is vista beta 2 safe

OK ... I have seen all the hype about Vista Beta 2 and have received the DVD .... but I am hesitant to install it because I don't want to risk screwing up my system! I am a retired home hobbyist (eg. enjoy writing .Net programs) and I keep a good bit of personal information on the machine which if lost would cause me some difficulty (I'm running XP SP2 and am pleased with its stability). I have backed stuff up (to CD's and a remote storage site) but I worry that if I install Vista everything will run fine for a couple fo weeks and then BANG something untoward happens and I'm in trouble. I realize there are lots of disclaimers with beta releases but is the general feeling that Vista Beta 2 is safe to install?
I have seen very little in blogs and newsgroups about the realibility of Vista Beta 2.
Thanks.

If you get it installed ok and let it defrag and index the stuff, it should start working decently in couple days. Of course with bad luck you have some driver issue that might cause losing data randomly :-)
In general I recommend either 1:1 backup of your old drive or installing Vista to entirely new drive.
If you run into install trouble, drop a message about what sort of problem you had and at what point of setup it happened and we'll sort it out hopefully.

"fripper" wrote in message

OK ... I have seen all the hype about Vista Beta 2 and have received the DVD ... but I am hesitant to install it because I don't want to risk screwing up my system! I am a retired home hobbyist (eg. enjoy writing .Net programs) and I keep a good bit of personal information on the machine which if lost would cause me some difficulty (I'm running XP SP2 and am pleased with its stability). I have backed stuff up (to CD's and a remote storage site) but I worry that if I install Vista everything will run fine for a couple fo weeks and then BANG something untoward happens and I'm in trouble. I realize there are lots of disclaimers with beta releases but is the general feeling that Vista Beta 2 is safe to install?
I have seen very little in blogs and newsgroups about the realibility of Vista Beta 2.
Thanks.

You should approach this how you would approach ANY beta (or anything "pre-RTM" for that matter) software.
If your okay with the fact that you may have to completely re-install your computer, then go for it.
Some people are running Vista with no problems whatsoever, while others are having nothing but trouble.
As you say, the disclaimers are there for a reason.
"fripper" wrote in message

OK ... I have seen all the hype about Vista Beta 2 and have received the DVD ... but I am hesitant to install it because I don't want to risk screwing up my system! I am a retired home hobbyist (eg. enjoy writing .Net programs) and I keep a good bit of personal information on the machine which if lost would cause me some difficulty (I'm running XP SP2 and am pleased with its stability). I have backed stuff up (to CD's and a remote storage site) but I worry that if I install Vista everything will run fine for a couple fo weeks and then BANG something untoward happens and I'm in trouble. I realize there are lots of disclaimers with beta releases but is the general feeling that Vista Beta 2 is safe to install?
I have seen very little in blogs and newsgroups about the realibility of Vista Beta 2.
Thanks.

For reasons I don't quite know some people have gotten dual booting with XP to work right, while others have now. For me, my system is dual boting perfectly, but just look up and down this forum.
My suggerstion would be to hold off installing Vista until you are sure you have the free time and will to deal with problems. If you had a big project or something due very soon, I wouldn't chance not getting into XP until that project is done.
Good luck!
"Brendan Green" wrote:

You should approach this how you would approach ANY beta (or anything "pre-RTM" for that matter) software.
If your okay with the fact that you may have to completely re-install your computer, then go for it.
Some people are running Vista with no problems whatsoever, while others are having nothing but trouble.
As you say, the disclaimers are there for a reason.
"fripper" wrote in message OK ... I have seen all the hype about Vista Beta 2 and have received the DVD ... but I am hesitant to install it because I don't want to risk screwing up my system! I am a retired home hobbyist (eg. enjoy writing .Net programs) and I keep a good bit of personal information on the machine which if lost would cause me some difficulty (I'm running XP SP2 and am pleased with its stability). I have backed stuff up (to CD's and a remote storage site) but I worry that if I install Vista everything will run fine for a couple fo weeks and then BANG something untoward happens and I'm in trouble. I realize there are lots of disclaimers with beta releases but is the general feeling that Vista Beta 2 is safe to install?
I have seen very little in blogs and newsgroups about the realibility of Vista Beta 2.
Thanks.

