Windows Vista Solutions

Minimum Vista requirements exposed

2007-02-20T18:51:00.000-08:00

THE SOFTWARE giant Microsoft has announced what it says will be the minimum software requirements to run its super soaraway Vista.

The outfit has launched a 'Get Ready' Website 'ere which outlines the requirements for running low-end versions of Vista or higher-end versions that take advantage of the OS’s new Aero graphical user interface capabilities.

To make matters more confusing, Vole calls the low end one a "Windows Vista Capable PC" and Aero ready one a "Windows Vista Premium Ready PC."

The low end one will need a speed of at least 800MHz, 512MB of system memory and a graphics processor that is DirectX 9 capable. The Aero ready one will need a 1GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor, 1GB of system memory, 128MB of graphics memory, 40GB of hard drive capacity with 15GB free space, a DVD-ROM drive, audio output capabilities and Internet access.

It will also need a DirectX 9 class graphics processor that supports a Windows Display Driver Model Driver, Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware and 32 bits per pixel. Windows Vista Premium Ready needs to have 64MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor less than 1,310,720 pixels; 128MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels; or 256MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions higher than 2,304,000 pixels.

Vole has a handy lump of software to help you through the process, but you have to download .NET to run it. After telling me I needed the most expensive Vista available for a PC it told me that my computer didn’t have enough hard-drive. I have only 13GB to play with. I will also need a new graphics card which can handle 124MB of memory and I only have 64MB.

It also suggested that Windows did not have drivers for things like my BlueTooth connector, or my soundcard. To make matters worse, these are the minimum requirements to run Vista. If I try and run my Adobe Creative Suite on it, chances are I will find myself short of memory. It looks like this will be a costly upgrade.

Detailed info for Windows Vista

2007-02-20T18:47:00.000-08:00

Windows Vista is the latest release of Microsoft Windows, a line of graphical operating systems used on personal computers, including home and business desktops. Prior to its announcement on July 22, 2005, Vista was known by its codename Longhorn.^[1] On November 8, 2006, Windows Vista development was completed and released to manufacturing. Over the next two months it was released to MSDN, TechNet Plus and TechNet Direct subscribers, computer hardware and software manufacturers and volume license customers. On January 30, 2007, it was released worldwide to the general public,^[2] and is available for purchase and downloading from Microsoft's web site.^[3] These release dates come more than five years after the release of its predecessor, Windows XP, making it the longest time span between two releases of Windows versions.

According to Microsoft,^[4] Windows Vista contains hundreds of new features; some of the most significant include an updated graphical user interface and visual style dubbed Windows Aero, improved searching features, new multimedia creation tools such as Windows DVD Maker, and completely redesigned networking, audio, print, and display sub-systems. Vista also aims to increase the level of communication between machines on a home network using peer-to-peer technology, making it easier to share files and digital media between computers and devices. For developers, Vista introduces version 3.0 of the .NET Framework, which aims to make it significantly easier for developers to write high-quality applications than with the traditional Windows API.

Microsoft's primary stated objective with Vista, however, has been to improve the state of security in the Windows operating system.^[5] One common criticism of Windows XP and its predecessors has been their commonly exploited security vulnerabilities and overall susceptibility to malware, viruses and buffer overflows. In light of this, then Microsoft chairman Bill Gates announced in early 2002 a company-wide 'Trustworthy Computing initiative' which aims to incorporate security work into every aspect of software development at the company. Microsoft claimed that it prioritized improving the security of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 above finishing Windows Vista, significantly delaying its completion.^[6]

During the course of its development, Vista has been the target of a number of negative assessments by various groups. Criticism of Windows Vista has included protracted development time, more restrictive licensing terms, the inclusion of a number of new Digital Rights Management technologies aimed at restricting the copying of protected digital media, and the usability of new features such as User Account Control.

[hide]

[edit] Development

The Windows Vista Codename (Longhorn) logo

Main article: Development of Windows Vista

Microsoft started work on their plans for "Longhorn" in May 2001,^[7] prior to the release of Windows XP. It was originally expected to ship sometime late in 2003 as a minor step between Windows XP (codenamed "Whistler") and "Blackcomb" (now known as Windows "Vienna"). Gradually, "Longhorn" assimilated many of the important new features and technologies slated for "Blackcomb," resulting in the release date being pushed back a few times. Many of Microsoft's developers were also re-tasked with improving the security of Windows XP.^[6] Faced with ongoing delays and concerns about feature creep, Microsoft announced on August 27, 2004 that it was making significant changes. "Longhorn" development basically started afresh, building on the Windows Server 2003 codebase, and re-incorporating only the features that would be intended for an actual operating system release. Some previously announced features, such as WinFS and NGSCB, were dropped or postponed, and a new software development methodology called the "Security Development Lifecycle" was incorporated in an effort to address concerns with the security of the Windows codebase.^[8]

After "Longhorn" was named Windows Vista, an unprecedented beta-test program was started, which involved hundreds of thousands of volunteers and companies. In September 2005, Microsoft started releasing regular Community Technology Previews (CTP) to beta testers. The first of these was distributed among 2005 Microsoft Professional Developers Conference attendees, and was subsequently released to Microsoft Beta testers and Microsoft Developer Network subscribers. The builds that followed incorporated most of the planned features for the final product, as well as a number of changes to the user interface, based largely on feedback from beta testers. Windows Vista was deemed feature-complete with the release of the "February CTP," released on February 22, 2006, and much of the remainder of work between that build and the final release of the product focused on stability, performance, application and driver compatibility, and documentation. Beta 2, released in late May, was the first build to be made available to the general public through Microsoft's Customer Preview Program. It was downloaded by over five million people. Two release candidates followed in September and October, both of which were made available to a large number of users.

While Microsoft had originally hoped to have the operating system available worldwide in time for Christmas 2006, it was announced in March 2006 that the release date would be pushed back to January 2007, so as to give the company – and the hardware and software companies which Microsoft depends on for providing device drivers – additional time to prepare. Through much of 2006, analysts and bloggers had speculated that Windows Vista would be delayed further, owing to anti-trust concerns raised by the European Commission and South Korea, and due to a perceived lack of progress with the beta releases. However, with the November 8, 2006 announcement of the completion of Windows Vista, Microsoft's most lengthy operating system development project came to an end.

[edit] New or altered features

Main article: Features new to Windows Vista

[edit] End-user features

The appearance of Windows Explorer has changed significantly from Windows XP.

Windows Aero: a new hardware-based graphical user interface, named Windows Aero – an acronym (possibly a backronym) for Authentic, Energetic, Reflective, and Open. The new interface is intended to be cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing than those of previous Windows, including new transparencies, live thumbnails, live icons, animations and eye candy.
Windows Shell: The new Windows shell is significantly different from Windows XP, offering a new range of organization, navigation, and search capabilities. Windows Explorer's task pane has been removed, integrating the relevant task options into the toolbar. A "Favorite links" pane has been added, enabling one-click access to common directories. The address bar has been replaced with a breadcrumb navigation system. The preview panel allows you to see thumbnails of all sorts of files and view the contents of documents, similar to the way you can preview email messages in Outlook, without opening the files. The Start menu has changed as well; it no longer uses ever-expanding boxes when navigating through Programs. Even the word "Start" itself has been removed in favor of a blue Windows Orb (also called "Pearl").
Windows Search (also known as Instant Search or search as you type): significantly faster and more thorough search capabilities. Search boxes have been added to the Start menu, Windows Explorer, and several of the applications included with Vista. By default, Instant Search indexes only a small number of folders such as the start menu, the names of files opened, the Documents folder, and the user's e-mail. Advanced options allow to choose for a specific file type how it should be indexed, the properties only or the properties and the file contents or exclude it.
Windows Sidebar: A transparent panel anchored to the side of the screen where a user can place Desktop Gadgets, which are small applets designed for a specialized purpose (such as displaying the weather or sports scores). Gadgets can also be placed on other parts of the Desktop, if desired.
Windows Internet Explorer 7: new user interface, tabbed browsing, RSS, a search box, improved printing, Page Zoom, Quick Tabs (thumbnails of all open tabs), Anti-Phishing filter, a number of new security protection features, Internationalized Domain Name support (IDN), and improved web standards support. IE7 in Windows Vista runs in isolation from other applications in the operating system (protected mode); exploits and malicious software are restricted from writing to any location beyond Temporary Internet Files without explicit user consent.

Windows Media Player 11

Windows Media Player 11, a major revamp of Microsoft's program for playing and organizing music and video. New features in this version include word wheeling (or "search as you type"), a completely new and highly graphical interface for the media library, photo display and organization, and the ability to share music libraries over a network with other Vista machines, Xbox 360 integration, and support for other Media Center Extenders.
Backup and Restore Center: Includes a backup and restore application that gives users the ability to schedule periodic backups of files on their computer, as well as recovery from previous backups. Backups are incremental, storing only the changes each time, minimizing the disk usage. It also features CompletePC Backup (available only to Ultimate, Business, and Enterprise versions) which backs up an entire computer as an image onto a hard disk or DVD. CompletePC Backup can automatically recreate a machine setup onto new hardware or hard disk in case of any hardware failures.
Windows Mail: A replacement for Outlook Express that includes a new mail store that improves stability, and enables real-time search. It has the Phishing Filter like IE7 and a Junk mail filtering which is enhanced through regular updates via Windows Update.^[9]

Windows Update with Windows Ultimate Extras

Windows Calendar is a new calendar and task application.
Windows Photo Gallery, a photo and movie library management application. WPG can import from digital cameras, tag and rate individual items, adjust colors and exposure, create and display slideshows (with pan and fade effects), and burn slideshows to DVD.
Windows DVD Maker, a companion program to Windows Movie Maker, which provides the ability to create video DVDs based on a user's content.
Windows Meeting Space is the replacement for NetMeeting. Users can share applications (or their entire Desktop) with other users on the local network, or over the Internet using peer-to-peer technology (higher versions than Starter and Home Basic can take advantage of hosting capabilities, limiting previous to "join" mode only)
Windows Media Center, which was previously exclusively bundled as a separate version of Windows XP, known as Windows XP Media Center Edition, will be incorporated into the Home Premium and Ultimate editions of Windows Vista.
Games: Games included with Windows have been modified to work with Vista's graphics capabilities. New games include Chess Titans, Mahjong Titans and Purble Place. The Games section will also hold links and information to all games on the user's computer. One piece of information that will be shown is the game's ESRB rating.

Previous Versions

Previous Versions automatically creates backup copies of files and folders, with daily frequency. Users can also create "shadow copies" by setting a System Protection Point using the System Protection tab in the System control panel. The user can be presented multiple versions of a file throughout a limited history and be allowed to restore, delete, or copy those versions. This feature is available only in the Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions of Windows Vista and is inherited from Windows Server 2003.^[10]
Windows Mobility Center is a new control panel that centralizes the most relevant information related to mobile computing (e.g. brightness, sound, battery level / power scheme selection, wireless network, screen orientation, presentation settings, etc.).
Windows Update: Software and security updates have been simplified, now operating solely via a control panel instead of as a web application. Mail's spam filter and Defender's definitions will also be automatically updated via Windows Update.
Parental controls: Allows administrators to control which websites, programs, and games each standard user can use and install.
Windows SideShow: Enables the auxiliary displays on newer laptops or on supported Windows Mobile devices. It is meant to be used to display Device gadgets while the computer is on or off.
Speech recognition is fully integrated into Vista. It is an improved version of Microsoft Speech Recognition currently working under Office 2003, with a redesigned interface, a flexible set of commands, and an command-and-control capability to activate the computer by voice. Unlike the Office 2003 version, which works only in Office and WordPad, it works for dictation system-wide. In addition, it currently supports several languages: English US and UK, Spanish, French, German, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), and Japanese.
New fonts, including several designed especially for screen reading, and new high-quality Chinese (Yahei, JhengHei), Japanese (Meiryo) and Korean (Malgun) fonts. See Windows Vista typefaces. ClearType has also been enhanced and enabled by default.
Problem Reports and Solutions, a new control panel which allows users to see previously sent problems and any solutions or additional information that is available.
Improved audio controls allow the system-wide volume or volume of individual audio devices and even individual applications to be controlled separately. Introduced new audio functionalities such as Room Correction, Bass Management, Speaker Fill and Headphone virtualization.
System Performance Assessment is a benchmark used by Windows Vista to regulate the system for optimum performance. Games can take advantage of this feature, reading the data produced by this benchmark in order to fine-tune the game details. The benchmark tests CPU, RAM, Graphics acceleration (2D and 3D) and disk access.^[11]
Windows Ultimate Extras: The Ultimate Edition of Windows Vista provides access to extra games and tools, available through Windows Update. This replaces the Microsoft Plus! software bundle that was sold alongside prior versions of Windows.
Built-in hard drive partition management: A utility to modify hard disk drive partitions, including shrinking, creating and formating new partitions.

[edit] Core technologies

Windows Vista is intended to be a technology-based release, to provide a solid base to include technologies, many of which will be related to how the system functions, and hence not readily visible to the user. An example of this is the restructuring of the architecture of the audio, print, display, and networking subsystems; while the results of this work will be visible to software developers, end-users will only see what appear to be evolutionary changes in the user interface.

Vista includes technologies such as ReadyBoost and ReadyDrive which employ fast flash memory (located on USB drives and hybrid hard disk drives respectively) to improve system performance by caching commonly-used programs and data. This manifests itself in improved battery life on notebook computers as well, since a hybrid drive can be spun down when not in use. Another new technology called SuperFetch utilizes machine learning techniques to analyze usage patterns in order to allow Windows Vista to make decisions about what content should be present in system memory at any given time.

As part of the redesign of the networking architecture, IPv6 has been incorporated into the operating system, and a number of performance improvements have been introduced, such as TCP window scaling. Prior versions of Windows typically needed third-party wireless networking software to work properly; this is no longer the case with Vista, as it includes more comprehensive wireless networking support.

For graphics, Vista introduces a new Windows Display Driver Model, as well as major revisions to Direct3D. The new driver model facilitates the new Desktop Window Manager, which provides the tearing-free desktop and special effects that are the cornerstones of Windows Aero. WDDM's current version 1.0 is able to offload rudimentary tasks to the GPU, driver installation no longer requires a system reboot and seamless recovery from rare driver errors due to illegal application behavior. The next version is going to require an entirely new generation of GPUs, which nVidia and ATI are working on. Direct3D 10, developed in conjunction with major display driver manufacturers, is a new architecture with more advanced shader support, and allows the graphics processing unit to render more complex scenes without assistance from the CPU. It features improved load balancing between CPU and GPU and also optimizes data transfer between them.^[12]

At the core of the operating system, many improvements have been made to the memory manager, process scheduler, heap manager, and I/O scheduler. A Kernel Transaction Manager has been implemented that gives applications the ability to work with the file system and registry using atomic transaction operations.

[edit] Security-related technologies

A User Account Control consent dialog.

Main article: Security and safety features new to Windows Vista

Improved security was a primary design goal for Vista.^[5] Microsoft's Trustworthy Computing initiative, which aims to improve public trust in its products, has had a direct effect on its development. This effort has resulted in a number of new security and safety features.

