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4

Differences Between Vista Editions

Searching and Encrypted FilesUltimate includes better support for networking,file searching, and managing folders. It providesan outstanding environment for those users whouse their laptops both at work and at home.Improved features include enhanced security fromWindows BitLocker Drive Encryption technology.BitLocker helps secure all files on a computer,including system files, so data is protected if thecomputer is stolen or lost. The Windows Searchtool provides improved indexing and searchingfeatures to help locate files and folders on yourcomputer. Because all your files are indexed,Windows Search does not have to look throughyour entire hard disk to locate files and folders.This makes searching very fast. Search results arereturned almost as soon as you start your search.After you run a search, you can save searches to afile so you can use them later.

Improved CollaborationWindows Vista includes Windows Meeting Space.Meeting Space provides users with the capabilityto communicate between computers in real timein “virtual” meetings. Users can edit documentssimultaneously, write notes to each other, share aprogram on the desktop, share files, and performother tasks. Meeting Space can be usedwhenever two or more computers can connectwith each other over a network, including awireless one. Windows Vista also includes a linkto download the new Windows Live Messengerprogram, which enables you to communicateover the Internet using Internet chat.

Enhanced Entertainment SupportThe Home Premium and Ultimate editionsinclude Windows Media Center. Windows MediaCenter provides tools and features that helpusers get the most out of their entertainmentexperiences. With Media Center, you can useWindows to search your system for media files —music, pictures, and videos — to play backmusic, show picture slide shows, and play backvideo files stored on your computer and otherentertainment devices. By adding a TV tunercard or USB device to your computer, you canview television shows through your computerand display them on your computer monitor, aTV, or projector. Media Center also, enables youto record television shows, pause and rewind liveTV, and play back recorded shows. Media Centeralso makes it easy to burn DVDs or CDs of yourstored music, video, and picture files.

Remote DesktopRemote desktop support enables you to accessWindows Vista remotely from another Windowscomputer, so you can control your computerand work with all your data and applicationswhile away from your home or office. TheWindows Vista Home Basic and Home Premiumeditions enable you to set up your computeronly as a client computer so others can accessyour computer with Remote Desktop. However,with the Vista Business, Enterprise, and Ultimateeditions, you can set up your computer as aclient and a host so you can access other clients.

M icrosoft Windows Vista is a desktopoperating system designed for both homeand professional use. It comes in several

different versions, including Home Basic, HomePremium, Ultimate, Business, and Enterprise.

Windows Vista Ultimate includes all the best business,mobile, and entertainment features of the other

versions of Windows Vista. It brings together many ofthe consumer features found in earlier versions ofWindows, such as Windows XP and Windows Me, andbusiness features found in Windows 2002, and mergesthem into a single, flexible, and powerful desktopoperating system.

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chapter 1Improved Network IntegrationThe Vista Home Basic and Home Premiumeditions leave out one of the single biggestfeatures found in the Business, Enterprise, andUltimate editions: the capability to participatein a Windows Server domain. Active Directorysupport is not included, so features such asGroup Policy, centralized administration,roaming user profiles, and access control tofiles, folders, and applications is not available.Although most homes probably do not have anActive Directory network installed for casual orhome use, small office/home office (SOHO)environments or small businesses all the way upto multinational corporations may want toinstall Active Directory because of the degree ofcontrol and reduced maintenance costs itprovides.

Enhanced Security FeaturesWindows Vista includes the Security Centerinterface that enables users to manage theirsecurity and virus protection applications in onespot. You can set up the Windows Firewall,configure Automatic Updating settings, checkout your malware protection programs, andconfigure other security settings. These includeantivirus and spyware protection programs.These other settings include Internet securitysettings and user account control. All versionsof Windows Vista include the Security Centertool. In addition to these security features, thenew Internet Explorer 7 Web browser can blockpop-up ads and warn you when you are visitinga site that has been reported as a phishing site.Phishing sites are Web sites that appear to belegitimate sites but are actually designed totrick you into providing your personal andconfidential information. You also can reportsites to the Microsoft Anti-Phishing site that yoususpect may be phishing sites.