i guess nobody reads the warnings about BETA software, it is risky and shouldnt be used if you have important data you dont want lost. there are no promise's your data will be safe, if you are going to use the BETA2 you should follow the directions exactly and BACK UP YOUR IMPORTANT DATA!!!
"fripper" wrote:

OK ... I have seen all the hype about Vista Beta 2 and have received the DVD ... but I am hesitant to install it because I don't want to risk screwing up my system! I am a retired home hobbyist (eg. enjoy writing .Net programs) and I keep a good bit of personal information on the machine which if lost would cause me some difficulty (I'm running XP SP2 and am pleased with its stability). I have backed stuff up (to CD's and a remote storage site) but I worry that if I install Vista everything will run fine for a couple fo weeks and then BANG something untoward happens and I'm in trouble. I realize there are lots of disclaimers with beta releases but is the general feeling that Vista Beta 2 is safe to install?
I have seen very little in blogs and newsgroups about the realibility of Vista Beta 2.
Thanks.

/fripper/ said:

OK ... I have seen all the hype about Vista Beta 2 and have received the DVD ... but I am hesitant to install it because I don't want to risk screwing up my system! I am a retired home hobbyist (eg. enjoy writing .Net programs) and I keep a good bit of personal information on the machine which if lost would cause me some difficulty (I'm running XP SP2 and am pleased with its stability). I have backed stuff up (to CD's and a remote storage site) but I worry that if I install Vista everything will run fine for a couple fo weeks and then BANG something untoward happens and I'm in trouble. I realize there are lots of disclaimers with beta releases but is the general feeling that Vista Beta 2 is safe to install?
I have seen very little in blogs and newsgroups about the realibility of Vista Beta 2.

This is a somewhat early test release. Some features are missing, some do not work correctly. If existing device drivers are incompatible, expect blue screens.
It would be unwise to install it on a production system that you rely upon, as MS cautions. Try it on an independent hard disk, or perhaps on a separate PC that, if hosed, would not cause you grief.

"fripper" wrote in message

OK ... I have seen all the hype about Vista Beta 2 and have received the DVD ... but I am hesitant to install it because I don't want to risk screwing up my system! I am a retired home hobbyist (eg. enjoy writing .Net programs) and I keep a good bit of personal information on the machine which if lost would cause me some difficulty (I'm running XP SP2 and am pleased with its stability). I have backed stuff up (to CD's and a remote storage site) but I worry that if I install Vista everything will run fine for a couple fo weeks and then BANG something untoward happens and I'm in trouble. I realize there are lots of disclaimers with beta releases but is the general feeling that Vista Beta 2 is safe to install?
I have seen very little in blogs and newsgroups about the realibility of Vista Beta 2.
Thanks.

Personally, I don't think Vista is for you yet. It sounds like this is your one and only machine and that you have real data that you can't afford to lose on the machine.
Vista, at this stage, should be run by people that have significant technical expertise and only on a machine that is purely for test purposes. If you don't have two machines, I don't recommend it.
Tom

To be honest with you, as long as you install Vista correctly, and update your device drivers, then everything should go smoothly, error free. Also, perform regular defragging, and Disk clean up, and backing up files. I have so far installed Vista successfully w/ no problems. Only problem I have is trouble installing antivirus. Other than that, it pays off to get it… Increase performance, easy to navigate, and of course realbillty.
Now install with Confidence!
"fripper" wrote:

OK ... I have seen all the hype about Vista Beta 2 and have received the DVD ... but I am hesitant to install it because I don't want to risk screwing up my system! I am a retired home hobbyist (eg. enjoy writing .Net programs) and I keep a good bit of personal information on the machine which if lost would cause me some difficulty (I'm running XP SP2 and am pleased with its stability). I have backed stuff up (to CD's and a remote storage site) but I worry that if I install Vista everything will run fine for a couple fo weeks and then BANG something untoward happens and I'm in trouble. I realize there are lots of disclaimers with beta releases but is the general feeling that Vista Beta 2 is safe to install?
I have seen very little in blogs and newsgroups about the realibility of Vista Beta 2.
Thanks.

