On January 30,2007, Microsoft released Windows Vista, the long-awaited upgrade to its Windows operating system. There are 5 Windows Vista editions. UT Dallas IR will focus on the Enterprise Edition 32-bit. IR has formed a Windows Vista team to evaluate and establish a baseline of the most common applications for use at UT Dallas. Software manufacturers have been developing Vista compatible versions of their applications, hardware vendors have released “Vista ready” models of their computers and peripheral devices that are optimized for Vista. For those interested in moving into Windows Vista, it is important to consider a few important factors.
- Are all the applications that you use compatible with Vista?
- Will the computer you use run Vista?
- Can you get support when you have a problem with Vista?
This website has information about "System Requirements", "Compatibility Issues", "KMS", "Recommendations", "Support", and "Resources". Please check out those links for more details and updates.
Microsoft Vista, being a brand new product, has a number of compatibility issues with existing software and hardware products. Some of these problems are critical to the campus while others may be considered as limiting the ability to do regular work.
The following is a summary of the applications that function properly.
- McAfee Virus Scan 8.5i
- VPN software from Cisco
The following is a summary of applications that function with issues.
The following is a summary of applications that do not function.
- OnBase
- Downloading new Digital Certificates from CAMPUS Root Certificate Authority
The following is a list of most common applications in use at UT Dallas.
Most common applications in use |
32-bit |
Date Tested |
64-bit |
Date Tested |
Comments |
| Access 2007 |
Yes |
9/6/07 |
Yes |
9/14/07 |
|
| Adobe Acrobat Reader 8 |
Yes |
9/6/07 |
Yes |
9/14/07 |
|
| AirUTD Wireless |
NO |
9/14/07 |
NO |
10/8/07 |
Further testing will continue. |
| BIS Group |
Yes |
9/13/07 |
NO |
10/24/07 |
32 bit: The functionality is closely linked with the desktop emulation product used. |
| Blue Zone Java 3270 emulation |
Yes |
9/11/07 |
Yes |
10/11/07 |
|
| Blue Zone HTML 3270 emulation |
Yes |
9/11/07 |
Yes |
10/11/07 |
|
| Digital Certificates import/export |
Yes |
9/11/07 |
Yes |
9/14/07 |
32 and 64-bit: Import/Export works between XP and Vista computers. |
| Digital Certificates new downloads |
NO |
9/13/07 |
NO |
10/8/07 |
|
| Excel 2007 |
Yes |
9/6/07 |
Yes |
9/14/07 |
|
| FileZilla 2.2.32 |
Yes |
9/6/07 |
Yes |
10/11/07 |
|
| FireFox 2.0.06 |
Yes |
9/6/07 |
Yes |
10/8/07 |
|
| Free Agent 4.2 |
Yes |
9/6/07 |
Yes |
10/11/07 |
|
| FTP Explorer 1.0.1.52 |
Yes |
9/7/07 |
Yes |
10/11/07 |
|
| HEAT 8.4 |
Yes |
9/13/07 |
Yes |
9/13/07 |
|
| Java 1.5.0.06 for WebCT |
Yes |
9/7/07 |
NO |
10/8/07 |
|
| LabMan |
NO |
9/7/07 |
NO |
9/19/07 |
The University of Texas |
| Jolly Giant QWS3270 PLUS 4.3 |
Yes |
9/12/07 |
Yes |
10/11/07 |
Jolly Giant |
| Mathematica 6 |
Yes |
9/18/07 |
Yes |
9/18/07 |
Wolfram Mathematica |
| MatLab R2007a |
Yes |
9/13/07 |
Yes |
10/8/07 |
The MathWorks |
| McAfee VirusScan ePO 3.6.1 Console |
Yes |
9/11/07 |
Yes |
9/17/07 |
64-bit: Installs, but requires a reboot half-way through installation. Vista blocked setup from continuing after reboot and had to be queued to start from the error message. the message generates a task icon. Once installation finished, everything works fine. |
| McAfee VirusScan 8.5i |
Yes |
9/6/07 |
Yes |
9/14/07 |
|
| McGill TCP 3270 ver. 3.14 |
Yes |
9/12/07
|
Yes |
10/11/07 |
|
| Microsoft Office Communicator 2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Netscape Navigator 9.0 |
Yes |
9/7/07 |
Yes |
10/18/07 |
|
| Network Printer Queues |
NO |
9/11/07 |
NO |
9/13/07 |
32 and 64-bit: During the installation of the driver you can point it to a printer queue. |
| Network Printer Drivers |
Yes |
9/11/07 |
Yes |
9/13/07 |
32 and 64-bit: You will need to download the drivers from the manufacturer then install the driver manually. |
| OnBase |
NO |
9/13/07 |
NO |
9/13/07 |
|
| Opera for Windows 9.23 |
Yes |
9/7/07 |
Yes |
10/18/07 |
|
| Outlook 2007 |
Yes |
9/6/07 |
Yes |
9/14/07 |
|
| PowerPoint 2007 |
Yes |
9/6/07 |
Yes |
9/14/07 |
|
| PuTTY 0.06 |
Yes |
9/7/07 |
Yes |
9/14/07 |
|
| Safeboot 4.2 |
NO |
9/12/07 |
NO |
9/12/07 |
|
| SAS 9.1.3 SP4 |
Yes |
9/12/07 |
NO |
9/12/07 |
Statistical Analysis System |
| VPN 5.0.00.0340 |
Yes |
9/10/07 |
NO |
9/14/07 |
64-bit: Cisco is not currently supporting Vista x64 for any of its VPN clients. |
| Windows Live Messenger 8.1 |
Yes |
9/12/07 |
Yes |
9/12/07 |
|
| Windows Messenger 5.1 |
NO |
9/10/07 |
NO |
9/14/07 |
|
| WinSCP 4.0.4 |
NO |
9/10/07 |
Yes |
10/18/07 |
|
| Word 2007 |
Yes |
9/6/07 |
Yes |
9/14/07 |
|
UT Dallas IR hosts a Key Management Service (KMS) that will automatically activate departmental computers running Windows Vista Enterprise. Departmental computers that have been activated through KMS will be required to reactive by connecting to our campus network at least every six months.
UTD Information Resources recommends that individuals make a careful assessment of the software products required on a desktop or laptop before making the decision to move to Windows Vista.
UTD Information Resources does not recommend upgrading to Windows Vista from Windows XP on existing desktops or laptops because of unstable migration issues. Information Resources recommends installing Windows Vista on existing desktops or laptops as a new, clean install in contrast to an upgrade.
At this time the Help Desk does not support any questions about Windows Vista.
