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Make the switch to Windows Vista

Microsoft hopes Vista will eventually replace Windows XP as the face of PCs around the world. It may be some time before everyone is ready to upgrade but if you're champing at the bit to switch, read on

Warning: Read this before you begin

Before proceeding with this Workshop it is imperative to back up all important programs and documents, as well as email messages, a contacts lists, internet bookmarks and so forth. Vista won't delete such data during the upgrade, but it is better to be safe than sorry.

We also recommend reading throught this Workshop in its entirety before you begin the upgrade to make sure you have to hand all the necessary documents, product kesy and other information that might be required. It may also be worth downloading the Vista drivers for any extra hardware (such as scanners or soundcards) from the relevant manufacturer's website, and copying them to a USB key, just in case Vista can't automatically install these devices.

In this Workshop we're going to demonstrate how to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows Vista (Ultimate edition, but the steps and techniques will be broadly applicable to other versions of Vista).

Step 1...

Begin by inserting the Windows Vista CD. Remember, we're using the Ultimate edition of Vista. If using a different version, some of our instructions and screenshots may differ from your experience. If you're happy that the computer hardware is up to the job of running Vista, then go to step three. Alternatively, to check that your PC is sufficiently powerful, click the 'Check compatibility' online link on the Install Windows dialogue box. Your default web browser will launch: click on Download Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor, and click Run in the box that appears, then follow the prompts. Follow the steps to install and run the Advisor program. You may be prompted to download extra software: just follow the instructions. Before running a scan, plug in all the devices such as printers and cameras that you'll want to use with Vista, and once the program starts, click Start Scan.

Step 2...

Advisor will scan the PC to see if it meets the requirements for Vista, and whether all the attached hardware will work properly with the new operating system. When it has finished, click on See Details to find out the verdict. The Advisor will highlight which hardware, if any, might have trouble with Vista. It will also evaluate which version of Vista would be best suited to your computer. Click through the list of versions to see what the features are like in the other editions. Click on either of the See Details buttons then Task List to see what needs to be done. Close Advisor to continue.

Step 3...

In the Vista installation window, click Install Now. A prompt will ask whether you wish to go online to get the latest updates. It is worth doing this to save time and trouble later. The computer will ask for an internet connection to download any vital updates, but if you're not connected to the net you can choose to check. Click on the Go Online button if the PC is online and the computer will try to find the upgrades it needs on the internet. If no updates are found, don't worry: any that are released will be obtainable later. Click Continue.

Step 4...

Windows Vista will ask for a product key. This is in the packaging that came with your purchase of Windows Vista. Type it in exactly as it's shown on the disc holder. The dashes will be added automatically, and don't worry if a number or letter looks ambiguous, as the installer will highlight if something is wrong. Click to tick the box marked "Automatically activate Windows when I'm online". This will register the PC and Vista with Microsoft. It won't pass on any personal information. If you choose not to enter a product key now, read steps five and six for further instructions. Otherwise, click Next and skip to step seven.

Step 5...

In the unlikely event that you don't have access to the product key at the time of installation, it is possible to continue without it. However, this is not advised, as it makes the installation process a little more complicated and could mean that Vista will need to be reinstalled (see step six). However, if you really need to leave the product key box blank, do so and click Next. The installer will ask for confirmation, prompting you once more to enter the product key now. Click No.

Step 6...

If a product key was not entered on the previous screen, it's necessary now to choose which version of Vista to install. In this instance, we're installing the Ultimate edition, so we'll click Ultimate and tick the confirmation box at the bottom of the window. If you're installing a different version, click to select its entry in the Windows Version list and then Next. It is vital to choose the one that corresponds to the purchased edition, as the appropriate product key will need to be entered within 30 days of installation. Choosing the wrong version now will mean Vista will need to be reinstalled at that later date.

Step 7...

The next screen shows the licence agreement for all versions of Vista. We recommend reading this thoroughly to make sure you're not about to agree to anything with which you may be unhappy. However, it is a long document and one that's littered with legal terminology, so it's a tough read in parts. Once you're content to continue, tick the box at the bottom of the window marked "I accept the license terms" and click Next.

Step 8...

This screen contains the choice between upgrading the version of Windows on the computer, or making a clean installation. If you choose Upgrade, Windows XP will disappear but all settings, programs and documents should remain in place when Vista starts. However, some existing applications may cease to work. The Advisor tool referred to in step 2 should have warned you about which programs may not work under Vista. To make a fresh start using a new computer or new hard disk, choose Custom (advanced). Custom is also what to choose if you want to create a 'dual-boot' system with Windows XP and Windows Vista on the same PC. To proceed following our steps, click Upgrade (otherwise, you're on your own).

Step 9...

The installer will check the compatibility of the programs that are already installed under Windows XP. If there are going to be any problems, this is where they will show up. Programs such as disc creation tools or some anti-virus software won't work with Vista, unless they were specifically designed to. The installer will say as much here, and explain which programs to uninstall before continuing. Click on the link for more information. Quit the installer as directed, uninstall the offending items and follow the steps to get back to this point.

Step 10...

Some programs won't halt the installation but might not run correctly once Vista has been installed. These will be listed under the "Potential issues" heading. Click on the link for more information. Once you have read the list, click Next. Note that if no software compatibility problems are found, this screen might not appear - so don't worry if it doesn't.

Step 11...

The installer will begin to copy the files needed for Windows Vista. This is the crucial point, so make sure the PC doesn't get switched off or is otherwise disturbed. The installer warns that it could take several hours, but we were up and running with Vista in 45 minutes from this point. The computer will restart several times during the process. That's normal, and it's nothing to worry about. The installation will continue normally.

Step 12...

When the installation has finished, Windows Vista will launch. The operating system will prompt you to choose whether or not to adjust security settings automatically. We recommend doing this - click on "Use recommended settings". This will turn on the phishing filter, Automatic updates and protection against spyware. On the next screen, confirm that the time zone, date and time are correct, and click Next. If Windows detects a network connection, you'll be prompted to select what kind of network is connected. For most users, that will be a Home network, so select Home, and click Start to begin using Vista.

Step 13...

This login screen will appear. Choose a password for the Administrator account and hit Enter. The installer will check the computer's performance and various screens will pop up saying the installer is preparing the Windows Desktop. If any hardware needs new drivers, you will be prompted to install them. Click "Locate and install driver software" to do so. If a security warning appears, click Continue. In the background, it will continue to set things up. If it can't install the drivers you might be prompted later on to insert a CD that came with the hardware containing appropriate software.

Step 14...

Once Windows Vista has launched, it will run the Automatic Updates feature - assuming that was the selection made in step 12 - and this will pick up the latest updates to Vista. You can then begin to customise or use Vista. One thing to do is to turn on Aero: right-click the Windows Desktop and click Properties, then click Theme from the window that appears. If you've installed Vista Home Basic, or your PC isn't powerful enough to run Aero, this option won't appear. In the next dialogue box, select Windows Aero from the drop-down box and click OK, then follow any prompts to complete the installation.

This article was created: 13 February 2007.
This article was last edited: 23 February 2007.

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