Upgrading from Windows XP to Windows Vista can be a serious challenge for many users, and we want you to know that we are here to help.
We recommend  using the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor before you make any new purchases for the upgrade. It can be found here:

Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor

There are many things to consider before making the upgrade and it is very important to take note of them to avoid any problems.
The first thing to consider: Is my computer’s hardware ready for the upgrade? Many machines that currently use Windows XP could require hundreds of dollars worth of upgrades in order to run Windows Vista.
Here are some of the hardware requirements:
- Vista Home Basic -

• 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
• 512 MB of system memory
• 20 GB hard drive with at least 15 GB of available space
• Support for Direct X 9 graphics and 32 MB of graphics memory
• DVD-ROM drive
• Audio Output
• Internet access (fees may apply)

- Vista Home Premium / Business / Ultimate -

• 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
• 1 GB of system memory
• 40 GB hard drive with at least 15 GB of available space

• Support for DirectX 9 graphics with:

• WDDM Driver
• 128 MB of graphics memory (minimum)
• Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware
• 32 bits per pixel
• DVD-ROM drive
• Audio Output
• Internet access (fees may apply)

It is very important to make sure that all of your hardware and the drivers required for their operation are compatible as well. Is the chip set on your motherboard or video/sound/network card(s) compatible with Vista? Will the drivers for these devices work? Do they require updates?
If your computer meets the basic Windows Vista hardware requirements it is also very important to consider the following:

• Are my Peripheral Devices compatible with Windows Vista? I.E. Printers, Faxes, Scanners, Etc. - Are the drivers required for these devices to function compatible with Windows Vista?
• Is my Network  and Network Hardware compatible with Windows Vista? Additional set up steps will apply to most networks.
• Is my Software compatible with Windows Vista? This is very important to know before making the switch as thousands of programs that work with Windows XP are not compatible with Windows Vista.

It is recommended when installing Vista to do a clean install, but if this is not an option for you, knowing which versions of Windows XP will upgrade to Windows Vista is very important. Refer to the following chart:

It is very important to consider just about everything in, on or attached to your computer before upgrading. Downgrading back to Windows XP can be very costly so it is important to analyze all of your options before you decided to make the switch. As always, we’re here to help, and if you have any questions, comments or concerns please feel free to contact us.