microsoft windows VISTA: known compatibility issues
What is a compatibility issue?
Because Vista is so new, some of the software or devices on your computer may not work with it. Free compatibility updates to the software or device drivers might be available from their manufacturer, or you might have to purchase a new version of the software before you can use it with Vista. Some software and devices may never work with Vista. Before deciding to install Vista, you should check manufacturer Web sites to review what's written about Vista in relation to any devices and non-Microsoft software that you use.
You should also use at least one of our recommended "upgrade advisor" tools to scan your computer for potential incompatibilities. These scans provide information about software and devices that may be incompatible with Vista. While useful, they may not provide a complete list of all potential issues. Listed below are some issues that we have encountered with software or devices in common use at Boston University.
Solutions for known issues
The following require that you download and install the fix or update after you have installed Vista.
VPN: If you use BU's wireless network, you will need to download the Vista-compatible version of the VPN software.
MCAFEE VIRUSSCAN: Assuming you are not using any
other brand of anti-virus software, you will want to install version 8.5 of McAfee VirusScan, which is compatible with Vista. Version 8.0i is not compatible with Vista.
THUNDERBIRD: If you use Mozilla Thunderbird to read your mail, it's recommended that you user the 2.x (or later) version, as you might otherwise notice that features related to the address book work sluggishly. This is a simple download that will preserve all of your existing settings.
FILEMAKER: If you are using FileMaker version 8.5, you will need to download the updater from FileMaker.com. Please note that previous versions of FileMaker, and both Server 8 products, are still not supported with Vista. For more details, see FileMaker's related page.
DREAMWEAVER: Fix for Vista Help not working after installing Dreamweaver
AOL SOFTWARE : If anyone uses AOL on your computer, you will need to get the Vista-compatible version of the software.