Get Windows Vista: Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor

Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor

Before you begin

Before you run the Upgrade Advisor, be sure to plug in any USB devices or other devices such as printers, external hard drives, or scanners that are regularly used with the PC you're evaluating.

Download Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor

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The Upgrade Advisor works with 32-bit versions of Windows XP and Windows Vista. Review the upgrade options available for earlier versions of Windows.

Make sure your computer is ready for the edition of Windows Vista you want.

The Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor will help you to determine if your Windows XP-based PC can run Windows Vista. You can also use the Upgrade Advisor to determine if your Windows Vista-based PC is ready for an upgrade to a more powerful edition of Windows Vista.

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 to choose the edition of Windows Vista that best fits the way you want to use your computer.

Just download, install, and run the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor.

Please note:

The Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor works with 32-bit versions of Windows XP and Windows Vista, except Windows Vista Enterprise edition. It will not work with other editions of Windows.
The Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor does not collect or send any personal, identifiable data to Microsoft Corporation or third parties. See the Upgrade Advisor privacy statement for details.

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What is the 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.

Why is the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor only available for Windows XP and Windows Vista users?

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.

What is required to run Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor?

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.

I thought my system can support Windows Aero but Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor tells me I need to upgrade my video card. Is my system capable of running the Windows Aero user experience?

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.

Why does my saved report look strange in my browser?

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

What is required to run Windows Vista?

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: