Microsoft Windows Vista is the next-generation operating system available now. It delivers a host of advancements and new features for PC enthusiasts, multimedia mavens, business users, and home-PC buyers.

Windows Vista features a streamlined, more intuitive interface with simplified navigation that makes it easier to get things done. You’ll find a refined Start menu, integrated desktop search capabilities, and the new Details and Preview panes that will let you see the contents of a file without having to launch its associated application.

Users with more powerful systems will enjoy the Windows Aero user interface (not available in Vista Home Basic), which provides an elegant user experience that takes advantage of the advanced capabilities of today’s GPUs. You’ll instantly fall in love with the slick effects of Aero Glass. With its translucent windows, dynamic reflections, and smooth transitions, Aero Glass creates an open, inviting UI. It also lets you focus on the window you’re working in, with less visual distraction from the surrounding interface.

You’ll also appreciate the new Windows Flip and Windows Flip 3D options for managing open windows. When minimized, applications on the taskbar show a live thumbnail view of the screen, rather than a stock program icon and filename as in previous versions of Windows, so you don’t have to bring an application to the foreground to see its window.

But Windows Vista’s improvements aren’t just skin deep. Microsoft has added features and enhanced existing ones to make Windows Vista appealing for a wide range of users. The new and improved Windows Defender and Windows Firewall will help keep your PC free from viruses, worms, spyware, and other malicious code. Built-in User Account Control ensures that a program doesn’t make unauthorized changes without your knowledge. And Windows Vista’s new built-in Parental Controls let you set which websites, games, and programs each user of a PC can access and install.
Gamers will appreciate the new Windows Vista Games Explorer located in the Start menu. It puts all your installed game titles in one convenient place, so you won’t need to hunt for them in nested subfolders or clutter your desktop with a myriad of icons.
For multimedia enthusiasts, Windows Vista makes it easy to enjoy your music, photos, and home movies. The included Windows Media Center lets you store, organize, and access your digital music library, and connect seamlessly to portable devices. Windows Vista also includes built-in capabilities for capturing, organizing, fixing, preserving, and sharing your digital photos. And with the right hardware, Windows Vista lets you record TV on your PC, so you can watch shows on your schedule, not the networks’.
Business users will like Windows Vista’s new built-in data backup and security features, which keep your critical data safe. Windows Vista also delivers enhancements for mobile users, such as effective collaboration tools and remote-access capabilities.

Windows Vista Home Basic delivers the OS-level security enhancements and desktop search capabilities. It requires a PC with an 800MHz CPU or better, at least 512MB of RAM, and a graphics chip compatible with DirectX 9.
Windows Vista Home Premium adds the Windows Aero user interface, the enhanced mobility features and collaboration capabilities, and the advanced multimedia features currently found in Windows XP Media Center Edition. It requires a 1GHz or faster CPU, 1GB of RAM, a DirectX 9 GPU with at least 128MB of dedicated video RAM and Pixel Shader 2.0 support, a 40GB hard drive with 15GB of available hard drive space, and a TV tuner card (if you intend to watch and record TV on your PC).
Windows Vista Business doesn’t include the new multimedia or Media Center features, but instead adds a data backup utility as well as enhanced networking capabilities and remote access to your machine from any Web-connected PC. It requires a 1GHz or faster CPU, 1GB of RAM, a DirectX 9 GPU with at least 128MB of dedicated video RAM and Pixel Shader 2.0 support, and a 40GB hard drive with 15GB of available hard drive space.
Windows Vista Ultimate, as its name implies, includes all of the features found in the other versions of the OS, and adds Windows BitLocker drive encryption, a hardware-level data-protection feature that keeps sensitive data files secure from hackers, or should your PC be lost or stolen. It requires a 1GHz or faster CPU, 1GB of RAM, a DirectX 9 GPU with at least 128MB of dedicated video RAM and Pixel Shader 2.0 support, a 40GB hard drive with 15GB of available hard drive space, and a TV tuner card (if you intend to watch and record TV on your PC).

Actual requirements and product functionality may vary based on your system configuration. Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor can help you determine which features and edition of Windows Vista will run on your computer.

While all editions of Windows Vista can support multiple core CPUs, only Windows Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise can support dual processors.


Will all the programs I have for Windows XP work with Vista?
Can I upgrade my current operating system to Vista? Can I do it myself?
Can I install Windows Vista on an "older" PC?
Will installing Windows Vista disturb any other applications or files?

Will all the programs I have for Windows XP work with the new operating system?
That's a very good question. Most of your currently installed applications should work just fine with Windows Vista. However, many of the software developers have or will have very soon either a new version or an update to an existing version for use with Vista. Please check with the developer of any piece of software that you may have as to its compatibility with Windows Vista.

Can I upgrade my current operating system to Vista? And if so, can I do it myself?
Our recommendation is to install Windows Vista "clean". In other words, format your hard drive and start with a clean slate. I can hear the moaning already. As we ourselves are computer enthusiasts, gamers and IT professionals, we see how important it is to give Vista the very best base to build on. Yes, you can upgrade from an earlier version of Windows but please keep in mind that when you do that, you are incorporating back into your new operating system, many times, a lot of old code that may or may not "play" well with Vista. Old applications that may not have uninstalled properly, trial or "demo" software that can put any manner of harmful code on your hard drive all contribute to a "bad" install resulting in a less than joyful experience.
To answer the second part of that question can be rather difficult as our client base varies so greatly in their computer knowledge. Our personal experience with the Vista installation has been very positive. The questions that it asked during the setup process have been tailored to be easily understood by a wide variety of computer users. We found it to be the easiest Windows setup thus far. Please remember that if you are planning to upgrade your PC to Windows Vista, then our support team will be there should you need assistance. Micro Media Ltd is committed to giving our customers the best possible Vista experience.

Can I install Windows Vista on an "older" PC?
The hardware requirements for Vista are outlined at Microsoft's website. However, we have successfully installed and tested Vista on a variety of PCs that in fact do not meet Microsoft's advertised guidelines resulting, in some cases, in a very favorable outcome. Other times, it has not gone well resulting in a PC that is very slow and does not take advantage of the new operating system to it's fullest. This will always be a gray area and once you have the operating system installed, it will be up to you to determine whether or not this is how you want your PC to operate. We are also offering a computer diagnosis to check and advise whether your computer is vista capable, and if not, what type of upgrades are recommended to get the most of your Vista operating system.

Will installing Vista disturb any other applications or files I have on my PC?
As I'm sure you've heard this many, many times, but one more time won’t hurt - back up any files that you do not want deleted. Preferably, onto a CD, DVD or another hard drive. Also, be prepared to re-install any application that you may have the software for as it may stop working after the Vista install. Even if you are doing a "wipe" of your hard drive and plan to completely re-install your applications, it's good practice to look through your hard drive and make sure any documents, spreadsheets, pictures or video that you want are backed up to some type of media that is not on the hard drive onto which that you'll be installing Vista.