Don't Install AIM 6 on Vista
 

So I got tired of using Trillian for instant messaging, and finally installed the individual programs. MSN, check. Yahoo, check. AIM, check. Everything's going fine until one day my network icon starts showing as disconnected, even though I know I'm on the internet, wireless or ethernet, and when I hover over the icon it says: "Status Unknown: Server Execution Failed". Strange, so I try to start figuring out what's happening. System properties states that my Processor and RAM status is "Currently Unavailable" and nothing with WMI works. Not exactly sure what the problem is, but I just keep working a few more days in this state.

After a while I start getting random reboots with no warning and longer startup times. A search on Google brought me to a Microsoft Technet thread with over 15 pages of other people who had the same symptoms as me, but none who had a solution. Come to find out that the most common program we all had was AIM 6. Go figure that Microsoft hasn't found a cure after 2 months of people complaining and sending in info. Finally a guy had come up with a fix using the command line, but you can't leave AIM installed so I'm stuck back with using a multi-protocol IM client. Bleh.

Anyway, that was just a vent and a warning combined. I'm frustrated with Vista as a whole, almost ready to downgrade to XP.

[Edit: Most of the people had wireless cards in laptops/desktops]

Re: Don't Install AIM 6 on Vista
 

FWIW
A clean reinstall seems to of cleared up lots of issues for some people I know.

Re: Don't Install AIM 6 on Vista
 

I don't know but I haven't any kind of problems with AIM yet. Vista as a whole is frustratin, I like the look but the way it operates....*sigh*...we'll see.

Re: Don't Install AIM 6 on Vista
 

HAHA:p

I'm not sure if AIM caused my problems, but I lost all of my file associations shortly after.

I found out that most programs would work though if you right clicked on the program short cut and clicked run as administrator.

I didn't find an easy fix, so I just did system restore to a few days prior to it happening and it worked.

I got a blue screen of death yesterday after trying to install my quickcam driver/software.

This is my setup

http://rchelimag.com/forum/attachmen...achmentid=2875

Re: Don't Install AIM 6 on Vista
 

Wait, what? An AOL software broke a computer? Nonsense! :D Howabout just don't use it altogether, Vista or not. I prefer Pidgin.

Re: Don't Install AIM 6 on Vista
 

You could try using pidgin instead of AIM.

Pidgin ---> http://www.pidgin.im/

I prefer it over any other IM program that I've tried.

Re: Don't Install AIM 6 on Vista
 

I will give it a go and see what happens.

I have not used AIM for months prior to getting my new computer.

I installed AIM because I figured I should start using it again.

I will try this pidgin you guys speak of.

AIM was removed from my computer since the incident and I won't reinstall it unless i try an older version.

Re: Don't Install AIM 6 on Vista
 

I'll try that Pidgin program. Also, a guy from my church that works on computers has a 120GB HDD that he's willing to give me, and when we do that he said he'll let me have a copy of XP to put on the new drive (swapping out the 80 gig I've got now). So I'll just screw Vista and maybe get WindowBlinds for the Aero look.

Re: Don't Install AIM 6 on Vista
 

Pidgin's alright, but it does some wonky stuff with the font (it'll look really small on your computer, but huge on other people's). I use it and just ignore the small font.


Bit of a derailment, but how do you like Vista? My sister is probably getting a new laptop for her birthday; obviously online you hear about all the problems with Vista, is it really worth it?

Re: Don't Install AIM 6 on Vista
 

I have been use AIM 6 on vista for about 4 months now and haven't have a problem with vista or AIM. Only really problem was learning for to work it.:yikes:

But i will watch out for this. Thanks you for the heads up.

Re: Don't Install AIM 6 on Vista
 

Good to know, even though I don't use AIM.

Before you dump Vista shut off UAC, PM me if you don't know how. Once I shut that off Vista ran better on all my machines than XP did. Really!

Re: Don't Install AIM 6 on Vista
 

GeeForce, the irony of it all. Right as I was finishing the last sentence of my reply, I experienced another cherished moment of random rebooting. Lost my train of thought...

