| Upgrading To Microsoft Windows Vista Tips | | | | functionality over your current edition of |
| | | | Windows, you will need to do a clean install, |
| The traditional annual days of giving are at | | | | or install Windows Vista to a new partition |
| hand. Some people will want to upgrade (if | | | | on your PC. Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor |
| it can be called that) to Windows Vista. | | | | Before you being Before you begin |
| | | | |
| Here are some tips to help keep you out of | | | | Before you run the Upgrade Advisor, be sure |
| trouble. Recommended minimum hardware | | | | to plug in any USB devices or other devices |
| requirements for Windows Vista Windows Vista | | | | such as printers, external hard drives, or |
| Home Basic • 800-megahertz (MHz) | | | | scanners that are regularly used with the PC |
| 32-bit (x86) processor or 800-MHz 64-bit | | | | you're evaluating. |
| (x64) processor • 512 megabytes (MB) | | | | |
| of system memory Note On system | | | | Download Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor |
| configurations that use system memory as | | | | Download Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor |
| graphics memory, at least 448 MB of system | | | | |
| memory must be available to the operating | | | | Ready to buy? Check out these special offers |
| system after some memory is allocated for | | | | from our partners Ready to upgrade? Check out |
| graphics. • DirectX 9-class graphics | | | | these special offers from Microsoft partners. |
| card • 32 MB of graphics memory | | | | |
| • 20-gigabyte (GB) hard disk that has | | | | The Upgrade Advisor works with 32-bit |
| 15 GB of free hard disk space • | | | | versions of Windows XP and Windows Vista. |
| Internal or external DVD drive • | | | | Review the upgrade options available for |
| Internet access capability Audio output | | | | earlier versions of Windows. |
| capability | | | | |
| | | | Make sure your computer is ready for the |
| Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista | | | | edition of Windows Vista you want. |
| Business, Windows Vista Enterprise, and | | | | |
| Windows Vista Ultimate 1-gigahertz (GHz) | | | | The Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor will help |
| 32-bit (x86) processor or 1-GHz 64-bit (x64) | | | | you to determine if your Windows XP-based PC |
| processor 1 GB of system memory Windows | | | | can run Windows Vista. You can also use the |
| Aero-capable graphics card Note This | | | | Upgrade Advisor to determine if your Windows |
| includes a DirectX 9-class graphics card that | | | | Vista-based PC is ready for an upgrade to a |
| supports the following: • A WDDM | | | | more powerful edition of Windows Vista. |
| driver • Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware | | | | |
| • 32 bits per pixel 128 MB of | | | | This small software tool will scan your |
| graphics memory (minimum) 40-GB hard disk | | | | computer and create an easy-to-understand |
| that has 15 GB of free hard disk space (the | | | | report of all known system, device, and |
| 15GB of free space provides room for | | | | program compatibility issues, and recommend |
| temporary file storage during the install or | | | | ways to resolve them. Upgrade Advisor can |
| upgrade.) Internal or external DVD drive | | | | also help you to choose the edition of |
| Internet access capability Audio output | | | | Windows Vista that best fits the way you want |
| capability • • • | | | | to use your computer. |
| • • • • • | | | | |
| | | | Just download, install, and run the Windows |
| Note A Windows Aero-capable graphics card is | | | | Vista Upgrade Advisor. |
| a graphics card that meets the following | | | | |
| requirements: • Supports a Windows | | | | Please Note: |
| Display Driver Model (WDDM) driver • | | | | |
| Has a DirectX 9-class graphics processor unit | | | | * The Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor works |
| (GPU) that supports Pixel Shader 2.0 • | | | | with 32-bit versions of Windows XP and |
| Supports 32 bits per pixel • Passes | | | | Windows Vista, except Windows Vista |
| the Windows Aero acceptance test in the | | | | Enterprise edition. It will not work with |
| Windows Driver Kit (WDK) Operating system | | | | other editions of Windows. * The Windows |
| requirements to upgrade to Windows Vista | | | | Vista Upgrade Advisor does not collect or |
| | | | send any personal, identifiable data to |
| The table below outlines the upgrade options | | | | Microsoft Corporation or third parties. |
| mapped to the different Windows Vista | | | | |
| editions. | | | | Upgrade procedure |
| | | | |
| Home Basic Home Premium Business Ultimate | | | | To upgrade your computer to Windows Vista, |
| Windows XP Professional bullet bullet | | | | follow these steps: 1. Start the computer |
| bullet bullet Windows XP Home bullet | | | | by using the current operating system. Verify |
| bullet bullet bullet Windows XP Media | | | | that the Microsoft Windows operating system |
| Center bullet bullet bullet bullet | | | | that is currently installed on the computer |
| Windows XP Tablet PC bullet bullet bullet | | | | is eligible for upgrade to Windows Vista. 2. |
| bullet Windows XP Professional x64 | | | | Insert the Windows Vista DVD in the |
| bullet bullet bullet bullet Windows | | | | computer's DVD drive. 3. Use one of the |
| 2000 bullet bullet bullet bullet | | | | following procedures, as appropriate: |
| | | | • If Windows automatically detects the |
| Requires clean install. In-place | | | | DVD, the Install now screen appears. Click |
| installation option available. | | | | Install now. • If Windows does not |
| | | | automatically detect the DVD, follow these |
| Notes: | | | | steps: a. Click Start, click Run, type |
| | | | Drive:\setup.exe, and then click OK. |
| If you are currently using Windows 2000 | | | | |
| Professional or Windows XP Professional x64, | | | | Note Drive is the drive letter of the |
| you are eligible for an upgrade copy to a | | | | computer's DVD drive. b. Click Install now. |
| corresponding or better edition of Windows | | | | 4. When you reach the Which type of |
| Vista, but a clean install is required. | | | | installation to you want? screen, click |
| | | | Upgrade to upgrade the current operating |
| Upgrade copies are not available for versions | | | | system to Windows Vista. The Upgrade option |
| of Windows earlier than Windows 2000. These | | | | is unavailable, and you receive an "Upgrade |
| earlier versions of Windows require you to | | | | has been disabled" message |
| install a full copy of Windows Vista. | | | | |
| | | | When you try to upgrade to Windows Vista, the |
| If the edition of Windows Vista that you | | | | Upgrade option is unavailable. |
| choose to install will result in a loss of | | | | |