Microsoft has released Windows Vista. This page discusses where Vista and Bear Access play nicely, and where they don't.

For general information about Windows Vista in the Cornell environment, see the Windows Vista Upgrade Recommendations page. It includes information about Bear Access and Bear Access applications.

In addition, CIT is aware of the following issues with Bear Access Fall 2006 and Windows Vista.

• Automatic Updates of Bear Access Services

• Bear Access Installer

• SideCar (Port 913) Processing

• Bear Access Applications

 

Automatic Updates of Bear Access Services

This is an issue. One of the linchpins of Bear Access is its ability to deliver updates to the various services. Delivering these updates requires read/write privileges in a number of folders on users' hard drives.

In previous versions of Windows, Power Users and Administrative Users were able to write to the Windows and Program Files folders without changing folder permissions. With the introduction of User Account Control (UAC) in Vista, in order for Bear Access to be able to download and update services, even users running as Administrator don't automatically have access to the necessary folders.

We've identified three work-arounds and given them their own page: Running Bear Access under Windows Vista. We present them here in the order we'd like you to consider them. The first option is the most secure, the third is the least secure.

Please contact your local technical support provider before making any changes to a departmental computer.

 

Bear Access Installer (Using Fall 2006 Bear Access CD)

No problems were encountered running the installer.

 

SideCar (Port 913) Processing

SideCar does not properly recognize fast user switching so if you switch users with SideCar running and then try to start Sidecar in another session, it will be unable to listen on port 913.  This was fixed with Windows XP, but for some reason it is broken again in Vista. Since SideCar and the port 913 callback function are scheduled to be retired in the future, there are no plans to release a new version at the present time.

 

Bear Access Applications

• Thunderbird
  Thunderbird 2.0 delivered with Bear Access Fall 2007 works properly under Vista.
• Eudora
  The built-in help facility does not work unless you download and install WinHlp32.exe from Microsoft: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=6ebcfad9-d3f5-4365-8070-334cd175d4bb&displaylang=en
• TCP3270, Host Explorer 6.2.0.11
  Hummingbird lists HostExplorer 2007 as the only version supported under Vista. Previous versions appear to run. If you encounter problems, upgrade to the new version.
• Colts II
  COLTS II is not compatible with VISTA. A new web based COLTS III is under development. Employee functionality will be rolled out first.
• Symantec AntiVirus
  Symantec AntiVirus version 10.2 supports Vista.
• Symantec Client Security
  Symantec Client Security (Firewall) software is scheduled to be released in 2007. If you are concerned about the lack of the Firewall component, you can configure the Windows Vista internal Firewall to block outbound traffic as well as inbound traffic.

 

Return to the Bear Access home page

Help with Bear Access: helpdesk@cornell.edu
Comments/suggestions about Bear Access: ba-feedback-l@cornell.edu
Last updated: June 11, 2007