So limited compatibility has been achieved, but at what cost? According to GM_Chaos's testing notes:
- UAC was turned off
- Windows Firewall was turned off
-
No extra spyware or anti-virus software was installed. However, Windows
Defender(comes with Vista) was running in the background
- Windows account was an administrator account.
UAC, as annoying as it is, is actually a pretty strong defense against unauthorized programs running with elevated privileges. Turning it off is like driving with your top down and having your car rained in. You had a mechanism to keep your nice leather seats dry but just failed to use it.
Another common "workaround" for games is to turn off your firewall. Disabling your firewall on your computer (unless you have an additional firewall between you and the internet) disables another layer of security and opens you to worm attacks - especially if you don't have the latest operating system patches.
Probably the most common "workaround" I see used in conjunction with games is to disable anti-virus and spyware detection engines. While some gamers are IT professionals - the vast majority are not.
The point of user accounts and security best practice is to not run everything as root (Administrator). At this point - considering you've disabled UAS, firewall, antivirus/spyware, and you're running programs as an administrator, it's like you're walking into a gunfight without a bulletproof vest. Circumventing every security feature your computer has is like BEGGING for it to be compromised.
An upgrade to a 64 bit OS (if the user is not already running it) is also begging for compatibility issues. If the machine and its hardware were not made for Vista 64 bit, the experience on the user will not be pleasant. It's akin to installing (any version) Vista on a machine you built 4 years ago. Drivers weren't designed for the operating system, hardware cannot support the OS, and you're better off sticking with what you have. I would highly recommend that anyone check with their computer manufacturer before installing Vista 64 bit. If you install it and they don't support it then you will void your support term and warranty in most cases. This means, if something goes wrong, Dell/HP/whoever will not, and is not legally bound to, help you with your problem.
This isn't a slam against Chaos or Ntreev, but it is an attack against the methods most publishers use in addressing problems with their product. If a driver has a problem with his car's brakes, you don't just remove the brakes and consider it fixed (at least don't do it in the state of California because I don't want to meet them on the road). I can definitely appreciate Chaos' warning about compatibility of the 64 bit OS but I don't think he adequately expressed the gravity of upgrading a system that is not designed or supported to handle it.
Regarding the 32 bit version of Vista and the sound issue - I have isolated this problem to GameGuard. If I start a game and prevent the execution of GameGuard, the sound works completely fine. Not only that, but system resource utilization is a fraction of what it is with GameGuard running. As a self-defense note, I have *never* actually connected to Trickster Online or any other game with GameGuard/cheat protection engines disabled. I discovered this quite by accident when GameGuard failed to load once.
Quite a few points in here were addressed in my recent blog, Spyware, Rootkits, and Online Games.
New MMO - Trapster Online
