I have had nothing but head aches since buying my new laptop with Vista installed. At first I thought I would immediately pay the money to downgrade it (it did not come with the option) to XP which I like. But I loaded Office and a few other programs that have limited or single unlocks and decided I’d give Vista a chnace.
Well I have become a lot more knowledgeable about computers the last two weeks (but far from knowing anything) but Vista and the bullshit way it operates is still a mystery to me. For example I reloaded WKO to the new laptop (legally). Of course you can Migrate your files to the Data folder and it exists, but the data is missing from your athlete profile. Many things in Vista can exist in one window, but be missing in another window,but the same folder. Say within a program and trying to find it in the Program Files.
So I decided to first move the program out of Program Files, no go. Then I decided to try and change the Compatibility and changed it to run in XP. VOila!!! It worked and My athlete automatically updated with all my past workout files. Excellent, I did it myself!
SO I decided I have been having the same problems with files not showing up in the Rider Performance folder in Computrainer 3DV3 so let me change that to XP Compatibility!! Nada, program locks up on start-up…ARRRGGGHhhhhhhhh…
Someone needs to bitch slap someone at Microsoft over this. I am NO computer whizz you can tell so this is even more maddening. I have to go trough twice as much aggravation as an expert to figure out little problems with simple little functions that should JUST WORK!!
I cannot believe the BS I have to go through to find a ride file or download an upgrade to a program or save files into folders or assign a program to open up a specific kind of file type!! I did download a great program called Creative Element Power Tools which I recommend to anyone struggling with files and file associations in Vista. It has helped me, but doesnt solve everything.
Sort of. I mean they work. They are just not smooth when it comes to files and folders of rider data. ONce I made WKO XP comptible the files showed up. Tomorrow after a CT ride I’ll know if my ride file from the workout will end up in the rider performance file. <and from there I’ll export the file to wko. Those steps worked flawlessly in my PC running XP. Actually what I think I will do is just right click on the file in the rider perrformance folder and I hope it autmatically launches in WKO. That is if the file even ends up in the folder to begin with…
I’m running it on 32 bit vista and it’s fine. My wife is on 64 bit and it was fine until just recently she started getting the BSOD every time she tried to download her SRM. SRMWin too all of the sudden. Anyway, I checked and that’s when I found out it wasn’t 64 bit compatible. I asked if they planned to support 64 bit and if so when. At this point they don’t have any plans to do so.
BTW, I haven’t had any problem finding my WKO+ files, but holy crap when I try and find a native SRM file from SRMWin, it takes me forever to find it. It it not at all where I would expect it and of course I do it so rarely I forget where I found it last time. I guess I should put a shortcut on my desktop next time.
I am opening a new office and am going to use digital xray and computerized patient notes. None of these types of programs are Vista compatible and you cannot find a computer with XP in any retail store.
Someone needs to bitch slap someone at Microsoft over this
Actually, you need to bitch slap someone at RacerMate and TrainingPeaks. Neither of which are Vista certified.
That said, I use WKO at it works fine on Vista Ultimate, sans all the features of Vista. No problems with conversion. You probably screwed up when you installed it. FWIW, after you download the .exe, RIGHT click and run as administrator.
IMO, Program files isn’t the place to be storing data for numerous reasons. But…that’s a different issue.
My change over to Vista was very smooth…simply saved the files to an external HD and then copied over to the new directory. Had to manually load into WKO, but that was maybe 5min worth of work.
If needed, perhaps we can start a wiki for these type of community IT scenarios. I agree…you shouldn’t have to be a computer whiz to accomoplish this…yet taking matters into your own hands can sometime do more harm than good.
Next time I suggest you buy a Mac. I even considered giving up any and all tools (eg WKO) that only run on Windows in favor of anything (eg Raceday) that runs on OS X. Keep in mind this is coming from someone who worked for Msft for 8 years. Mac OS X is just a far superior OS, imho.
Btw, does anyone know the status of developing WKO on OS X? I’ve searched everywhere but see no indication that they’re even interested in porting it to OS X. I think this would be a huge mistake – they will definitely lose me as a customer of this is the case.
Next time I suggest you buy a Mac. I even considered giving up any and all tools (eg WKO) that only run on Windows in favor of anything (eg Raceday) that runs on OS X. Keep in mind this is coming from someone who worked for Msft for 8 years. Mac OS X is just a far superior OS, imho.
Btw, does anyone know the status of developing WKO on OS X? I’ve searched everywhere but see no indication that they’re even interested in porting it to OS X. I think this would be a huge mistake – they will definitely lose me as a customer of this is the case.
Thanks, Chris
Why not just run WKO+ in parallels? I don’t have a Mac but a friend of mine uses that type if ‘work around’ all the time for PC only apps and it’s pretty sweet. Makes me want a mac :-).
Why not just run WKO+ in parallels? I don’t have a Mac but a friend of mine uses that type if ‘work around’ all the time for PC only apps and it’s pretty sweet. Makes me want a mac :-).
-David
Because that still doesn’t solve them problem of needing XP or Vista. Just because it’s running as a v-image doesn’t mean it’s going to work better, right? The fundamental problem is Windows (XP/Vista), not necessarily the app. When it comes down to it I’d rather switch to Raceday then deal with the pain of Windows. Again, this is coming from someone who worked for the freakin’ company. My only point in making that statement is that I’m obviously not a blind Mac biggot.
Btw, I wouldn’t run in it parallels, I would use VMWare. Parallels works but VMWare is better, imho.
I am opening a new office and am going to use digital xray and computerized patient notes. None of these types of programs are Vista compatible and you cannot find a computer with XP in any retail store.