User Account Control is perhaps the most significant and visible of these changes. User Account Control is a security technology that makes it possible for users to use their computer with fewer privileges by default. This was often difficult in previous versions of Windows, as the previous "limited" user accounts proved too restrictive and incompatible with a large proportion of application software, and even prevented some basic operations such as looking at the calendar from the notification tray. In Windows Vista, when an action requiring administrative rights is requested, the user will be first prompted for an administrator name and password; in cases where the user is already an administrator, the user is still prompted to confirm the pending privileged action. User Account Control asks for credentials in a Secure Desktop mode, where the entire screen is blacked out, temporarily disabled, and only the authorization window is active and highlighted. The intent is to stop a malicious program 'spoofing' the user interface, attempting to capture admin credentials.

Another significant new feature is BitLocker Drive Encryption, a data protection feature included in the Enterprise and Ultimate editions of Vista that provides encryption for the entire operating system volume. Bitlocker can work in conjunction with a Trusted Platform Module chip (version 1.2) that is on a computer's motherboard, or with a USB key.^[13]

Windows Defender

Microsoft's anti-spyware product, Windows Defender, has been incorporated into Windows, providing protection against malware and other threats. Changes to various system configuration settings (such as new auto-starting applications) are blocked unless the user gives consent.

Internet Explorer 7's new security and safety features include a phishing filter, IDN with anti-spoofing capabilities, and integration with system-wide parental controls. For added security, ActiveX controls are disabled by default. Also, Internet Explorer operates in a "protected mode" which operates with lower permissions than the user and it runs in isolation from other applications in the operating system, preventing it from accessing or modifying anything besides the Temporary Internet Files directory.^[14] Also, Internet Explorer is no longer integrated with the Explorer shell; local files typed in IE are opened using the Explorer shell and Web sites typed in Explorer are opened using the default web browser.

A variety of other privilege-restriction techniques are also built into Vista. An example is the concept of "integrity levels" in user processes, whereby a process with a lower integrity level cannot interact with processes of a higher integrity level. The security restrictions of Windows services are more fine-grained, so that services (especially those listening on the network) have no ability to interact with parts of the operating sytem they do not need to. Obfuscation techniques such as address space layout randomization and Kernel Patch Protection are used to increase the amount of effort required of malware before successful infiltration of a system.

As part of the redesign of the network stack, Windows Firewall has been upgraded, with new support for filtering both incoming and outgoing traffic. Advanced packet filter rules can be created which can grant or deny communications to specific services. Vista also adds new SSL and TLS cryptographic extensions, which enable support for both AES and some of the new ECC cipher suites.

[edit] Business technologies

While much of the focus of Vista's new capabilities has been on the new user interface, security technologies, and improvements to the core operating system, Microsoft is also adding new deployment and maintenance features.

The WIM image format (Windows IMage) is the cornerstone of Microsoft's new deployment and packaging system. WIM files, which contain an image of Windows Vista, can be maintained and patched without having to rebuild new images. Windows Images can be delivered via Systems Management Server or Business Desktop Deployment technologies. Images can be customized and configured with applications then deployed to corporate client personal computers using little to no touch by a system administrator. ImageX is the Microsoft tool used to create and customize images.
Windows Deployment Services replaces Remote Installation Services for deploying Vista and prior versions of Windows.
Approximately 700 new Group Policy settings have been added, covering most aspects of the new features in the operating system, as well as significantly expanding the configurability of wireless networks, removable storage devices, and user desktop experience.^[15]
Services for UNIX has been renamed "Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications," and is included with the Enterprise and Ultimate editions of Vista. Network File System (NFS) client support is also included.
Multi-lingual User Interface - Unlike previous version of Windows which required language packs to be loaded to provide local language support, Windows Vista Enterprise edition supports the ability to dynamically change languages based on the logged on user's preference.
Wireless Projector support

[edit] Developer technologies

Windows Vista includes a large number of new application programming interfaces. Chief among them is the inclusion of version 3.0 of the .NET Framework, which consists of a class library and Common Language Runtime. Version 3.0 includes four new major components:^[16]

Windows Presentation Foundation is a user interface subsystem and framework based vector graphics, which will make use of 3D computer graphics hardware and Direct3D technologies. It provides the foundation for building applications and blending together application UI, documents, and media content. It is the successor to Windows Forms.
Windows Communication Foundation is a service-oriented messaging subsystem which will enable applications and systems to interoperate locally or remotely using Web services.
Windows Workflow Foundation provides task automation and integrated transactions using workflows. It is the programming model, engine and tools for building workflow-enabled applications on Windows.
Windows CardSpace is a component which securely stores digital identities of a person, and provides a unified interface for choosing the identity for a particular transaction, such as logging into a website.

These technologies will also be available for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 to facilitate their introduction to and usage by developers and end users.

There are also significant new development APIs in the core of the operating system, notably the completely re-architected audio, networking, print, and video interfaces, major changes to the security infrastructure, improvements to the deployment and installation of applications ("ClickOnce" and Windows Installer 4.0), new device driver development model ("Windows Driver Foundation"), Transactional NTFS, mobile computing API advancements (power management, Tablet PC Ink support, SideShow) and major updates to (or complete replacements of) many core subsystems such as Winlogon and CAPI.

There are some issues for software developers using some of the graphics APIs in Vista. Games or programs which are built on Vista's version of DirectX, 10, will not work on prior versions of Windows, as DirectX 10 is not backwards-compatible with DirectX 9.^[17] According to a Microsoft blog, there are three choices for OpenGL implementation on Vista. An application can use the default implementation, which translates OpenGL calls into the Direct3D API and is frozen at OpenGL version 1.4, or an application can use an Installable Client Driver (ICD), which comes in two flavors: legacy and Vista-compatible. A legacy ICD, the kind already provided by independent hardware vendors targeting Windows XP, will disable the Desktop Window Manager, noticeably degrading user experience under Windows Aero. A Vista-compatible ICD takes advantage of a new API, and will be fully compatible with the Desktop Window Manager.^[18] At least two primary vendors, ATI and NVIDIA, are expected to provide full Vista-compatible ICDs in the near future.^[19] However, hardware overlay is not supported, because it is considered as an obsolete feature in Vista. ATI and NVIDIA strongly recommend using compositing desktop/FBOs for same functionality.^[20]

[edit] Deprecated features

Some notable Windows XP features and components have been replaced or removed in Windows Vista, including Windows Messenger, the network Messenger Service, HyperTerminal, MSN Explorer, and the replacement of NetMeeting with Windows Meeting Space. Windows Vista also does not include the Windows XP "Luna" visual theme, or most of the classic color schemes which have been part of Windows since the Windows 3.x era. The "Hardware profiles" startup feature has been removed as well, along with support for older motherboard technologies like the EISA bus and APM. IP over 1394 (TCP/IP over IEEE 1394) has been removed.[2]

WinHlp32.exe, used to display 32-bit .hlp files, is no longer included in Windows Vista as Microsoft considers it obsolete.^[21] Existing programs that can work with Vista are not able to display Help documentation on Vista. Microsoft prohibits software manufacturers from re-introducing the .hlp help system with their products. Microsoft claimed in the above referenced support bulletin that WinHlp32.exe would be available "in time for the consumer release of Windows Vista scheduled for early 2007" from Microsoft's Download Center. As of 18 February 2007, no .hlp download is available.

Telnet.exe is no longer installed by default, but is still included as an installable feature.^[22]

[edit] Editions and pricing

Main article: Windows Vista editions and pricing

Windows Vista Home Basic Upgrade Edition - Full English Contents

Windows Vista ships in six editions.^[23] These editions are roughly divided into two target markets, consumer and business, with editions varying to cater for specific sub-markets. For consumers, there are four editions, with three available for Western countries; Windows Vista Starter is limited to emerging markets. Windows Vista Home Basic is intended for budget users with low needs. Windows Vista Home Premium covers the majority of the consumer market. Windows Vista Ultimate contains the complete feature-set and is aimed at enthusiasts. For businesses, there are two versions. Windows Vista Business covers organisations of all sizes, while Windows Vista Enterprise is only available to customers participating in Microsoft's Software Assurance program.

All editions except Windows Vista Starter support both processor architectures, 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x86-64), while Windows Vista Starter is only available for 32-bit architectures. In the European Union, Home Basic N and Business N versions will also be available. These versions come without Windows Media Player, due to EU sanctions brought against Microsoft for violating anti-trust laws. Similar sanctions exist in South Korea.

On September 5, 2006, USD pricing was announced for the four editions that are available through retail channels.^[24] New license and upgrade license SKUs of each edition are available.

Microsoft states that the packaging for the retail editions of Windows Vista is "designed to be user-friendly, and the new packaging is a hard plastic container that will protect the software inside for life-long use".^[25] The case opens sideways to reveal the Windows Vista DVD suspended in a clear plastic case. The Windows Vista disc itself uses a holographic design similar to the discs that Microsoft has produced since Windows 2000.

[edit] Visual styles

Windows Vista has four distinct visual styles.^[26]

Windows Aero: Windows Flip 3D (Win+Tab keys)

Windows Flip (Alt+Tab keys)

Live Thumbnails (Win+T keys); Vista's premier visual style is built on a new desktop composition engine called Desktop Window Manager. Windows Aero introduces support for 3D graphics (Windows Flip 3D), translucency effects (Glass), live thumbnails, window animations, and other visual effects, and is intended for mainstream and high-end graphics cards. To enable these features, the contents of every open window is stored in video memory to facilitate tearing-free movement of windows. As such, Windows Aero has significantly higher hardware requirements than its predecessors. 128 MB of graphics memory is the minimum requirement, depending on resolution used.^[27] Windows Aero (including Windows Flip 3D) is not included in the Starter and Home Basic editions.

Windows Vista Standard: This mode is a variation of Windows Aero without the glass effects, window animations, and other advanced graphical effects such as Windows Flip 3D. Like Windows Aero, it uses the Desktop Window Manager, and has generally the same video hardware requirements as Windows Aero. This is the default mode for the Windows Vista Home Basic Edition. The Starter (developing markets) edition does not support this mode.

Windows Vista Basic: This mode has aspects that are similar to Windows XP's visual style with the addition of subtle animations such as those found on progress bars. It does not employ the Desktop Window Manager; as such, it does not feature transparency or translucency, window animation, Windows Flip 3D or any of the functions provided by the DWM. The Basic mode does not require the new Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) for display drivers, and has similar graphics card requirements to Windows XP. For computers with graphics cards that are not powerful enough to support Windows Aero, this is the default graphics mode.

Windows Classic: An option for corporate deployments and upgrades, Windows Classic has the look and feel of Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003, does not use the Desktop Window Manager and does not require a WDDM driver. As with prior versions of Windows, this theme supports "Color schemes" which are a collection of color settings. Windows Vista includes six classic color schemes, comprised of four high-contrast color schemes, as well as the default colour schemes from Windows 98 and Windows 2000.

"Windows Aero" style. "Windows Vista Standard" is similar in appearance but without the glass effects around windows.

"Windows Vista Basic" visual style.

"Windows Classic" visual style.

[edit] Hardware requirements

Windows Vista Capable sticker

According to Microsoft, computers capable of running Windows Vista are classified as Vista Capable and Vista Premium Ready.^[28] A Vista Capable or equivalent PC needs to have at minimum an 800 MHz processor, 512 MB RAM and a DirectX 9 class graphics card. A computer that meets these requirements will be capable of running all editions of Windows Vista although some of the special features and high end graphics options may require additional or more advanced hardware. A Vista Premium Ready PC will take advantage of Vista's "high-end" features but will need at least a 1.0 GHz processor, 1 GB main memory, and an Aero-compatible graphics card with at least 128 MB graphics memory and supporting the new Windows Display Driver Model. The company also offers Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor^[29] from its Web site to determine the ability of a PC to run Vista in its various guises. The utility runs on Windows XP (with Service Pack 2) and Windows Vista.

Microsoft lists some Vista capable hardware on their web site. The "Windows Vista Premium Ready" laptops they specify have Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 or above CPUs and 1 GB memory.^[30]

Windows Vista comes with over 19,500 device drivers on the DVD (in contrast to just 10,000 for Windows XP when it shipped) and additional 11,700 device drivers on Windows Update (compared to just 2,000 for Windows XP when it RTM’d in 2001).

Windows Vista's "Basic" and "Classic" interfaces will work with virtually any graphics hardware that supports Windows XP or 2000; accordingly, most discussion around Vista's graphics requirements centers on those for the Windows Aero interface. As of Windows Vista Beta 2, the NVIDIA GeForce FX family and later, the ATI Radeon 9500 and later, Intel's GMA 950 integrated graphics, and a handful of VIA chipsets and S3 Graphics discrete chips are supported.^[31] Though some XGI Technology Volari chips were DirectX 9 (including the Volari V3XT which was available in PCI cards), with XGI's exit from the graphics card business it appears none of its chips are supported as of Vista Beta 2. A PCI Express (PCIe) video card is not a requirement for Windows Aero, but Microsoft recommends PCIe video over an AGP device due to the interface's greater bandwidth.^[32] There are some PCI cards available that are compatible with Windows Vista as well.

**Windows Vista system requirements**
	Vista Capable^[27]	Vista Premium Ready^[27]
Processor	800 MHz	1 GHz
Memory	512 MB RAM	1 GB RAM
Graphics card	DirectX 9 capable	DirectX 9 capable GPU with Hardware Pixel Shader v2.0 and WDDM driver support
Graphics memory	N/A	128 MB RAM supports up to 2,756,000 total pixels (e.g. 1920 × 1200) or 512 MB+ for greater resolutions such as 2560x1600^[33]
HDD capacity	20 GB	40 GB
HDD free space	15 GB	15 GB
Other drives	DVD-ROM	DVD-RW

[edit] Criticism

Main article: Criticism of Windows Vista

Criticisms of Windows Vista include protracted development time, more restrictive licensing terms, the inclusion of a number of technologies aimed at restricting the copying of protected digital media, and the usability of the new User Account Control security technology. Reviewers have also noted similarities between Vista's Aero interface and that of Apple's Aqua interface for the Mac OS X operating system, particularly around the use of transition effects. Moreover, some concerns have been raised about many PCs meeting "Vista Premium Ready" hardware requirements and Vista's pricing.

