Jumping Into Microsoft Windows Vista

Larry Magid Goes Through The Options For Vista Installation

(CBS)  Once you’ve decided to take the plunge, the most important decision that make is how you will install it. There are three options: Upgrade Install, Full Install and Clean Install. Whichever one you choose, you should first back up all of your data. Except when I decided to reformat my hard drive, I never lost data during a Vista upgrade, but it definitely can happen.

Upgrade Option

The Upgrade Install option lets you keep your old Windows installation and all of your programs and settings as long as they’re Vista compatible. The advantage is that you don’t have to reinstall most of your programs. The disadvantage is that Vista could inherit some of the problems of your old XP installation including any spyware or malicious software that’s clogging your system or just settings that tend to get stuck in the Windows system registry which can slow down performance in decrease stability.

Microsoft says that it’s gone to great lengths to minimize these problems, but in my experience a system will run better if you blow away all the old settings and software and start from scratch. Another issue with an upgrade is that some of your drivers, programs and settings might not be compatible. I upgraded a brand new Lenovo ThinkPad X60 laptop that had only been used for a few days and didn’t have any spyware or other problems.

The upgrade took over two hours, and most of the time I didn’t have to do anything—just wait for the install program to do its work. The machine ran fine when it was done but some of the utilities, including Lenovo’s WiFi software and Sprint’s wireless modem software didn’t work. Also, before I could upgrade I had to uninstall my anti-virus software (system utility programs like anti-virus almost always need to be replaced as part of a Vista upgrade). These problems were all solvable but it took a little work and research on my part before the machine and all most software worked properly.

Full Install

The next level of install is called Full Install. This process doesn’t erase any of your data (but my backup advice still stands) and it copies all of your old programs into a directory called Windows.OLD. In the vast majority of cases, your old programs won’t work so you will need to reinstall all of your software and reset all your settings. And, even though your data is on your machine it might not be in a place that Vista expects it to be so you might have to make some adjustments later.

I used this method on several installs and liked it the most because it gave me a fresh installation of Windows yet preserved the data on my machine. Of course, you’ll need to be sure that your program CDs are handy as you’ll have to re-install all of your programs.

Clean Install

Finally there is Clean Install which reformats your hard drive, erasing all of your programs and data and installs Vista on an otherwise completely blank drive. This method is fine if you have a complete backup up all your data and, of course, all of your installation CDs for your programs, but I don’t see any advantage to this over a full install unless you’re in the mood to clean house and start with what is—as far as the drive is concerned—a “new” PC.

Drivers

Regardless of what method you use, you may have to update some of the drivers for your printer, scanner, network card and other devices. Microsoft does a pretty good job of automating this process. It has a large database of products it knows about and if it finds an updated driver for your equipment, it will install it automatically during the upgrade process. If not, you may be prompted to provide a driver in which case you should visit the website of the company that made the product.

Of course, you can avoid all of this by buying a new machine with Vista already on it. Depending on whether you need to upgrade your hardware that option might be cheaper by the time you add in your hardware upgrade costs and the cost of Vista. But then you’d miss out on all the excitement of wondering if your old machine will still be working when you’re done installing Vista. Living on the bleeding edge can be exciting.

[memerider]

I'll continue to use different systems based on specific needs. Macs and Linux are not the final word for all things. All of these systems have their uses. Linux works great for heavy database and network servers. Macs have a lot of great software for high-end graphics and the interface is the friendliest (unless you have a problem).

There is a lot of software and hardware that is developed for the PC and just not available for the others until later or possibly not at all. Lots of statistical and specialty software for technical applications falls into this category. Some software and hardware is immediately compatible with PCs in its most advanced form, while the Mac or Linux versions are dumbed down.

My first virus that actually crashed the system, back in the 1980s, was on a Mac. Of course, most malware writers target Microsoft products these days. I'll load Vista on my desktop, keep XP on my laptop for now, keep my Linux machine going to house my database and server stuff, and probably also buy a low-end Mac at some point (I've not had one since I left a job where it was available).