Sorry, but that's bad advice.
Just because you have it installed and running without problem, doesn't mean he will. It is quite likely that he could have some hardware combination that gives nothing but trouble. This is the exact reason why it's not recommended that the Beta is installed on a production machine.
"Eddie" wrote in message

To be honest with you, as long as you install Vista correctly, and update your device drivers, then everything should go smoothly, error free. Also, perform regular defragging, and Disk clean up, and backing up files. I have so far installed Vista successfully w/ no problems. Only problem I have is trouble installing antivirus. Other than that, it pays off to get it. Increase performance, easy to navigate, and of course realbillty.
Now install with Confidence!
"fripper" wrote:
OK ... I have seen all the hype about Vista Beta 2 and have received the DVD ... but I am hesitant to install it because I don't want to risk screwing up my system! I am a retired home hobbyist (eg. enjoy writing .Net programs) and I keep a good bit of personal information on the machine which if lost would cause me some difficulty (I'm running XP SP2 and am pleased with its stability). I have backed stuff up (to CD's and a remote storage site) but I worry that if I install Vista everything will run fine for a couple fo weeks and then BANG something untoward happens and I'm in trouble. I realize there are lots of disclaimers with beta releases but is the general feeling that Vista Beta 2 is safe to install?
I have seen very little in blogs and newsgroups about the realibility of Vista Beta 2.
Thanks.

"Only problem I have is trouble installing antivirus." That is a huge problem since it is the beginnings of a contaminated computer possibly resulting in lost data, time etc. There are free AV for Vista available, you should get on such as: https://www.my-etrust.com/SubscriptCenter/MSTrialRegistration.aspx?cid=1855&lang=en-US Many anti virus not specifically made for Vista will not work with Vista.
You also totally ignore the possibility of hardware and software issues.
-- Jupiter Jones [MVP] http://www3.telus.net/dandemar http://www.dts-l.org
"Eddie" wrote in message

To be honest with you, as long as you install Vista correctly, and update your device drivers, then everything should go smoothly, error free. Also, perform regular defragging, and Disk clean up, and backing up files. I have so far installed Vista successfully w/ no problems. Only problem I have is trouble installing antivirus. Other than that, it pays off to get it. Increase performance, easy to navigate, and of course realbillty.
Now install with Confidence!
"fripper" wrote:
OK ... I have seen all the hype about Vista Beta 2 and have received the DVD ... but I am hesitant to install it because I don't want to risk screwing up my system! I am a retired home hobbyist (eg. enjoy writing .Net programs) and I keep a good bit of personal information on the machine which if lost would cause me some difficulty (I'm running XP SP2 and am pleased with its stability). I have backed stuff up (to CD's and a remote storage site) but I worry that if I install Vista everything will run fine for a couple fo weeks and then BANG something untoward happens and I'm in trouble. I realize there are lots of disclaimers with beta releases but is the general feeling that Vista Beta 2 is safe to install?
I have seen very little in blogs and newsgroups about the realibility of Vista Beta 2.
Thanks.

Do NOT install Vista, or any Beta unless: You are prepared for a complete reinstallation necessitated by issues otherwise unable to be resolved. You are prepared for total data loss.
If you are prepared for the above, this Beta may be for you.
This applies not only to this Vista Beta and other Microsoft Betas, but to any Beta you may consider installing on any computer. That is the nature of Beta.
-- Jupiter Jones [MVP] http://www3.telus.net/dandemar http://www.dts-l.org
"fripper" wrote in message

OK ... I have seen all the hype about Vista Beta 2 and have received the DVD ... but I am hesitant to install it because I don't want to risk screwing up my system! I am a retired home hobbyist (eg. enjoy writing .Net programs) and I keep a good bit of personal information on the machine which if lost would cause me some difficulty (I'm running XP SP2 and am pleased with its stability). I have backed stuff up (to CD's and a remote storage site) but I worry that if I install Vista everything will run fine for a couple fo weeks and then BANG something untoward happens and I'm in trouble. I realize there are lots of disclaimers with beta releases but is the general feeling that Vista Beta 2 is safe to install?
I have seen very little in blogs and newsgroups about the realibility of Vista Beta 2.
Thanks.