Licensing and cost: The introduction of additional licensing restrictions has been criticized. Criticism of upgrade licenses pertaining to Windows Vista Starter through Home Premium was expressed by Ars Technica's Ken Fisher, who noted that the new requirement of having a prior operating system already installed was going to cause irritation for users who reinstall Windows on a regular basis.^[34] It has been revealed that an Upgrade copy Windows Vista can be installed clean without first installing a previous version of Windows but Windows will refuse to activate, if the user then installs the same copy of Vista a second time it will activate on the reinstall allowing to install an Upgrade of Windows Vista without owning a previous operating system. ^[35] As with Windows XP, separate rules still apply to OEM versions of Vista installed on new PCs; these are not legally transferrable.^[36] The cost of Windows Vista has also been a source of concern and commentary. A majority of users in a poll said that the prices of various Windows Vista editions posted on the Microsoft Canada website in August 2006 make the product too expensive.^[37] A BBC News report on the day of Vista's release suggested that, "there may be a backlash from consumers over its pricing plans - with the cost of Vista versions in the US roughly half the price of equivalent versions in the UK."^[38]

Digital Rights Management: Another common criticism concerns the integration of new forms of Digital Rights Management into the operating system, specifically the introduction of the Protected Video Path. This architecture is designed such that "premium content" from HD-DVD or Blu-ray discs may mandate that the connections between PC components be encrypted. Devices such as graphic cards must be approved by Microsoft. Depending on what the content demands, the devices may not pass premium content over non-encrypted outputs, or they must artificially degrade the quality of the signal on such outputs or not display it all. There is also a revocation mechanism that allows Microsoft to disable drivers of compromised devices in end-user PCs over the Internet.^[39] Peter Gutmann, security researcher and author of the open source cryptlib library, claims that these mechanisms violate fundamental rights of the user (such as fair use), unnecessarily increase the cost of hardware, and make systems less reliable and vulnerable to denial-of-service attacks.^[40] Proponents have claimed that Microsoft had no choice but to follow the demands of the movie studios, and that the technology will not actually be enabled until after 2010;^[41]^[42] Microsoft also noted that content protection mechanisms have existed in Windows as far back as Windows Me, and that the new protections will not apply to any existing content (only future contents).^[43]

User Account Control: Concerns have been raised about the new User Account Control security technology. While Yankee Group analyst Andrew Jaquith believes that critical security vulnerabilities may be "reduced by as much as 80 percent," he also noted that "while the new security system shows promise, it is far too chatty and annoying".^[44] However, this statement was made over half a year before Vista was actually released (even before Beta 2 was released.)

Kernel Patch Protection: The Kernel Patch Protection feature (also known as "Patchguard") on 64-bit versions of Vista that locks down the OS kernel has been criticized by computer security company McAfee who claim that since PatchGuard also prevents third-party security companies from getting inside the OS, they cannot activate crucial security measures in their software to protect the OS from intruders.^[45] Microsoft's argument is that this will keep miscreants out of the OS and prevent the incidence of attacks, and it is something for which customers have been asking. Security vendor Kaspersky Lab claims that it is not more difficult in Vista for anti-virus software to work, and that it would not make sense for Microsoft to stop working with security companies because it would make their system more vulnerable to attacks.^[46] Sophos adds that Microsoft does not need to open PatchGuard for third party developers, instead, they should use the programming interfaces Microsoft supplies them.^[47] Similarly, Eset, the developer of NOD32 antivirus, claims that there is no requirement to access the Windows Vista Kernel and that their software is fully compatible with Microsoft's PatchGuard and the Windows Vista Security Center. It also claimed that similar obstacles were overcome in the 64-bit edition of Windows XP Professional.

Similarity with Mac OS X: Another criticism is a claim by some that Windows Vista emulates specific features in Apple's Mac OS X. Long-time Mac columnist and book author John Rizzo noted in an eWeek article that Vista incorporated features which Mac OS X has had for some time such as fast searching, seen in the "Spotlight" feature on the Mac, Smart Folders functionality already available in the Mac's Finder, and that the icons, terminology and visual appearance mimic those of Mac OS X.^[48] Others have come to a similar conclusion that Aero is an imitation of Aqua.^[49] In Vista's defense, Paul Thurrott argues that many of the features that have Mac OS X counterparts or similarities (such as Windows Search to Mac OS X's Spotlight) have been in early alpha versions of Vista or demonstrated in prototypes more than a year before Apple included the features in Mac OS X v10.4.^[50] Some Vista technologies, such as Windows Desktop Search, were released as free add-ons to Windows XP before their inclusion in shipping versions of Mac OS X.

Hardware Requirements: Some controversy and concerns have arisen over how the increase in hardware specifications required to take advantage of many of Vista's new features may have an impact on both personal and business users.^[51]^[52] While most PCs purchased after 2002 will be able to meet Vista’s minimum “Windows Vista Capable” requirements, many laptops and low-end to midrange desktops with integrated graphics will not be able to meet “Windows Vista Premium Ready” requirements and will therefore not be able to run advanced features such as the Aero Glass interface.^[53]^[54]

Windows Vista Version Comparison

2007-02-20T18:46:00.000-08:00

With Vista's release now being less than a week away, you've probably by now decided whether you are going to join the fray and pick up a copy. In some cases, you could purchase it right now, since some stores jumped the gun and began selling early. If you are serious about picking up Vista and are considering the full-blown $400 version, you should first read through my article from this past Monday. It goes into depth regarding the benefits Ultimate has over Home Premium. After reading, you will either crave it even more or realize how much money you'd be wasting.

In this article, we will be taking a quick look through all four consumer versions that will be readily available next Tuesday. To help with your decision process, each version lists the slew of downsides it has, or rather what it lacks when compared to the next highest version. The last entry, Ultimate, instead has a list of pluses to show what you'd be gaining by handing over that extra wad of cash.

I will admit straight up, if money is no concern then Ultimate is going to deliver the best bang. It includes the superb computer backup tool, media center, Ultimate extras, business applications, better support for high-end hardware and additional special features. On the other end of the spectrum we have Vista Home Basic, which is designed for those who don't care about the Aero interface or other additions such as Media Center and random content creation tools.

Spending a few minutes looking at the pros and cons listed below, you should have a good idea of what version is meant for you. The prices for both the full and upgrade versions are listed as well, so as to help you better figure out what to buy. While this list is a good way to look at all the pluses at once, for those who enjoy a more visual explanation, there are many screenshots that await you.

On the following pages you will find many 1650x1050 screenshots from each of the versions I've mentioned. For those interested in Media Center screenshots, there are a bunch of those on the very last page. Each of these screenshots weigh in at around 500Kb - 1MB, so bear that in mind if you are on a slower connection.

Vista Home Basic - $199USD ($99 Upgrade)

Home Basic is the runt of the litter, but in all honestly it's not as bad as Microsoft wants you to believe. Yes, it's virtually a scaled down version of Vista, but it's not lacking anything that will not make it function as a normal machine. This is not the Starter edition we are dealing with, after all. Here is a quick run-down of what Basic does not have when compared to the Home Premium which costs $40 more.

* Home Basic vs. Home Premium No Aero interface, including transparency in many parts of the GUI
* No Media Center
* Five included Windows games, instead of nine
* No automatic network backup
* No relationship between PC and Xbox 360
* No advanced slideshows
* No Movie Maker / DVD Maker
* Weak Tablet PC functionality
* No SideShow Support

Vista Home Premium - $239USD ($159 Upgrade)

As I mentioned in my article on Monday, I believe Home Premium will be the most obvious choice when looking to pick up a copy of Vista. When you pay $40 dollars more for Premium over Home Basic, you will actually have something to show for it. Home Premium includes all of the "losses" mentioned in the previous section, but when compared to Ultimate, here's what you will be missing.

* Home Premium vs. Ultimate No advanced complete system backup tool
* Small business apps, such as Fax and Scan
* No Ultimate "extras", which could include games and special utilities
* No BitLocker hard drive encryption software
* No automatic "Shadow" copies of your documents
* No Remote Desktop
* No advanced group policy editor
* Inability to run UNIX-based applications (through SUA)
* No support for dual CPU's (2 physical processors) or 128GB of memory

Vista Business - $299USD ($199 Upgrade)

I don't think it takes much of an explanation as to what audience this edition is catered to. Included here are a lot of business resources, including better security and the complete system backup tool that I've come to enjoy quite a bit. It does lack a lot of extra functionality that's included with Home Premium and Ultimate though, which is a good thing in a sense. Here's what Business lacks when compared to Home Premium and Ultimate.

* Business vs. Home Premium/Ultimate No games, not even Solitaire
* No Media Center or Xbox 360 functionality
* No BitLocker hard drive encryption software
* No Ultimate "extras", which could include games and special utilities
* Inability to install new languages for use in Windows
* No Movie Maker or DVD Maker
* No Parental Controls
* Inability to run UNIX-based applications (through SUA)

Vista Ultimate - $399USD ($259 Upgrade)

The only version larger than Ultimate is Enterprise, which is like the Business edition on crack. It includes various hardware based security measures to assure for good uptime. Ultimate is the version you will want to consider should you think $400 is not a lot of cash to hand over for a new OS. Below, you can see the list of what Ultimate -does- include, which Home Premium, the next competitor, does not.

* Ultimate's Advantages Ultimate "extras", which could include games and special utilities
* BitLocker hard drive encryption software
* Advanced complete system backup tool
* Windows Media Center with Xbox 360 capabilities
* Same business apps as included in the Business edition
* Automatic "Shadow" copies of your documents
* Remote Desktop
* Advanced group policy editor
* Ability to run UNIX-based applications (through SUA)
* Support for dual CPU's or 128GB of memory
* Encrypting File System (EFS) support
* Support for resyncing files for getting work done while offline

Vista flaw could haunt Microsoft

2007-02-20T18:45:00.000-08:00

(Business 2.0 Magazine) -- If you followed Microsoft in the 1990s, you knew it as a company that deftly moved from strength to strength, leveraging its dominance in one area of software to command other parts of the tech business.

That company's long gone, folks.
microsoft_vista.03.jpg
VISTA'S BLIND SPOT: The new Microsoft operating system has one glaring omission that could turn off corporate buyers.
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The latest evidence that Microsoft (Charts) has lost its Midas Touch? Its bid for a bigger piece of the $14 billion database business, a sector now ruled by Oracle (Charts) and IBM (Charts). Until now, Microsoft has been doing what it does best to attract corporate customers: It has tied its SQL Server database management software to programs running on Windows desktops.
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But now Microsoft has a problem. Vista, its long-awaited update to the Windows operating system, can't run the current version of SQL Server. The company is working on a SQL upgrade that is compatible with Vista - called SQL Server 2005 Express Service Pack 2 - but it's in beta and can be licensed only for testing purposes. Microsoft hasn't set a release date for the new SQL program.

So companies looking to install Vista, which went on sale to corporate customers Nov. 30, are going to have to get their database management software someplace else.

Microsoft has effectively just handed its chief rivals an early holiday present. (Before any more of you fire off an outraged e-mail informing me that Vista doesn't run SQL Server, go back and read the above paragraphs again: I'm talking about SQL Server 2005 Express, which is the desktop counterpart of SQL Server - not the server version.)
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This, of course, is exactly the opposite of what Microsoft should be doing if it hopes to outsell Oracle and IBM in the database business. Microsoft should have released a Vista-compatible version of SQL Server as early as a year ago. That way, corporate customers would have had plenty of time to test it in time for Vista's release.

Instead, IBM has beaten Microsoft to the punch. Last week IBM released a desktop version of its competing database management software, called DB2 9 Express-C, that's compatible with Vista.

Microsoft's oversight with SQL is one reason, among many, why analysts don't expect Vista to appear in the workplace until 2008. And it's become yet another sticking point with corporate IT departments already frustrated by their dependence on Microsoft. In the long run, the lack of SQL support could delay widespread adoption of Vista even further.

Microsoft's long had a strategy to be everywhere computers are - from home desktops to office servers. And it's had some success: One reason why programmers of database-driven applications use SQL Server is because it comes with a component called Microsoft Desktop Engine, or MSDE. (While you may not have heard of MSDE, it's an exceedingly common software component - so common, in fact, that it played a starring role in the spread of the infamous Slammer worm four years ago.)
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Granted, not everyone uses MSDE inside other applications; many database developers simply use it to test their SQL Server setup. For these programmers, Microsoft's delay won't make much of a difference.

But for many companies with MSDE-based applications - mostly small enterprises without a large IT staff to manage system upgrades - headaches loom. First they must upgrade to the currently available version of SQL Server 2005 Express, which doesn't run on Vista, and test it on their Windows XP desktops. Once Microsoft rolls out a Vista-compatible version of that software, they'll need to upgrade and test all over again.

So what can companies that adopt Vista do now? Not a whole lot.

They can download the test version of SQL Server and start preparing their database applications for an upgrade, says Chris Alliegro, an analyst at Directions on Microsoft. But even that step won't be easy.

"It's not ideal, and it's a pain in the neck," says Alliegro. Before company programmers start testing SQL's beta, they'll have to identify all of the database applications they're running that rely on MSDE.

For companies that have acquired other businesses, reorganized divisions, or outsourced IT personnel, that's a mighty tall order. And here's the rub: Until Microsoft releases a Vista-compatible version of SQL Server 2005, all that testing will be for naught, since they won't be able to install it on users' desktops.

So good luck trying to get approval from your company's budget cops. Just imagine the CFO grilling the CIO about a plan like that: "You want to spend money testing software that you can't run? And you don't know when you'll be able to run it?"

With database software for small and medium-sized businesses the fastest-growing segment of the market, Microsoft may well be alienating the sector it can least afford to lose in its campaign to boost database sales.

Microsoft, of course, will get SQL Server 2005 officially running on Vista. "Eventually, most companies who are running Windows will be running on SQL Server 2005," promises Alliegro.

The key word here is "eventually." Microsoft's customers waited five years for Vista. Now, they're discovering that they still have to wait for a database component that works with it.

No wonder Google (Charts) is beating Microsoft in other arenas: This is a company that has forgotten how to execute its own playbook of launching a coordinated wave of products that all work together.

No doubt Microsoft will get this straightened out - eventually. By then, it just might be time to launch another version of Windows.

What's changed in Windows Vista

2007-02-20T18:40:00.000-08:00

A lot of changes are visible in the look and behavior of Windows Vista, and many more changes have been made "under the hood" as well. This post will cover the most confusing changes made to Windows Vista.

Administrator accounts don't work like they did in XP

Windows Vista now enforces the security best practice of always operating as a standard user and only invoking Administrator powers when absolutely necessary. This is intended to prevent programs from modifying your system without your knowledge and to prevent accidental changes to system settings.

This policy is enforced by the operating system through UAC (User Account Control), which is also known as Admin Approval Mode.

UAC works by running all programs as if they were started by a standard user, even when you are logged in as an administrator. There are only two ways a program can be started with full administrator privileges (known as "elevating" a program):

Some programs will automatically ask for permission to run with administrator privileges when they are opened. These programs will be displayed with a security shield .
You can explicitly open a program with full administrator privileges by right-clicking it and clicking Run As Administrator.

It is important to remember that unless a program asks for administrator privileges or you explicitly start a program with administrator privileges, it will not be able to perform administrative tasks.

Some examples of administrative tasks include modifying files that you did not create, installing some types of software, installing hardware, and changing settings that affect the entire computer.

Microsoft is aware that many software products available today are not designed to operate in such a restrictive environment. Fortunately, Windows Vista detects many of these programs and tricks them into thinking that they have full access to the computer, when in fact they do not. This happens automatically in the background and requires no action on your part.

