Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Quirks and Tips For Upgrading To Vista

Posted by kdawson on from the clean-but-safe dept.

jcatcw writes "Computerworld's Scot Finnie has some advice for those considering an upgrade to Vista. He praises the work Microsoft has done on the installation program, but thinks it still presents problems for those who wish to upgrade. He recommends the free Windows Vista Upgrade Adviser. Then, be sure to pick the best edition for your use." From the article: "Don't bother wiping your hard disk. Just run the in-place upgrade from your previous installation. You'll be given the option to perform either an Upgrade or Custom (advanced) installation. Opt for the Custom install to clean-install Vista, and Windows Vista Setup does something smart: It creates a folder called Windows.old in your root directory that contains your old Documents and Settings, Program Files and Windows folders. (Note that on my test machine, this added step used an additional 7GB of disk storage.)"

5 of 236 comments (clear)

  1. Why install Vista? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    why would anyone disable a perfectly good computer?

  2. In one word by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Advice for those considering upgrading to Vista: DON'T!

    You'll get it soon enough with a new machine. Why put yourself through hell now?

  3. Quick Tip: Wait? by digitaldc · · Score: 5, Funny

    Some Vista Vs. XP info:
    http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/01/29/xp-vs-vista /page11.html#conclusion_ko_for_windows_vista

    "Overall, applications performed as expected, or executed slightly slower than under Windows XP."

    --
    He who knows best knows how little he knows. - Thomas Jefferson
  4. Downgrade Advisor by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    I need a downgrade advisor. Like most of America, I do not need 80% of the functionality of Vista, but I do need its enhanced reliability.

    How can I uninstall 80% of Vista after I have installed it on my 128-megabyte Pentium-II system?

    I am 63 years young, and I use my computer only for e-mail and Yahoo! chat.

  5. Can we tag as "appledidit"? by Kadin2048 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I figured this was just here, because it's been a feature of Mac OS in virtually every version since 10.2, released 2002 IIRC.

    It's called "Archive and Install," and it did exactly what's being described. It moved the old system into a folder and then installed a fresh copy on the root level of the HD.

    To be honest, I'm rather surprised if this is the first time Windows has offered such a feature. Given the seeming regularity with which Windows seems to like being reinstalled it seems like a no-brainer. How many focus groups did it take them to come up with this?

    --
    "Ladies and gentlemen, my killbot features Lotus Notes and a machine gun. It is the finest available."