Unfortunately, this is the kind of advice that has resulted in so many "How do I go back to XP without losing all my data" questions.
Vista is NOT stable and should NOT be used by someone without a strong technical background and NEVER on a production machine.
Tom
"Eddie" wrote in message

To be honest with you, as long as you install Vista correctly, and update your device drivers, then everything should go smoothly, error free. Also, perform regular defragging, and Disk clean up, and backing up files. I have so far installed Vista successfully w/ no problems. Only problem I have is trouble installing antivirus. Other than that, it pays off to get it. Increase performance, easy to navigate, and of course realbillty.
Now install with Confidence!
"fripper" wrote:
OK ... I have seen all the hype about Vista Beta 2 and have received the DVD ... but I am hesitant to install it because I don't want to risk screwing up my system! I am a retired home hobbyist (eg. enjoy writing .Net programs) and I keep a good bit of personal information on the machine which if lost would cause me some difficulty (I'm running XP SP2 and am pleased with its stability). I have backed stuff up (to CD's and a remote storage site) but I worry that if I install Vista everything will run fine for a couple fo weeks and then BANG something untoward happens and I'm in trouble. I realize there are lots of disclaimers with beta releases but is the general feeling that Vista Beta 2 is safe to install?
I have seen very little in blogs and newsgroups about the realibility of Vista Beta 2.
Thanks.

Wow ... 12 responses in a couple of hours ... all helpful. I think I had better hold off for a while and see what sort of reports pop up about Vista Beta 2. I tend to want to take risks when I propbably shouldn't ... but boy it sure is tempting!
Thanks for all the advice.

I don't know if this works or not, but if you are so tempted, you could install virtual server software (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_server for more info) which will create a computer "inside" your computer which would probably protect your data because Vista would only be running inside the "virtual machine" (which you launch from inside of XP).
I know I am not explaining this particularly well.
"fripper" wrote:

Wow ... 12 responses in a couple of hours ... all helpful. I think I had better hold off for a while and see what sort of reports pop up about Vista Beta 2. I tend to want to take risks when I propbably shouldn't ... but boy it sure is tempting!
Thanks for all the advice.

I don't know if this works or not, but if you are so tempted, you could install virtual server software (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_server for more info) which will create a computer "inside" your computer which would probably protect your data because Vista would only be running inside the "virtual machine" (which you launch from inside of XP).
I know I am not explaining this particularly well.
"fripper" wrote:

Wow ... 12 responses in a couple of hours ... all helpful. I think I had better hold off for a while and see what sort of reports pop up about Vista Beta 2. I tend to want to take risks when I propbably shouldn't ... but boy it sure is tempting!
Thanks for all the advice.

It does work. Just go to www.vmware.com and download the VMWare Server Beta (free). Vista runs under XP, in a VMWare session, just fine. "Andrew Watiker" wrote in message

I don't know if this works or not, but if you are so tempted, you could install virtual server software (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_server for more info) which will create a computer "inside" your computer which would probably protect your data because Vista would only be running inside the "virtual machine" (which you launch from inside of XP).
I know I am not explaining this particularly well.
"fripper" wrote:
Wow ... 12 responses in a couple of hours ... all helpful. I think I had better hold off for a while and see what sort of reports pop up about Vista Beta 2. I tend to want to take risks when I propbably shouldn't ... but boy it sure is tempting!
Thanks for all the advice.

fripper explained on 6/21/2006 :

Wow ... 12 responses in a couple of hours ... all helpful. I think I had better hold off for a while and see what sort of reports pop up about Vista Beta 2. I tend to want to take risks when I propbably shouldn't ... but boy it sure is tempting!
Thanks for all the advice.

IF you want to see if your machine will handle Vista there is a program, Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor beta, that will check for some hardware conflicts. However, you are making the right choice by not trying to install Vista, IMHO.
Top

"Top" wrote in message

fripper explained on 6/21/2006 : Wow ... 12 responses in a couple of hours ... all helpful. I think I had better hold off for a while and see what sort of reports pop up about Vista Beta 2. I tend to want to take risks when I propbably shouldn't ... but boy it sure is tempting!
Thanks for all the advice.
IF you want to see if your machine will handle Vista there is a program, Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor beta, that will check for some hardware conflicts. However, you are making the right choice by not trying to install Vista, IMHO.
Top

And I'm VERY impressed that he asked first. Too many people upgraded and then had a disaster.