I know you can get a Dell with XP not sure if you have a microcenter near you but they were selling some PC’s with the XP downgrade option also.
Just checked Best Buy’s website they sell 2 one online only with xp home, and one with xp professional that looks like it should be in stores also
I would think the supplier of the digital x ray and computerized patient notes software should be able to tell you where to get a pc to run their software?
Not sure when you are opening a new office but Windows 7 is due out probably in the fall (August time frame ?) Just downloaded the beta but have not installed it.
Diesel, I agree about the programs needing to be made Vista compatible. From what little I have read about the Beta release of Windows 7 if its not Vista compatible, well its not gonna be Windows 7 compatible either.
After switching WKO+ to XP Compatible (also a right click away) and sorting out which file (.3dp and .wko) is opened by which program (Sorry-I dont sprechen computer) everything went smoothly this morning. I did my ride on the CT, found the file in Rider Performance folder, clicked to open and it opned in WKO and afterwards I saved it and uploaded it to Training Peaks. Whew!! Finally got it all running right.
You are right about doing more harm with little knowledge. It seems I get myself all f’d up and then have to Google myself out of another hole. But everytime I learn something new. So in a a way I get all pissed off, but it feels good to fix the problems i am having too.
Still doesnt chnage the fact I hate Vista. I am sure guys and gals who are good with computers cannot understand why.
Not to be a microsoft supporter (I use linux exclusively at home) but the things you describe are not problems with microsoft or vista. Vista has gotten a bad rap, but for the most part it has been hardware manufacturers not supplying decent drivers and software manufacturers not suppying decent software. Is it slower than xp on identical hardware? probably, but 95 was slower than 3.1 and xp was slower than 2000 for the most part. People forget that xp needed twice the ram of 2000 to perform well. Why is microsoft responsible for a PC manufacturer putting Vista on marginal hardware?
Any program that runs under XP Compatibility Vista but not in normal Vista is having issues in Vista because of lazy/poor programing by the creators of the software. They violated the standard that microsoft put out for programs (by writing to system locations or requiring administrator rights) and are now paying the price. What XP Compat mode does is create virtual program files/system directories and registry to allow these misbehaving apps to still run.
Want Vista to “just work”? Then let’s stop backwards compatibility for all apps written before 2006 like mac did during the switch to OS X. Yeah I know a lot of them still ran but it was through emulation with a performance hit, and try running your programs from os 7 now. Would you rather your outdated programs mostly work, or not at all?
Also, please do not assume that you can buy a laptop with vista and downgrade it to XP. Many new laptops and computers don’t have XP drivers for their hardware. You need to verify this before you purchase and it can be a tricky thing to do.
I’m laptop shopping for my wife at Dell Online and I can get a laptop with XP (and Vista) but have to pay extra for it! I don’t want Vista just XP…they are killing me
I really don’t get the vista problems thing. I have vista on my laptop and desktop and have never had a problem. I know it takes more memory so i made sure i had enough to cover it and its been great since. My desktop just flys because its 64bit with 8gb of ram. I have never not had something run on it.
Just to commisserate on the Vista issues - mine have nothing to do with our whizbangs and gizmos of sport. I brought my new laptop home (over a year ago now…) and Vista ate it’s own wireless compatability. Apparently some internal conflict showed up - Windows killed the wireless capability hardwired on the machine and the machine killed the Vista wireless capability. I’m fairly certain that something in what I just explained was wrong, all I know is that it took 2 hours for the computer dorks to fix it because they couldn’t even tell what was wrong. Some guy just had an AHA moment when he thought of a similar conflict he had run into with a program and thought that MIGHT be the issue.
I’ve had to turn off all of my virus protection to simply function and access any of my own files and/or access any of my internet-based storage for my freelance work. Yes, I know this is dangerous but I was sick of talking to the computer dorks and they were sick of seeing me. It worked, I work, for now. I do a lot of backing things up.
Downloaded Service Pack 1 three days ago - and suddenly the machine has eaten and killed all audio output devices and capabilities. Given that it’s an “entertainment pc”…the audio was one of the things I liked about it. Spent about 2 hours trying to get linked up with someone at Microsoft Help via chat - but their systems kept killing it and locking up my computer. They’re trying to get connected with me to solve the problem - but I can’t be at home with that computer during business hours.
I’m not a Vista fan, at all. I’ve learned to work with it. I like the new office package, though it takes some getting used to. I just hate Vista and what it’s done to my poor, unsuspecting laptop. I didn’t upgrade…it was Vista-born. Argh.
Being Vista compatible and Vista Certified are different. For example, Garmin Training Center is Vista Certified and went through the process to get the Vista certified logo. WKO says under “system requirements” than it runs on a Vista machine, yet it’s not Vista Certified. Kinda seems like CyclingPeaks might be giving folks the impression it’s made for Vista. It’s kinda like getting WKO to run on a MAC. You can certainly do so, but it wasn’t made for a MAC. It’s not a MSFT issue, nor an Apple issue…very easy to blame the OS manufacturer rather than the software company who developed it.
Kinda like blaming wheel makers for Specialized rear wheel compat issues on the 1st gen.
Hope things work out. My biggest issue with my install was the darn Serial to USB cable (SRM). I upgraded drivers and all good now.
Btw, does anyone know the status of developing WKO on OS X? I’ve searched everywhere but see no indication that they’re even interested in porting it to OS X. I think this would be a huge mistake – they will definitely lose me as a customer of this is the case.
On the Wattage group there’s been mention of a $350,000 cost that would associated with porting WKO to OS X - a cost which is found insupportable given the market size. As Hunter Allen has said, you can always buy a cheap PC for $250 to run your WKO+…