your obviously a knowledgeable guy, tech-savvy.
I would think someone of your caliber wouldnt bother with FR, I certainly hope you have crossposted this to more than a few tech forums.
Install Linux Mint. Install Virtual Box. Install Vista in a VirtualBox. Live happily ever after....
Are you thinking Widows 10 might get installed? The last I heard, Vista was not eligible for a FREE upgrade, so unless you would pay-— no you would not.
Windows Vista went end-of-support 4 years ago.
Either install Windows 7. And update it via:
http://download.wsusoffline.net/
Or, as others have suggested, simply install Linux Mint. . .
Vista was a sorry system when it was new. If I couldn’t take it to either XP or 7, I’d probably just opt for a suitable Linux distribution to end up with a usable box.
Rule of thumb - starting with 3 (bad), 3.1 (good), 95 (bad), 98 (good), ME (bad), XP (good), Vista (bad), 7 (good), 8/8.1 (bad), 9 (would have been good; not released), 10 (bad).
My Brother-in-Law gave me his old HP laptop which also has Vista.
It must have had a thousand viruses on it. I am not very computer savvy but eventually got it to do a complete reinstall which did clear all the virus.
It will not update so I have just been using it as is, but basically it just sits there for weeks at a time.
Dump Windows and use Linux.
Hi ducttape45,
A few days ago we were discussing something similar (except on Win-7). It seems that when a machine gets too far behind in patching and with so many patching wanting to install in a specific order Windows Update can get confused and not respnd properly.
You may want to try what fellow FReeper gattaca wrote here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3455677/posts?page=64#64
I can’t say for sure if it will work on Vista like it works on 7 but it’s worth a try.
Good luck!
~rockrr~
#NEVERTEN
I have Vista on one of my machines. Took awhile to get use to it. XP Pro on everything else. And Malwarebytes on the look out.
I am a PC addict, with about a dozen PCs that I keep running, for various reasons. I was a Microsoft DOS fan until they introduced Windows 3.1. (I never tired Windows 3.0). It was the worst thing I’d ever seen. I was a Windows hater until Windows 7 came along. It was quite acceptable. Windows 10 is even a little bit better. Just roll with the punches.
I had this problem the other day. If you have replaced the actual hard drive, you may need to install a legacy version of intel rapid storage technology driver. I did the whole banana; renaming software distribution folder stopped and started all the WU services you name it.
The intel rst did the trick. BTW I manage our WSUS at work for about 1K clients. WSUS is very temperamental so I wouldnt recommend it unless you are using AD w group policy.
Also, the trick with Win 10 is to opt out of all the “services” at the very beginning and do not sign in with an email account or microsoft acct. Just make a regular local account. Especially if you will not be doing your own computer repairs.
I also skip Cortana and don’t go with the serving suggestion, i.e. embedded viewers for default programs.
I have that problem times 2.
I question your statement above. One of my PCs is a Lenovo laptop which got updated by stealth (I left it in sleep mode overnight.)
Turns out that this Windows 7 model from Lenovo is incompatible with Windows 10; Period. I don't have further info, perhaps a BIOS update?I was able to revert it to Windows 7, but haven't been able to restore software previously on it. Windows kindly removed it permanently.
The other is more problematic. It is my newest PC, a Lenovo i5 desktop, Win8/8.1/10 attempt. This was a deliberate attempt on my part willingly to upgrade to Win10. Before I realized that all my (relatively recent) and expensive purchased software is incompatible with Windows 10) Originally a Windows 7 Pro machine.
I am waiting for a class action suit to join.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/13853/windows-lifecycle-fact-sheet
If Windows Update is broken in Vista, try the solution here:
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/windows-update-not-working
After you clear out the SoftwareDistribution folder and start Windows Update again, let it run its "Checking for updates..." for a very long time, at least eight hours, perhaps much longer. Eventually the list of updates will probably appear.
I have a Acer 5515 that I bought used about 5 years ago. It started with Vista Basic 32bit locked in. I had to go into the bios to get it to allow me to switch it to Windows 7-64bit.
I run Windows 10 64bit on it now. It works great. I did have to add 2 gig of memory to it to make it work as well as it does, but, memory is cheap.
Personally, I’d upgrade it as far as you can.
On another point, I have a second hard disc for it that I pop into it and run Fedora on it. It’s time to upgrade that drive.
If you don’t like 10, then go to 7 and hope your friend will be happy.
You can get a new computer for 200-300 bucks. Your time is worth more than this.
...a fully updated Vista 64 in my opinion is a GREAT version of Windows, and my favorite version at present, although at some point failing security and driver updates will kill it. Not yet though, it is great right now.
Those who reflexively malign Vista have not tried it fully patched on stable modern hardware. It is a solid, stable, fast OS that all who pine for WinXP should try. I am running Vista 64 Ultimate on a nice slightly overclocked I7 right now. It is my "fun" computer. I own a Win 7 Ultimate full version disk set that I got for the future when I have to upgrade it (you have to use the exact same version to upgrade), but Vista 64 is the system I would rather run, so I am not doing that upgrade that until I am forced to.
Summary: Vista 64 fully updated = GOOD.
So, how to get VISTA fully updated?
FIRST, only do "Windows Update" and do NOT do "Microsoft Update" because Microsoft Update takes a LOT longer to check your computer for updates. Only change to Microsoft Update after Window is fully updated.
SECOND, you want to get it up to "service pack 2" (SP2) and then do whatever else there is after that. So ONLY do service pack 2 (SP2) update at first, and as a result you will not need a lot of the other updates. If SP2 has a prerequisite (I forget) then ONLY do that first (such as service pack 1 (SP1)) and it will save a lot of time.
THIRD, there is no doubt that Microsoft has changed how its Windows Update works: it has made it SUCK. On purpose. Punishment. For not submitting to Windows 10. Mostly it will work but it is very slow.
Moreover, one of the things I note is that Microsoft for all its liberalism [HYPOCRITICALLY, do ya think?] has decided that "illegal aliens" in its ecosystem must be punished. It checks IDs or you cannot fully access basic public services like Windows Update. In fact, it badly checks IDs, slowly checks IDs, even calls us illegal when we are legal, and DENIES us apparently second class citizens "the vote," only giving us bare minimum updates, really slowly, and not the other updates.
What I have found that helps is to be sure to have a photo-ID for Windows (unlike what Bill Gates thinks is OK for voting, nothing), meaning be sure Windows KNOWS that Windows is "activated." It forgets you much more often (now that their policy is to harass users of older OSs), thinking that your system or hardware has changed, etc. Go to StartMenu / ControlPanel / System and scroll to the bottom for activation status, and be sure that it indicates that your windows system is "activated" before you try to update, and it will work better. If not activated, waiting on that screen while connected to the internet can help, or clicking the link to activate can help, and sometimes you actually have to CALL Microsoft and they will activate it over the phone if you provide certain details like Product ID which are also on that page.
Other than that, it just seems like you have to wait a long time for updates.
I do not fully understands the thing you were doing with stopping updates with the task manager, but I will experiment with that if I face this type of thing in the near future.
Godspeed on this!
W
Hi! I’m on Vista right now. Love it. Very few problems since Jan 2009.