Windows Vista

The Next Generation

Formerly code-named "Longhorn", Windows Vista is Microsoft's next generation operating system and successor to Windows XP, built on the Windows Server 2003 code base. Plans for the current Vista OS began over 5 years ago, and were first announced to Microsoft employees in an internal memo on June 24, 2001, even before the release of Windows XP later in October of that same year. In many ways, Vista bridges from Microsoft's premier client-side OS, Windows XP, over to their high-end server platform, Windows Server 2003. Vista was released to the general public for sale on January 30th, 2007.

Vista Editions

Embarrassment of Riches

Windows Vista is available in the form of five major editions, two of which are particularly targeted for the business environment - Windows Vista Business ($299 / $199 Upgrade) and Windows Vista Enterprise (n/a) - and three for home users, ranging in ascending functionality from Windows Vista Home Basic ($199 / $99.95 Upgrade), Windows Vista Home Premium ($239 / $159 Upgrade), and at the high-end, Windows Vista Ultimate ($399 / $259 Upgrade). In addition there is a specialized edition exclusively for emerging markets, known as Windows Vista Starter.

Consult the summary table The Editions on Microsoft's Windows Vista site for the basic differences. However, this official summary is at a very broad level, leaving vague the the most important features present and absent from the various editions, so we advise the reader to consult a detailed comparative chart such as that produced by ExtremeTech Which Edition is Right for You?

Why Upgrade?

Top Reasons for Upgrading - Or Not

The Pros
First from Microsoft itself, read their TechNet discussion of Key reasons to upgrade to Windows Vista. Then, for more in-depth illustrated coverage, check out ComputerWorld's Visual Tour: 20 Reasons Why Windows Vista Will Be Your Next OS, PC Magazine also provides their rundown of the Top 10 Favorite New Features,

The Cons
For balance, ComputerWorld presents Visual Tour: 20 Things You Won't Like About Windows Vista., while PC magazine has two contrary checklists: Top 5 Peeves and Top 5 Vista Wish List.

Preparing for Windows Vista

Getting Ready for Installation/Upgrade

It is critical before attempting to install or upgrade to windows Vista to make sure to first check for hardware upgradeability, to determine if your PC is Vista-Ready. To do that:

(1) Consult Microsoft's Hardware Planning Guide to first check out the minimal requirements for a Vista Capable PC versus the requirements for a Vista Premium Ready PC (one that can support higher-ends features such as the new Vista Aero desktop / user interface); meeting either set of requirements makes a PC Vista-Ready. See also the brief summary Minimum Supported System Requirements from Microsoft.
(2) Then check specific CPU and Graphics Processor Unit (GPU) requirements, with links to major vendors, at Microsoft's Links to Manufacturer Information about CPU and Graphics Processor Capabilities page (there are links to Intel, AMD, ATI, NVIDIA, S3, and Via).
(3) Also consult Microsoft's Hardware Compatibility List, no longer a cumbersome list at all, but rather a searchable database of hardware products that work with Windows Vista.
(4) I also advise checking the Microsoft Technet's Windows Vista Software Compatibility List (current for Vista RC1 and RC2 as of 10/08/06).
(5) Finally, review PC magazine's Vista Upgrade Tests for the tester's experiences in upgrading four typical laptops and four typical desktop PCs.

Installation or Upgrade?

Guidelines

There are essentially three ways to move to Windows Vista:

(1) upgrading an existing Windows XP system "in-place" (on the same computer),
(2) a fresh install, then migrating your user settings into Windows Vista,
(3) purchasing a a new computer running Windows Vista and then, like (2) above, migrating your user settings into Windows Vista.

Except for the specialized issue of whether you want to assure on a single machine a dual-boot configuration - namely having both Windows Vista and another OS (XP typically, or possibly Windows Server 2003) be separately bootable OSes on that machine - then the second and third approaches are essentially a migration scenario, while the first is an upgrade scenario. Both are discussed in Microsoft's comprehensive Windows Vista Migration Step-by-Step Guide.

Upgrade Scenario
For the upgrade scenario, follow the step-by-step Upgrading to Windows Vista guide from Microsoft.

Migration Scenario
For the migration scenario, follow the step-by-step Migrating to Windows Vista guide from Microsoft. Two tools can be used to help migrate both your user files and settings to the new Vista installation:
(1) The first is the Microsoft Windows User State Migration Tool (USMT) which captures desktop, user accounts, and application settings, and their associated files. Microsoft's TechNet Windows User State Migration Tool page provides detailed guidance on how to use the USMT tool.
(2) The second tool is the Windows Easy Transfer tool which can move user accounts, files and folders, program settings, Internet settings including favorites, and e-mail settings from your current Windows system to a new Windows Vista system, and full step-by-step procedures for this are detailed on the Migrate User Settings Using Windows Easy Transfer page from Microsoft's TechNet.

Dual Boot
If you are interested in dual booting Windows Vista with a preserved Windows XP system on the same machine, consult Debra Shinder's (MCSE, MVP) illustrated guide Installing Windows Vista: The Good, Bad, and the Ugly [pdf]; also useful is VistaFAQs brief How Do I Dual Boot Vista? as well as Microsoft TechNet's Boot Configuration Data Editor Frequently Asked Questions.