Web ServicesThe Home editions lack the capability to runscaled-down Web Services. The Business,Enterprise, and Ultimate editions can be set upto support a Web server, a File Transfer Protocol(FTP) server, and a Telnet server. These servicessupport a maximum of ten connections, so it is

not recommended that they be used forsignificant Web traffic. However, for userstesting and developing Web Services for laterdeployment on the Internet, the UltimateEdition is excellent for creating and refiningbasic Web Services.

Built-In SoftwareWindows Vista has several new programs,including Windows Calendar, Windows Mail,Windows Slideshow, Windows Photo Gallery,Windows Speech Recognition, NetworkProjection, Windows Fax and Scan, WindowsSidebar, Windows DVD Maker, and newpremium games. Windows Vista also hasupgraded and improved bundled programs youget with Windows, including Windows MovieMaker 6, Internet Explorer 7, Windows Paint,and Windows Media Player 11. Some of theseprograms, such as Windows Mail —replacingMicrosoft Outlook Express — Windows Sidebar,and Windows Calendar are available in alleditions. However, to get all of them, you willneed to purchase Windows Ultimate.

Integrated VersionsAs Windows has grown in popularity, nicheversions of it have been created to supportspecific hardware configurations. In the past,Microsoft manufactured Windows MediaCenter Edition and Tablet PC Edition, asseparate installed operating systems. NowWindows Vista integrates those features into theWindows Vista Home Premium, Windows VistaBusiness, Windows Vista Enterprise, andWindows Vista Ultimate versions. Anotherfeature of Windows Vista is that you do nothave to obtain separate installation discs for theversion of Windows Vista you want to install. Allversions come on the same DVD. You purchasea license for the version you want to install,type in the authentication key for that version,and Windows installs the version you paid for. Ifyou decide later to upgrade to a differentversion, such as from Windows Vista HomePremium to Windows Vista Ultimate, simplypurchase a license for that version and re-runthe installation program, selecting theupgraded version.

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6

Collect System Information

Use the SysInfo UtilityIf you are running Windows XP, you can printmuch of the necessary information with theSysInfo utility. Click Start, All Programs,Accessories, System Tools, and then SystemInformation. After the window has refreshed,click File and then Print to print a list of thehardware components, driver information, andother useful details. The report is exhaustive andmay take several pages to report. If you do notwant to print the report, you can export thereport as a text file and view it on screen. If youdo this, you may want to save the file to aremovable disk or network drive so you can viewthe report on a different computer if yourcomputer fails to start after Windows Vistainstalls. This will help with troubleshootinginstallation problems, for instance. To export afile in SysInfo, choose the File menu and thenclick Export. Type a name for the report in theExport As dialog box. Click Save. The file is savedas .txt text file.

Hardware Model NumbersIf you purchased a computer from a hardwarevendor, make sure you have a list of the modelnumbers for all the components in your system:motherboard, video card, hard drives, CD orDVD drive, and network card. You will need thisinformation if you have to find and installupdated device drivers for your system, or ifthere are known incompatibilities between someof the devices. In some cases, the only way tofind out the particular model number of acomponent is to open the computer case andlook at the component in question.

Firmware VersionsSome hardware devices have device-specificcodes embedded in them, called firmware.Firmware enables features and functions so thatoperating systems can make the best use of thehardware. Devices that often have firmware aremotherboards (basic input/output system, orBIOS), CD or DVD drives, network cards, and

M icrosoft has made great advances inmaking installation and configurationsimpler for end users and system

administrators alike. For the most part, the process canbe done with little to no intervention. With theWindows Vista Upgrade Advisor, you can see if yourcomputer is capable of running Windows Vista. TheWindows Vista Upgrade Advisor can be run by visitingthe Get Ready Web site at www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/upgradeadvisor/default.mspx andclicking the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor RC link.For instance, you may want to run the Advisor prior topurchasing Windows Vista to ensure your currentcomputer meets the system requirements for installingVista. For more information, see the “Use the UpgradeAdvisor” section.

However, there is still no substitute for knowing thedetails of what hardware, firmware, and connectivityare being configured on the system. Windows asks forsome of this information not only during differentphases of configuration, but also if there are problemswith installing new hardware, software, or driverupdates; having this information at hand goes a longway in helping to solve such problems.

