While it’s true that a fresh installation of Windows 7 is the neatest and cleanest way of bringing the latest version of Windows to your PC, it’s not the most convenient option, particularly if you value your existing programs, customisations, files and settings. The good news – if you’re currently running Windows Vista – is that you don’t have to lose any of this when installing Windows 7.
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Installing any piece of software can be a painful experience, but an entirely new operating system is so complex that it’s bound to cause more than a few headaches for some. Fortunately, Nick Peers is on hand to answer your questions about installing Windows Vista. If you have a problem that you’d like us to look into, feel free to ask us on our community boards.
Fix problems when activating Windows
System Kickstart – Discover what to do when Windows Vista refuses to activate (Click to enlarge)
Alan Frost had to reinstall Windows Vista after his attempt to install drivers from Canon resulted in his machine locking up. Alan’s problem with the Canon drivers was probably linked to drivers left over from his previous version of Windows conflicting with the new software. When you come to install new USB devices like scanners, don’t plug them in until you’ve installed the software or drivers first.
Alan had another hangover from his forced reinstallation: he keeps getting messages to activate Windows, which then tell him the product is already activated. Get around this by clicking Next instead of Activate online now when the message appears.
Other activation problems can be dealt with by referring to the Microsoft Knowledge Base – failed activations generate an error code, and a number of resolutions are described here.
If this doesn’t help, download the WGA Diagnostics Tool from Microsoft – this generates a report about your system, which you should post to the Microsoft forums along with details of your activation-related issue for further advice and, hopefully, a solution.
Solving the Mapfile1 error message
John Smith’s problem stemmed from a “mapfile1: access is denied” message each time he started Internet Explorer or Windows Mail. Mapfi le1 is linked to software for ATI graphics cards, and the error is found on PCs that have been upgraded to Windows Vista from an earlier version of Windows.
The best solution is to locate new drivers and software from your graphics card manufacturer. Make sure it’s compatible with Windows Vista. If none is available, download the latest drivers from ATI instead, uninstall your existing graphics card software from the Add or Remove Programs control panel and then install this in its place.
Get device drivers for older hardware
Ronnie Lowe’s plea is typical of many we’ve received: can we get his wireless adapter working? Sadly, not all devices are compatible with Windows Vista – manufacturers may never produce Windows Vista ready drivers, while Windows XP drivers may not necessarily work (the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor tool should provide essential advice here).
Driving Ambition – Check with your PC or hardware manufacturer’s web site for compatible drivers (Click to enlarge)
The best thing to do is check to see whether Windows Vista drivers have been developed – if the component is part of your computer, check your PC manufacturer’s web site first for a driver update (if you bought your PC through the PC World chain of superstores, visit PC Service Call). If you purchased the hardware separately from the rest of your PC, you should visit its manufacturer’s web site for Windows Vista compatible drivers and support.
Getting AOL and other software working
AOL 9.0 VR (Windows Vista Ready) has been released and is available for download at AOL Help – but it’s been causing problems for some AOL users, including Audrey Verringer. She’s been unable to log on to AOL using the software – she can connect to the web through Internet Explorer, but she misses her favourites, buddies and so on.
New Version – AOL’s own software should now be compatible with Windows Vista (Click to enlarge)
We tested the software and had no problem logging in – it could be that early bugs have been ironed out (Audrey’s query came in a day before a major update to the software), so if you’ve been struggling to get AOL to work on your PC, download the latest version and see if it now behaves itself. If you’re having problems with other software, the advice is the same – check for a new version that’s been modified to work with Windows Vista. As with hardware, though, there are some older programs that just won’t be updated; you should be able to trick these into working by selecting Use an older program with this version of Windows from the Control Panel.
Use old Microsoft Outlook contacts in Windows Mail
Keep in contact – Export your Microsoft Outlook contacts for use in Windows Mail (Click to enlarge)
We heard from Tony Waters about the possibility of importing his Microsoft Outlook contacts list into Windows Mail – it is possible, Tony, but you must first open your contacts in Outlook itself, then export them to a file using File > Import and Export. Choose to export a file before selecting Comma Separated File(DOS). You can then import this into Windows Mail using File > Import > Windows Contacts. Select CSV (Command Separated Values) and locate the file you exported.
