Advice on upgrading to Vista

[vehelpfulguy]

There are a few of us on this website who give computer advice on a regular basis.

One of the questions we are likely to start getting more of in the future is about upgrading to Vista.

Many of us have followed the tortuous path that Microsoft have followed in developing Vista so may wish to advise others.

So I have put this question in for those of us who know about computers to put their opinions about Vista and maybe advise those who are thinking about upgrading.

We can refer to this question every time we get a question about Vista.

[vehelpfulguy]

I will start

Windows Vista is the follow on product from Windows XP.

Most new PCs and laptops you buy in the next few months will probably have Vista on them and not XP.

Microsoft have been working on Vista since XP came out, and it is a major upgrade and rewrite of the Windows code.

Note that it is NOT just XP with a few fancy new windows, it is a MAJOR rewrite of the Windows code, and it also requires a FAR more powerful PC or laptop than XP did.

I read a LOT of PC magazines and even the technical people in those magazines are amazed at how much PC power you need to run Windows Vista.

Most of them also feel that there is NOT enough in Vista to justify the extra cost, and hassle, of upgrading.

If you get a new PC or laptop with it on, fine, but DONT think about upgrading.

Some hardware may not work under Vista, some software programs may not work under Vista, and your machine is likely to run a LOT slower with Vista on it than it does with XP.

[vehelpfulguy]

One of the exciting new features of Vista is the new "glass" interface, called AERO.

But if you are considering upgrading to Vista note that if you do not have the right sort of graphics card you will NOT get the AERO interface, you will get basically the same interface you get in XP.

Many cheaper computers come with "on board" graphics (built into the motherboard) or a basic graphics card.

These WILL NOT give you the AERO interface.

If you want the AERO interface you will have to get a NEW a graphics card.

Most graphic card suppliers are listing which cards support AERO.

For example ATI Radeon have produced this list of their cards that support Vista:

http://ati.amd.com/technology/WindowsVista/Pro ducts.html

And nVidia have produced this list of their cards that support Vista.

http://www.nvidia.com/page/technology_vista_ho me.html

So simply put, if you have a basic PC or laptop. with basic graphics support, you are very unlikely to get the AERO interface.

I know it all seems very complicated but I am afraid that is the price you pay for upgrading to Vista.

Personally I think Microsoft have produced a Rolls Royce (and not a very good one at that) when many PC users want a Ford Focus

[rojash]

My advice:
If you want to have to keep logging in and out to get the appropriate admin rights, and if you want to be troubled by little popup windows asking "Are you sure?" whenever you want to do something, and if you really want a prettier interface, then go for it (assuming you also want to pay for the hardware upgrades). If you just want a nicer interface, then consider migrating to the Mac.
Otherwise, just stick with what you've got.

The biggest part of the rewrite that MS promised was an entirely new filing system, and this might well have justified the upgrade, but they dropped that, so as it is, re-write or makeover, the end result is still only a prettier interface, some real nuisance security pseudo-improvements, and a requirement for more powerful hardware.

[OBonio]

Stable releases of Microsoft software have historically been around the Service Pack 3 mark. With XP it was SP 2, so we could assume that Vista will be a 'good enough' operating system about the same time. Wait until then and PCs able to run Vista properly will also be more affordable.

In fairness, the 'pseudo security improvements' are actually quite good. If you are worried about people getting hold of your data, Vista supports the new bit locker technology that even the police are worried about as they'll not be able to get at your info.

But, as with ALL new software, there will be holes. Security will be circumvented somehow and viruses will appear.

[CushtyFred]

Everyone use Linux instead.

[vehelpfulguy]

OBonio, you mention securirty and the bit locker feature.

The bit locker feature is ONLY available in the top end versions of Vista, which is likely only to be used by medium to large companies.

Vista comes in five main packages
1) Home Basic
2) Home Premium
3) Business
4) Enterprise
5) Ultimate

Bit locker is only available in the Enterprise and Ultimate versions, which most home users will not have.

For more see here (for some reason this list does not show Enterprise)

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready /editions/default.mspx

You can get to "Enterprise" by clicking on Details and it is in the list there.

[OBonio]

Ah, the article I read on Bit Locker implied it was a standard feature of Vista. I stand by the 'wait for SP2' advice though ;o).