If you plan to do a number of installations, or haveseveral computers at home that you maintain, youshould collect the necessary information for eachcomputer and keep it in a safe place where it can bereferred to when needed, such as in a notebook or ona CD-ROM with the necessary drivers.

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chapter 1routers. Sometimes video cards have firmwareas well. Check with each device’s manufacturerto see if updated firmware is available for yourdevice. Caution: You can completely disablehardware if you flash it with the wrongfirmware, such as the wrong BIOS for yourmotherboard. Follow the manufacturer’sinstructions exactly, or have a computerprofessional help you.

Device DriversDevice drivers are hardware-specific code usedby the operating system so that it can interactwith, manage, and control its functions.Windows Vista ships with device drivers for alarge number of hardware devices on themarket, and new ones are sometimes madeavailable on the Windows Update site. SeeChapter 3 for information on the WindowsUpdate service. You should check with thedevice manufacturer to see if new drivers havebeen made available since Windows Vista’spublication. The Internet offers another sourcefor updated device drivers. By using searchengines, such as Google, Yahoo, and LiveSearch, you can type in the make and model ofyour hardware device and search for sites thatinclude links to download updated drivers.Some sites, such as DriverGuide.Com, specializein helping users find updated device drivers.DriverGuide.Com provides thousands of links todifferent device drivers, as well as a forum areawhere users post messages and questions aboutproblems and concerns they have with specifichardware devices. When you find a driver youare looking for, you simply download it to yourcomputer and install it.

File System TypeIf you are performing an upgrade from anearlier version of Windows, find out the filesystem type in use: File Allocation Table (FAT),FAT32, or New Technology File System (NTFS).The first two of these are more likely found on

Windows 9x or Windows Me machines, whereasNTFS is more likely found on Windows XP, NT,or Windows 2000 machines. The file systemtype is relevant. Vista uses NTFS so your diskdrives must support that file system type. Inmost cases, especially with drives that havecapacities large enough to support WindowsVista (over 40GB), your system will supportNTFS. You will also want to make sure that anyfile-system utilities that are installed on yourcomputer, such as Symantec’s Norton Utilities,are supported by Windows Vista. If the versionof the file system utility you have running onyour computer is not Windows Vistacompatible, you should uninstall it beforeinstalling Windows Vista. If you leave it installed,you may encounter problems with WindowsVista, or Windows Vista may not install at all.

Internet SettingsInternet connectivity is perhaps the single mostimportant function of any computer today.Whether you are connected to the Internetthrough a cable modem, an independentInternet service provider (ISP), or yourcompany’s service provider, you should havethe necessary connection information so thatyou can set up your new computer properly.This information may already be available onyour computer, or you may need to get it fromyour system administrator. On existingWindows systems, you can find this informationby choosing Control Panel and then NetworkConnections. Right-click a connection andchoose Properties. The Properties dialog box forthat network connection appears. Gatherinformation from the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)item on the General tab by double-clicking it.Many times the IP address is obtainedautomatically, which will be specified on theTCP/IP Properties dialog box. However, if aspecific IP address is given, write it down incase you need to input it later during WindowsVista setup.

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Use the Upgrade Advisor

Use the Upgrade AdvisorT he Upgrade Advisor is one of the most useful

tools available to anyone upgrading an olderversion of Windows to Windows Vista. The

Upgrade Advisor takes an inventory of systemhardware, software, and device drivers; compares theexisting system against a component database; andpresents a report of its findings. It lets you know if yoursystem needs a hardware upgrade to meet minimumsystem requirements for Windows Vista or if yourhardware is on the Windows Hardware CompatibilityList (WHCL). This way you approach an upgradeforewarned and forearmed, able to correct anypotential pitfalls or shortcomings before installation.

Although the Upgrade Advisor does not guarantee itwill find all known problems or systemincompatibilities, it does help you avoid ones thathave previously been reported to Microsoft and willprovide suggestions on how to avoid the problems,for example, install more memory, obtain upgradeddevice drivers, or make more room on a hard drive.

You can run the Upgrade Advisor on Windows XP-based systems; however, you must have anInternet connection to use it.

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1 Connect to the Internet.

2 Insert the Windows Vista CD.

The Install Windows screen appears.

