Vista x64 Software woes

I recently installed Vista Ultimate x64 on my computer and has since gotten most of my drivers and software to work. However, I do still have a few minor problems:

1) I can't seem to locate a 64bit driver for my built in Logitech webcam.

2) Apparently, NHC's driver is not compatible with 64bit OS, so I need app similar to it that can undervolt the CPU and throttle the CPU back and forth as needed.

3) My ZoneAlarm security suite says it can't install on this OS, so temporarily, I have Kaspersky Internet Security v7 installed. However, the firewall gives way too many warning and it doesn't run natively in a 64bit environment. Now, I'm considering switching to Norton internet security 2007. However, I still have reservations about this as it's Norton.

4) Even though it worked fine on the 32bit edition, Registry mechanic seems to freeze half way through its scans on the 64bit one. Is there a solution to this or a registry cleaner compatible with 64bit OS?

Thanks for your replies in advance!

 

I don't know which webcam you have, but I went to Logitech's website, picked a random webcam, and under downloads I got to choose OS (2k, XP or Vista), and "Select file" (32 or 64 bit multilingual)

Sounds to me like they have 64 bit support right there.
Here's the link I used:
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/435/254&cl=us,en

No clue about NHC.

About Zonealarm, not sure. How about using Avast? They have a free version, which runs under 64-bit, and includes some kind of firewall?

As for registry mechanic? Don't bother. It doesn't really make a difference, and with all the changes introduced by Vista, I wouldn't trust it to be safe to run.

 

I found the Webcam driver after I discovered that it was misfiled on the Dell support website.

For registry cleaning, I'm now using system mechanic pro 7, but I still have to figure out how to get the updates working.

Now, my two major concerns are a replacement for NHC and a comparison between Norton Internet Security 2007 and Kaspersky Internet Security 7.

 

I'd pick Kaspersky over Norton any time. (The former is usually considered one of the best on the market, the latter generally one of the worst, or at least, most resource-hungry)

 

Computer security is overrated.

Instead of wasting money on Norton Internet, just be smart and don't go to shady sites. I know that's easy enough to say, but how can you know a site is safe?

Well here's an even better solution: Use Firefox + Noscript plugin. This automaticly blocks all websites trying to access your computer and you can then allow them on a need-to-allow basis. At first, your favorite sites will have missing elements, but the small pop up at the bottom of the browser (similar to the "Firefox blocked X popups") and just allow.

It really opened my eyes to how other websites will be trying to access you (mainly advertising) when they aren't even related to the current website.

Finally, run Adaware every once and a while and clear all "private data" (tools>>clear private data) in firefox.

As for system security I find that the best thing to do is constantly backup your harddrive. (I do it about 4 times a year).'

Norton is only good for older people who are new to computers or inexperienced. Don't waste your money!

haha oh and one more thing: Norton runs in the background so it could potentially slow down your computer. Plus those **** updates are sooo annoying! lol ok i'm done.

 

I know Norton used to be bloated, but didn't they make major improvements in the 2007 version? I know Kaspersky probably is a bit better, but according to AV-Comparatives, only by barely 1% on the on-demand test and and Norton actually beat Kaspersky by 15% on the retrospective/proactive test. I actually wanted to go with Nod32, but the lack of a decent firewall for Vista made me want an internet security suite. Aside from resource use, Kaspersky and Norton would probably fare similarly with regards to anti-virus. I now need to know which one's firewall is better. I know neither will be as good as ZoneAlarm I used on XP, which I simply loved. If Norton's firewall is comparable to Kaspersky's in terms of its ability to fend off hackers, I'd go with the former as it seems to give me less warnings. This is probably futile, but does anyone know of a food firewall for Vista x64? If I can find one, I'd immediately switch to Nod32 for antivirus.

 

When was the last time you got a virus?How?

The last time I got a virus was when I was in 6th grade and I searched for "free final fantasy X pc" and downloaded a 500kb .exe file. The actual game isn't for PC's and is 4.7 gigabytes. Ever since then I have taken precautions, but not antivirus.

Another reason why I don't like antivirus is that its always one step behind. They can only offer protection after the virus has been created and then you update. I refuse to pay $XX and then pay for a subscription for something that common sense can prevent on its own.

The only case I could reccommend is if you have children that plan on using your computer. THEN NOTHING is too much protection. lol.

 

I've never had a virus before, but since I'm a habitual P2P downloader, I'd prefer to keep my defenses up.

 

What makes you think you'll know if you get a virus?

You could both have had dozens without knowing it. It's only a few viruses that actually make themselves known.

Uh... Which is why a lot of them are free...

 

Never mind about the security software as I've decided to use Eset's Smart Security beta. Now, my final and only concern is a power management software. I noticed that without NHC throttling my CPU clock and undervolting it, my laptop has become very hot (in some cases, uncomfortably so).

 

I, too, am tired of not being able to find functional apps, and 64-bit really isn't proving to be worth the trouble, so I'm going to install 32-bit vista.

I have a question though:

XoticPC shipped my laptop with 64-bit installed, and with discs for both 32-bit and 64-bit. Will I be able to reinstall 64-bit Vista if I ever decide to go back? How does that whole license situation work out?

 

regarding NHC, Vista will automatically underclock/undervolt the CPU so long as you enable it in your power settings. make sure you're not running at High Performance.

btw, what's the make/model of your lappy?

 

Vista can't undervolt and doesn't underclock as aggressively as NHC or other 3rd party power management software. My laptop is a Dell XPS1210.

I'm surprised that any manufacture would even ship Vista x64. Anyways, I know that with the retail version, you can use one license with both editions, but I'm not sure about OEM

 

It can vary the voltage depending on demand. Again, perhaps not as aggressively as 3rd party software (or then again, perhaps 3rd party software don't have such a big impact when it comes to it. I haven't measured), but both Vista and XP are fully capable of lowering the CPU voltage when the CPU is idling.

 

I'm just saying: downloading from P2P is asking for a virus but if you download from exclusive sites, usually user based (forums, etc.), you'll find yourself a lot safer. The other thing is you can read other people's comments on a file whether its a virus or not.

I know that you can't just blindly trust people on the internet, but I'd rather download from an exclusive torrent site or forum than P2P even with virus protection.

The thing I hate about virus protection is that its always running in the background (but then if it didn't, it couldn't work). I just think that it leads to false security.

 

Safer, but not safe.
You don't need to open your browser at all to get a virus.
(An unpatched Windows XP lasts, on average, 5 minutes or so from it gets online, and until someone pokes through one of the security holes)

False security is when you think you can tell whether you have a virus, without actually checking. True, a virus scanner can't catch everything, but it can catch a hell of a lot more than a human being.

So you don't have any services running in the background?
That's impressive.
You do know that it doesn't actually consume any CPU unless it's actually scanning a file, right? Most of the time, it is just another service loaded into memory, but not actually executing. (Which means it takes up less system resources than, say, Winamp)

 

Jalf is right in terms of security the safest computers on the planet that are 99.99% virus free are the ones that dont have access to internet. And even then someone can always justs slip a usb key drive or infected and CD and bam you can have either a virus or spyware. But with the new wave of technology even cellphones, pda, blackberries have antivirus software just because security is a big issue now.

and btw its impossible to have a functioning computer without any services

 

Even reputable companies like Apple have had viruses shipped with their products. Just using "exclusive sites" isn't always enough. But as Jalf said, you could be infected and never know... you don't have to enable real-time protection (I don't). But it's a VERY good idea to completely scan your machine periodically, because you just never know.