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Windows Vista Installation and Upgrading - 5 Questions to Ask Whether You Should Upgrade or Buy a New Machine

SUMMARY: Suggestions on whether or not you should buy a new machine rather than upgrade an old one to Windows Vista.

Interested in Windows Vista and considering upgrading your computer? Here are 5 questions you should ask yourself whether or not you should attempt an upgrade or purchase a machine pre-built with Windows Vista installed:

1. Is your computer 3+ years old? The older the machine, the lesser the chance its hardware is optimized for the full Windows Vista experience. Older hardware devices may no longer be supported by their manufacturers, making compatible drivers difficult, if not impossible, to obtain. Also, you may have to upgrade components such as your RAM or video card to take advantage of the Windows Aero user interface.

If you are running any version of Windows earlier than Windows 2000, you cannot upgrade straight to Windows Vista. Two options exist if you are sure your machine is capable of running Windows Vista:

* Find an older copy of Windows XP or 2000 and upgrade to it, then re-upgrade to Windows Vista afterwards.

* Do a clean-install of Windows Vista. This will require purchasing a full retail boxed version of Windows Vista rather than the Upgrade version.

2. Have you noticed your machine slowing down over the past few months or so? Perhaps it is due to the effects of spyware or virus infection. Also, installing and uninstalling lots of software may leave remnant registry entries, dynamic libraries, startup entries, and other miscellaneous files all over your hard drive.

You could purchase a new computer pre-installed with Windows Vista to give you a "clean slate" (except for all of the useless junk manufacturers put on their machines, but that's a different story). Or, purchase a non-upgrade version of Windows Vista and perform a "clean install" on your current PC to clean up old files and settings.

3. Have you run the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor yet? If the report shows many questions about whether or not your software or hardware is supported in Windows Vista, you may wish to consider purchasing a new machine rather than deal with the potential hassles of upgrading.

	Screenshot of the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor tool on a machine stated to be able to run Windows Vista.

4. If you purchase a machine with an OEM copy of Windows Vista, that copy of Windows Vista must stay on the new machine. You cannot transfer it to a different PC, which may be important if the computer stops operating and you want to transfer your license to a working machine. If you still decide to purchase a new machine, this may influence whether or not you wish to purchase an extended warranty.

5. Obviously monetary cost has to factor into your purchasing decision. The Windows Vista operating system by itself can cost a few hundred dollars, but a new laptop can cost a few hundred dollars, a thousand dollars, or more. Note that you can purchase a cheaper version of Windows Vista and later upgrade it to the Ultimate edition.

However, you should consider time costs as well. How long would it take to upgrade your current machine and deal with potential compatibility headaches versus purchasing a prebuilt machine and transfer your current files and applications over?

Though other factors may go into your decision, these five questions may provide some insight on how you want to upgrade to Windows Vista.

NOTE: If you buy a new machine, or perform a clean install, Microsoft has information on transferring files and settings from your current machine to your new one.