Note: You can also browse to the CD drive and clickSetup to launch the CD.

3 Click the Check compatibility online option.

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Internet Explorer opens with the WindowsVista Upgrade Advisor Web page.

4 Click the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor link.

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What is the difference between theminimum and recommended systemrequirements for Windows Vista?

Microsoft uses the term minimum for thebare-bones system configuration neededto run an operating system. However, eventhough you can install Windows Vista on aminimum configuration, systemperformance is barely tolerable, especiallyif you run any applications that takesignificant amounts of memory orprocessing power. The “recommended”system configuration should be consideredthe bare minimum for minimally tolerableperformance. Most blocking issuesreported by the Upgrade Advisor are basedon the minimum hardware requirements,not the recommended ones.

Should I upgrade from the recommendedsystem requirements?

To install the basics for Windows Vista, youwill need a computer that has an 800 MHzprocessor, 512MB of RAM, and a harddrive with a capacity of at least 20GB. Thehard drive also must have at least 15GBfree to install Vista. For advanced features,however, you may need a computer withmore memory and faster processor speedsthan the basic minium. Finally, to takeadvantage of Vista’s high-end graphicscapabilities, you need a graphics card thatis compatible with DirectX 9, uses theWindows Display Driver Model (WDDM)driver, and has a minimum of 64MB ofvideo RAM.

The File Download - SecurityWarning window appears.

5 Click Run.

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The Upgrade Advisor downloadsto your computer.

6 Click Run.

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Use the Upgrade Advisor (continued)

Use the Upgrade Advisor(Continued)

T he Upgrade Advisor generates two types oferrors: blocking errors and incompatibilitywarnings. Blocking errors are ones that prevent

you from running the installation program at all, suchas insufficient disk space or RAM. Incompatibilitywarnings are generated either for hardware that mayneed additional files marked with the red Do Not Entersymbol or for software that does not support WindowsVista marked with the yellow warning triangle. Theincompatibility warnings do not stop the upgradeprocess, but the hardware and software may notfunction properly, or at all, after the upgrade.

The Upgrade Advisor bases its findings on the WHCL. The warnings do not mean that your existinghardware or software will not work, only that there are known problems that have been reported toMicrosoft, or that the particular hardware andsoftware has not been tested by Microsoft. In anyevent, you should check the hardware and softwaremanufacturers’ Web sites to see if known problemsexist, or if updated components are available.

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The Welcome to the Microsoft Windows VistaAdvisor Setup Wizard screen appears.

7 Click Next.

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The License Agreement screen appears.

8 Click the I Agree option ( changes to ).

9 Click Next.

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Does the Upgrade Compatibility Wizardwork with all versions of Windows?

The Wizard does not work with Windows95 or Windows NT 3.5x. You need toupgrade Windows 95 to Windows 98 orlater, and upgrade Windows NT 3.5x toWindows NT 4.0 or later. If you arerunning those earlier versions, upgradingyour hardware and performing a newinstall may be easier than upgrading youroperating system.

What if I want to check compatibilitybefore I buy Windows Vista?

You can still use the Upgrade Advisor, but you will have to locate it manuallythrough your Web browser. You candownload the Advisor at www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeadvisor/default.mspx and then run it on yourcomputer.

I have a laptop, and Upgrade Advisorrecommends upgrading my hardware.Can I do this?

For some hardware devices, you canupgrade a laptop just like any othercomputer. For example, if the UpgradeAdvisor recommends that additionalmemory be installed in your laptop, youcan do this by purchasing memory cardsfor your type of laptop. Similarly, mostlaptops can have their hard drivesupgraded or CD-ROM drives swapped outfor DVD drives. One hardware upgradeyou cannot do on most laptops is upgradethe graphics card. To do this, you need tocontact the manufacturer and inquire ifyour laptop can have a different graphicscard inserted.

The Select Installation Folder screen appears.

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The Confirm Installation screen appears.

! Click Next.

The Upgrade Advisor installs on yourcomputer.

