[Maulds]

I really like the looks of Vista, but I don't want to buy it because of cost. I am running Windows XP SP2. I have been contemplating whether to use the latest Vista Transformation Pack from Window X to get the GUI like Vista. I know that is only gives the look of Vista with no features of Vista. I also know that it does some deep system changes which may present some problems when updating the computer and such. Should I be worried about the system changes? I do have a system restore option on my computer that I could use to restore it if necessary. Should I use it or just wait and buy Vista?

[rgreen4]

I notice that there has not been a rash of responses. I think the review in PC Word's online edition says it all. While reviewers are normally a gushy about new items, this one called the load of this product as a "gutsy move". I would make sure that I had a damn good backup first. I am a proponent of clonning a system disk. I find it very comforting to be able to swap out hard drives and be back up and running in 5-10 minutes. Of course you need to keep your Plan B fairly current. In this case I think I would even find a third disk and clone to that one. Then install on the clonned disk. If all goes well, then great. If not, you put the original back in and go about your business.Depending upon the size of your system disk and type and age of machine, you would probably spend about $50-100 for the new disk and about $50 for the clone/backup software (I have abandoned Symantec Ghost and gone to Acronis True Image). You would not save a whole lot over Vista, but you would have the advantage of a good clonning method and a very solid backup of your system disc that is very easily tested.BTW - Acronis is available in retail box from Newegg for $35 with 3 day shipping. It "sort of" works with Vista. It will clone a Vista drive, but the MBR must be repaired using a full Vista installation DVD (OEM images will not work). I dropped Symantecs Ghost after paying the upgrade fee and dowloading the upgrade to Ghost 10 to find out that Ghost does not work with SATA drive controllers! I didn't even try it with Vista because the machine I have Vista on is the one that Ghost won't recognize the controller on when it was XP Media Center 2005. I maintain "Father" and "Grandfather" clones of my system disc and separate full "Father" and "Grandfather" backup of all my data. There or two types of people in the PC world - those who have lost data due to a "crash" and those who will. I belong to the former after having a FAT table "scrambled" when it was still FAT16. I swore - never again. I still some some data files form Lotus 123 from the '80's. Excell still reads it.

[tpm419]

I have installed the transformation pack and except for the sidebar not being compatible with multiple users on my Xp I find it works great. When installing I would not put a checkmark to install the sidebar.Good luck

[tynyro]

If you have SP3 installed Vista Trans Pack might not work ok.I have downloaded VTP from here Vista Transformation Pack and works ok only slows my PC a little bit [Vista Transformation Pack]