Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor

Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor is a downloadable web application that helps Windows XP users identify which edition of Windows Vista meets their needs, whether their PCs are ready for an upgrade to Windows Vista, and which features of Windows Vista will be able to run on their PCs. The end result is a report that explains which edition of Windows Vista to buy and provides suggestions about what, if any, hardware updates may be necessary to install and run the appropriate edition and features of Windows Vista. Running Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor is a great first step for anyone considering whether to install Windows Vista on a PC they already own.

The Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor depends on technology that only runs on computers with these editions of Windows:

• All 32-bit editions of Windows XP

• All 32-bit editions of Windows Vista, except Enterprise edition

If you own a PC running other editions of Windows, you will need to carefully compare its system capabilities to the system requirements found on this site. In general, PCs purchased within the last two years have a better chance of being able to run Windows Vista as is or with affordable improvements to the system hardware.

To install and run the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor, you will need:

• Administrator privileges

• .NET 2.0*

• MSXML6*

• 20 MB of free hard disk space

• An internet connection

* While installing the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor, it will detect if these components are present. If not, it will provide a link to where they can be downloaded. They are required to complete installation.

Windows Aero requires a DirectX 9-class graphics processor that supports the following:

• WDDM driver

• Pixel Shader 2.0

• 32 bits per pixel

• Adequate graphics memory

  • 64 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at a resolution lower than 1,310,720 pixels

  • 128 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels

  • 256 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at a resolution higher than 2,304,000 pixels

If your system meets the above requirements and has 512 MB of system memory, you can enable Windows Aero using Control Panel in Windows Vista. Additionally, on some systems with shared graphics memory, it is possible to adjust system configuration to obtain the Windows Aero experience. Contact your computer manufacturer to see if your system is capable of running Windows Aero.

The report may not be formatted correctly when viewed in some browsers.

If you purchased a PC in the last two years, chances are good that you can run Windows Vista. To install and run the core functionality of Windows Vista, you need:

• An 800 MHz processor

• 512 MB of RAM

• A 20 GB hard drive with 15 GB of free space

Advanced features, like the new user experience Windows Aero, require advanced or additional hardware. See system requirements for details.