Vista on an 8204

The beta runs perfectly smoothly on the 8204 but because of the lack of drivers, I've gone back to using XP. Once Vista is released circa 2045, the 8204 should run it perferctly...

I first installed it on a seperate partition and I was getting a lot of error messages. Just finished doing a complete clean install and everything seems to run fine so far.

I'll get back to you if I encounter any problems, as I haven't finished getting everything installed.

yea vista isn't really, the best, i couldn't maintain a wireless signal on the desktop or the notebook i tried it on, i have had better connectivity with ubuntu linux i just don't see upgrading to vista, well definetly not vista ultimate, the home user versions, i would have to go with a corporate version, as i don't find the visuals pleasing at all, i would rather run os x before vista, one thing i really wish is microsoft would drop backwards compatibility, they can't really redo there windows code, because they have to maintain support for windows applications from win95 even 3.1, which really bloats the code and makes windows a larger and larger install, soon we will be required terabyte harddrives and have to use blue ray disks to install our operating system, i went on a rant about this on a different thread about the point of backwards compatibility as most companies for compatibility reasons stay up to date on there software, maybe 3-5 years maybe, and the small percentage of consumers that are still running software that needs win95 compatibility is so small, seems a waste to even support them, as there dropping windows 95, and 98 support and updates this month, why not just do a complete phase out, and build from scratch, its what osx did (sorta) when they built upon unix code, and it has gained them strides in the recent 2-3 years, microsoft is like aesop's fable the turtoise and the hare(rabbit) microsoft being the hare, once there ahead they sit back and just sit on there asses, until a threet emerges, then there try and catch up, like they did with I.E, virtuall no kinda improvements in internet explorer over the years, then here comes firefox, and microsoft quickly revamp internet explorer.........

For all youse that are trying Vista. Synaptics has put up Generic driver 8.3.4 on their download page. Here:http://www.synaptics.com/support/drive.cfm.

It is for 2000/XP but it works under Vista on my 5672. I now have full touchpad functionality and enhancements. Works well on XP too

I have Vista Beta2 (build 5456) loaded as a dual boot with the original XP on my 8204. It seems to be working pretty well so far and all the hardware I have tested so far is working. I did have to load the Beta Vista drivers from www.realtek.com.tw to get the sound working. I loaded the Beta Vista drivers from ATI as well but the video was working with without them. I have been using the wireless connection as it was setup with Vista and it works fine. The Bluetooth module was detected only as an Acer generic device. I just installed it as a generic Bluetooth radio under Cambridge silicon. It installed the MS Bluetooth stack and seems to be working fine. However, the only Bluetooth device I have tested so far is a mouse. The webcam was detected by Vista and initially I thought it was not working. I had tried it with yahoo messenger and it did not work. However I think the problem is with yahoo messenger as it works fine with windows live messenger/msn messenger. I have not yet tried the synaptics drivers mentioned above, but the touchpad works as a basic mouse without any drivers. Thanks to the others who posted previously with info on drivers. I would love to hear from any who have tried Vista on their 8200 series.

Dualboot with WXP, no problem devices so far. All except for 1 device not digitally signed or somethinglike that, and I think it was the Realtek. I have yet to try each and every device/connection. Lan & wireless works, however the wireless states that it has a fair-poor signal strength although its the same high speed as in WXP. I am still having a tough time where I can test the webcam and the BT places.... Vista User Friendly?... heheh, not yet!

I have everything working just great so far in vista with my 8204. Matter of fact I just installed vista on the D drive partition and left acer crap on the xp partition.

Here is what I have done since 11PM last night.

Vista 5672 Beta 2

Everything detected except soundcard from install
Ran Update, got logitech cam - optional
Card Interface Driver - optional
and Sound Driver (Didnt work)

Installed the HD realtek driver from web.
Installed ATI Catylyst Driver - Took a very long time to install but seems to be quite stable
Got generic touchpad driver from synaptics - Works Great!
Listened to some XM radio on the Media Center App while installing all the junk

My router is a Linksys WRT54GS with DD-WRTsp23 Final Fw. No dropped connections at all in the last 6 hours.

Does anyone know what logitech software works with this webcam. Ive heard you can use the acer version in xpsp2 compat mode but I would prefer the logitech version if it works.

BTW, this is my first night with my 8204. I have the LTN screen and its a january build i think.

-No buzzing
-No grey lines that I can see
i dont have 667Mhz memory though obviously.

I got it used from mak on the forums. Its immaculate. here and absolutely love it. He could not have taken better care of this fine laptop. AND...its a portable heater when i get the chilly willies

Glad to be here. It was this or the W2JB ASUS for me. I never realized how big a 15:4 screen is in front of you. I am considering sending it off for crystalbrite coating as the mat is kinda drab for me. Well see though.

Anyone know if Acers Mfg Warranty is transferable like dell. Just curious.


Thanks

All those with 8200 and Vista Come Hither!!!!!

Ok next issue with vista b2 latest builds.

Is it me or is the refresh slection locked at 61hrtz

On my XP Pro install i can go up to 160 on some. I have to say the screen looks much better at 85 and 120 on some of the lower resolution settings.


What is a good second choice for resolution on desktop. the native hurts my eyes sometimes, but i love the real estate on the desktop.

Does it have to do with the vista PnP Monitor INF file. I tryed robbing it from xp partition but its not signed or something.

Do we have an official 8200 and Vista sticky?

One thing about this forum is that the laptops are all bunched together. It would be great if you could seek a particular family or series of laptops and have all those threads grouped together. IE 8200, 5670 series, 3000 series, etc.

Does anyone have a monitor .inf file that will support the appropriate refresh rates. I know when i set up my htpc and 65" hdtv i used a sony GMA900 or something because it supported many custom resolutions. Has anyone been able to get the refresh rates from XP to recognize in Vista. Im using latest catylst install from atitech for vista beta2.

Thanks in advance.

Back in early December once I had RTM bits, I made a complete Acronis image of the 8204 and then tried an upgrade from XP Pro 32-bit. It had a real problem moving settings, and applications that will fresh install on a new Vista installation (my Dell e1505 Vista laptop) would not run. But it booted up, and I did not see any bangs in Device Manager, so I think it's a go. I just need to keep an XP/Visual Studio 2003 box around and the 8204WMLi looks like it at the moment. So, I restored the image and back to work. YMMV. Have an image backup ready to restore with a bootable CD to restore from an external USB drive.