[vehelpfulguy]

If you want to check if your PC is suitable for running Vista you can run a program from Microsoft that tells you what you may need to change or consider.

You can download the program here:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready /upgradeadvisor/default.mspx

Note it may prompt you to install some other Microsoft software if you have not got that installed (Net Framework).

[Mattk]

Great idea vehelpful guy,however i fear most people will just post regardless.

[ermadea]

Very Helpful and most informative as usual vehelpfulguy, thanks for this, it is a good idea, there are so many knowledgeable people on answerbank especially on the Technology front including yourself , Rojash, Ethel, fo3nix, Buenchico, to name but a few. I have learned so much from all of you, and lots of others, but too many to mention. Keep up the good work, much appreciated.

[sarah_louise]

Has anyone noticed the $ price (Amazon.Com) compared to the � price (Amazon.Co.UK ) for Vista.
Rip off Britain again ?

[dodgyshirt]

Having personally tested the Beta release of Vista for several months, I could find no justifiable reason to upgrade to it at any cost.

Furthermore, anyone reading the following article should be very wary of upgrading to it.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/12/28/vista_ drm_analysis/

[fbg40]

I think vehelpfulguy deserves a medal for his efforts in looking after us "silver surfers".
Many thanks.
FBG40

[The Mack]

A point missed is that games will improve with dx10. a vista only feature removing the vertex shader and pixel pipeline problems of dx9 cards and lower. It would be my real reason for running it.

[LostSheep]

I bought a Dell laptop back in the Summer and it has XP but it also mentions that it is 'Vista Capable'. Can I assume, if I wanted to, that I could upgrade quite easily without any major hardware changes?

[TEAK36]

Hi Vehelpfulguy,
Do you know if there is a proplem running Norton with Vista? I ran the Microsoft PC check a couple of months ago to see if my Laptop was upgradable, which it was, but it also advised me that I may eperience problems with Norton.

[sarah_louise]

Thanks for the advice I ran the Vista check
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready /upgradeadvisor/default.mspx

What wont work that I use all the time is Nero 7 Premium, Alcohol 120%, Dragon Naturally Speaking 9, Norton Ghost 10.
All those are excellent pieces of software and no doubt a Vista version will cost even more to replace . I will not bother.

Price of Vista Home Premium (Upgrade version)
USA $154 UK �149 (why ? )

[wideboy]

Buy a Mac!

[rojash]

You might be interested in this e-mail I received from one of the guys in our UK office:

"... how I got on with Windows Vista Business upgrade as supplied for XP Pro by Microsoft today.

Pre-check showed, 4 possible areas of concern with 'minor issues', so I thought I'd give it a go (but only on home PC where I can afford to have teething issues).

2 Hours into first attempt the system locked completely.

Next attempt went through OK and took just over 3 hours.

New interface is very pretty, but rather slow, so slow that I've turned it off and tried to make everything look like Windows 98/2000 classic

System I'm using is P4 2.8, 2Gb RAM, 256Mb Radeon 9600XT, 2x: 250Gb HDD. My current 'basic performance test' rating is 3.8 out of a supposed potential of ten,
this means that I can run the new Aero interface but may not have a fast enough system to run all of the new features which requires a score of 5 + (their recommended minimum is an 800MHz CPU, 512Mb, 40Gb)

Since installing Vista the following items no longer work, or are crashing randomly.

E-Trust Anti-Virus r7 or r8 (Although their website states that r8 - 2007 release is compatible, a reinstallation attempt shows 'Windows Vista - Unknown Operating System)
System Mechanic 5 (Pop up blocker crashes on load)
Ad-Aware 1.06 (just falls over)
D-Link Wireless Network (fails to initialise ANIO service, then briefly shows network available before insisting that no wireless networks are present)
Sony Ericsson PC Suite
Microsoft Messenger

The following items have issues (I don't know what it just tells me there are issues!), which Vista attempts to resolve but fails:
PC Anywhere
Remote Desktop Control
ATI Catalyst
Sun Java
Pinnacle Marvin Firewire

One other note is that each time you try to

[rojash]

Continued...
"...One other note is that each time you try to run an unrecognised program, delete a file or otherwise make a valid change you are now prompted to respond three times,
this is why Vista is 50% more secure that XP, which only prompted twice :)

Hey ho - any takers? If so please, please, please don't ask me for help/support."