Vista that he uses for his business.

http://www.travelinsider.com/enewsl...

And I ddin't say horrible issues, just issues. Someone has to counter your unbridled enthusiasm.

I don't mind you being a big fan of MS but to gloss over their problems is akin to being a flack for them and I don't think that was your intention.

Larry

Sometimes I think I understand everything, then I regain consciousness

No public links, and you're not even identifying what version of Outlook or Frontpage you're referring to.

And who is this guy? A tech expert? How do you know Vista is the culprit, not just him blaming Vista erroneously?

I don't see any reports online of other people who have the same issues. My own experiences with these apps on Vista contradict him as well.

Do you really expect me to believe this? Do you really think that siting this as a source is good evidence to back up your claim? I'm sure you don't mean to come off as a Vista hater for no good reason, right?

I'm sure if I look hard enough, I could also find the one dentist out of five who also doesn't recommend using a toothpaste with fluoride in it, too.

It's not about being a fan of Microsoft. It's about being honest about things. I don't slam a product from Microsoft because it's from Microsoft, or it's new, or that because I see it happen in Vista, that it MUST BE Vista's fault. I don't slam a product because other people claim they're having problems and are blaming Vista when it could be many other things causing the problem.

"Enough, enough bowing down to disillusion!
Hats off & applause to rogues & evolution!
The ripple effect is too good not to mention.
If you’re not affected, you’re not paying attention!"

Rather than studying your MS public relation bulletins i recommend you do some real world tech support!

Any shabby linux distro now offers better hardware support than MS Windows, may that be scanners, printers, digi cams, web cams, usb sound devices, etc. ... let alone the horrors of audio and video drivers.

Any shabby linux distro offers more software in its repository than you'll find in the Windows Vista Software Compatibility List
http://www.iexbeta.com/wiki/index.p...

Vista (or Windows Me Two as the folks at The Inq now call it :-) is far from being ready. People who buy Vista only pay MS for being lab rats.

Today's subliminal thought is: 'Calm down ... it's only ones and zeros.'

LOL, I'm a Senior Network Engineer. You might rethink claiming the person you're talking to doesn't do "real technical support".

I wouldn't dare have the audacity to assume what you do on a daily basis. I simply asked for real world data you can site from reputable sources, or your own experiences. You haven't provided any of it, and when I point that out, you go back to driver compatibility. Fine, I'll shoot that crap out of the water, too...

"Any shabby linux distro now offers better hardware support than MS Windows, may that be scanners, printers, digi cams, web cams, usb sound devices, etc. ... let alone the horrors of audio and video drivers."

If you mean there are drivers for more hardware out there? Sure. Do you mean linux drivers are better maintained for new hardware than Windows? No.

The majority of users run Windows. Driver manufacturers make drivers that earn them reputations to sell more hardware, so they obviously focus more on Windows drivers first than Linux drivers.

Why does Linux have drivers for more hardware? Simple - when the driver manufacturers abandon or don't write drivers at all for the hardware, the open source community often steps up and writes those drivers, to their credit.

Are these drivers better quality than what the hardware makers themselves write for windows? Very often not, especially on newer hardware where these people may not be fully aware of how to take advantage of everything in the product.

You also are failing to understand that when an OS, no matter if it be linux or Windows, is at its core more radically different than previous versions, it very often takes time for drivers to be coded to work properly.

So to compare linux which hasn't had such a significant core kernel change in quite sometime that would impact driver functionality to Vista is as fair as comparing XP to when the last major revision to the linux kernel came out in 2003, which still didn't significantly impact driver design that much compared to 2.4, is just silly.

As bad as supposedly Vista is for hardware compatibility, all my hardware in my machine and my wife's machine are fully functional aside from my ATI HDTV tuner card, which even ATI's XP drivers sucked for. This isn't Vista's fault. I have a Compro TV tuner card I bought I think five years ago, it works. My wife has a five year old scanner from Cannon, and it works.

Will Vista run on a P3 800 chip I got laying in my closet that I don't use? No.

Do I care? No.

And last but not least, Microsoft does not code most drivers for Windows. If your hardware vendor doesn't have drivers for your hardware, how is this Microsoft's fault?! Vista was around in pre-release form for quite sometime before the public release. If hardware manufacturers didn't bother to code drivers, there's no excuse except they have shoddy support for their products.

And don't get me wrong, I like linux, I use a linux firewall and I have an ubuntu box on an older p4 I have hooked up to my digital piano. I don't consider it overall better or worse than windows.

"Enough, enough bowing down to disillusion!
Hats off & applause to rogues & evolution!
The ripple effect is too good not to mention.
If you’re not affected, you’re not paying attention!"

While the fault for many of the driver-related issues besetting most home users making the transition to Vista may not lay squarely at M$' door, they can not be totally absolved from all guilt in the grand scheme of things.

There's got to be some cross-communication going on between M$ & these hardware vendors & helping them line their pockets by not having Vista support several mainstream (& relatively recent) peripherals is something they ought to chastised for or at least complain about.

I have an AIO X125 from Lexmark that works fine in all versions of Windows prior to Vista & I'm not very pleased that I have to get rid of it prematurely because these two (M$ & Lexmark) have decided in cahoots that it's tough luck. Furthermore, what is to stop the same incident from repeating itself if I upgraded to a Vista compatible Lexmark printer two years from now when Vienna debuts - I gotta buy another one - huh?

While many of Vista's vilification may be undeserved, some of the complaints are quite valid IMHO. I know Vista is here to stay & it has gotten M$ laughing hysterically to the bank based on recent press releases. However, as a very early adopter I have gotten to really explorer the OS more than most home users. But I strongly refuse to get rid of my printer especially since it can't be considered a relic & it has no problems for crying out loud - so, for that reason I will maintain the XP machine for as long as I realistically can.

On the other hand though, I'd hate to be that guy that forks over some $200+ for "Home Premium" only to realize a significant hardware is not going to make the Vista cut. This is where the disappointment have been kicking in ;-(

"I have an AIO X125 from Lexmark that works fine in all versions of Windows prior to Vista & I'm not very pleased that I have to get rid of it prematurely because these two (M$ & Lexmark) have decided in cahoots that it's tough luck. Furthermore, what is to stop the same incident from repeating itself if I upgraded to a Vista compatible Lexmark printer two years from now when Vienna debuts - I gotta buy another one - huh?"

I feel your pain, but I don't see how you know Microsoft and Lexmark are "in cahoots together".

"Enough, enough bowing down to disillusion!
Hats off & applause to rogues & evolution!
The ripple effect is too good not to mention.
If you’re not affected, you’re not paying attention!"