These restrictions do not apply to the built-in "Administrator" account; When using this this account, every program you open is given full administrative privileges. Because of the unrestricted nature of this account, Windows Vista only allows you to log in as the built-in administrator during an emergency. This account is disabled out of the box, and can only be used when the computer is running in safe mode.

More Information on UAC

Well-known folders have been moved or renamed

Many of the well-known folders in Windows Vista have been redesigned to be better organized and easier to use. Here are some of the more notable changes:

"Documents and Settings" is now called "Users"
"My" has been removed from folder names. For example, "My Documents" is now just "Documents."
The Pictures, Music, and Videos folders are no longer inside the Documents folder, they are now located directly inside your folder

If you have enabled Show Hidden Files, you may have already noticed that there are still folders with the old names on your computer. These folders will have a transparent icon and a shortcut symbol, as shown below:

It is important to understand that these are not "real" folders. They are called junctions, and their purpose is to point programs that try to access them to the new location. They are similar in functionality to shortcuts, but look like normal folders to programs.

Because they are not real, attempting to access them will result in an "Access Denied" error.

You can use the command prompt to see where junctions are pointing to. Simply issue the "dir /a" command and it will show [in brackets] the destination of all junctions located inside the current directory.

FAQ: Getting a handle on Windows Vista

2007-02-20T18:36:00.000-08:00

update Windows Vista took longer to arrive than hoped, and it might not have everything that was once planned, but Windows chief Jim Allchin maintains "It's a big deal."

And, more than five years after the debut of Windows XP, Vista is finally ready--at least, for businesses willing to buy at least five copies of the operating system. Those companies can get it starting Thursday, while consumers and those looking to get a Vista-equipped PC will have to wait until January.

For those who have been tuning out all the Vista chatter for the last few months, here's a primer on the new Windows. The update has security improvements, some snazzy new graphics and new desktop-searching abilities, among other features.

So is Vista really here?
After months of issuing community preview versions, beta versions and release candidate versions, Microsoft has finally declared Vista soup.

Large businesses can start getting Vista through volume-licensing contracts as of Thursday, while CompUSA is selling licenses to smaller businesses that purchase at least five copies of Vista. However, consumers and those looking to get new PCs with Vista installed will have to wait until the mainstream launch in January.

What if I buy a new PC now? Will it still run Vista?
Microsoft is offering an "Express Upgrade" program that runs through early next year. It offers those who buy an XP machine now a free or discounted copy of Vista, once it starts shipping to consumers.

There's still the question of how Vista-ready the PC is. Microsoft is using two logos to help consumers get a sense of that. Some machines are billed as "Windows Vista Capable." A PC with that logo will be able to run Vista, but that sticker does not guarantee the computer will have enough graphics horsepower and other components needed to run all of the operating system's new features. Those who want to guarantee that should look for the shiny "Vista Premium Ready" logo.

So what's in this Vista thing?
Vista--which used to be called Longhorn--has evolved quite a bit since Microsoft first demonstrated an early version in 2003. The company has dropped plans to include its all-new WinFS file system. It has also changed the way it's implementing a new Web services architecture, known as Indigo, and a new graphics engine, dubbed Avalon.

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Among the key features of Vista as it currently stands are: security enhancements, a new searching mechanism, lots of new laptop features, parental controls and better home networking. There will also be visual changes, thanks to Avalon, ranging from shiny translucent windows to icons that are tiny representations of a document itself.

On the business side, Microsoft said Vista will be easier for companies to deploy on multiple PCs and that it will save costs by reducing the number of times computers will have to be rebooted.

Vista includes antispyware tools, Internet Explorer 7, an update to its Web browser, as well as Windows Media Player 11. It also has Windows Calendar, a new systemwide tool designed to do for datebook information what Outlook Express does for e-mail in Windows XP.

Is that all?
No. Among the other features Microsoft has publicly confirmed are: broad IPv6 support, improved clientside caching of data stored on a server, whole-volume encryption, a revamped synchronization engine, the ability to support laptops with an auxiliary display, automatic hard drive optimization and a secure boot-up process that helps prevent someone from gaining access to your data if your PC is lost or stolen.

Will my PC run Vista?
That depends on how recently you bought it and just how much Vista you want. To get the basics, like the new search abilities and improved security, you'll need a PC with 512MB of memory, an 800MHz processor and a 20GB hard drive with at least 15GB of free space. But to see Vista in all its glory, particularly its new Aero graphics, you'll really need a relatively modern video card with around 128MB of dedicated graphics memory or, for a system with shared systems and graphics memory, you'll need 1GB of memory.

Will it come in the same editions as in the past--Home, Professional, Tablet and Media Center?
Microsoft announced in February that there will be six basic versions of Vista. On the consumer front, there will be a Vista Home Basic, which will lack Vista's advanced graphics or media features, and a Vista Home Premium, which will include such perks.

For businesses, there will be Vista Business as well as Vista Enterprise. The latter version will be available only to volume-licensing customers, and it will include extras like full-volume encryption and built-in Virtual PC software to run a second operating system as a virtual machine.

Vista Ultimate will put the best of the consumer and business features in one package. At the other end of the spectrum, a scaled-down Vista Starter edition will also be offered, though only on new PCs sold in emerging markets like India and Thailand.

How much will it cost?
Windows Vista Home Basic has a suggested price of $199 for the full product or $99 for those upgrading from a prior version of Windows. The higher-end Home Premium version is priced at $239 for the full version and $159 for those upgrading. Vista Business has a sticker price of $299 for the full version and $199 for the upgrade. The Ultimate edition carries a suggested price of $399 or $259 for the upgrade. Windows Vista Enterprise is available only to large businesses through volume licensing, with prices varying based on

Windows Vista FAQ

2007-02-20T18:33:00.000-08:00

Windows Vista FAQ

Once envisioned as a minor upgrade to Windows XP, Windows Vista (formerly codenamed "Longhorn") first took on all-new importance in early 2002 when Microsoft decided to reach for the brass ring and make this upcoming Windows release an all-encompassing major upgrade with a new security architecture, a hardware 3D-enabled user interface, and many more exciting new features. Since then, numerous delays have caused Microsoft to scale back things a bit, but Windows Vista is still the most impressive Windows upgrade in over a decade. Here's the first--and most comprehensive--Windows Vista/Longhorn FAQ ever created, constantly updated to include the latest information about this exciting release.

Note: This FAQ was previously called the Longhorn FAQ. You can still view the older, now retired version of this FAQ here.

If you have Windows Vista questions that aren't answered here, please send me an email!

Q: What is Windows Vista?

A: Windows Vista is the name of the next major version of Windows, and the successor to Windows XP.

Q: What's with the name? I figured Windows Vista would be called Windows 2007 or something.

A: You and me both. However, Microsoft has somewhat painted itself into a corner by choosing names like Windows Me and Windows XP for the two prior client releases of Windows. Now, it has to try and outdo itself with each product version's name; otherwise, people would consider it to be a boring release. Certainly, Windows 2007 sounds less exciting than Windows XP.

That said, Microsoft tells me that Windows Vista delivers a "personal vista" for all who use it. "We live in a world of more information, more ways to communicate, and more things to do," Microsoft Group Product Manager Greg Sullivan told me the morning that Microsoft revealed the Windows Vista branding. "You want the PC to adapt to you and help you cut through the clutter to focus on what’s important to you. That's what Windows Vista is all about: bringing clarity to your world, so you can focus on what matters to you."

Microsoft notes that Windows has always empowered people to use technology to do and accomplish what they want. But the world has evolved, and there's a lot more out there. Windows Vista will address those changes.

"I love this name. 'Vista' creates the right imagery for the new product capabilities and inspires the imagination with all the possibilities of what can be done with Windows -- making people’s passions come alive."

--Jim Allchin, group vice president, Platforms Management at Microsoft

Q: Did Microsoft consider other names?

A: Yes. I'm told that the company had a list of a half dozen names that reached the final round of consideration. Microsoft considered everything from simple numbers "Windows Seven" or "Windows 07") or letters (like XP) to fanciful, inventive names, including words that don't exist today. In the end, Microsoft wanted to describe the value proposition of Windows Vista with its name.

Microsoft executives tested a number of potential names with focus groups and then finally presented its choice to group senior vice president Jim Allchin, who approved it. In the end, the company believes that the Windows Vista name is a "wonderful intersection of what the product really does, what Windows stands for, and what resonates with customers, and their needs."

Q: What's with all this "connected," "clear," "confident" stuff I'm hearing about?

A: As always, Microsoft needs to summarize any product using three simple points, and with Windows Vista, those three points are "connected," "clear," and "confident". Here's what the company means by this:

Connected. Windows Vista seamlessly connects you with the people, information and devices you need to interact with, quickly and in a really straightforward way. No computer sits alone anymore, according to the company, and you're connected to the Web, and to devices, you want to contact people and to share things.

Clear. This refers both to the clarity of the user interface, which now sports a glass-like sheen that is called Windows Aero, and to the ways in which Windows Vista lets you more clearly access your own information. Instead of making you adapt to the way the computer structures data, Window Vista is far more dynamic, and far more personal. "Windows Vista introduces clear ways to organize and use your information to focus on what matters to you," Sullivan said.

Confidence. Thanks to spyware and other electronic threats, people don't trust their computers anymore. Windows Vista gives people more confidence in their PC and their ability to get more out of it. Microsoft tells me has "taken care of things" and made things more discoverable in Windows Vista. "It enables a new level of confidence in the security and reliability of your PC and in your ability to get the most out of it," Sullivan told me.

Q: These are nice sound bites, but how does this market points reflect actual features in the product?

A: Here are some correlations between actual Windows Vista features and the marketing points:

Connected. Windows Vista includes numerous enhancements for portable computers, including better power management, support for external displays, and better wireless networking functionality.

Clear. Windows Vista includes system-level instant desktop search functionality that helps users find information on their PCs and organize them with virtual folders that work the way they want them to. Windows Vista also makes it easier to identify documents from their icons: Instead of using static icons like previous Windows versions, Windows Vista features Live Icons that display the first page of the document right in its icon. Finally, Windows Vista will include an advanced printer and document framework called XPS (XML Paper Specification, see below) that will reportedly make it easier to use and share documents between a wide variety of devices.

Confidence. Windows Vista include integrated anti-malware defenses that will shield users from spyware, adware, phishing attacks, and other electronic threats. The system also includes a Secure Startup feature to ensure that the data on PCs stays protected, even if the machine is lost or stolen. BitLocker full volume encryption, using a hardware component to store encryption keys, keeps user data inaccessible to thieves as well. Finally, and perhaps most important, Windows Vista features User Account Protection (UAP, formerly called Limited User Account), a reduced privileges mode that prevents even admins from running in administrative mode normally, giving you better defense against electronic attacks. With UAP enabled--the default--you need to supply an admin password any time you make a change that could affect the system. This is similar the way Mac OS X and Linux already work.

Q: I heard that Windows Vista was based on Windows Server 2003, not XP. Does that mean that Windows Vista is more stable/less consumer-friendly than XP?

A: Future Windows versions are always be based on the most up-to-date Windows version at the time, and at the time that Microsoft reset Longhorn development and began work on what we now know as Windows Vista, that version was Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 (SP1). When Windows Vista development originally started in 2001, however, it was then based on Windows XP. In mid-2004, Microsoft had to restart the core development of Windows Vista because it was too hard to go back and componentize the existing Windows Vista core code. So when it restarted Windows Vista development, Microsoft naturally used the Windows Server 2003 with SP1 code base instead of that of XP.

Don't be confused by this: Windows Vista still includes all of the great features and compatibility from XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2). As Microsoft writes in its internal documentation, the company is simply taking the best features of both XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) and Windows Server 2003 with SP1 to create Windows Vista.

Q: Is Windows Vista more secure than Windows XP?

A: Yes. Windows Vista builds on the security features in Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) and Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 (SP1) and adds some deep-seated security improvements that will finally make the Windows platform competitive with Linux and Mac OS X from a security standpoint. With Windows Vista, the system will inform users about security and privacy choices so they feel more confident that they are as secure as possible, and that their privacy is protected. The question, of course, is whether Windows Vista will be more immune to security threats than was XP. Only time will tell.

Q: I thought Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) was such a big deal for security. Why is Windows Vista changing security so much?

A: As Microsoft has said repeatedly, security is an ongoing process. The original architecture of Windows XP and Vista--that is, Windows NT--debuted in 1990, well over 15 years ago. At that time, the Internet wasn't widely available, TCP/IP wasn't the most-frequently-used networking paradigm, and the number of connected PCs and servers worldwide was tiny. Since then, Windows has come of age in a connected world that requires new protection strategies over time. In many ways, the security improvements in Windows Vista are long-overdue, and are very similar to security features available already in Linux and Mac OS X. However, in some cases, the security improvements in Windows Vista are simply evolutions of the technologies Microsoft first debuted in Windows XP and in XP SP2.

Q: Is Windows Vista designed more for consumers or business users?

A: Microsoft says that Windows Vista is a significant release for all 600+ million Windows users, regardless of whether they use Windows at home or at work. While this is no doubt true, and there are excellent security and deployment improvements in Windows Vista that will benefit business users, it's pretty clear to me that Windows Vista's most exciting changes are on the consumer side. For example, the system includes excellent new versions of Windows Media Player and Windows Movie Maker, as well as new applications like Windows Photo Gallery and Windows DVD Maker.

Q: Will there be a server version of Windows Vista?

A: Yes. However, it's likely that this product, currently codenamed Longhorn Server, will be called Windows Server 2008. It will definitely not be called Windows Vista Server. Longhorn Server was being developed concurrently with Windows Vista, but will ship in late 2007.

Q: I heard that Microsoft was shipping some Windows Vista technologies separately for Windows XP. What's up with that?

A: In August 2004, Microsoft announced that it would make the Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF, "Avalon"), Windows Communication Foundation (WCF, "Indigo") Web services technologies, and the .NET Framework 3.0 ("WinFX") application programming interface (API) available for Windows XP with Service Pack 2 and Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 (or later). Previously, these technologies had been described as key parts of Windows Vista ("Longhorn" at the time) for developers. However, Microsoft realized that developers would be more apt to target Avalon and Indigo if they were available to a wider audience than just Windows Vista. Since then, Microsoft has announced that other Vista technologies, such as Internet Explorer 7 and the Windows Sidebar would be ported to Windows XP as well.

Q: If Microsoft is making WPF, WCF, and .NET Framework 3.0 available separately from Windows Vista, doesn't that "water down" Windows Vista and make it less exciting?

A: Not necessarily. These technologies are for developers only, and don't impact the end user experience on Windows Vista at all. Most important, perhaps, Microsoft is making these technologies available to a wider audience now, so we'll see more great Windows Vista-compatible applications earlier rather than later.

What does make Windows Vista less exciting is the long wait and the dropped features. Microsoft promised us this OS for several years, and with every passing year its once-phenomenal improvements seem less and less impressive. Don't misunderstand: Windows Vista is a huge Windows release and one that consumers, especially, should be excited about. But the wait, and the sheer number of features Microsoft had to drop to make its deadlines, does make Vista a bit less exciting than it could have been.

Q: What is XPS?

