How to Determine if Your Computer is Ready for a Vista Upgrade

Windows has finally introduced Vista, which offers an improved search function, increased security, a first-rate calendar program, gadgets and more. When you want to improve the performance of your PC by installing Vista, then you must know if your computer is Vista-ready. The following tips can help you determine if your computer is ready for a Vista upgrade.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer with Internet access

1. Check your PC and its software and peripherals. Even if your computer is Vista-ready, buying an upgrade kit may still be not the best option for your system. There may be hardware that is not up to speed, so buying a Vista upgrade kit beforehand can be useless.

2. Know the system conditions of Vista. Vista requirements differ by edition, so it will be sensible to determine if these requisites will be worth the costs and effort of the upgrade. Additionally, the requirements can also help you determine future potential compatibility problems that your PC may encounter with the existing peripherals and software once you have decided to purchase Vista.

3. Determine if your computer has a hard drive that has at least a 40 GB capacity with 15 GB of free space to accommodate the Vista upgrade tool. This will help you to avoid any memory-related problems in the future. It is also advisable to have an audio output and DVD-ROM drive to help you efficiently use Vista.

4. Download the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor from the official Web site of Microsoft Vista. The program can easily scan if your PC is Vista-ready. The Advisor also helps you to know the ideal Vista edition for your machine.

5. Plug in all the external peripherals of your computer. Once you have decided to use the Upgrade Advisor, items such as scanners and printers should be plugged in to be evaluated by the Vista upgrade tool. This can help you determine the recommended edition for your computer.

6. Follow all the instructions that the Upgrade Advisor gives you. Upgrading your computer can be quite a challenge, so it is necessary to do what is recommended to avoid mistakes. You do not want to have any mishaps in improving your system, so follow the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor religiously.

Tips & Warnings

• You must have a back-up of your files once you start upgrading your computer with Vista.
• Ask for advice from your friends and colleagues that have tried Vista to know its other pluses and minuses.
• Do not just go with the flow. Just because others are selecting Vista does not mean that you need it too. Vista will be around for quite some time, so you can use it on your next system when they have worked out some more of the kinks.