Can you update to Vista when your current computer keeps crashing?

Question

My computer is messed up. Programs dont stay open. Things dissappear. My computer restarts on its own. I was wondering if upgrading to Vista would solve these problems???

Answer 1

This link is for the Vista Advisor. It will examine your PC and tell you if it will run Vista.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/upgradeadvisor.mspx

This may not be your problem at all. Could be a simple RAM overload which is easy to do. Try the following to restore usable RAM.

- Many users are not aware of how much RAM is used by wallpaper and/or a screensaver full of graphics. They run in the background and consume memory. (I have only 512mb RAM, run multiple programs simultaneously, and have set my wallpaper and screensaver to blank.)

I don’t do games, but I do know they are primarily graphics which need and use a lot of memory.

- How many programs do you load at startup? Maybe you should check it out and ensure you are running just what you need.
To do this: cl Start, cl Settings, cl Taskbar and Start Menu.
- cl Start Menu, cl Customize, cl Remove.
- cl the icon for the program you wish to remove
- then cl Remove.
- This will prevent the program from loading at startup, but will not remove the program from the hard disk.

- When you are working in a large file, save frequently to restore full memory access. (Your work remains in memory until you “save” it to disk.)

1. Did you run an error check? Open My Computer,
Right-cl on C:, Select Properties, Tools – Run an Error Check ( checkmark “check all and fix); then run a Defrag

2. Are you using Yahoo Toolbar? Run a full Norton Antispy.

3. From IE, click Tools, Internet Options
delete cookies
delete files (offline files)
clear history (set days to save to 0 if you want)
click o.k., and Restart

3. click Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools – run Disk Cleanup

4. click Start, Run ipconfig renew (type ipconfig space renew)

All these things should be done regularly. The more frequently they are run, the less time they take.
- Note: Games and videos are mostly graphics. Graphics create large files. If this doesn’t help, you should consider getting more memory.

If all else fails, and you cannot run Vista, you could backup/copy your files to a flashdrive or external hard drive then go for a format and reinstall of Windows. It's a pain. Try the other things first.

Answer 2

If it was a virus and not hardware problems and you completly erased your harddrive. You don't necesarily have to upgrade, just reinstall your OS. Second you need pretty good specs to run vista. Go to http://www.windowsvista.com and download the upgrade advisory to see if your computer can run vista or what upgrades you would need.

Answer 3

Upgrading from a faulty machine usually copies the faulty problems over with it. If you want to use an update to save money, it is best to reinstall your XP OS to a fresh install then update from there.

Answer 4

i think before upgrading u need to formet the computer and install norton internet secuirty 2007..and scan the computer after doing this u can upgrade and at the same time install vista..