A: At the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) 2005 in April 2005, Microsoft announced that it would include a new document format and printing architecture called XML Paper Specification (XPS, codenamed "Metro") in Windows Vista. Based on XML, XPS is to Windows Vista as Adobe PDF is to Mac OS X: It's a device- and application-independent printing architecture that allows documents to retain their exact formatting in any application, and when printed. Unlike PDF, however, XPS is based on XML and will be released as an open standard. XPS also incorporates ZIP technology--similar to that used by the next major version of Microsoft Office--to compress and decompress files on the fly. From a technology standpoint, XPS includes an XML-based electronic paper format, a document viewer for viewing, managing, and printing XPS files, the ability to digitally sign XPS documents, APIs that allow programmers to integrate their applications and services with XPS, a print pipeline, and a new driver model for XPS-compatible printers.

Q: Is Windows Vista a 32-bit or 64-bit operating system?

A: Virtually every Windows Vista product edition (with the exception of Starter) ships with both 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) versions on the same DVD. Microsoft expects the computer buying public to switch to x64 during Vista's lifetime. There will not be an Itanium version of Windows Vista.

Q: When should I consider not buying a Windows XP-based PC so I can wait for Windows Vista?

A: If you think you will be migrating to Windows Vista in the next six months or less, you should wait. You will have a much better experience getting Windows Vista on a new PC than you will if you try to upgrade from XP yourself.

According to Microsoft, however, any "PC that meets current designed for Windows XP logo requirements, has a mainstream or performance class CPU, 512MB of RAM, and a discreet graphics subsystem that will support the new Longhorn Display Driver Model (LDDM) will run [Windows Vista] very well."

Q: I heard that Office 2007 (the next version of Microsoft Office) was finalized around the same time as Windows Vista. Will Office 2007 only run on Windows Vista?

A: No, Office 2007 will also run on Windows XP with SP2, Windows XP x64 Edition, and Windows Server 2003 with SP1. See my Office 2007 FAQ for more information.

Q: When will Windows Vista ship to customers?

A: Microsoft released Windows Vista to manufacturing on November 8, 2006. It will ship volume-licensed versions of the product to businesses starting in November 2006. Microsoft will make Windows Vista generally available to consumers, via retail packaging and PC bundles, in January 2007.

Q: When will Longhorn Server ship to customers?

A: The second half of 2007. At this time, Microsoft will also ship Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1), which will update Windows Vista to the same kernel version found in Longhorn Server.

Q: Windows Vista sounds interesting. I'd like to know more.

A: Not surprisingly, you're in the right place. Swing by my Windows Vista Activity Center for links to all the Windows Vista content I've created.

Windows Vista Ultimate and VPN Connections

2007-02-20T17:44:00.000-08:00

Question:
I'm running Vista Ultimate RTM and I'm trying to VPN into a 2003 enviroment. Thos works great on an XP box that is on the same network as my vista box. I have tried this with the firewall off and on. I get an error is that the authicating protocal on the server could not be matched with my connection profile. I did nothing special on the xp box when I created the VPN connection and the same goes for the vista connection. Any ideas?
Answer:
>>"I have looked on the host server and routing and remote access has not been setup. There is something called incoming connection "
I suspect the VPN connection on the server has been set up using the "advanced connection wizard" rather than configuring RRAS (Routing and Remote Access). It names the connection "incoming connection" by default. I assume this would work, as this is how it is done on a workstation acting as the VPN server, but it is not the correct way for a server, and has very limited capabilities.
It may be that this method only supports MS-CHAP protocol, and therefore works with the XP client but not the Vista client. I do not know that for a fact.

If you wish to re-configure the VPN server, the following outlines the process in detail. You would first need to delete your existing "incoming connection".
http://www.onecomputerguy.com/networking/w3k_vpn_server.htm

Windows Vista + Virtual PC 2004

2007-02-20T17:42:00.000-08:00

Question: I just installed a fresh copy of Windows XP Pro onto a Dell XPS Gen2 Pentium M 2.26GHz with 2GB RAM and 256MB Video card with 100GB Drive.

I started up my copy of Vista that I created and it runs the processor at 100% which I gave it 1GB of RAM to play with. I'm basically running no other services on my XP Pro either. Any ideas? I've seen people say things about additions? Do i need to do something on this?

Answer:
OH on, you cannot do that. Vista cannot run as anything but its own OS. YOu cannot run it as a virtual machine in any other OS, MS specifically states that in their VISTA beta docs. It will NEVER work, because the vista access to hardware precludes any other OS from running at the same time. Witness the video card manipulation -- it will freeze every other OS solid when it does 64 bit graphics handling.

You MUST install vista on a clean drive or a clean partition, and there is no going back -- if you for example upgrade XP to vista you cannot later go back to XP. VISTA DEMANDS ITS OWN environment.

Install vista clean, and you wont have this problem. It is not doable as a task or VM under XP, sorry.

Vista Boot Error (Post Installation)

2007-02-20T17:37:00.000-08:00

Question:
Hi there, I received a copy of Windows Vista Business Edition through my university and have installed it on my computer. It took an awfully long time, and I had to take some various strange steps in order to get it to fully install. Now, after it installed, I have now been able to get Vista running. However, in order to get it past the boot screen, I have to press F8 for advanced options and select "Enable Debugging" which turns on the Kernel Debugger, otherwise it won't run. If I selected "Run normally" it restarts repeatedly and if I select "Do not restart on crash", then the following error occurs:

STOP: 0x000000D3 (0x82387560, 0x00000002, 0x00000001, 0x818716C2)
The file "sptd.sys" has made part of its image pagable instead of nonpageable.

Is there anyway I can fix this issue? Obviously having to start the Kernel Debugger each time is not appropriate at all. I can't say that I fully explain the consequences I may cause by turning it on or why when it is on, the error does not occur. Thank you very much in advance for any help you can offer.
Answer:
Daemon Tools really looks to be the cause of this.
Their FAQ/Forum pages are full of complaints with exactly your symptoms.

Removing it appears to be a bit of a chore, since it creates hidden folders and registry entries.

You can try uninstalling it, then searching your entire OS drive and registry for "sptd" and delete.

Good Luck!

Windows Vista compatible Fax/Modem cards

2007-02-20T17:34:00.000-08:00

Greetings SETP,

The following modems are confirmed to be compatible with Vista:

HSP56 Micro Modem (32bit) (supported via post install update)

Intel 537EP (32 bit) (BestData Brand)

In-Build CX11252 modem (32-bit)

Motorola SM56 Modem (32 bit)

In Windows Vista, you cannot access any resources on a remote VPN server Solution

2007-02-20T17:13:00.000-08:00

SYMPTOMS

Consider the following scenario. You switch a network connection from one network adapter to another network adapter. Then, you dial a virtual private network (VPN) connection to the remote VPN server. You can successfully establish the connection to the remote VPN server. However, you cannot access any resources on the remote VPN server.

Note This problem does not occur if you restart the computer before you dial a VPN connection.

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CAUSE

This problem occurs because the route from the client computer to the remote VPN server is set up on a network adapter that has the lowest route metric. The route is set up whether the network adapter is in a connected state or in a disconnected state. If the network adapter that has the lowest route metric is in a disconnected state, the route is invalid. Therefore, you cannot access any resources on the remote VPN server.

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RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, install update 929777. To install this update, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com)

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Update information

The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Windows Vista
Download the Update for Windows Vista (KB930163) package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=23152150-4942-44CF-9B4E-8A31A09A3B4A)

Windows Vista, 64-bit versions
Download the Update for Windows Vista, 64-bit versions package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=AFEF48D3-626B-47C1-9AF1-D87CAAC4EC7D)

Release Date: January 30, 2007

For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/119591/) How to obtain Microsoft support files from online services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

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Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required.

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Restart requirement

You must restart your computer after you apply this update.

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Update replacement information

This update does not replace any other updates.

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File information

The English version of this update has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Re: VPN Hangs on "verifying user name and password"

2007-02-20T17:11:00.000-08:00

Question:

Newly installed Vista business PC VPNing to a W2k3 server. Will connect, but times out during the "verifying user name and password" phase.

I turned off the firewall on the Vista PC. That did not have any affect on the problem

Same PC connected via VPN prior to Vista install. XP PC on the same subnet is currently connected via VPN using the same domain/ID/ password.

Are there any settings or patches in Routing & Remote Access on the W2K3 server needed for VPN from a Vista workstation to work correctly? Or is there something missing on the client side?

Thanks

Matt Hickman

Answer:
The traces end up in the c:\windows\tracing directory.

I was able to get VPN to work by:
1. running it at the console rather than through remote desktop
2. disconnecting all other VPNs on my home network to the RRAS server.

Not sure yet which of the above was the issue. Not sure if it is a Vista/RRAS restriction on VPNs emanating from a single public IP address, or if there is a restriction on starting a VPN from a non-console session. Or if it is a issue with my router (Motorola VT1000v)

Troubleshoot problems with Windows Aero

2007-02-20T17:09:00.000-08:00

Windows Aero is the premium visual experience of Windows Vista. It features a transparent glass design with subtle window animations and new window colors.

Here are some solutions to common problem with running Windows Aero.

Hide all

How do I know if I can run Aero?

First, check to make sure that your edition of Windows Vista can run Aero.

The following editions include Aero:

Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Enterprise, Windows Vista Home Premium, and Windows Vista Ultimate.

To find out which edition of Windows Vista you have on your computer, do the following:

Open Welcome Center by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Welcome Center.

The edition of Windows Vista you're running is displayed with your computer details near the top of the window.

I have the right edition of Windows Vista, but I'm still not able to run Aero. What should I do?

Check that your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements for running Aero:

•	1-gigahertz (GHz) 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
•	1 gigabyte (GB) of random access memory (RAM)
•	128-megabyte (MB) graphics card

Aero also requires a DirectX 9 class graphics processor that supports a Windows Display Driver Model Driver, Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware, and 32 bits per pixel.

For best results, you might also want to follow these graphics processor recommendations:

•	64 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor with a resolution that is less than 1,310,720 pixels (for example, a 17–inch flat panel LCD monitor that has a 1280 × 1024 resolution)
•	128 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor with a resolution from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels (for example, a 21.1–inch flat panel LCD monitor that has up to a 1600 × 1200 resolution)
•	256 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor with a resolution greater than 2,304,000 pixels (for example, a 30–inch wide-screen flat panel LCD monitor that has up to a 2560 × 1600 resolution)

My computer meets the minimum recommendations, but I'm still not getting Windows Aero. Is there anything else I can do?

Yes. Make sure that the color is set to 32 bit, the monitor refresh rate is higher than 10 hertz, the theme is set to Windows Vista, the color scheme is set to Windows Aero, and window frame transparency is on.

To set the color to 32 bit

1.	Open Display Settings by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking Appearance and Personalization, clicking Personalization, and then clicking Display Settings.
2.	Under Colors, click‍ Highest (32 bit), and then click OK. (If you can't select 32 bit, check that your resolution is as high as possible, and then try again.)

To set the monitor refresh rate

Open Display Settings by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking Appearance and Personalization, clicking Personalization, and then clicking Display Settings.

Click Advanced Settings.

Click the Monitor tab, and then click a refresh rate that's higher than 10 hertz.

Click Apply. The monitor might take a moment to adjust. If you get a message asking if you want to keep the changes, click Yes. If you get this message and don't apply the changes within fifteen seconds, the refresh rate will revert back to your original setting.

Click OK.

NoteChanges to the refresh rate affect all users who log on to the computer.

To change the desktop theme to Windows Vista

1.	Open Theme Settings by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking Appearance and Personalization, clicking Personalization, and then clicking Theme.
2.	In the Theme list, click Windows Vista, and then click OK.

To change the color scheme to Windows Aero

1.	Open Appearance Settings by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking Appearance and Personalization, clicking Personalization, and then clicking Window Color and Appearance. If the Appearance Settings dialog box is not displayed, at the bottom of the page, click Open classic appearance properties.
2.	In the Color scheme list, click Windows Aero, and then click OK.

To turn on window frame transparency

To turn on window frame transparency, the color scheme must first be set to Windows Aero.

Open Personalization by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking Appearance and Personalization, and then clicking Personalization.

Click Window Color and Appearance.

Select the Enable transparency check box.

NoteIf you see the Appearance Settings dialog box instead of the Window Color and Appearance window, the theme might not be set to Windows Vista, the color scheme might not be set to Windows Aero, or the computer might not meet the minimum hardware requirements for running Windows Aero.

I installed a new video card that meets the requirements for running Aero, but I'm still not getting Aero. Is there anything I can do?

Yes. If the graphics card and driver were installed after Windows Vista was first set up, depending on the manufacturer, you might need to update the computer's performance score, which will automatically enable Aero.

To update your computer's performance score

1.	Open Performance Information and Tools by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Performance Information and Tools.
2.	Click Update my score. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

How do I get the drivers necessary to run Aero?

The video card manufacturer should provide drivers. For more information about drivers, you can also try checking the video card manufacturer's website.

I'm running Aero on a laptop and can't consistently get Aero glass. Is there anything I can do?

Yes. If you are running the Power saver plan, Windows sometimes turns off transparency automatically. If you don't want this to happen, you can switch to the Balanced power plan.

To change an existing power plan

1.	Open Power Options by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Power Options.
2.	On the Select a power plan page, click Balanced.

Windows Anytime Upgrade: frequently asked questions

2007-02-20T17:08:00.002-08:00

What do I have to buy?

To upgrade to another edition of Windows Vista, you must purchase the upgrade online. Windows Anytime Upgrade automatically takes you to the website where you can purchase the upgrade. After purchasing the upgrade, you're instructed to download software that prepares your computer for the upgrade. The software takes a few minutes to download.

Why do I need the Windows Vista disc?

You install the upgraded edition of Windows Vista from the Windows Vista disc.

All editions of Windows Vista are included on the Windows Vista disc. The software that you download after you purchase the upgrade includes a product key. This product key determines which edition of Windows Vista that you can install from the disc.

How can I obtain a Windows Vista disc?

The Windows Vista disc may have come with your computer when you purchased it, or you may have purchased the disc to upgrade to Windows Vista. If you can’t find your disc, you can order a new one from the same website where you purchase the upgrade. After you click Begin upgrade process, Windows Anytime Upgrade automatically takes you to the website where you can purchase the upgrade and order the disc.

Your new disc will be sent in the mail. You are required to pay shipping and handling charges only.

How can I upgrade Windows Vista on a computer other than the one that I use to buy the upgrade?

1.	Purchase the upgrade.
2.	Download the software file that prepares your computer for the upgrade.
3.	Save the software file, and then copy it to the computer that you want to upgrade.
4.	Install the software on the computer that you want to upgrade, and follow the directions on the screen. You will need the Windows Vista disc to complete the upgrade.

You can use Windows Anytime Upgrade only on a computer that's already running Windows Vista. You can’t use Windows Anytime Upgrade to upgrade a computer that's running an earlier version of Windows.

When you buy an upgrade for a different computer, you must indicate the edition of Windows Vista that you're currently running on the computer that you want to upgrade, and you must also indicate the edition of Windows Vista that you want to upgrade to.

