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
Ready to upgrade? Get Windows Vista from the Microsoft Store.
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:
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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.
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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.
What is required to run Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor?
To install and run the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor, you will need:
* 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:
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WDDM driver
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Pixel Shader 2.0
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32 bits per pixel
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Adequate graphics memory
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64 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at a resolution lower than 1,310,720 pixels
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128 MB of graphics memory to support a single monitor at resolutions from 1,310,720 to 2,304,000 pixels
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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.
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Buy and download Windows Vista upgrade editions.
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