So you've been "making do" with your Windows 98 Second Edition for a few years now, and you've decided to upgrade to the new Windows Vista. How should you go about it? Well, you can't.
It is unlikely that any computer running Windows 98SE, Windows ME, or Windows 2000 is a candidate for an upgrade. If your computer is more than two years old, it is probably not a candidate for this upgrade.
I've heard it guesstimated that about 95% of those deciding to upgrade will simply buy a new computer with Vista already installed. As long as you can afford it, I think this is, by far, the best way to go. You should have a LOT better upgrade experience than the poor souls who are forced to upgrade their Windows XP box. I assure you they are in for some trials and tribulations.
The Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor
Alright, let's see if we can help out that small percentage that simply must make do with their current system. The most important thing that you should do is to download and run the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor. Please DO NOT overlook this important step. I remember when Windows XP was released how many people were upset when they didn't run this utility, and then were angry when their scanner or printer was not compatible with the new flavor of Windows. You CANNOT roll back a Vista installation by doing a System Restore so make sure that you exercise due diligence.
Note: Please don't skip this critical step because you're afraid that the tool is going to send back information that will either embarrass or create a problem for you. Microsoft claims that "The Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor does not collect or send any personal, identifiable data to Microsoft Corporation or third parties." I believe 'em. Why? Because they would quickly be caught doing something like that, and it would be an enormous blow to their credibility. You can trust them because it's in their best interest to deal from the top of the deck here.
The Vista Upgrade Advisor will help Windows XP users not only identify which hardware and software components will or will not work properly on your computer, but it will also suggest which flavor (version) of Vista you might want to purchase.
When a new operating system is released, it's up to the hardware vendors to make sure that they provide the drivers necessary for Windows to talk to their hardware. Many of the drivers will be included with the new operating system, but it's not unusual for the vendors to declare their hardware as "legacy equipment" and refuse to create new drivers for it. If you are unlucky enough to be in this situation, your hardware is not going to work with Vista now - nor in the future. You'll have to toss it and buy a new one.
Hardware requirements
Here are the minimum hardware requirements to run Vista "core functionality":
An 800 MHz processor512 MB of RAM
A 20 GB hard drive with 15 GB of free space
Honestly, these are modest requirements for any machine less than 2 years old. However, you may have spotted that "core functionality" proviso. If you want to run Vista Home Premium, Business, or Ultimate version, we need to tweak the spec a bit: 1 GHz processor (a standard processor is 32-bits, but Vista will support the new 64-bit processors also)
1 GB of RAM
40 GB hard drive with at least 15 GB of available space
128 MB of graphics memory (minimum)
DVD-ROM drive
Audio Output
Internet access
Hmmm, let's take a closer look at the spec that Microsoft provides. A 2-year old machine is likely FASTER than the 1 GHz requirement. Same thing with the 40 GB hard drive, audio output, and Internet access. That leaves two areas to focus on: System RAM: You will want to have ALL that you can afford. I would suggest that you shoot for 2 GB if at all possible and 4GB if you really want to cruise.
Graphics memory: It's not that expensive today to get 256 MB of memory on a graphics card for less than $ 100. Not only will Vista speedily display your photos, but you might want to edit slideshows and movies now that you have a lot of power under the hood. You'll quickly find that you like its speed.
Software Issues Contrary to popular belief, I expect MOST applications written for Windows XP to run readily under Vista. Of course, if you ran the Upgrade Advisor, you already know if you have to do any tweaking, patching, or replacing in order to make each of them work. However, if your programs don't run, you need to run the Program Compatibility Wizard: Click the Start button, then the Control Panel, then Programs, and then: "Use an older program with this version of Windows." Vista will do its best to simulate a Windows 95, 98, ME, XP or 2000 environment so that your software will work. Obviously, if you have what we call a "mission critical" application that you absolutely, positively MUST use, you had better visit their website BEFORE you upgrade to see what the vendor says about Vista compatibility with their product.
How about dual booting with Windows XP?
Bingo! This may be the best option of all. You can install Vista side-by-side with XP. Now, if your mission critical software doesn't run under Vista, reboot to Windows XP and carry on. I'm not going to address that issue in this paper - it needs its own discussion. It requires a bit more moxie on the part of its owner (as well as a larger hard drive)
In Summary
Windows Vista is a nice upgrade. I think that after the initial whining (why did they change), users will adjust to the new OS with a fair degree of satisfaction. Remember 3 important things:
Run the Windows Vista Upgrade AdvisorMake sure you have at least 1 GB of RAM memory on board
Make sure you've got a good graphics card with at least 128 MB of memory
Once you've made sure that you have the hardware necessary to run Vista, you are going to enjoy the speed, the capabilities, and the responsiveness of your computer.
Dave Dockery, who has years of experience in teaching, public speaking and computer technology is President of the Tampa Bay Computer Society. He specializes in the world of computers and kindness. Also having years of experience as a computer consultant, has helped many understand the way Microsoft Windows Vista may benefit personally and professionally.
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