How can I upgrade to a different edition of Windows Vista on more than one computer?

You must purchase a new upgrade for each computer on which you want to install a different edition of Windows Vista. You can purchase only one upgrade at a time. You can use the same Windows Vista disc to upgrade the operating system on each computer.

If a feature of an upgraded edition of Windows Vista requires specific hardware, how can I find out whether my computer has the hardware for that feature?

Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor is available to determine whether you have the hardware that is necessary to use specific features of a particular edition of Windows Vista. The Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor is a program that you can download and run on your computer to find out if it's ready for an upgrade. Your computer must be running Windows XP or Windows Vista. This download is approximately 5 megabytes.

NoteDownloading this file over a high-speed Internet connection may take just a few minutes. Downloading this file over a modem or other slower Internet connection may take more time.

Download Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor.

What are the system recovery options in Windows Vista?

2007-02-20T17:08:00.001-08:00

The System Recovery Options menu in this version of Windows contains several tools that can help you recover Windows from a serious error. You can perform repairs to the files that Windows uses to start itself, perform a restore operation using System Restore, and restore your entire computer and system files using backups that you have made previously.

The System Recovery Options menu is on the Windows installation disc. The menu might also be installed on your hard disk if your computer has preinstalled recovery options.

NoteIf your computer does not include the System Recovery Options menu, your computer manufacturer might have provided other recovery options. Check the information that came with your computer or go to the manufacturer's website for more information.

System recovery option	Description
Startup Repair	Fixes certain problems, such as missing or damaged system files, that might prevent Windows from starting correctly. When you run Startup Repair, it scans your computer for the problem and then tries to fix it so your computer can start correctly. For more information, see Startup Repair: frequently asked questions.
System Restore	This option helps you restore your computer's system files to an earlier point in time. It's a way to undo system changes to your computer without affecting your personal files, such as e‑mail, documents, or photos. If you use System Restore when the computer is in safe mode, you cannot undo the restore operation. However, you can run System Restore again and choose a different restore point if one exists. For more information, see System Restore: frequently asked questions.
Windows Complete PC Restore	Restores the contents of your hard disk from a backup. For more information, search Help and Support for "complete PC restore." Windows Complete PC Backup and Restore is not included with Windows Vista Starter, Windows Vista Home Basic, or Windows Vista Home Premium.
Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool	Scans your computer's memory for errors. For more information, see How do I know if my computer has a memory problem?
Command Prompt	Command Prompt replaces the Recovery Console from earlier versions of Windows. Advanced users can use Command Prompt to perform recovery-related operations and also run other command line tools for diagnosing and troubleshooting problems. For more information about command line tools and commands, see Command-line reference for IT Pros

Back up and restore: frequently asked questions

2007-02-20T17:06:00.002-08:00

Here are answers to some common questions about backing up and restoring files.

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What is a file backup?

A file backup is a copy of a file that is stored in a separate location from the original. You can have multiple backups of a file if you want to track changes to the file.

Why should I back up files?

Backing up your files helps to protect them from being permanently lost or changed in the event of accidental deletion, a worm or virus attack, or a software or hardware failure. If any of those things occur and your files are backed up, you can easily restore those files. To back up files, see Back up your files.

Which files should I back up?

You should back up anything that would be difficult or impossible to replace, and regularly back up files that you change frequently. Pictures, videos, music, projects, and financial records are examples of files that you should back up.

You don't need to back up programs because you can use the original product disks to reinstall them, and programs typically take up a lot of disk space.

How often should I back up files?

It depends on the number of files you create and how often you create them. If you create new files every day, you might want to back up weekly or even daily. If you occasionally create many files—for example, if you save a lot of digital photos from a birthday party or graduation, back them up right away. It's best to schedule regular, automatic backups so you don't even have to think about it. You can choose to have your files backed up daily, weekly, or monthly. You can also back up manually between automatic backups.

NoteThe ability to set up automatic backups is not included in Windows Vista Home Basic; however, Windows will periodically remind you to back up your files.

What file types are not included in my backups?

The Back Up Files wizard backs up the most common file types. The following files are not included:

•

Files that have been encrypted using Encrypting File System (EFS)

NoteEFS is not included in Windows Vista Starter, Windows Vista Home Basic, and Windows Vista Home Premium.

•

System files (the files that Windows needs to run)

•

Program files

•

Files stored on hard disks that are formatted using the FAT file system

•

Web-based e-mail that is not stored on your hard disk

•

Files that are in the Recycle Bin

•

Temporary files

•

User profile settings

How much storage space do I need to back up files?

That depends on the size of the files you back up. Windows keeps track of the files that have been added or modified since your last backup so you only have to update the existing backup, which saves disk space.

Why don't I see the location I want to back up to in the Back Up Files wizard?

When you choose a location to save your backup to, the wizard searches your computer and displays a list of all locations that you can use. If the location that you want to use doesn't appear in the list, it could be due to one of the following problems:

•	The location is a tape drive. You can't save backups to tapes.
•	The location is the disk that you are trying to back up. You can't back up a disk to itself. For example, you can't back up the contents of drive E to drive E.
•	The location is a CD-ROM drive. You can't use a CD-ROM drive to make a backup; you must use a CD burner, also known as a CD-R or CD-RW drive.
•	The location is an external hard disk or external CD or DVD burner that is not connected to the computer. Connect the hard disk or disc burner to the computer, and then click Refresh in the list of locations. The wizard will search your computer again for the connected device.
•	The location is a USB flash drive. You can't save backups to a flash drive.
•	The location is not formatted as NTFS, FAT, or Universal Disk Format (UDF) (also called Live File System). Backups can only be saved to disks that are formatted using the NTFS, FAT, or UDF file systems. For more information, see Comparing NTFS and FAT file systems.
•	The location is either the system disk (the disk that Windows is installed on—also called the C drive) or the boot disk (the disk that Windows uses to start your computer—also called the startup disk).

Can I back up to a CD or DVD if I'm not there to insert the discs?

Not unless your backup fits on one disc and the disc is in the computer when the backup starts. Otherwise, schedule the backup for a time when you will be available to insert the discs. Windows will notify you later that the backup wasn’t completed; you can then insert a disc to continue the backup.

What can I do if I run out of discs during a backup?

If you run out of discs during a backup, you can finish later.

Can I continue to work on my computer while I'm backing up files?

Yes. The last saved version of each file is backed up, so any files you change during the backup will need to be backed up the next time. You can schedule automatic backups to occur during the night or at a time when you are not working on files. You can still do things like read e‑mail or use the Internet while a backup is in progress.

Can I restore files if I've lost any backup discs?

You cannot get copies of files that are on a missing disc. However, you can restore files on the backup discs previous to and after the missing one. If you don't know exactly what's on the missing disc, you can see a list of the files that you have backed up. If you are running Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Enterprise, or Windows Vista Ultimate, you can use shadow copies to recover previous versions of files directly from your hard disk, rather than from a backup.

To view a list of files you've backed up

Open Backup and Restore Center by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Backup and Restore Center.

Click Restore files.

You can browse or search the contents of the backup.

What's the difference between backing up files by using the Back Up Files wizard and doing it myself?

When you burn a copy of your files to a CD or DVD or save a copy to an external hard disk, each time you want to do a backup, you have to manually select each file and folder that you want to back up. You also have to remember to regularly back up new or modified files and folders. This can be time-consuming and tedious. When you use the Back Up Files wizard, Windows keeps track of which files and folders are new or modified. Then, when you make a new backup, you can back up all of the data on your computer or just the files that have changed since the last time you made a backup. If you set up automatic backups, Windows regularly backs up your files and folders so that you don't have to remember to do it.

Will automatic backups run if my computer is turned off?

No. If your computer is turned off during the scheduled backup time, automatic backups will not run. However, the next time you turn on your computer, you will be able to back up your files and resume the normal backup schedule.

How do I delete a backup that I created using the Back Up Files wizard?

If your backups are saved to CDs or DVDs, you can discard discs containing earlier backups, but make sure that you keep the most recent backup of your files. If your backups are saved to an internal or external hard disk, you can delete a backup by following these steps:

Open the location where the backup is saved.

For example, if you backed up your files to an external hard disk labeled "E," connect the external hard disk to your computer, and then open drive E.

Right-click the folder containing the backup you want to delete, and then click Delete.

Notes

Backups are saved in this format: \\Backup Set . For example, if your computer name is Computer, your backup location is E, and you backed up on April 2, 2006 at 16:32:00, that backup would be located in E:\Computer\Backup Set 2006-02-04 163200. You would right-click the folder named Backup Set 2006-02-04 163200 to delete that backup.
When you make a full backup, a backup folder is created and labeled with the date for that day. As you add updates, that date stays the same, but your backup is not out of date. The next time you make a full backup, a new backup folder is created and labeled with the date for that day, and any updates are then added to that new folder. You should not delete the current backup folder.

Ways to improve your computer's performance

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Performance Information and Tools lists tasks that can help improve the performance of your computer, and it also shows information about your computer's performance capabilities.

•	Open Performance Information and Tools by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Performance Information and Tools.

Tasks that can help improve performance

The left pane of Performance Information and Tools includes tasks that can help you improve your computer's performance. This table describes these tasks.

Task	Description
Manage startup programs	Some programs start themselves automatically when you start Windows. Too many of these programs opening at the same time can slow down your computer. To disable these programs from startup and improve performance, use Windows Defender. For more information, see Stop a program from running automatically when Windows starts.
Adjust visual effects	You can optimize performance by changing how menus and windows appear.
Adjust indexing options	Indexing options can help you find what you're looking for quickly and easily on your computer. You can search more efficiently by narrowing your search to focus on those files and folders that you commonly use. For more information, see Improve Windows searches using the index: frequently asked questions.
Adjust power settings	Change power-related settings so that your computer resumes from power-saving settings more efficiently, and adjust battery usage for portable computers.
Open Disk Cleanup	This tool deletes unnecessary or temporary files on your hard disk so you can increase the amount of storage space you have. For more information, see Delete files using Disk Cleanup.
Advanced tools	Access advanced system tools, such as Event Viewer and System Information, that system administrators and IT professionals often use to solve problems. You can also view notifications about performance-related issues and what to do about them. For example, if Windows detects that a driver is reducing performance, click the notification to learn which driver is causing the problem and view help on how to update the driver. Issues listed at the beginning of the list are impacting the system more than issues listed later in the list.

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View details about your computer's hardware

You can also find out your computer's Windows Experience Index base score. This score measures the capability of your computer's hardware and software configuration and is a general indication of performance. The index is used by other software publishers, so you can buy programs that are matched to your computer's base score. For more information, see What is the Windows Experience Index?

To view detailed information about the hardware on your computer, such as processor speed, the amount of random access memory (RAM) installed, and hard disk size, click View and print details.

Activating Windows: frequently asked questions

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What is activation?

Activation helps verify that your copy of Windows is genuine and that it has not been used on more computers than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow. In this way, activation helps prevent software counterfeiting. With an activated copy of Windows, you’ll be able to use every Windows feature.

Is activation the same as registration?

No. Activation is required, but registration is not. Activation is the process of ensuring that your copy of Windows is used according to the Microsoft Software License Terms, whereas registration is the process of entering information (such as your e‑mail address) to sign up for product support, tools and tips, and other product benefits.

Does activation collect information that is used to contact me?

The information collected during activation will not be used to contact you.

Read the Windows privacy statement on the Microsoft website.

Is activation required?

You have 30 days after installing Windows to activate it online or by telephone. If this 30-day period expires before you complete activation, some Windows features will stop working until you activate your copy of Windows.

How do I activate Windows?

You can activate either online or by phone. To activate online you need an Internet connection. Activating by phone requires interacting with an automated phone system.

To activate Windows on this computer, do the following:

Open Windows Activation by clicking the Start button , clicking Computer, clicking Properties, and then clicking Click here to activate Windows now.‌ If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

You can then select the method you want to use to activate.

NoteIf you chose to automatically activate Windows online when you set up your computer, automatic activation begins trying to activate your copy of Windows three days after you log on for the first time.

How many times can I install Windows on my computer before I have to activate Windows again?

You can reinstall Windows on the same computer as many times as you want because activation pairs the Windows product key with information about your computer’s hardware. If you make a significant hardware change, you might have to activate Windows again.

Will I ever need to activate my current copy of Windows again?

Maybe. You might have to activate Windows again if:

•	You uninstall Windows on one computer and install it on another. During installation, enter the product key that came with your copy of Windows. If automatic activation fails, follow the instructions that walk you through activating Windows by phone. You will have 30 days to activate your copy of Windows.
•	You make a significant hardware change to your computer, such as upgrading the hard disk and memory at the same time. If a major hardware change requires activating Windows again, you will be notified and will have three days to activate your copy of Windows.
•	You reformat your hard disk. Reformatting erases your activation status. In this case, you’ll have 30 days to activate Windows again.
•	A virus infects your computer and deletes your activation status.

If you have to activate Windows again, you don't need to buy a new product key.

To activate Windows on this computer, do the following:

How do I check my Windows activation status on this computer?

To check your Windows activation status, do the following:

1.	Open System by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking System.
2.	Under Windows activation, you can view your activation status. You can also change your product key by clicking Change product key.

How do I get a new Windows product key?

If your Windows product key is not valid, if you don't have a Windows product key, or if you lost the product key that came with your copy of Windows, you'll need to buy a new one to activate Windows. For more information, go to the Microsoft website.

What happens if I don’t activate Windows?

If you don’t activate Windows within 30 days after installation, Windows will stop working. If this happens, you won't be able to create new files or save changes to existing ones. You can regain full use of your computer by activating your copy of Windows.

To activate Windows on this computer, do the following:

Where do I find my Windows product key for activation?

You can find your product key on your computer or on the installation disc holder inside the Windows package.

The product key sticker looks like this:

Windows product key sticker

32-bit and 64-bit Windows: frequently asked questions

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What is the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows?

The terms 32-bit and 64-bit refer to the way a computer's processor (also called a CPU), handles information. The 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows are designed for use in computers with 32-bit or 64-bit processors, respectively.

Can my computer run a 64-bit version of Windows?

To run a 64-bit version of Windows, your computer must have a 64-bit processor. To find your computer's processor speed, do the following:

1.	Open System by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking System.
2.	Under System, you can view the processor type and speed.

Can I upgrade from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version of Windows?

No. If you are currently running a 32-bit version of Windows, you can only perform an upgrade to another 32-bit version of Windows. Similarly, if you are running a 64-bit version of Windows Vista, you can only perform an upgrade to another 64-bit version of Windows Vista.

Can I run 32-bit programs on a 64-bit computer?

Many programs designed for a computer running a 32-bit version of Windows will work on a computer running 64-bit versions of Windows without any changes. However, in some cases there might be differences in performance. If you have a 64-bit computer, it's best to run programs designed to run on a 64-bit computer.

Would I benefit from using a 64-bit computer?

