Datasheet

10
Chapter 1
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Getting Started with Windows Vista
Other operating systems cannot be upgraded, but they may be able to coexist with Win-
dows Vista in a dual-boot or multi-boot environment. These operating systems require that
you purchase a full version of Windows Vista.
Dual-booting and multibooting are covered in the “Supporting Multiple-Boot
Options” section later in this chapter.
If you don’t have an operating system that can be upgraded, or if you want to keep your
previous operating system intact, you need to perform a clean install. A clean install puts the
Windows Vista operating system into a new folder and uses its default settings the first time
the operating system is loaded. After a clean install, you will need to reinstall all your appli-
cations and reset your preferences.
If you are performing a clean install to the same partition as an existing version of Windows,
the contents of the existing Users (or Documents and Settings), Program Files, and
Windows directories will be placed in a directory named Windows.old, and the old operating
system will no longer be available.
Upgrade Considerations
Almost all Windows 2000 Professional and Windows XP applications should run with Win-
dows Vista. However, the following are a few exceptions to this statement:
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Applications that use file-system filters, such as antivirus software, may not be compatible.
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Custom power-management tools are not supported.
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Custom Plug and Play solutions are not supported.
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Before upgrading to Windows Vista, you should remove any virus scanners, network ser-
vices, or other client software.
Hardware Compatibility Issues
You need to ensure that you have Windows Vista device drivers for your hardware. If you
have a video driver without a Windows Vista–compatible driver, the Windows Vista upgrade
will install the Standard VGA driver, which will display the video with an 800×600 resolu-
tion. Once you get the Windows Vista driver for your video, you can install it and adjust
video properties accordingly.
Application Compatibility Issues
Not all applications that were written for earlier versions of Windows will work with Win-
dows Vista. After the upgrade, if you have application problems, you can address the prob-
lems as follows:
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If the application is compatible with Windows Vista, reinstall the application after the
upgrade is complete.

If the application uses Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs), and there are migration DLLs for
the application, apply the migration DLLs.
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