just installed it and it's up and running.
Looks good, works fine but slow. problem is: the upgrade version wasn't available, so the only other option was a clean installation. It's using a lot of space on my C-drive and slowing it down. It has made a second map with old windows, one I almost didn't dare remove but also can't apparantly because of management settings. Does anybody know what to do, because I just want vista so I can start reinstalling my software and get this pc up and running like before, but now with Vista.
thx

I strongly recommend you don't use Vista Beta 2 as your main OS (use it as a tester because thats what its for). I've been running it for the past year (I've been upgrading my computer from the November CTP, December CTP, Feburary CTP and since then MSDN Beta 2 was released I've been using it) for testing purposes for work via MSDN (so we get it on the MSDN release as opposed to public releases). If you run it for about 1 month it slows down to a point of not really being usable (a clean format is the only solution)... Microsoft haven't yet optimized the performance with it.

Second thing is that Vista software compatibility relative to XP is very poor, I very much doubt you'll be able to get all your current software installed simply because it won't work (the architecture of Vista has changed a fair amount from XP). Things like Zonealarm (infact most firewalls) and most antiviruses won't work (I use AVAST from my work vista machine and thats the only one I know other than Norton Antivirus Corp 10 Vista release), normal things like Nero Burner 7 doesn't install (Nero 6 does though).

With regard to your question, I'm not entirely sure what you mean? Do you mean you want to have a dual boot? Or do you mean you want the computer to boot directly to Vista?

Either way, its your computer, but just giving you my experience from using it for the past year

Good luck

I've been tempted to install Vist but haven't since my computer is below the recomended specs. I only have 512MB memory and from the reviews I have read Vista eats up something like 700MB. More over I doubt that I would be able to install all my current software and drives without any problems.

Interested to give this a run. I'm sure the IT guy has a machine set up somewhere around here.

Still appears that Windows will remain the conceptual mess we know and love. I know plenty of you will disagree.

LOL. Funny pic.

I reckon Vista will be a good change. It seems to be much more of a difference than anything from 95 to XP. On the other hand, it's probably still not essential.

Office 2007 looks pretty good though. If I didn't already have Office 2003 I would get it sometime when it comes out.

My Pornography.

I was almost fooled.

"This may lead to piracy which funds terrorism..."

Lol...

I almost tried to click on it!

BTW, I like My 'legal' downloads, if that was my computer that folder would be completely empty!

I'm going to wait until Vista comes out properly until I use it, I don't like things that don't work properly, and although I have heard that there have been no problems with this beta 2 version yet, I still wouldn't trust it!

I think that "Legal" is a joke - they actually mean illegal. The picture is of a donkey - probably alluding to eDonkey, which I think is a file sharing program.

Regarding the OS being slow, first keep in mind it's still a Beta. Furthermore, the major thing slowing it down is the Aero interface, which is optimised for DirectX10. And since your video card is a DX9 part at best, alot of the processing is done through emulation instead of in the hardware (which is much much faster).

Also, you might have some devices/drivers slowing you down. Goto the "Performance Rating and Tools" in the Control Panel and check if they are any performance warning. I got several warnings with some built-in drivers that I needed to upgrade (many manufacturers have beta versions of vista drivers).

I'm running an Athlon64 3700, nForce4, 1GB RAM, GeForce7600GT256 and it's pretty good with updated drivers.