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Use the Upgrade Advisor (continued)

Use the Upgrade Advisor(Continued)

T he Upgrade Advisor helps you determine theedition of Windows that is best suited for yourcomputing needs. For instance, if you use

your computer strictly for home use and do notconnect to a company computer over the telephoneor Internet, you may just want to purchase WindowsVista Home Basic. However, if you need to connectyour computer to a company-wide network and youneed the most advanced data security tools offered forWindows, the best route might be to go withWindows Vista Enterprise or Windows Vista Ultimate.

Other factors to consider when upgrading yourcomputer include the multimedia devices you plan touse, your wireless networking needs, network backups,Windows Media Center needs, and the like. Inaddition, if you plan to create your own DVDs andyou want to use Windows DVD Maker, you will needto purchase Windows Vista Home Premium orWindows Vista Ultimate.

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The Installation Complete screen appears.

@ Click Close.

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The Welcome to Windows Vista UpgradeAdvisor Web page appears.

# Click Start Scan.

The Scanning System page of the UpgradeAdvisor appears.

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What does the Upgrade Advisor check?

The Upgrade Advisor checks your systemfor incompatibilities and lists common tasksthat you may use with your computer tohelp you figure out which edition ofWindows you should purchase. It creates asummary report, showing you problems orpotential problems that may occur. Whenthe Upgrade Advisor finishes, you can viewinformation about your system, includingSystem Requirements, Devices, andPrograms. To read information about thesetopics, click the corresponding See Detailsbutton at the bottom of the YourComputer Can Run Windows Vista page.For example, if you click the See Detailsbutton in the System Requirements section,you are shown a report about any issuesabout the hardware on your computer.

What if the Upgrade Advisor suggests anedition of Windows that is not powerfulenough for what I need?

If the Upgrade Advisor suggests an editionlower than what you think you need, youwill probably need to upgrade yourhardware to meet the basic requirements ofthat edition. For example, you want topurchase Windows Vista Ultimate but theAdvisor suggests Windows Vista HomeBasic. If you plan to purchase the Enterpriseor Ultimate editions of Vista, check themost current system requirements for those editions and make sure your systemmeets or exceeds those requirements. Thelatest requirements can be found atwww.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeadvisor/faq.mspx.

When the scan finishes, the Scancomplete page appears.

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% Click the Close box.

The Upgrade Advisor window closes.

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Transfer Files and Settings

Transfer Files and SettingsI f you are performing a new install rather than an

upgrade, you can use another wizard to transferexisting files and settings to Windows Vista. The

time-saving Windows Easy Transfer restores personaldesktop settings and menu options that you set uppreviously in other versions of Windows, includinguser accounts, programs, Internet Explorer securitysettings, bookmarks, and cookies.

Before running the Windows Easy Transfer wizard, youshould perform some maintenance on your existingsystem. Run the Disk Cleanup utility to remove

temporary files and Internet Explorer cached files; thisreduces the number of files to be transferred.

You should also be connected to a network share orhave a CD or DVD burner available, because youprobably cannot fit all the necessary files onto a floppydisk. You can save the files to a different partition onthe same hard drive if you are not deleting orreformatting it during the install process. You can alsoinstall the settings directly across a network to the newcomputer. Make sure you have the necessary sharesand permissions set up before you do so.

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1 Close all programs.

2 Insert the Windows Vista CD.

The Install Windows screen appears.

Note: You can also browse to the DVDdrive and click Setup to launch the DVD.

3 Click Transfer files and settings fromanother computer.

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The Welcome to Windows EasyTransfer screen appears.

4 Click Next.

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Can I use the WindowsEasy Transfer wizard tokeep my settings in a dual-boot environment?

Yes. You can transfer thenecessary settings to thenew Windows Vistainstallation if you haveinstalled Windows Vista toa different partition.Otherwise, you run therisk of overwriting settingsin the shared partition.See Chapter 2 for moreinformation on installationmethods and caveats.

Does the Windows EasyTransfer wizard transferany special folders I haveset up on my computer?

The Windows EasyTransfer wizard packagesup any files and foldersthat you add to it duringthe transfer process, but itdoes not always createspecial folders or paths onthe new computer. If youhave a special share thatyou want to transfer, re-create the share on thenew computer before yourun the wizard.

I ran the Windows EasyTransfer wizard, but whenI log in to the newcomputer I do not see thefiles anywhere. Why isthis?