A 64-bit computer can process twice as much information as a 32-bit computer, and can have significantly more random access memory (RAM). This makes a 64-bit computer a good choice if you're working with video, large database searches, or games and other programs that require complex calculations and a lot of memory. A 32-bit computer works very well for most programs, however. For example, spreadsheet programs, web browsers, and word processing programs will run at about the same speed on either a 32-bit or a 64-bit computer.

If I'm running a 64-bit version of Windows, do I need 64-bit drivers for my devices?

Yes, all hardware devices need 64-bit drivers to work on a 64-bit version of Windows. To learn how to check for drivers, see Repair or update a driver or go to the device manufacturer's website. You can also get information about drivers by going to the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor website.

Installing Windows: frequently asked questions

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Can my computer run Windows Vista?

To check your hardware for compatibility with Windows Vista, go to the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor on the Microsoft website.

What preparations should I make before installing Windows?

Do these things before you start, to save time and help you avoid problems during installation:

•	Update your antivirus program, run it, and then disable it. After you install Windows, remember to enable the antivirus program. If you need an updated version, you might be able to download it from the manufacturer's website.
•	Back up your files. You can back up files to an external hard disk, a DVD or CD, or a network folder. For more information about backing up your files, search for "back up" in Help and Support.
•	Connect to the Internet. Make sure your Internet connection is working so that you can get the latest installation updates. These updates include security updates and hardware driver updates that can help with installation.
•	Check your hardware for compatibility with Windows Vista. Go to the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor on the Microsoft website.

What do I need to have available?

You will need these items during the installation process:

•

The Windows installation disc.

•

Your product key. You can find your product key on your computer or on the installation disc holder inside the Windows package. The product key sticker looks like this:

Windows product key sticker

•

Your computer name. You will need to provide this if your computer is currently connected to a network. If you're using Windows XP, here's how to find your computer name:

•	Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties. The computer name is displayed on the Computer Name tab.

Should I upgrade or choose a clean installation?

Choose to upgrade if you want to keep your files, settings, and programs from your current version of Windows.

Choose a clean installation to install Windows on a specific drive or partition (this replaces the information on the drive or partition you use for the installation), or to set up a multiboot system on your computer. For more information about setting up a multiboot system, see Install more than one operating system (multiboot)

Can I uninstall Windows Vista?

You cannot uninstall Windows Vista, but you can reinstall your previous operating system, which then replaces Windows Vista. To reinstall your old operating system, you must have the original installation disc. Back up your programs and files, insert the installation disc into your computer, and then reinstall the old operating system. To regain the hard disk space used by Windows Vista, reformat the disk during the reinstallation process. After reinstalling your previous operating system, reinstall your programs and files. For information about removing Windows Vista from a multiboot system, see Uninstall Windows Vista on a multiboot system.

Will my programs work with Windows Vista?

Most programs written for Windows XP also work in Windows Vista, but some older programs might run poorly or not at all. For more information about program compatibility, see Make older programs run in this version of Windows.

Also, Windows Vista uses the NTFS file system. If you upgrade a computer running Windows XP and using the FAT file system, it will be upgraded to NTFS, which might affect program compatibility.

Windows Vista Editions

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Starter

Windows Vista Starter is designed for families and entry-level users in selected emerging markets.

Home Basic

Windows Vista Home Basic is the entry-level edition of Windows Vista for home desktop and mobile PCs.

Home Premium

Windows Vista Home Premium is the preferred edition of Windows Vista for home desktop and mobile PCs.

Business

Windows Vista Business is the primary edition of Windows Vista for business desktop and mobile PCs.

Ultimate

Windows Vista Ultimate is the flagship edition of Windows Vista for consumer and small business desktop PCs and mobile PCs.

Enterprise

Windows Vista Enterprise is designed for large enterprises and organizations (available only to Microsoft Software Assurance customers).

Video cards: frequently asked questions

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How do I find out what kind of video card my computer has?

•	Open Display Settings by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking Appearance and Personalization, clicking Personalization, and then clicking Display Settings. This is where you can find out what kind of video card and monitor your computer has.

How do I find out how much memory my video card has?

Open Display Settings by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking Appearance and Personalization, clicking Personalization, and then clicking Display Settings.

Click Advanced Settings.

This is where you can see details about your video card, including how much memory your video card has.

Can I upgrade my video card?

If your computer uses a separate video card, you can upgrade the video card by removing the original card and replacing it with a new one.

If your computer's video card is built directly onto the computer's motherboard, you still might be able to upgrade the card. If your computer has an available AGP, PCI, or PCI-Express slot, you can usually purchase a video card designed for this slot and use it in place of the built-in video output.

How do I update the driver for my video card?

You might occasionally encounter a game or other program that requires you to update to a newer version of the driver for your video card. For instructions on updating drivers, see Repair or update a driver.

NoteVideo card manufacturers often release updates to their drivers to enhance performance or fix compatibility issues with new games. If you need the latest driver software for your video card, visit the support section on your video card manufacturer's website for information on how to download and install the newest driver software.

What is video acceleration?

Video acceleration, also referred to as 3‑D acceleration, uses a graphics processing unit (GPU) on the video card to speed the display of text and graphics on the screen, and to enable graphic effects such as transparency and simulated lighting. The video acceleration features of your video card determine how quickly things are drawn on the screen, and whether you can use all of the graphic effects available in Windows, games, and other programs.

Can I use more than one video card in my computer?

Some computers allow you to plug in two or more video cards, each connected to its own monitor. Other computers allow you to pair video cards for display on a single monitor to increase performance, using technologies such as NVIDIA SLI, ATI CrossFire, or another technology. Check with the manufacturer to see if your computer has the necessary hardware to support multiple video cards.

What is a video capture card?

You can use a video capture card to display or record video from sources such as VCRs and camcorders. Many video capture cards don't support connection to a monitor, but instead require that your system also contain a standard video card.

Install or remove a sound card

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Sound cards enable your computer to play music and sounds through your speakers. Almost all new computers come with a built-in sound card. However, if your computer doesn't have one installed, or if you want to upgrade the sound playback or recording capabilities of your computer, you may want to install a sound card.

There are three types of sound cards: sound cards built onto your computer's motherboard, and internal and external sound cards. This article focuses on installing an internal sound card, which fits in an expansion slot inside your computer. Motherboard sound cards can't be removed, though you can usually install an internal or external sound card and disable the motherboard sound. External sound cards typically connect via a universal serial bus (USB) connector. For information on installing external sound cards and other USB devices, see Install a USB device.

Before installing a sound card, be sure to consult the documentation that came with it. The guidelines shown here are very general, and the sound card documentation may contain important information specific to installing that card. Also, be sure to consult the documentation that came with your computer to see if opening your computer affects the computer's warranty coverage.

Before installing the sound card, you'll need the following:

•	The sound card you want to install.
•	Possibly a Phillips screwdriver to open your computer, if needed.
•	The CD, DVD, or media that came with the sound card (if any), which will contain driver software and other programs.

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To open your computer case

1.	Turn off your computer and unplug it from its power source. This is very important, as installing a card in a computer that's plugged in can damage the card and computer, and could shock you as well.
2.	Open the computer case. Look on the computer cover (usually on the back) for screws or clasps to undo. The documentation for your computer typically includes instructions on how to open the case.
3.	Once the computer case is open, ground yourself by touching the power supply (the metal casing that surrounds the jack where the power cord plugs in). This will protect the new card and the existing computer components from static electricity.

To remove an existing sound card

If you have an existing internal sound card, you should remove it before installing the new card. If your computer's sound card is built onto the motherboard, you can proceed to "To install your new sound card."

Locate your sound card. If you're not certain which card is your sound card, follow the wires from your speakers to the back of the card, and then note which slot that card is in.

Unplug any speaker and microphone cables from the back of the sound card.

If there's a cable inside your computer connecting the sound card to your CD-ROM drive, disconnect it. Many newer computers don't have this cable. If it's not there, you can skip this step.

Remove the screw holding your sound card in place.

Carefully pull the sound card straight out of the slot. Be careful not to twist or bend the card as you remove it.

NoteThe card may need one or two gentle up-and-down nudges to come loose. Even if you're throwing away the old sound card, use caution when removing it as you may damage the motherboard. If it seems stuck, it's better to spend a few extra minutes tugging gently than to rip the card out too quickly and damage the motherboard in the process.

If you're not installing a new sound card, install a slot cover if you have one, and replace the screw. Then close the computer case and replace any screws you removed when opening the case.

To install your new sound card

1.	Locate an expansion slot in the computer that will accept your new sound card. If you removed an existing sound card, you can use the same slot if your new card uses the same type of expansion slot. Check your computer's documentation if you need to determine the types of expansion slots it has available.
2.	Gently place the sound card on top of the slot. Line up the pins on the sound card with the slot and push the card down so that it sits in the slot. Be sure that the card is securely in the slot and pushed all the way in. If the pins on the card aren't perfectly aligned with the pins in the expansion slot, the card won't work properly.
3.	If your computer has an audio cable that connects the CD-ROM drive directly to the sound card, locate it and plug it in to the card. Consult the documentation that came with your sound card to determine the location of the CD-ROM audio connector on the card. Note that this cable is rarely necessary with current audio hardware, and in most cases plugging it in is optional.
4.	Screw the sound card to the frame. Don't warp the sound card or the frame while tightening the screw. It's better to tighten the screw barely more than you can tighten it with your fingers than to bend the frame or the card.
5.	Close the computer case and replace any screws you removed when opening the case. Plug your speakers, and microphone if applicable, into your new sound card.
6.	Plug your computer back into its power source and turn it back on. Windows will install the necessary device driver software for your new sound card. If your sound card came with a disc containing software, install that now. Check the information that came with your sound card to see what software installation steps are required. If Windows does not recognize your sound card and you don't have the driver that came with your sound card, you will need to find a driver yourself. (Driver software enables Windows to recognize your device.) Visit the website of your sound card's manufacturer and check the support section for a driver you can download. For more information, see Troubleshoot sound problems and Troubleshoot driver problems.

Troubleshoot sound problems

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I can’t hear sound from my computer.

There are a few simple things to check first:

•

Make sure your computer has a sound card.

You must be logged on as an administrator to perform these steps.

Open Device Manager by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Device Manager.‌ If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

Expand the Sound, video and game controllers category. If a sound card is listed, you have one installed. If no sound card is listed, You will need to install one. See Install or remove a sound card.

NoteIf you think you have a sound card installed but you don’t see it under the Sound, video and game controllers category, expand the Other devices category and check any devices listed there.

If there is a yellow question mark next to the name of the sound card, there might be a problem. Right-click the name of the sound card, and then click Properties.

Click the General tab, and then look in the Device status box to identify problems with the sound card.

•	Make sure your speakers are plugged into a working power source and turned on.

•

Make sure your speakers are correctly connected to the computer.

On your speakers, find the cable that plugs into your computer. Make sure that the speaker cable is plugged into the speakers and the correct jack on the computer. For example, if the cable is a 1/8 inch cable, there should be a round jack for it on the back of the computer. If it is a universal serial bus (USB) cable, it will plug into any USB port on your computer.

•

Make sure that the speaker volume is not muted or turned down too low.

Open Volume Control by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking Hardware and Sound, and then, under Audio Devices and Sound, clicking Adjust system volume.

Under Main Volume, move the slider up or down to raise or lower the volume.

NoteSome mobile PCs have an external volume control on the outside of the case. If you're using a mobile PC, check the external volume control.

•

Make sure you don't have headphones plugged into the line out (headphone) jack of your sound card or computer (unless you want to be listening with headphones rather than speakers). When you plug in headphones, most computers automatically cut the sound to the speakers.

If these steps don’t solve the problem, check the information that came with your computer and speakers or go to the manufacturer's website.

Sound from my speakers is crackled or distorted.

•

Make sure your speakers are correctly connected to your computer.

On your speakers, find the cable that plugs into your computer. Make sure that the speaker cable is plugged into the speakers and the correct jack on the computer. For example, if the cable is a 1/8 inch cable, there should be a round jack for it on the back of the computer. If it is a USB cable, it will plug into any USB port on your computer.

If these steps don’t fix the problem, check the information that came with your computer and speakers or go to the manufacturer's website.

I have a sound card in my computer, but Windows doesn't recognize it.

For Windows to recognize your sound card, you must find and install a compatible driver for your sound card. Most sound cards require driver software to work properly. Be sure that you have installed any software discs that came with the device. If you don't have a disc or the software on the disc does not solve the problem, follow these steps:

1.	Check if a driver for your sound card is available through Windows Update. For more information, see Install Windows updates.
2.	If Windows Update does not find a driver for your sound card, visit the website of the sound card manufacturer to check if a driver is available. If one is available, download it. If not, contact the manufacturer.
3.	Open Device Manager by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Device Manager.‌ If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
4.	In Device Manager, look for a sound card under Sound, video and game controllers and confirm that Windows does not recognize your card.
5.	Close Device Manager.
6.	Open Control Panel by clicking the Start button , and then clicking Control Panel.
7.	In the Search box in Control Panel, type add hardware.
8.	Click Install drivers for older devices with Add Hardware wizard. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

I found a new driver for my sound card, but I'm not sure how to install it.

Windows Update can search for updated drivers and install them automatically, but it you already have a new driver you want to install, you can do this yourself. Out-of-date drivers can cause sound problems, so it is a good idea to install the latest driver for your sound card. Follow these steps:

1.	Open Device Manager by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Device Manager.‌ If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
2.	In Device Manager, locate your sound card under Sound, video and game controllers, and then double-click the device name.
3.	Click the Driver tab, and then click Update Driver.

I'm having trouble installing my sound card and wonder if it is compatible with Windows Vista.

To find out if your hardware is compatible with Windows Vista, go to the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor website. This website contains the information that used to be on the Windows Hardware Compatibility List.

Install a USB device

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The first time you connect a device that plugs into a universal serial bus (USB) port, Windows automatically installs driver software for that device. After driver software is installed, you can disconnect and reconnect the device without performing any additional steps.

Before you install your device

Check the instructions included with the device to determine whether driver software should be installed before you connect the device. Typically, Windows detects a new device after you connect it, and then installs the driver software automatically. However, some devices require you to install the driver software before plugging the device in.

Also, while most devices that have power switches should be turned on before you connect them, others require that you turn them on during the installation process. Because of issues like this, it's a good idea to read the instructions included with a new device before you connect it.

If the instructions that came with your device contradict the information in this topic, follow the instructions that came with the device.

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Plugging your device in

If your USB device uses a power cord, you should connect the device to a power source and turn it on before connecting it.

Next, determine which USB port you want to connect your device to. If your computer has USB ports on the front, consider using one of those if you plan to frequently connect and disconnect the device.

A typical USB cable and port

Plug the device into the USB port. If Windows is able to install device driver software automatically, you'll be notified that the device is ready to use. Otherwise, Windows will prompt you to insert a disc containing driver software for the device.

After installation is complete, check the information for your device to see if any additional software that might have been included with the device should be installed.

Occasionally you may have a USB device that Windows cannot recognize and which did not come with a disc containing driver software. If this is the case, you can try to find a driver for the device yourself. Start by checking the website of the device manufacturer. You can often download drivers from the support section of such sites. For more information, see Troubleshoot USB device problems.

