Does anyone else find that Windows Vista is slower than XP?

The Crusader · #1 12-08-2008, 10:29 AM

Does anyone else find that Windows Vista is slower than XP? certainly I can't be the only one.
I have basically a brand new HP (m8430f) with Vista 64 bit and 4GB of ram at home and I find it too be considerably slower than my older (6 years) HP Pavilion 790 which has Windows XP and 2 GB ram. And slower than my Sony Vaio, also about 6 years old, with 1.5 GB ram. I still use all 3 computers.
anybody else experience this?
is it possible to uninstall Vista and install XP? or a different system and still use my everyday software?

Georynn · #2 12-08-2008, 10:41 AM

I had to turn off a bunch of crap that launches at startup.
Who the heck needs a gadget bar?

After that it Runs like a scalded dog, and boots in under 30 seconds...

Andrew.Glose · #3 12-08-2008, 10:44 AM

Ha.

No.

If your machine came with Vista on it, I'd be extremely cautious about installing XP in it's place. You're going to have to get all your drivers in order and be able to re-install them, so that functions will still work.

WalterBush · #4 12-08-2008, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Georynn

I had to turn off a bunch of crap that launches at startup.
Who the heck needs a gadget bar?

After that it Runs like a scalded dog, and boots in under 30 seconds...

I had the same experience...turn a bunch of stuff off, like welcome screens I don't want, and it runs a lot faster.

IIRC, before SP2, XP had the same problem.

Selta · #5 12-08-2008, 10:45 AM

I've only found Vista to be slow when people try to run it on hardware too old for it to run well on.
My system boots to a useable state in about 30 seconds or so. I have a fair amount of start up apps as well. But of course, I have a pretty sweet system, too.
Just stating how much RAM you have is useless. That doesn't give us a picture of the whole system.
XP is always going to be faster on a system regardless. It takes much less resources than Vista, and has been patched endlessly for years now.
All of my systems at home run Vista, with the exception of the file server and the ESX server.

mjolnir · #6 12-08-2008, 10:48 AM

Vista is a more taxing OS simply because it runs more applications in the background than XP. Also, all the prettiness that by default is turned on uses your graphics processor as well as a measure of your CPU and RAM on a regular basis, even when nothing else is going on.

To answer your question about downgrading, yes, XP can be installed on a machine with Vista on it, but as I have recently discovered some newer computers that come prepackaged with Vista may lack driver support for XP on certain bits of hardware within which could cause some problems.

awakefie · #7 12-08-2008, 10:49 AM

I have it on 4 machines.

Speeds fine on them. But then I shut off the gadget bar on all but my daughter's.

The only speed issue I've discovered is network transfers seem slower. But that may be my network too.

Selta · #8 12-08-2008, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awakefie

I have it on 4 machines.

Speeds fine on them. But then I shut off the gadget bar on all but my daughter's.

The only speed issue I've discovered is network transfers seem slower. But that may be my network too.

Have you installed all of the updates? I noticed this too previous to the SP1 update bundle. Mine have VERY MUCH improved since then. I don't have an XP machine to directly compare it to, but from what I can remember, it feels just as fast.

NJL · #9 12-08-2008, 11:01 AM

when you buy a new machine, always use the disks to reload all the original stuff that you NEED. don't install all the crap you don't need or use.

you choose, not them.

Selta · #10 12-08-2008, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJL

when you buy a new machine, always use the disks to reload all the original stuff that you NEED. don't install all the crap you don't need or use.

you choose, not them.

Buy? People still do that?

I kid, I kid. I don't think I could ever deal with the bloatware and crap that comes on those pre-built boxes.

The Crusader · #11 12-08-2008, 11:12 AM

here's my system:
Hard Drive 750GB Serial ATA/300 7200 rpm
Processor Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Quad Core 2.4GHz
4 gb ram

this computer should fly, but doesn't.
I've turned some stuff off, deleted some stuff that I would never use. tried to upgrade the memory, but couldn't for some reason

(hmm, I've done it b4 numerous times)

this computer has never run right no matter how I tweak it. harddrive makes noise. gotta wonder if something just ain't right.

FL Knifemaker · #12 12-08-2008, 11:14 AM

Vista SUCKS. It also causes problems with my CAD software. I have 3 computers that came with Vista that are now running XP. As soon as my CAD software is made to run trouble free on a Mac, I will switch to Macs.

Selta · #13 12-08-2008, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Crusader

here's my system:
Hard Drive 750GB Serial ATA/300 7200 rpm
Processor Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Quad Core 2.4GHz
4 gb ram

this computer should fly, but doesn't.
I've turned some stuff off, deleted some stuff that I would never use. tried to upgrade the memory, but couldn't for some reason

(hmm, I've done it b4 numerous times)

this computer has never run right no matter how I tweak it. harddrive makes noise. gotta wonder if something just ain't right.

You're right, that system should be pretty quick. I wouldn't worry about the RAM so much. I have 8GM in my primary system, but never even come close to using it. I have 4GB in the others, and 2GB in that laptop.
If the HDD is making a clicking noise, that's generally the first sign of one going bad. Does it sound like it spins up/down a lot as well?
I would look at replacing that and seeing if it helps at all. HDDs are so stupid cheap for the most part anymore.
When are you noticing it being slow? Always? When booting only?
I'd also run memtest86 on it for awhile just to make sure you're not having some memory issue that's bad enough to effect performance but not enough to cause BSOD.

Selta · #14 12-08-2008, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FL Knifemaker

Vista SUCKS. It also causes problems with my CAD software. I have 3 computers that came with Vista that are now running XP. As soon as my CAD software is made to run trouble free on a Mac, I will switch to Macs.

Which CAD software are you running?
Also, just because their developers cannot program probably for their lives and didn't keep up with "current" tech, doesn't mean that's Vista/MS's fault.

I always love reading posts like that

.

Georynn · #15 12-08-2008, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray Salamon

I've only found Vista to be slow when people try to run it on hardware too old for it to run well on.
My system boots to a useable state in about 30 seconds or so. I have a fair amount of start up apps as well. But of course, I have a pretty sweet system, too.
Just stating how much RAM you have is useless. That doesn't give us a picture of the whole system.
XP is always going to be faster on a system regardless. It takes much less resources than Vista, and has been patched endlessly for years now.
All of my systems at home run Vista, with the exception of the file server and the ESX server.

Hey,
I thought I was the only one with an ESX server at home...

FL Knifemaker · #16 12-08-2008, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray Salamon

Which CAD software are you running?
Also, just because their developers cannot program probably for their lives and didn't keep up with "current" tech, doesn't mean that's Vista/MS's fault.

I always love reading posts like that

.

Great! Glad you found it entertaining

Georynn · #17 12-08-2008, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FL Knifemaker

Great! Glad you found it entertaining

I've had a few problems getting good performance out of autodesk software a couple of times and found that it just doesn't run well on Vista. They are gonna be addressing this soon I believe...

Selta · #18 12-08-2008, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Georynn

Hey,
I thought I was the only one with an ESX server at home...

Hah definitely not. I have one and a good friend here at work does as well.
Best use of resouces, ever? I think so! I only have four VMs running on mine at the moment, though. LAMP, SQL, DC and a sandbox. Every now and then I standup a *nix VM and such, but those aren't running 24x7.

Selta · #19 12-08-2008, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Georynn

I've had a few problems getting good performance out of autodesk software a couple of times and found that it just doesn't run well on Vista. They are gonna be addressing this soon I believe...

My AutoCAD 2002 runs fine

.
I refuse to pay for the new versions. I got the one I have for almost-free through school. It gets everything done that I need.