When you import the filesand folders to the newsystem, you must belogged in as the same user.If there are Active Directorypolicies preventing youfrom logging in at morethan one computer at atime, you need to save thefiles to an intermediateshare first.

The Which computer are you using nowscreen appears.

5 Click My old computer.

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The Choose how to transfer files and settingsto your new computer screen appears.

6 Click a transfer method to specify how youwant Windows Easy Transfer to transfer yourfiles and settings to the new computer.

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Transfer Files and Settings (continued)

Transfer Files and Settings(Continued)

T he Windows Easy Transfer moves a largenumber of files and settings by default. It canalso be used to move additional files and

folders that you can select when you run the program.You can point the program at any folder and move itscontents, or you can select files by file type and havethose moved to the new system.

Moving only settings does not take up much space.Moving files, especially if you have selected additionalfiles and folders, takes up much more space. Plan onanywhere from 5MB to 5GB of space needed on thetarget system — more if you choose to move movie,multimedia, or music files such as MP3s.

Although the program is good about packing upsettings, keep a few caveats for the target system inmind. First, the program moves only settings, notentire applications. Second, the specific applicationshould be installed on the target system first, beforethe settings are imported. Third, the program supportsonly some third-party applications or may supportonly later versions. An updated list of supportedapplications can be found at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304903.

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The Choose how to transfer files and settingsover a network screen appears.

7 Click Copy to and from a network location tospecify that Windows Easy Transfer is to copyfiles to a shared network location.

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The Choose a network location screenappears.

8 Type the network location where you want tostore your files.

• You can click Browse to find a networklocation where you want to store your files.

9 Click Next.

Note: If the Windows Security Alert appears, clickUnblock.

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What information is migrated by the Windows EasyTransfer wizard?

The Windows Easy Transfer wizard is designed to transfersettings for Windows, some Windows applications, anduser files. The default settings include the following.

Default Settings Description

Hardware Mouse, keyboard, regional settings, network,settings dial-up, and printer driver settings

Desktop Wallpaper, colors, screen saver, menu and settings taskbar options, and folder and audio settings

Software Internet Explorer bookmarks and cookies, settings Microsoft Office settings, Outlook and

Outlook Express settings, mail folders andaddress books, and some third-partyapplication settings

Files and Desktop, My Documents, My Pictures, My folders Favorites, shared desktop, and fonts

The What do you want totransfer to your newcomputer screen appears.

0 Click All user accounts, files,and settings to specify thatyou want Windows EasyTransfer to save those filesto transfer.

The Review selected filesand settings screen appears.

! Click Transfer for WindowsEasy Transfer to save yourfiles and settings to thenetwork location.

The You’re ready to transferfiles and settings to yournew computer screenappears.

@ Click Close to close theWindows Easy Transferwizard.

The Windows desktopappears.

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How long does theWindows Easy Transferwizard take to finish?

That depends on how manyfiles you selected to transferand the speed of yourcomputer. If you store anumber of large files, suchas pictures, music files, andvideos on your computer,Windows Easy Transfer cantake several hours tocomplete. However, if youhave just a handful ofdocuments, saved e-mail,and similar files, you canexpect Windows EasyTransfer to finish within afew minutes.

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Restore Files and Settings

Restore Files and SettingsA fter you have collected your files and settings

from the source computer, you can importand install them onto the target computer

running Windows Vista. Only Windows Vista nativelyships Windows Easy Transfer as part of the operatingsystem, giving you easy access to the Windows EasyTransfer wizard for any new installations you may becreating. Windows XP, SP2 did include the Files andSettings Transfer Wizard, the predecessor to theWindows Easy Transfer wizard.

Windows Easy Transfer contains a safety valve: If youare running the Windows Easy Transfer wizard fromWindows Vista, it gives you the opportunity to create a

Windows Easy Transfer wizard Disk that you can runon the source machine without requiring the WindowsVista install disk. This shortcut is extremely handy andgives you the ability to create another tool for yoursupport toolbox so that you do not have to carryaround the Windows Vista install disk, which is worthits weight in gold.

The following task assumes you have already run theWindows Easy Transfer wizard to collect settings onthe source computer. If you have not, see the“Transfer Files and Settings” section for moreinformation.

