Vista SP1 Blocks Some Antivirus Programs
More Vista flubs from Microsoft are surfacing, this time we are learning that Microsoft's Service Pack One (SP1) has a nasty side-effect of blocking third-party applications from working. More serious is the fact that some of these programs are security apps such as antivirus programs: Zone Alarm Security Suite 7.1, Trend Micro Internet Security 2008, and BitDefender 10.
Microsoft has put together a list of the 12 "programs that are known to experience a loss of functionality when they run on a Windows Vista Service Pack 1-based computer will either."
Problems with Vista SP1 problems started Wednesday when Microsoft pulled an update that would prepare Vista PCs for the SP1 update. Software and hardware compatibility with Vista has also been a nagging issue with users.
Most troubling is that a majority of the incompatible programs are virus detection programs. Windows Vista SP1 will block BitDefender 10, Jaingmin KV Antivirus, Trend Micro Internet Security, and Zone Alarm Security Suite. The Microsoft support page does state that a compatible version of all of these programs are now available, however older versions will be blocked.
Programs that will either not run or lose functionality include Iron Speed Designer, Xheo Licensing, Free Allegiance, NYT Reader, Rising Personal Firewall, and Novell ZCM Agent. Microsoft's support page also provides links to each program's support page so that if you experience any problems there is a source for help.
This is not the open invitation to embrace Vista that many Windows users were hoping and expecting. The fact that Windows Vista SP1 has compatibility issues with security programs that will help keep my PC running smoothly is a very worrying prospect.
Hopefully some good news will come out about SP1 before it becomes readily available mid-March. Otherwise I don’t see a switch from XP to Vista in many people's futures.
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I am very leary of VISTA.
First of all, why is it that most anti-virus software reports VISTA as a virus? Read the news releases about the "stoned" virus and the other one (I forget the name) that were found inside the initial releases of VISTA.
Next, why is it any business of Microsoft if I wish to change my computer. It is NOT. How is it they DARE to say we are only "renting" their software and shut it off, so our system no longer works, just because we make a hardware change?
I will NOT be buying into their scam. I have already installed Ubuntu 7.10 and it is working great. Sure I had to learn a couple new things, but they read Windows NTFS drives and even installed information from my Windows profiles into Linux, so I didn't have to.
Goodbye Microsoft!
I am also chagrined and astonished that M$ would take steps to disable an OS if I make hardware changes. It is more of the infamous M$ attitude that they own the world. (not.Yet M$). I hope this arrogance pushed more people away from them. I still have XP on my desktop at home, but I have BSD and Linux boxes, and don't pay M$ for their "intellectual property." I'm never moving to Vista, so I guess I'l be going to Linux on the desktop sometime in the future. What a bunch of jackasses. And they don't even write good software, with the exception of SQL Server and maybe Visual Studio.
People are quick to blame all problems on Microsoft but many of these anti-virus programs tried to change the operating kernel. Allowing programs to change the kernel is an open invitation to hackers and companies like Sony with their crazy DRM schemes. I for one hope Microsoft sticks to their guns and keeps all apps out of the kernel!
KCG
Windows ME2 (Otherwise known as Vista) does all the right things the wrong way and does very few of the wrong things the right way. From its unnecessarily huge hardware resource demands to the complete revision of the file access and updating (The Program Files folder is virtualized for crying out loud!), Microsoft's emphasis on security has come at the expense of functionality. As an IT professional, I've made a lot of money dealing with Vista's many shortcomings and/or rolling back Vista to XP Pro. With the service pack coming out next month, I expect my few Vista clients (I never recommended it to any of them) will be calling since several of them use the products that will be broken. It's no wonder why Microsoft has never published a TCO study on Vista. That would be a black eye they can't afford.
Microsoft is an unbelievable company! They release a new OS which is so "iffy" many people prefer not to upgrade. Then they release a Service Pack that does not correct problems but creates new issues.
You could argue that some things take time. I would then answer that when a company puts a product on the market it should make sure that it is not a lemon! M$ had more than enough time to correct Vista and to prepare SP1.
Either Microsoft does not care and this is bad or its staff does not have the "know-how" and that is worse!
I'm sticking with Me too. No way I'm switching to XP.
I can't express in a few words what a P.O.S. Vista is. My Windows Mail program is unable to open attachments (and is an inferior POS compared to Outlook Express). My 2003 Office would not work so I converted to OpenOffice.org which is free and works fine. My old scanner does not work with Vista. My new Samsung digital camera can not download movie clips, and XP has a better download wizard. The Vista filing system was programmed by an idiot, I also prefer the XP search. enough!
I know that it is a bit unusual to see a comment like this in these pages, but I've had Vista Ultimate since getting a new computer in April and am thoroughly happy with it. So far the only problem I've had was that right after installing SP1-RC my OneCare v.2 quit and would not even reinstall. The OneCare people used Easy Assist for nearly a week every day until they finally told me that there was a conflict between it and the SP1-RC. I guess that must be why it was called a “Release Candidate.” As soon as I uninstalled it the OneCare started working as it had previously. Though I haven’t actually been able to get anyone at either OneCare or Vista to confirm that the conflict has been resolved in so many words, the subtext of a few messages to them indicate that it has been. This time around the three prerequisites that are supposed to facilitate any necessary uninstall of SP1 have already arrived and installed uneventfully, so I'm willing to go ahead and see if the RTM will work.
I've used Vista Home Premium for several months now and love it. SP1 RC1 worked well so I installed the RTM when it came out. The only problem: I had to reinstall my touchpad drivers. Easy. BitDefender 2008 works fine and it didn't cost anything to upgrade from BitDefender 10.
My antivirus program has never reported Vista as a virus. Maybe the problems mentioned aren't with Vista, but with the antivirus programs involved.
The old scanner that won't work? Probably because the scanner mfg isn't bothering to update the drivers. Blame them. Windows Live Mail works great on Vista, and I've never not been able to open an attachment.
If you don't have the know-how to get Vista to function properly on your machine, stay with XP or use Linux.