Re: Don't Install AIM 6 on Vista
 

I wouldn't even suggest installing a Microsoft OS before the first service pack. I'm still on XP SP2, and mighty happy. My Vista x64 install will wait until '08. Then I can bump up my system's 2gb of RAM to 4gb and it'll actually be able to utilize it, too. Vista x32 can only utilize 2.75gb of RAM, as my dad found out yesterday when he upped his RAM from 2gb to 4gb.

Also I suspect that 4-core CPU's will be quite a bit cheaper next year, so quad-core, 4gb of RAM and maybe even SLi on Vista x64 seems pretty attainable.

EDIT:

Also, before anybody says it:

You can run SLi mode on Vista. nVidia and it's distributors have released updated drivers and stuff to make it possible.

Re: Don't Install AIM 6 on Vista
 

Believe me, Otaku, if I'd have bought it I could've saved time and money by getting XP. Other thing I hate is that you not only have to pay hundreds for the OS but a lot of people need to upgrade extensively to meet minimum. Yes, they don't need it, try to tell them that.

Re: Don't Install AIM 6 on Vista
 

I too turned off UAC.

Last week I used primopdf to print to pdf and it would not even let me open the file. So I had enough and just turned it off.

Anyone know how to disable the screen that pops up on start saying that it is disabled?

Vista is alright but it has its' problems.

I can't use my 3d printer (or so i've been told) on vista because its not compatible for some reason.:(

I got my software installed, but can't connect to the printer over the rj45 crossover.

I used pidgin and it seems to work just fine! I don't care for all the extra stuff though as I only use AIM.

Re: Don't Install AIM 6 on Vista
 

I have no clue, as I've never gotten the screen you're talking about. Can you upload a screenshot? I may be able to help.

Re: Don't Install AIM 6 on Vista
 

you have to understand, programs are made for operating systems, NOT the other way around...

Re: Don't Install AIM 6 on Vista
 

Yes, true, but if the OS is very buggy and hard to code around...

Re: Don't Install AIM 6 on Vista
 

I just restarted; I didn't realize it faded away after several seconds.

I was always just closing the notification before it faded away.

It is just a small notification that pops up in the lower right hand side on startup.

I guess Microsoft keeps the geeks in business and causes "Fix It Yourself" people frustration.:D

Re: Don't Install AIM 6 on Vista
 

As said before, do not install it before the first service pack. I had it on my computer for about 7 months before I finally got fed up with it. It was a big reasource hog on my computer to an insane level. After start up on a fresh install when I got the computer, it showed that it filled the physical memory up to 50% on the nose. I figured this was because of the low level of memory, so I bought a 1gig card. When I started up again (still no programs) it still filled the memory up to 50% on the nose. This made me mad as it was filling up half of my 1.5 gigs of memory. So I bought another 1gig card and put it in with the other one totaling 2 gigs of memory. Again, when I started up (I only had Firefox and pidgin on the computer) it filled it up to about 50% (~47%). This is just crazy and this really made me mad. I had 2 gigs of memory, yet still it was half full. What could the OS be using to fill up 1 gig of ram? What finally set me off was vista freezing randomly. I installed XP on this computer and did the driver hunt, and now everything works great! I have no complaints about this computer except for the fact that it isn't a Mac. ;)

I did this on my vista when I had it, but the computer still ran slow. But all is good with XP now. :)

Re: Don't Install AIM 6 on Vista
 

The new AIM update from last week kill Vista. I reinstalled, and did a clean install of AIM and everything has been working great since. AIM killed my sound, internet connection, caused explorer errors, and caused mouse freezes.

Re: Don't Install AIM 6 on Vista
 

I'm still waiting to downgrade right now. SP3 for XP is adding all the security that Vista has, which is undoubtedly it's only real feature. It may look purty, but trust us, this thing is pure evil. New Mac OS is out, I'm seriously thinking about adding a MacBook Pro along with this laptop since more games are being migrated/coded for Macs.

Re: Don't Install AIM 6 on Vista
 

SP3? Where do you get that? Or do you mean SP2?

Re: Don't Install AIM 6 on Vista
 

Yeah, I meant SP3. Service Pack 2 has already been out for months. It's all over the web (I found out on the CrankyGeeks podcast) that SP3 will be adding on that stuff. You can't get it yet, it'll be out soon.