- Check your computer's specifications to make sure your system will be able to run the Vista operating system. Windows Vista Business requires at least an 800MHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor, 512MB of RAM and 15GB of available space in a 20GB hard drive. Though these are the minimum requirements, Microsoft recommends installing Vista Business on a system with at least a 1GHz processor, 1GB of RAM and a 40GB hard drive with 15GB of free space. You also need a DirectX 9-class graphics adapter. This graphics adapter must support Pixel Shader 2.0 and the Windows Display Driver Model drivers. You will need a DVD drive on your computer as the installation disc for Vista Business is a DVD-ROM.
- Back up your computer and system files to an external storage device, such as a USB flash drive, external hard drive or CD-ROM. If an error occurs while installing Vista Business, you may lose access to the files stored on your hard drive. Verify that your files are on your external storage device by connecting the device to another computer and searching for your files. Make sure you can access your files on the external storage device before attempting to upgrade to Vista Business.
- Keep a copy of the Windows XP Professional operating system installation disc in case you experience difficulty installing the Vista Business operating system. If you are unable to install Vista Business or would prefer to go back to the XP Professional operating system, you can use the installation disc to revert to the older operating system. Locate copies of the installation discs for any software you use on your computer, as well. You may need to reinstall software after upgrading or if any errors occur during the process.
- Check that the software your business uses will be compatible with Vista Business before installing the new operating system. Learning that essential software is not compatible with Vista Business after the operating system is installed can create headaches for your business. If you find that certain software is not compatible, purchase a compatible version or alternate software before upgrading your computer.
- Upgrade to Vista Business by inserting the installation DVD-ROM into your computer while running the XP Professional operating system. You must be logged in as an administrator to upgrade your operating system. Access the DVD's contents through your computer and run the "Setup.exe" file. Follow the onscreen prompts to initiate the upgrade. You will need to provide a valid Vista Business product key before the upgrade takes place. This product key is located in the case the DVD came in. Once the product key is entered and the license terms are agreed to, your system will finish the upgrade process.
