Back in January we covered what was known then about the computer requirements to run the upcomming version of Microsoft's desktop/laptop operating system. With the schedule slipping a bit (surprise!) To "sometime in the first quarter of 2007", Microsoft has made available a toot to test your computer and see if can handle any of the various Vista versions.
Want to see if your Windows XP-based PC can run Windows Vista, or what hardware upgrade will be required? Just download, install, and run the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor RC.
This small software tool will scan your computer and create an easy-to-understand report of all known system, device, and program compatibility issues, and recommend ways to resolve them. Upgrade Advisor can also help you choose the edition of Windows Vista that best fits the way you want to use your computer.
To download the Upgrade Advisor, type or paste the following URL into your browser:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeadvisor/default.mspx
Before you begin: Before you run the Upgrade Advisor, be sure to plug in any USB or other attachable peripheral devices (such as printers, external hard drives, or scanners) that are regularly used with the PC that you're evaluating.
Note: This software isn't final, so the results you get may not be 100% accurate. Make sure you run Upgrade Advisor again in a few months for a more accurate assessment and to get the latest up-to-date information about whether your system is ready for an upgrade.
Once your system has been scanned, a report will be displayed with the following four tabs:
- System Information on whether your system can run the core features of Windows Vista, and a review of any system issues. Primary items checked are free hard drive space (minimum of 15GB required), system memory (512MB required), DVD (required to load the operating system), and graphic adapter.
- Devices Computer devices are divided into up to three categories- work with Vista, don't work with Vista, and those that haven't been tested with Vista.
- Programs Installed programs that may have compatibility issues with Vista are listed. Most of these will probably fall into the backup or antivirus category. Surprisingly, Microsoft programs constituted half of the eight that were flagged on my system.
- Task List Task lists are displayed, one with things you need to do before installing Windows Vista, and another with things you need to do after installing Windows Vista. These lists can also be saved or printed.