if i install vista do i need to do anything else with my pc?

Question

is it just a case of download then install what happens when it is released next year and will i loseany files on my pc

Answer 1

windows vista is a complete overhaul of the windows operating system,none more than the specs you need to run it
before you even think of installing vista you should make sure you have the following specs...a modern processor over 800mhz(1.5ghz recommended)...512mb ram(1gb rec) a graphics card with pixel and shader model 2.0(ati radeon 9550 and above,ge-force fx 5200 and above),128mb of graphics memory....a 20gb + hard drive.....dvd-rom for installation
the graphics specs are needed for the new "aero" effects that come with vista,and the ram is so high as there is a hell of a lot more going on in vista than xp
so as long as you have these specs you should be fine
if you want to keep xp,you may think of doing what i have,dual booting is were you can install xp and vista,each on seperate partitions,and when the p.c boots you will see a boot manager were you can pick which operating system you wish to use
when doing this you must first create your partitions,and as you need to install the older opeating system first,in this case xp you can use xp to create your partiitons,you will see this when installing xp,were you can delete or create partitions,you will need 2 partitions( c,d) and install xp on c and vista on d)
although you will install xp first,when you install vista ,you will then use the vista boot manager as the boot manger in dual booting is always the newest operating system
a few things to remeber when dual booting
1) you need to install seperate drivers for each operating system,these include chipset,graphic and also you need seperate security software(anti virus and spyware)
2)allways install the older windows first,this applies as far back as windows 95
3)when using each system ,for example if you are using xp,vista will be on d drive,but when you use vista,xp will be on d drive ,in other words the windows you are using will allways use c drive
with regards to files,vista has a settings and transfer wizard like xp,but i would back up any files to external hard drive or dvd,as vistas code is a million miles from that of xp,and programs that run on all previous versions of windows will not run on vista
this is a big stopping point when buying vista,it will be at least 3 years after vistas release before most software companys will start producing vista compatible programs,allthough some are allready producing beta software,these include nvidia,ati,abode and of course microsoft
vitsa will be shipped in 6 versions,these will include 2 business ,2 home ,a premium and a ultimate,one of the home versions will be a basic,which will be the cheapest to buy,but will have the least features,i use the ultimate beta and this has all the aero glass and 3d features,rumour has it that vista ultimate will be around £150,were vista basic will be around £90
i have just started a vista group in yahoo groups(http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/vistawizard/),and if you have any problems you will be more than welcome to post a problem and i will answer it as quick as possible
i hope this has helped you and good luck with your future vista installation
good luck

Answer 2

What would you "download and install"? One of the beta or release candidate ("RC") versions? The final (actually called "release to manufacturing" or "RTM") version of vista will be something you have to buy on a CD and will not be available as a download except to certain people (such as subscribers to the MS Developer's Network (MSDN).

If you download and install an RC version now, be aware that it has a time limit after which it will no longer function. Also if you have installed such a version and later you buy the RTM version, there is no guarentee that you would be able to smoothly install it on top of the RC version. You would in that case not really lose any files, but you would have to start over and re-install any programs you had installed with the RC version.

All in all if you really want to run Vista you probably shouldn't mess around with the beta or RC versions at this point.

Answer 3

I'm not exactly sure how Microsoft will release the software. They may offer it as a download.

Once you have the software you can either upgrade to Vista or do a fresh install. If you upgrade, Vista will scan your system prior to the actual upgrade. It is kind of nice because it will tell you if something may not work with Vista. For example, when I upgraded it came back and told me that my PowerDVD software was not compatible.

Keep in mind if you do a clean install, you will need to backup your work prior to the install as Vista will format the hard drive prior to the install.

I hope you like Vista, I really do not like it that much.

Answer 4

Everything on your computer will still be there you will just have a new operating system,but and this is a big but,make sure 1,your computer is compatable2make sure you have all the drivers that you need before hand,best of luck

Answer 5

If compromised with virus, you could reinstall OS, change off gadget restoration, hence installation AV and definitions from a secure USB stress, and run an entire gadget test. take care of any training of AV. :)

Answer 6

be careful. back up all your files and make sure your pc will take the presure of a large programe like vista i tried it and my pc slown down like f**k you will need a serial number and a mother fu*ker of a processor