Vista Arrives Tonight: Find Drivers, Upgrade Warnings

Mon Jan 29, 2007 4:59PM EST

See Comments (15)

In a matter of hours, Vista will officially be upon us, after a six-year wait. Those of you planning to upgrade an existing PC have my best wishes for a positive experience, but if you're planning on running the upgrade, keep a couple of issues in mind before you put that DVD in the drive.

First, and most importantly, make your backups. Create multiple backups if you can, because you never know what could happen.

Second, get your drivers ready before you install. Burn them all to a disc for future use. If searching the web manually or digging around in those awful vendor websites doesn't really float your boat, check out RadarSync, which is offering a free, easy-to-browse clearinghouse for Vista drivers.

Also on the upgrade front, news has just arrived that Microsoft has changed the way that upgrade DVDs (available at a significant discount to standard versions) can be used. Namely, you have to have an older version of Windows (XP or 2000) already on the machine before installing. This is a change from the prior policy which let you install on an OS-free system with an upgrade disc if you still had your old Windows disc for Vista to check during a verification process. In other words: You can't wipe your drive clean (which most people, including myself) recommend you do when you install Vista from an upgrade disc.

Finally, want to know if your software will work on Vista? Microsoft hasn't announced a compatibility list, but the Vista Compatibility Wiki (also covered here) probably has you covered. Check it out, and good luck everyone.

Comments on Vista Arrives Tonight: Find Drivers, Upgrade Warnings

Post a Comment

Join in the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.

  • 6 Posted by gte687i on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    This proves that Microsoft is all about jumping into a market someone else already created to take over. Windows Vista sounds more and more like Mac OS. What a load of crap! And people still sit around and make fun of Apple users without knowing what Macs are all about.

  • 7 Posted by vipest2006 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:36PM EDT Report Abuse

    How I can download it soon to see the great touch on the computer life .

  • 8 Posted by kamsyat on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    It is good better graphic faster web surfing but compatibilities issues is number one most programs that i am using wont work with vista and also driver for most hard wares are pain to install sometimes vista wont even install it. Vista ultimate version is the best if you will try one. I switched back to xp pro i just couldnt keep my patience with vista.

  • 9 Posted by fitzmaster86 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:00PM EDT Report Abuse

    So we have to do a few minor things before we get vista. I'm more than willing to make a few extra backups and maybe a few more minor, unseen complications. I used the beta version of the program and wow... I love it. I'm upgrading today, and I see nothing but more bright, and wondeful things coming from Gates and the boys. _Fitz

  • 10 Posted by newtowndetsgt on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:36PM EDT Report Abuse

    Craze ??? Sweet?? Can't Wait ????? Whooaaa If you really read up on it Vista took this long to come out,among countless problems, while it has some great upgrades it will cost a fortune in hardware upgrades and really hasn't been tested problem free. NOT A GREAT DEAL !!!!!

  • 11 Posted by chiefin2k2 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    i got the new windows vista ultimate...i love the new features. You can do alot things with it, that wasn't offered before. But the only problem i'm having with windows vista is, it's having compatiability problems with other software.

  • 13 Posted by v_eller on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    To the guy who said he's waiting for upgrades to ix Windows 98. um... DUH! Each version of Windows IS an upgrade... 95... 98... XP... I am going to wait until I am in the market for a new computer. I got XP when it was new and I had to get all new everything. My printer didn't work. My scanner didn't work... software didn't work...

  • 14 Posted by boranasabatiso on Tue Jan 30, 2007 4:43PM EST Report Abuse

    vista sucks because it zaps a lot of the puters processing power . oh and modem users are probably screwed. vista is for mercedeses but most of us drive subaru's.

  • 15 Posted by asherruvin on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:58PM EDT Report Abuse

    UPDATE- May 2008: Not only that we opened all links to public, but RadarSync's PC Updater is now FREEWARE. That means you can run the scan AND get the downloads without spending a dime. This isn't a time limited version, it's the real thing. Get it at www.radarsync.com Asher http://www.radarsync.com

More Posts: First Prev 1 2 Next Last

Post a Comment

Sign In to Post a Comment

My Tech

Please enable your browser's cookies to activate the My Tech column.

Also on Yahoo! Tech

Computers Home Office Wi-Fi & Networking Phones & PDAs Cameras & Camcorders TV & Home Theater Portable Audio
 

Site Map | Tour | Subscribe to Yahoo! Tech

Question and Answer content at Yahoo! Tech is written by Yahoo! users at Yahoo! Answers. Yahoo! does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any Yahoo! Answers content. For more information, read the Full Disclaimer.

Opinions expressed by the Advisors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Yahoo! Inc. Yahoo! receives no compensation from any manufacturer or distributor nor does it compensate any Advisor for the coverage of any product or service in any Advisor's content.