Notes

When connecting a device to a USB port on a USB hub, monitor, or other device that's plugged into your computer, ensure that the USB port has enough power to support your device. Smaller devices, such as USB flash drives and mice, and devices with their own power cords, such as printers, typically work properly when connected to an unpowered USB hub. Some devices that use more power, such as USB-powered scanners and web cameras, require a hub that has its own power cord to function properly. If a device doesn't work properly when connected to a hub, try connecting it directly to one of your computer's USB ports.
Devices that transfer large amounts of information, such as external hard disks, scanners, and video cameras, function best when connected to high-speed USB 2.0 ports. Some older computers may include only USB 1.x ports, or a mix of USB 1.x and 2.0 ports. If your device requires a high-speed port to function properly, check information provided by the manufacturer for your computer to ensure that the port you're using supports USB 2.0. If your computer includes only USB 1.x ports, you can add USB 2.0 ports by installing a USB 2.0 card inside your computer.

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Connecting and disconnecting devices

Most USB devices can be removed and unplugged at will. When unplugging storage devices, such as USB flash drives, you should be sure that the computer has finished saving any information to the device before removing it. If the device has an activity light, wait for a few seconds after the light has finished flashing before unplugging it.

If you see the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the notification area at the far right of the taskbar, you can use this to ensure that devices have finished all operations in progress and are ready to remove. Click the icon and you'll see a list of devices. Click the device you want to remove.

You can use any USB port when plugging in a device that you've previously installed. However, the first time you plug a device into a particular port, Windows will install the driver software for that device again.

Repair or update a driver

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If a hardware device isn't functioning properly, or if a program or game that you're installing states that it requires newer driver software than you currently have installed, you should check Windows Update for updated driver software. If technical support personnel have asked you to install driver software from a disc or from the device manufacturer's website, you can also manually update driver software for your device.

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To update driver software using Windows Update

1.

Open Windows Update by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, clicking All Programs, and then clicking Windows Update.‌ Administrator permission required If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
2.

In the left pane, click Check for updates.
3.

To see if updated driver software is available, click View available updates. Windows Update will list any updated driver software that's available for devices installed in your computer.
4.

If updates are available, click the driver software that you want to install, and then click Install. Administrator permission required If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

To manually update driver software

You must be logged on as an administrator to perform these steps.
1.

Open Device Manager by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Device Manager.‌ Administrator permission required If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
2.

In Device Manager, locate the device you want to update, and then double-click the device name.
3.

Click the Driver tab, and then click Update Driver.

Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor FAQ

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What is the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor?
Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor is a downloadable web application that helps Windows XP users identify which edition of Windows Vista meets their needs, whether their PCs are ready for an upgrade to Windows Vista, and which features of Windows Vista will be able to run on their PCs. The end result is a report that explains which edition of Windows Vista to buy and provides suggestions about what, if any, hardware updates may be necessary to install and run the appropriate edition and features of Windows Vista. Running Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor is a great first step for anyone considering whether to install Windows Vista on a PC they already own.

Why is the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor only available for Windows XP and Windows Vista users?

The Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor depends on technology that only runs on computers with these editions of Windows:

All 32-bit editions of Windows XP
All 32-bit editions of Windows Vista, except Enterprise edition

If you own a PC running other editions of Windows, you will need to carefully compare its system capabilities to the system requirements found on this site. In general, PCs purchased within the last two years have a better chance of being able to run Windows Vista as is or with affordable improvements to the system hardware.

What is required to run Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor?

To install and run the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor, you will need:

Administrator privileges
.NET 2.0*
MSXML6*
20 MB of free hard disk space
An internet connection

* While installing the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor, it will detect if these components are present. If not, it will provide a link to where they can be downloaded. They are required to complete installation.

Why does my saved report look strange in my browser?
The report may not be formatted correctly when viewed in some browsers.

What is required to run Windows Vista?

If you purchased a PC in the last two years, chances are good that you can run Windows Vista. To install and run the core functionality of Windows Vista, you need:

An 800 MHz processor
512 MB of RAM
A 20 GB hard drive with 15 GB of free space

Advanced features, like the new user experience Windows Aero, require advanced or additional hardware. See system requirements for details.

Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor

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Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor

Before you begin

Before you run the Upgrade Advisor, be sure to plug in any USB devices or other devices such as printers, external hard drives, or scanners that are regularly used with the PC you're evaluating.

Download Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor

The Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor works with 32-bit versions of Windows XP and Windows Vista. Review upgrade options that are available for versions earlier than Windows XP.

Make sure your computer is ready for the edition of Windows Vista you want.

The Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor will help you to determine if your Windows XP-based PC can run Windows Vista. You can also use the Upgrade Advisor to determine if your Windows Vista-based PC is ready for an upgrade to a more powerful edition of Windows Vista.

This small software tool will scan your computer and create an easy-to-understand report of all known system, device, and program compatibility issues, and recommend ways to resolve them. Upgrade Advisor can also help you to choose the edition of Windows Vista that best fits the way you want to use your computer.

Just download, install, and run the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor.

Please Note:

The Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor works with 32-bit versions of Windows XP and Windows Vista, except Windows Vista Enterprise edition. It will not work with other editions of Windows.
The Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor does not collect or send any personal, identifiable data to Microsoft Corporation or third parties. See the Upgrade Advisor privacy statement for details.

Windows Vista Business Features

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Getting it done just got easier

Find information easily. Instant Search helps you locate information on your PC—even within e-mail. Also, use the save functionality in the new Search Folders feature to run your favorite searches with a single click.

Search folders help you save search criteria to use again.

Improved Explorers help you organize things your way. You can organize your content based on file properties, such as "tags," so you can easily find them later—no matter where you've saved them on your PC.

You can more conveniently share your work with co-workers on your network. With a simple file-sharing tool, you can choose just the people with whom you want to share files.

Enhanced Windows Fax and Scan provides flexible, integrated faxing and scanning in one location on your PC.

Work in a more simple and intuitive way. With the Windows Aero user experience, which includes glass-like visuals, you can easily navigate open files and programs.

Aero helps you quickly locate the window you need.

Get the most from digital images and video. Easy-to-use tools within Windows Photo Gallery help you retrieve, view, and edit photos for your business or website—without costly outsourcing.

Windows Vista Ultimate Features

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Everything you need to work more easily and effectively

Windows Aero offers an elegant, more visually compelling desktop experience, giving you a greater ability to visualize and work with your information and a smoother, more stable desktop experience.

Instant Search helps you find whatever you need quickly and easily, whether it's on your PC, on your network, or on the Internet—or even within your e-mail.

With Complete PC Backup and Complete PC Restore, you can not only back up your personal documents and files, you can also back up all of your operating system files and programs—everything on your hard disk drive. In the event of a catastrophic hardware failure, you can use Complete PC Backup and Complete PC Restore to get your entire PC back to normal in one easy step.

You know you need backups. Now This essential maintenance step is much easier with the Backup and Restore Center.

Windows Vista Ultimate also enables you to easily recover previous versions of files and documents that have been accidentally changed. Shadow copy automatically archives previous versions of your files—should you accidentally save a change to a document, or should a document become corrupted, you can easily recover by restoring any previous version of that file.

With new self-healing technologies, Windows Vista Ultimate can automatically identify and fix problems as they occur—helping keep disruptions to a minimum.

Windows Vista Ultimate is available in 35 languages—simultaneously. If you have a multilingual household or are learning a new language, you can install as many languages as you want and even switch between them as easily as logging off and back on again. In addition, if your family shares a single PC, each family member can use his or her preferred language to interact with the PC.

Enhanced Windows Fax and Scan provides flexible, integrated faxing and scanning capabilities in one convenient location on your PC that make it easier to send and receive faxes, scan documents and images, and share those resources with other people. Windows Fax and Scan also helps you get more from your multifunction printing devices.

Create, send, and receive faxes, documents, and images from one spot.

Windows SuperFetch helps improve PC responsiveness and helps make system performance more consistent. Windows SuperFetch tracks which applications you use most often and when you use them—and then it preloads those applications into memory to ensure quick access.

For smaller home and business networks, use Network Center to visually check the connection status of PCs and devices, and to troubleshoot connection problems from a single interface and without additional IT support.

Windows Vista Home Premium Features

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Get things done more easily and intuitively

The spectacular Windows Aero user experience features stunning visual effects, including helpful animations, transparent glass menu bars, and live thumbnail previews of open programs. Your desktop experience never looked this good.

A unique part of the Windows Aero experience is Windows Flip 3D, which enables you to dynamically flip through your open programs in a three-dimensional, stacked view, so that you can quickly locate and select the one that you want.

Windows Flip 3D shows the beauty and functionality Aero provides.

You can instantly find information on your computer—including documents, e-mails, photos, and even music files—with Instant Search, which is integrated throughout Windows Vista.

Searching for information on the Internet is easier than ever with Internet Explorer 7, which includes web searching right from the browser, with no additional toolbars necessary. Tabbed browsing also enables you to simultaneously browse multiple web pages in one window.

See the information you care about instantly with Windows Sidebar and gadgets, which bring real-time information, like weather and news, directly to your desktop.

Windows Sidebar and gadgets put handy tools right at hand on your desktop.

Flexible organization makes it simple to instantly find and view your files any way that you want.

Relive a lifetime of memories using Windows Photo Gallery. It's now easier to download photos from your digital camera, and then organize, edit, view, and share them with family and friends.

Download, find, and share photos easily with Windows Photo Gallery.

Get up and running fast using Windows Easy Transfer to automatically copy your files, photos, music, e-mail, and settings from your old PC to your new Windows Vista-based PC.

Windows Vista works in the background to take care of itself, giving you a better and faster computing experience. Using new performance self-tuning and diagnostics technologies, Windows Vista can improve the responsiveness of the applications you use most often and help to decrease file download times.

Windows SuperFetch also helps to improve the responsiveness and performance of your PC by tracking which applications you use most often and then preloading them into memory for faster access.

Windows Vista includes new self-healing technology that can identify problems and fix them so you can keep system disruptions to a minimum.

Windows Vista contains built-in diagnostics that look for hardware failures, network problems, and slow performance issues so they can be resolved before they affect your productivity.

Better protection for your PC, your personal information, and your family than with any previous version of Windows.

Windows Defender helps automatically safeguard your PC against pop-ups, slow performance, and security threats caused by spyware and other unwanted software.

The automatic protection of Windows Defender helps you avoid unwanted software.

With dynamic security protection, Internet Explorer 7 helps you achieve a higher level of security protection than ever before when browsing the web. Internet Explorer 7 includes anti-phishing technology that helps to protect you from fraudulent websites that attempt to steal your personal information.

Unique to Windows Vista is Internet Explorer protected mode, which makes browsing the web with Windows Vista even safer by preventing unwanted malicious software downloads.

With Parental Controls, you can manage the rules for your children's computer use. You can set time limits for use and also manage their access to the web and to PC games.

Use Parental Controls to easily supervise your children's computer use.

Using Standard user accounts, you can confidently allow your children to use your PC, and lessen the risk that they will install malicious software or make harmful changes to the PC.

A scheduled backup automatically backs up your files—priceless digital photos, music, movies, documents, and more—so you can relax and focus on the things you want to do.

Enjoy home entertainment in a whole new way

Use Windows Media Center to enjoy your entire digital entertainment library on your PC or television using the easy-to-navigate Media Center interface. Use a Media Center remote control, a mouse, or a touch screen to view your photos in a cinematic slide show, browse your music collection by cover art, play DVDs, or watch and record your favorite TV shows. Media Center even makes it easier to download movies and enjoy them when you want.

Enjoy all your digital entertainment with Windows Media Center.

Burn your photo slide shows and home movies to a professional-looking video DVD with Windows DVD Maker, and watch them on a standard DVD player or PC wherever you like.

Take Windows Media Center to the next level and enjoy all of your digital entertainment on TVs throughout your home with support for Xbox 360 and other consumer electronics connected to your home network.

Play the next generation in gaming, with hyper-realistic visuals and incredible performance. From the simple to the spectacular, there are Games for Windows on your PC or online for every age and ability. And with DirectX 10 included, only Windows Vista will be able to run the latest, most graphically advanced PC games in the market.

Install, manage, and enjoy all of your games in one easy-to-access location using the Windows Games Explorer.

Have more fun on your PC with three new premium games included with Windows Vista Home Premium: Mahjong Titans, Chess Titans, and InkBall.

Capture, edit, and publish your digital home movies in standard or high-definition format with the updated Windows Movie Maker.

Windows Media Player 11 includes new features that are designed to help you manage your library of digital music, photos, and video that you have stored on your PC. And you can easily connect to a variety of portable players so you can take your media collection wherever you go.

Stay productive and entertained with your mobile PC

Use your mobile PC whenever you want without worrying about battery life by using Fast Sleep and Resume. By pressing the power button, you can pause and then resume your computer session in just seconds while conserving your battery life in sleep mode.

Network and Sharing Center helps you more easily and securely connect to wireless networks whenever you're out and about, and more easily set up a secure wireless network at home.

The Windows Mobility Center saves you time and worry by enabling you to quickly access and set key mobile system settings, all from one location.

Taking your PC with you? Windows Mobility Center gives you one place to adjust PC settings.

With Windows Meeting Space, you can wirelessly connect your mobile PC to a friend's PC and share photos, videos, and documents when you're at a coffee shop, working on a group project, or in many other situations—even when you're not connected to the Internet.

Keep your supported digital media devices, Smartphones, and other digital devices synchronized with your PC using the Windows Vista Sync Center.

Express yourself more naturally and more personally with a Tablet PC or any PC using the new touch screen technology that enables you to draw, touch, or write directly on the screen when you are composing e-mails, editing photos, or interacting with your favorite applications.

Some product features are only available in certain editions of Windows Vista and may require advanced or additional hardware.

Windows Vista Home Basic Features

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Easily search and find everything on your PC and the Internet

Instantly find information on your computer—including documents, e-mails, photos, and even music files—with Instant Search, which is integrated throughout Windows Vista.

Search anywhere, even from the Start menu.

See your open browser windows on a single page.

See the information you care about instantly with Windows Sidebar and gadgets, which bring real-time information, like weather and news, directly to your desktop.

Flexible organization features make it simple to instantly find and view your files any way you want.

Relive a lifetime of memories using Windows Photo Gallery. It's now easier to download photos from your digital camera and then organize, edit, view, and share them with family and friends.

Quickly view, edit, and share images with Windows Photo Gallery.

Get up and running quickly using Windows Easy Transfer to automatically copy your files, photos, music, e-mail, and settings from your old PC to your new Windows Vista-based PC.

Windows SuperFetch helps make your PC run faster and enables your applications to load faster.

Windows Vista includes new self-healing technology that can identify problems and fix them so you can keep system disruptions to a minimum.

Windows Vista contains built-in diagnostics that look for hardware failures, network problems, and slow performance issues so they can be resolved before they affect your productivity.

Some product features are only available in certain editions of Windows Vista and may require advanced or additional hardware.