2

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1 Start the Windows Easy Transfer program onyour new computer.

The Welcome to Windows Easy Transfer screenappears.

2 Click Next.

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The Do you want to start a new transfer orcontinue one in progress screen appears.

3 Click Start a new transfer to indicate you areready to transfer files to this computer.

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I have several users I needto migrate to newcomputers. Should I useWindows Easy Transfer forall of them?

Windows Easy Transfer isan ideal tool if you haveonly a few users that youneed to migrate toWindows Vista, such as ina home or a small office orhome office (SOHO)environment. If you areusing Active Directory,there may be easier waysto migrate users. SeeChapter 10 for informationon working with ActiveDirectory.

Why do I get a SecurityAlert when I try to run theWindows Easy TransferWizard?

Windows Vista includes aSecurity Console thatdetects unauthorizedattempts to access yourcomputer or its files fromacross the network. Youcan temporarily bypass thesystem security to allowWindows Easy Transfer tocomplete the transferprocess. After your files andsettings are transferred,Windows reapplies thesystem security on yourcomputer.

Why did my game, orother application, notmigrate over?

Most Windowsapplications modify theRegistry in ways notdetected by the wizard.Your best bet is to captureany saved game files — orother data files — reinstallthe application, and thenmigrate the files to yournew system.

The Which computer are you using nowscreen appears.

4 Click My new computer to indicate that youare at your new computer.

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The Do you have an Easy Transfer Cablescreen appears.

5 Click No, show me more options to indicateyou want to use a network to transfer files.

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Restore Files and Settings (continued)

Restore Files and Settings(Continued)

W hen you start the files and settings restoreprocess, you have to specify if your oldcomputer has the Windows Easy Transfer

program installed on it. If you have a different versionof the Windows Easy Transfer program on your oldcomputer, such as the Files and Settings Transfer Wizardthat came with Windows XP, SP2, you must update it tothe current one. That is why Windows Vista includes theprogram on the Install Windows dialog box.

If you do not have Windows Easy Transfer on your old computer, you can use the Windows VistaInstallation disc, but you can also create copies of the

program onto different media and then installWindows Easy Transfer on your old computer. Forinstance, you can create a CD or DVD of the programif you have a CD or DVD burner on your newcomputer — most new computers have at least a CD-R or CD-RW drive for burning CDs. Alternatively,you can use a USB flash drive to make a copy of theEasy Windows Transfer program. Plug in the device,copy the program over to the USB drive, insert theUSB drive into your old computer, and install theprogram from there.

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The Is Windows Easy Transfer installed on yourold computer screen appears.

6 Click Yes, I installed it to indicate that the oldcomputer has Windows Easy Transfer installed.

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The Are your computers connected to anetwork screen appears.

7 Click Yes, I’ll transfer files and settings overthe network to indicate that you want totransfer files from a network drive.

Note: If a message appears indicating that yourfirewall is blocking network access, click Yes.

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I am trying to run the Windows EasyTransfer program on Windows Me. Whywill it not appear?

Windows Vista assumes that you haveWindows XP on your computer, not anearlier version. Therefore when you attemptto run the Install Windows program onnon-XP machines, you will error out. SinceWindows Easy Transfer is part of theWindows Vista Install Windows package,you will not be able to use the WindowsEasy Transfer program on older versions ofWindows either. It is not recommendedthat you copy settings from older versionsof Windows to Windows Vista.

Do I have to use Windows Easy Transfer?

No, in fact if you want to transfer files toyour new computer, and not settings, yourbest bet is to copy the files you want tomove to your new computer ontoremovable media. Then when you getWindows Vista installed, insert or connectthe removable media to your newcomputer and copy your files to your newhard drive. Examples of removable mediainclude external hard drives, flash drives,CD-R, and DVD-R.

The Do you have a Windows Easy Transferkey screen appears.

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The Windows Easy Transfer key from theother computer appears in the Type YourWindows Easy Transfer key box.

9 Click Next.

Your files transfer.

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tidrow/master visually windows vista

Documents

windows vista ultimate

system files

icrosoft windows vista

windows media center

vista business

picture files

media files music

windows meeting space