[free_america]

Dear acauble1

I have to agree with you about Linux many years ago, it did have problems. It still has problems and most are directly due to developers doing there own thing. What is lacking is a Common Goal. If you worked for a Linux distribution, this in itself was detrimental to Linux. There were too many distributions, all trying to "one-up" the next guy.

I may be going out on a limb right now but I believe there are more Linux kernel computations going on at this very moment all over the world, than Windows computations. Apache, PHP, Perl....etc. You may want to argue this with all the Windows "gaming" going on. But then you have to look at "computation importance"

Remember DOS? Linux is like Dos but many times better. But they both require you do some work or think. Microsoft did something about it and turned it into a wonderful graphic environment and the User - Microsoft love era was born.

Problem now is Microsoft and their "Associates" or "Partners" want more. Mark my words, it will not be long before you turn on your computer and you will see, in bright Microsoft blue, "your subscription has expired, please......"

Then it will be "enough is enough" and something will done about it.
Then there will be a Common Goal.

There is no doubt about it, Linux and Open Source will dominate in the future. You will be paying for it, but for support, not to use it. And more important, it will be your choice, Free America.

[saransk]

Is VISTA too big, to bloated, to controlling - OF COURSE - what did you expect.
IS VISTA as good as it could have been - no, Microsoft is still reluctant to make some hard choices on compatibility and usablility.
IS VISTA the next step of the "evil-empire" - Oh Please, lets be real here - there is something to be said for some type of universal operating system - I remember when the various versions of DOS wouldn't work on various systems, or together.
Let's face it, most of us want a computer that works as easy as a TV. Turn it on - use it. I like my MAC for that very reason, and I don't really care about some of the features available. I think VISTA will be closer to that. And from an IT standpoint, a system that updates and backup with little or no user input is a great product.
Will I be getting VISTA soon - no, I'll wait until SP1 is released.
Will I eventually get it - yes, eventually business systems will change and XP won't be supported.
Will I think of alternatives for home use - I already have a MAC system for myself. Linux is a nice alternative but with Schools running WORD and EXCEL I need the OFFICE for my kids. Also several programs I use don't have Open-Source alternatives.
Eventually someone will write a Windows killer. It might be a universal OS using on-line applications. But remember, as soon as it becomes the "Next-Big-Thing" someone will figure out how to get us to pay for it. TANSTAAFL

[acauble1]

Dear 'free_america':

You said: "But the downside is you have to be a thinker to use it."

There are plenty of "thinkers" in the world who think that they don't want to waste their F'ING time using an operating system that requires a WHOLE NEW LEARNING CURVE! These "thinkers" want to get things done and done NOW! So, Windows simply becomes a background to them, not a religion, (unlike some users who worship Linus Torvalds for what they think is the greatest thing since yeast).

... yes, yeast, because if it was designed like Linux, you'd still have to make the friggen bread and slice it yourself!

There are thinkers in the world who could care less about what operating system they use, in fact, real thinkers are more interested in the results that are created and not the tools they use to create them.

[acauble1]

Dear 'free_america':

You said: "Linux and Open Source will dominate in the future"

That has been said for almost two decades now, since it's creation. I was working for a major Linux distribution back in the late 90's when Linux was all the rage. That 'rage' died when the average user tried it and realized it was a pain in the arse to use and it generally sucked. The time it took to do simple tasks was many times longer than it took on the current version of Windows (at that time). Rebooting Windows was less time consuming and easier than trying to simply change the settings on your monitor in Linux.

[rwcmick]

WARNING

I upgraded to Vista Ultimate from Windows XP Pro. One of the things that Vista likes to do is get people out of the habit of running as the administrator, something that I am guilty of myself.

There were several administrative level accounts on my Windows XP PC, but I only used administrator regularly.

I stuck in the Ultimate CD and at no point do I recall being prompted that the Administrator account was going to be disabled.

