The real problem is microsoft have changed the security model for windows. In XP you run as an administrator which means you have access to anything and everything. In vista, everyone runs as a user/guest, and programmers program software as administrator. So, when you run said software, it may try and access areas of the registry or hardware which it does not have rights to do and it will crash and burn in a screaming heap.
In a lot of cases you can set the program to run with administrator rights or run it in xp compatabilty mode, but this does not work for everything. Closer to home, maxim claim on their web site that canon will not allow 3rd party control programs to control their cameras in vista, meaning they won't release details.
I have found it a lot easier to run xp on the laptop controlling the scope and doing everything else on a quad core Vista desktop. That way the laptop can be almost any old ****box. You'll soon see what does and doesn't work
