Don't Blame Vista - Troubleshoot

I hear many complaints about Windows Vista. Vista is the new kid on the block, and has to prove itself. It is easy to blame Vista when it comes to installing a program or a new printer, does not work. It is so easily to forget that people with Windows XP has similar if not more issues.

I can not remember the last time I have had a Vista computer was so infected with malicious software that I had to wipe the hard drive and reinstall the operating system. However, it was just last week that I wiped the hard drive and reinstalled Windows XP on a computer.

Saturday, I was called out to clients home, who had bought a two Vista computer along with two Lexmark printer scanner All-in-One's. This couple was ready to take their computer's back to their old Windows XP computers.

After going though some basic troubleshooting steps, I found that the printer was unplugged from the back of the printer. They was embarrassed that all that was wrong was the printer was unplugged.

External Hardware Devices

Last year when Windows Vista was first released to the public, there was a lot of complaints about Vista is not compatible to certain hardware especially older hardware. When I first heard these reports, I went out to test and see what older hardware would work or not work. To my surprise I found more printers, scanners, and other external hardware devices that actually worked.

After my big move, I had lost my drawing pad for my computer. So in a desperate search through Boise Idaho, I had found one. It plugged into the USB port of my work computer. I installed the drivers and it was good to go.

The new one was named Bambo. Because it had several new features I had to sit through the tutorial just to use it. I was pleasantly surprise that Windows Vista came with many new feature which allow me to personally sign my Outlook email.

Bambo pad has built in many regular mouse features. I could almost not use my trackball mouse. In the past 24 hours I have begun to enjoy my Windows Vista computer even more.

Ready Boost - Tweak

USB thumb memory sticks are not the only way to get ready boost performance. Since USB memory sticks protruding from a computer or a laptop are easy to get knocked out. If your computer has a Secure Digital or CompactFlash card reader, you can use those media in place of a USB stick for Ready Boost.

All you need to do is put in you memory card, then when the window pops up what you want to do select Speed up my system.

NOTE: Don't have on your USB drive or SD and pictures or files that are important. You may loose them. If you use Ready Boost, have a flash card or USB drive specific for that purpose.

Drivers Drive the Hardware

Drivers are a little piece of software that helps the operating system talk to the hardware of a computer. In the case of a printers and other external device, a driver is a computer program allows interaction with that hardware device.

The communication breakdown between Windows Vista and the computer hardware has been the main complaint about Vista. This is nothing new. Even today, people are having issues with Windows XP and certain hardware device drivers.

What makes Windows Vista so difficult for some people is how different Vista looks in comparison to Windows XP. Because the look is different there are a few people forget how to get to the device manager. So let us review how to get to the Device (Driver) Manager.

• Left click on Start Orb
• Go to the Control Panel
• Left click on System
• Then on Device Manager in the left margin
• Right-click the device you want and choose Properties
• On the next window you can have a look at the driver situation
• Then, click on Driver tab and update Driver

In the next window you can locate the driver on your computer manually or let the wizard look for it,also on the Internet if you are connected. In some case something goes wrong or the device has problems, click on Rollback and Windows brings you back to the previous driver.