My computer slogged away for a few hours and came back up as a vista machine. Imagine my surprise when the Administrator account wasn't there. Okay, so I logged in as the only other account I knew--a non adminstrator account. Unfortunately I couldn't do any real heavy lifting with my pc b/c I couldn't install anything, etc.

I was really starting to worry. Would I have to install another copy of either XP or Vista to get back to administrative levels? Luckily my wife saved the day by remembering the password to an admin level account that we had used several years ago.

Like I said, I don't know if I missed it, but please be sure you have another admin account available b/c Vista likes to disable the built in administator account.

[free_america]

It took a long time to get XP working the way I wanted it to. No way am I going through that again with another operating system. I will embark on Linux when the time comes.

In the past you paid for a computer and used it. With Microsoft and Vista you will pay for the computer and pay dearly to use!

There is no doubt, Microsoft wants control. SP2 got them a little with their update manager. With Vista they will be in charge. Eventually they will have total control with numerous update that the average user will know nothing about. But then maybe the average Microsoft user wants to be controlled, they can't think for themselves.

Linux and Open Source will dominate in the future. Support is building and now is the time to learn it. Even Microsoft is terrified of it. They have their foot in Linux already, with Suse, just in case Linux takes off too fast for them.

Or maybe Microsoft has finally realized the Linux kernel is more stable and reliable than the Windows kernel. It doesn't crash the way Windows does, and it keeps processes from interfering with one another. But the downside is you have to be a thinker to use it.

[bildooreilly]

Hey Gerald Newton, not all open source products are junk. Check out PHP and MYSQL, totally free and running millions of websites... Check out Oscommerce, the most widely used e-commerce shopping cart in existence, totally free and totally open source.

[bildooreilly]

Go do some research before you buy into the hype, VISTA is all about copyright control and needs a huge system because it sucks tons of resources so people can't watch worthless hollywood movies or hollywood music that isn't even worth downloading in the first place. I'll be switching to a Mac or going to Linux or something next...

[dchurbuck]

Larry --
Vista drivers for the X60S are here:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/product.do?template=/product.do?template=%2Fproductpage%2Flandingpages%2FproductPageLandingPage.vm&sitestyle=lenovo&brandind=10&familyind=290559&machineind=0&modelind=0&partnumberind=0&subcategoryind=0&doctypeind=9&doccategoryind=0&operatingsystemind=343518&validate=true
I'll check on the Sprint WAN drivers for you.

David Churbuck
Lenovo

[Syndicate]

I'm tired of Microsoft. I have used several versions of Excel over the years and they all seem to have the same bugs. Every version adds new bells and whistles but never fixes the existing bugs. Its pretty bad when the third party books start saying things like "This has been a know problem for the last several versions."

Some one said get a mac. Won't mac os run on a PC now? It would be nice if apple would give up on the hardware and challenge Microsoft head on in the os market.

[geraldnewton]

I will be buying and using Vista soon, because I want to use the new Office suite. I have been using Microsoft products since 1995 and have found they are the best. I have looked at open source products but they do not compare to Microsoft. I believe Vista will be a success, but wished I had known how successful XBox 360 was going to be back in June when MSFT was at $22 a share. I still bought 2000 shares of MSFT just last week so Vista better be good.

[dchurbuck]

Larry --
Vista drivers for the X60S are here:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/product.do?template=/product.do?template=%2Fproductpage%2Flandingpages%2FproductPageLandingPage.vm&sitestyle=lenovo&brandind=10&familyind=290559&machineind=0&modelind=0&partnumberind=0&subcategoryind=0&doctypeind=9&doccategoryind=0&operatingsystemind=343518&validate=true
I'll check on the Sprint WAN drivers for you.

David Churbuck
Lenovo

[inventagod]

I appreciate your article, and of course, like ms38654ob says, you could just get a Mac. However, like millions of others, I have invested some hard-earned dollars in my XP machine. Investing $159 more makes far more sense than the price of a new, equivalent Mac, which could run as high as $1,999 for a MacBook Pro...

[ms38654ob]

Best suggestion: Just get a Mac!