To check whether your Windows XP computer is suitable for Windows Vista, download the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor program from http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeadvisor/default.mspx, and then install it. On the Installation Complete page, make sure the Launch Microsoft Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor check box is selected, and then click the Close button. Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor opens. Make sure that you’ve plugged all the devices that you want to be able to use with Windows Vista into your computer and turned them on. For example, make sure your printer, scanner, and memory card reader are connected and powered on. Click the Start Scan button. The Upgrade Advisor scans your system, during which time you can browse information on the features Windows Vista offers. When the Scan Complete screen appears, click the See Details button. The Advisor then displays a screen telling you the following:

Whether Your Computer Can Run Windows Vista The Upgrade Advisor recommends a version of Windows Vista that appears to suit you. For example, if your computer is running Windows XP Home Edition, the Upgrade Advisor normally recommends Windows Vista Home Premium. If your computer is running Windows XP Professional, the Upgrade Advisor normally recommends Windows Vista Business.

System Requirements Whether the Upgrade Advisor has detected any system issues that will prevent you from upgrading to Windows Vista. Click the See Details button to display the details. For example, the Upgrade Advisor tells you if you need to add memory, or if your computer’s graphics adapter will not support the Vista Aero UI.

Devices Whether the Upgrade Advisor has discovered hardware devices that won’t work with Windows Vista. Click the See Details button to display the details. Even if the Upgrade Advisor hasn’t found any devices that won’t work, it may have found devices for which it has no information- so you won’t know if these devices will work until you upgrade to Windows Vista.

Programs Whether the Upgrade Advisor has discovered programs that won’t work with Windows Vista. Click the See Details button to display the details. For example, some older programs won’t run on Windows Vista. Be prepared to stop using these programs if you upgrade. After reviewing the system requirements, devices, or programs, you can click the Task List button in the Report Details window to see list of the tasks you should perform before and after upgrading to Windows Vista. Once you’ve finished reviewing the Upgrade Advisor’s findings, click the Close button the  button to close the Advisor.

Choosing a Method of Installing Windows Vista

You can install Windows Vista in three different ways:

Upgrade If you have Windows XP Home Edition, you can perform an upgrade, replacing Windows XP with Windows Vista. Upgrading like this transfers all your files, settings, and programs to Windows Vista, so in theory you can pick up your work or play straightaway in Windows Vista where you left off in Windows XP.

New installation You can install Windows Vista alongside your current version of Windows. Windows Vista creates a dual-boot setup or modifies an existing dual-boot setup to create a multiboot setup so that you can run either operating system. Installing like this lets you compare Windows Vista with your previous version of Windows so that you can see whether Vista suits you. You can use Windows Easy Transfer to copy your files and settings from your previous version of Windows to Windows Vista. You’ll need to install all the programs you want to use on Windows Vista.

Clean installation You can install Windows Vista from scratch on your computer, setting it up as the only operating system but not upgrading from your current operating system. You can use Windows Easy Transfer to copy your files and settings from your previous version of Windows to Windows Vista. You’ll need to install all the programs you want to use on Windows Vista. The procedures for the new installation and the clean installation are almost the same, so this appendix discusses them together, pointing out the variations.