Lee,
I have installed many copies of Vista, and had few real difficulties. The
majority of the advice given, such as uninstalling things like anti-virus is
a safe and prudent approach. May I offer a few things to think about.
Start by having a good backup, even if the hardware and software is
compatible, errors and mistakes can happen.
While many hardware and software components are compatible, some are not. If
your hardware is reasonably current, then you should probably be OK.
Although Vista can get by (barely) with 512 MB of RAM, 1 GB is much better.
Most of the PCs I have installed Vista on have 2 GB, which is really the
sweet spot. If you are installing 32 bit Vista, more than 2 GB of RAM can
actually be an issue (depending), so be aware.
If you are even slightly uncertain how you will feel regarding Vista, then
you may want to strongly consider not Activating immediately after
installation, and be sure to uncheck the box for automatically activating.
You can install Vista without entering a Product Key by simply not entering
one. You will then be prompted for which version to install. Be sure to
select the correct one. By not activating immediately, you will be able to
install Vista, and fully test it without being locked down. If you are
dissatisfied, you can then potentially return it, since it was not
activated. You will have 30 days to activate, before Vista enters reduced
functionality mode. If you decide to keep it, you can use the Start Menu to
go to Control Panel and then System to activate Vista later. At the bottom
of the screen there is a setting to change the Product Key. Be certain to
enter the correct key for the version of Vista which you have. There is also
a button there to allow you the activate online after entering the Product
Key.
While Windows Updates is enabled by default, after first installing, you may
want to manually use Windows Update in Control Panel to immediately get all
of the latest updates. Since Vista released, Microsoft has released a great
many updates. I have found that these can make a huge difference in how
Vista behaves. Granted nothing is perfect, but in my experience getting the
latest updates really helps Vista.
Again, like where we started above (prior to installing Vista), prior to
making most changes, you may want to consider creating a Restore Point.
Vista does this automatically for many things, but not all. Under Control
Panel, System, Change Settings, System Protection; there are the selections
to allow setting and restoring from Restore Points.
Regarding software compatibility, it really varies substantially. Much
software works just fine. Other software will require an update. Still other
software can be run in Windows XP SP2 compatibility mode. Hardware
compatibility is similar; some works fine, others require updated drivers,
but then there is hardware for which the device manufacturer decided not to
support Vista. For example, I have printers which are 10 years old, and work
great; all features are supported. I also have several printers from the
same manufacturer, which are only 2-3 years old, and don't work at all.
You'll just need to research what is supported and what is not; and decide
accordingly.
I hope that it works well for you.
John Baker
