Games take a long time to load.

[jimmytj]

I've been playing PC games for a few years, but since I got vista it's been taking ALOT longer to load all my games.

For instance on my old PC CoD 2 took about, 3 seconds to launch. Now it's about 3-5 minutes - A long time.
Same with Rome Total War and Crysis, all the same.
The only games that launch smoothly are the Source Engine games.

Does anybody get this with vista?

[pharoah]

list your system specs.

[jimmytj]

Originally Posted by pharoah

list your system specs.

DELL XPS 420
Intel Quad Core 2.40ghz 1066mhz 8mb Cache
3076mb RAM
600gb SATA Raid 0 Stripe HDD
Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT
Dolby 7.1 Integrated Sound Card
Windows Vista Home Premium 32bit

[af3]

If I were you, I would go back to XP or even 2000 if you can get away with it. I would love to be using 2000 again, but I can't because it does not recognise my hard drive.

[jimmytj]

Well, i have the XP CD from another PC in my house, I did try and install it but it wouldn't allow me as "a newer version of windows is already installed on this pc"

[af3]

You are going to have to boot from the disc. The best way to do a Windows installation (in my opinion) is to choose the quick format option. This will delete EVERYTHING on the hard drive. Before you do any of this, be sure to burn DVDs/CDs or move all your valued data to an external hard drive.

1) Put your XP disc in
2) Restart your computer
3) Hope it boots from the disc and asks you to "Press any key to enter Windows setup..."

If it does not, you may have to modify your BIOS settings. By default, disc booting should not be disabled but you never know.

Once you are in Windows Setup, follow the on-screen instructions and you should be in good old Windows XP before you know it.

You may have to hunt for drivers. When I downgraded my Windows Vista laptop, it took me DAYS to hunt down the appropriate drivers, and I consider myself an advanced Windows user with experience dating back to Windows 3.11.

Your results will depend on how good your computer manufacturer has set up their website. Dell is a pain if you are not paying for a service plan to have someone you can't understand walk you through the process. I had to find a model similar to my computer that shipped with Windows XP to get the drivers I use today, and you can bet I burned a copy of the drivers to CD.

nVidia Drivers:
http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us
ATI Drivers:
http://ati.amd.com/support/driver.html

If you use common hardware, this should be a walk in the park. If you use hardware by companies like Sigmatel or Broadcom, it will take a bit of time.

If you are trying to install Windows XP Home Edition, you will end up having to buy another license because Windows XP Home Edition and Microsoft will not allow you to use it on the unlicensed computer for more than 30 days. It literally stops working after the 30 day period... or is it 15 days?

Anyway, if you are not using XP Home on that other PC, you may be able to transfer the license but I doubt it. Check with any of the Microsoft employees that troll this forum if you can manage to find one who does not think they are too good to answer PM's or e-mails.