Hope it helps..

To check, launch the Updater/launcher program, but do not hit launch. Go to File, then Preferences. in the field marked 'Arguments' enter (without the quotes!) '+widescreen 1'

There is a nice pic of it somewhere I believe but I cant get to it due to being on a dumb work computer

This?

Anyway, back to the OP, just got a Vista computer myself and will go about installing First Strike and let you know if I encounter any problems. From running it on Windows 7 though, I found that turning off User Account Control completely, while also making sure that the programs are set to 'Run as Administrator' tends to do the trick. Can't see Vista being that different.

Just to settle something that no-one else has thought to bring up, out of curiosity, what screen resolution do you use? if its a widescreen then have you set widescreen preferences in the First Strike launcher?

To check, launch the Updater/launcher program, but do not hit launch. Go to File, then Preferences. in the field marked 'Arguments' enter (without the quotes!) '+widescreen 1'

There is a nice pic of it somewhere I believe but I cant get to it due to being on a dumb work computer

please don't give up on the mod, I realise this is frustrating but we will help you get in game!

EDIT:

Ok, now got back and fully installed First Strike on my new Vista laptop I can confirm that I can indeed join a server, so for the OP, here is what I did.
Installed 2142 and updated to 1.5
Installed First Strike 1.4
Turned off User Account Control, and then right click on both 2142 and FS icons, then set to run as administrator.
Ran First Strike and allowed it to update
Restarted the First Strike Launcher, then went in to File, Preferences and entered +widescreen 1 in the arguments field.
Ran First Strike, went to options and selected the correct resolution (will show if you enter the +widescreen bit as above.)
Went to online server menu and joined the RSF server.

*note, during the starting of First Strike I had two firewall popups, remember to set permissions for First Strike.

Hope that helps!

That's not my job, looking through a few topics isnt hard, the other guy got it just fine.

Don't call me a douche in a malicious way again, you're the only one here thats out for blood.

It's no ones job to work on client support.  Those of us that do offer help do it voluntarily. Also:
[center][/center]

Try supporting, or linking to support, Tyler, instead of being a douche and not really helping people. This forums search doodah is pish. Anyway, most of the threads that DO appear will just have the same thing in them: "Do a search".

That's not my job, looking through a few topics isnt hard, the other guy got it just fine.

Don't call me a douche in a malicious way again, you're the only one here thats out for blood.

You can disable UAC for *JUST* First Strike by following the following guide. The Guide located on THIS thread, if you have any more prosbs, feel free to ask

Anyhoo.  LeBeej, are you running User Account Control(UAC)?  Thats the thing which requires you to have to "allow" all programs to run.  If so, post here and I'll tell you how to disable it, or disable it just for First Strike.

If you don't have it on, it could be a number of problems.  First thing i reccomend you do is make sure you choose a working server. The only 3 working servers known at the moment are the RSF 16p server, RogueTribe.com and BlackIntel.org.  If you get a CTD on one of those, then we'll have to dig a little deeper.

Go into your BF2142 install folder.  Go into the mods folder, and delete all the "fsbuild" files.  Open up your First Strike launcher, go to File -> preferences and set your "Version" to 1000.  Hit apply, then okay, and click launch.  Wait for the updating to finish then try to join one of the 3 servers mentioned earlier.

If you still get a CTD, it sounds like a faulty install.  Try reinstalling, or even better, re-downloading the mod from a different site.

If you got the mod from the torrent, make sure you pause the torrent before running the installer or it may bugger up

Please help, I have First Strike version 1.4
I run a Windows Vista 64-bit operating system