Recently, Microsoft in its products focuses on interoperability, as programmatic, and hardware. In this article I will focus on aspects of user compatibility expected from the new Windows Vista. This device has been used and software class must-have.

May noted that the level of compatibility and excellent Vista dare to suggest that Microsoft is now working on a more serious ensuring compatibility. As you might have guessed, still remain a number of issues that depend on the type of user sessions, or rather from the inability to use specific devices (such as streamers, image, map, etc.) or applications. All these unpleasant moments can make Windows Vista unsightly for many users.

Hardware compatibility
As one who often reinstalls Windows (it is part of my work), I can say that nothing pleases, as Device Manager without conflicts in the equipment. I mean that the easiest - is to install Windows itself, but the next step - verification and resolution of conflicts in all existing equipment - not for the faint-hearted. As you know, checked for efficiency equipment can be produced in the Device Manager.

In Windows XP and earlier versions of Windows access to the Device Manager place as follows: open the Start Menu, right click shortcut My Computer, choose Properties and then choose the Hardware tab in the System Properties dialog. Windows Vista adds to the sum of these actions is another point. System information window now appears after select Properties from the menu after clicking the mouse on the right-Computer:

And if you prefer the old way of access to Device Manager, you should choose the Advanced System Settings sheet of the goals of this window. In order to access the features Device Manager, it is necessary to gain access to properties with the help of the computer User Account Control (UAC) (for more information, see article User Account Control).

Since Windows 98 Device Manager grew markedly. What appears in the user's eye Vista - is a pleasant eye its list of devices and, if they are working properly (it means that they are all working driver), Device Manager may be called "clean", ie without errors and Conflict devices. Nevertheless, not all looks so attractive after installing OS Windows Vista. To date, but rather - Device Manager looks so very rare. Instead, clean the list of working devices, the user sees a whole list of conflicting devices, marked an exclamation point next to the icon.

All these devices installed incorrectly and to force them to work, it is necessary to establish a workable driver. To date, there are two ways to install drivers for Windows: 1) using wizard-based applications, or 2) through the INF file, which is chosen directly from the Device Manager. (By the way, Windows Update is the main source of employment for most drivers existing devices).

Windows Vista, like Windows XP, initially supported a very limited set of devices. In order to obtain information for this review, Vista has been installed at two frequently used my computer - x64-based desktop PC and a Pentium M-based laptop. Thus, I have tried to reach a large audience.

My desktop PCs - HP a640n is a system with 2.2 GHz processor from AMD - Athlon-64 - with an index of productivity 3400 + (uninuclear) with 2 GB of RAM, with graphics ATI Radeon X800 XL (AGP-based) with 256 MB of graphics memory, ATA 250 GB hard drive, integrated 9-in-1 card-reader writing DVD-drive (for the double disc), USB and Firewire ports and integrated AC'97-based audio codec. Normal desktop, which I explanations for the past year and a half. And I wide screen HDTV monitor with a resolution of 1920 x 1200.

A laptop - 18 - month Dell Latitude D810 with a 2 GHz Pentium M processor, 1 GB of RAM, ATI X600 Mobility video card with 128 MB of RAM and a large screen with a resolution of 1680 x 1050. There are also 60 GB IDE hard disk and combo drive. All of this is connected to a good docking station with external speakers. Of the periphery there is only HP scanner. Both systems use a common Dell Laser Printer.

The most interesting on the hardware compatibility of Vista - is that the sound devices in Windows Vista Beta 2 is not working (If someone has experience in this matter, I would be interested to talk about it). You can immediately notice the lack of sound, not even looking to the Device Manager - in the system tray icon on the sound icon is a red "x". For most of my test computers, including laptops, I was able to install audio drivers using Windows Update, which seems to be very useful. But on my HP a640n had to install XP driver that (Thank God) have proved workable and Vista (Vista build on previous installation of XP driver was problematic).

Of course, the new OS is always raises questions of compatibility. I did not make my work Dell printer. I even tried to copy files from a remote computer installation directory on my desktop - wanted to make Vista work in the compatibility mode to your installation program that I have XP. Nothing came out.

So scanner was even more interesting story. After an unsuccessful installation set for scanning applications (including the driver itself), I have made it possible to select the most suitable Vista driver. This is a long, but usually successful procedure. No scanner technology has proven the superiority of human thought

First opened dialogue search of new equipment - Found New Hardware, which allowed me to choose how I plan to install a device discovered and whether the plan in general?

I chose the recommended option (Find and install the driver), only to confirm her work. No function did not work and I was asked to insert in the CD-ROM drivers. I said remote computer, watching as the computer searches for a suitable driver.

For several minutes after the search - sistema computer and boom!

After returning to the Vista, I was very surprised by the fact that the scanner works. Never know what can be OS from Microsoft. The scanner was indeed visible in the Scanners and Cameras applet in the control panel, but unfortunately, I was not able to scan documents. When I clicked on one of the buttons on the scanner, on the screen there was a blank window. During my manipulate applet Scanners and Cameras, I often watched the traditional blue screen of death - Windows Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), which, frankly, in Vista is not so often found.

At this moment I am trying to allocate devices, which are fully in Windows Vista. The truth is that much equipment in Windows Vista works or wrong, or do not work. This applies to 32 - bit versions of Vista. Users 64 - bit versions expects an unpleasant surprise because of the restrictions imposed by Microsoft on that version. According to Microsoft representatives assurances situation of a 32 - bit, and 64 - bit versions of the system will change for the better.