How to upgrade to Windows Vista

By Dina Gerdeman

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You've heard about all the bells and whistles associated with Microsoft Vista -- including tools that allow for easier file searches and settings that give parents greater monitoring power over their children's computer use. Another good reason to upgrade is that Microsoft offers a free anti-spyware application called Windows Defender, which is included with Windows Vista.


You can upgrade from your current edition of Microsoft Windows XP or Windows 2000 to Windows Vista by purchasing and installing an upgrade copy of Windows Vista. As you try to determine which edition of Windows Vista best suits your needs, it is important to review the system requirements to make sure the edition you select will work on your operating system.


If you plan to add Windows Vista to your current Windows XP-based computer, consider running the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor beforehand to ensure your PC is ready for the edition of Vista you would like to install. The software tool can scan your computer and report compatibility problems and recommend ways to solve them.

Once you have chosen the appropriate edition, you will need:

• The Windows installation disk
• Your product key, which can be found on your computer or on the installation disk holder inside the Windows package.
• Your computer name. If you’re using Windows XP, you can find your computer name by clicking Start, right-click My Computer and then click Properties. The computer name will be displayed in the Computer Name tab.

You may then follow these steps to upgrade to Windows Vista from an earlier version of Windows:

1. Start your current version of Windows.
2. Exit out of all programs before you upgrade to Windows Vista, including browsers and media players.
3. Make sure you are connected to the Internet.
4. Insert the Windows Vista DVD into your DVD drive and close the tray. You may need to give it a moment for the Setup program to start automatically.
5. If the Setup program starts on its own, click Install now. If the Setup program does not start automatically, click Start, then click Run, and type Drive:\setup.exe and then click OK, then click Install now.
6. A screen will appear: "Which type of installation do you want?" Click on Upgrade, and then follow the instructions to install Vista.

If you receive a message that says "Upgrade has been disabled," you may have one or more of the following problems: You cannot upgrade your operating system to Windows Vista; you started the computer from the Windows Vista DVD, rather than using your current operating system, or  you may need to convert from a FAT32 file system to a NTFS file system. Another problem could be that you have insufficient hard disk space, in which case you’ll have to free up some room.

You will want to make sure you retain your applications, files and settings as they were in your previous Windows edition. Some Vista editions allow for an "upgrade-in-place" installation option, which lets you keep your files and settings as they were.
 
If you need to do a "clean installation," use Windows Easy Transfer to automatically copy all your files and settings to an extra hard drive or other storage device. After the installation of Vista is complete, Windows Easy Transfer reloads your files and settings on your upgraded PC. You will then need to reinstall your applications.

If you already have a Windows Vista edition and want to upgrade to a new edition, you can purchase the Windows Anytime Upgrade Pack and insert the DVD into your PC. When the Autoplay window appears, click Run setup.exe and the upgrade setup program will launch. Click Install Now on the Install Windows screen and follow the instructions on the subsequent screens.

Upgrading to a new edition of Vista can take between 60 minutes to 90 minutes. You cannot access your programs and files during that time. Before you start, be sure to save any files that are open and close all programs; during the upgrade, your computer will be rebooted and you will lose any work that is not saved.

Remember, Microsoft periodically adds new features to factory-installed programs; hackers are always finding new ways to attack PCs. Installing and running Windows Update is your PC's way of keeping up with these changes and threats.