Fixing shutdown problems
A few of you have encountered shutdown problems after upgrading from Windows XP. This is probably linked to an incompatible program, file or driver that wasn’t removed. Run the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor tool before upgrading so you can deal with incompatibilities before they cause problems.
If you’ve upgraded to Windows Vista already, you can still use the Upgrade Advisor to track down incompatibilities – visit Microsoft Buyorupgrade to download the latest version. Once installed, it scans your system and alerts you to any incompatibilities, enabling you to either look for an update or remove the offending item from your PC.
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If you aren’t buying a brand new PC with Windows Vista pre-installed, there are three ways to upgrade your PC to Windows Vista:
- An ‘in-place’ upgrade to an earlier version of Windows. This preserves your old programs, files and settings.
- A clean installation over the top of an existing version of Windows. This erases your previous version of Windows and all of your old files, favourites and settings.
- A clean installation on a new or freshly formatted hard disk or hard disk partition, with or without a dual boot environment.
Let us say right now that we don’t recommend option 1. There are four main concerns. First, there’s no way back, so if you don’t like Windows Vista or if it doesn’t perform as you expect, that’s just tough. Second, there’s a risk, however small, that the upgrade will fail at some point and you’ll lose your data. Third, any existing problems on your PC may be carried through to your new Windows Vista set-up, potentially including viruses and spyware. And finally, your current system may well be performing at less than peak performance due to internal clutter and conflicts, and this too could affect your post-upgrade performance. There’s simply nothing like a fresh, clean installation to get the best from Windows Vista – or indeed any operating system.
So which of the other options is best? Well, option 2 is fine so long as you make absolutely sure that you’ve backed up everything you could ever need from your old version of Windows. Windows Vista will format (wipe clean) the hard disk during installation so your data will be gone for good. You’ll emerge with a pristine installation of Windows Vista that’s free from the performance and security issues inherent in option 1, but you’ll have to install all your old software again. We strongly recommend that you use Windows Easy Transfer, as this makes it much easier to configure your new version of Windows like the old one.
Option 3 is easier still because Windows Vista doesn’t have to delete the old version of Windows; it simply installs alongside it in a different location. If you only have one hard disk, you can either install a second disk – an easy hardware upgrade – or you can split it into two (or more) ‘partitions’. A partitioned hard disk has separate sections that behave just like physically distinct hard disks. This way, you can leave your old version of Windows in one partition while installing Windows Vista cleanly in the other. You can also use your old version of Windows whenever you like simply by selecting it from a menu when you reboot.
So, we’re going with option 3. However, before we get stuck in there’s a point about partitioning we need to take into consideration; if your hard disk isn’t already partitioned, Windows Vista can’t do it for you without completely erasing your existing data – so if you’ve got a PC with a 100GB hard disk and you ask Vista to split it into two 50GB partitions, one for Windows XP and one for Vista, you will indeed get two 50GB partitions. Unfortunately, the Windows XP one will be empty.
There are two ways around this. You can either install a second hard disk, which removes the need for partitioning altogether, or you can invest in a third party disk-partitioning program. Norton PartitionMagic (formerly owned by PowerQuest) is one of the most established, and in our experience, reliable tools you can get, and you can find more details at www.symantec.com/en/uk. When you use it (or another, similar tool) to partition your hard disk, make sure you choose the NTFS file system option for the Windows Vista partition and not FAT32.
Guide: Installing Vista without wiping Windows XP
You can launch the Windows Vista setup routine either by accessing the DVD from within Windows XP or by booting directly from the DVD. We’ll take the former approach here.
Create the partition
If you intend to install Windows Vista on a hard disk partition next to Windows XP, create the new partition now using a third party tool such as PartitionMagic. If you have a second hard disk, you don’t need to worry about this step.
PartitionMagic
Here, PartitionMagic has created a new, clean hard disk partition ready for Windows Vista to make itself at home.
Start the install
The Windows Vista DVD should auto-run in Windows XP. Click Install now from the welcome screen. Your natural reaction here, given that you don’t want to perform an over-the-top upgrade, may be one of panic, because Windows Vista isn’t asking for a location. However, this choice will come later. The Check compatibility online button links to Upgrade Advisor but you should already have run this.
The Windows Vista installer gets straight to the point.
If you haven’t already run the Upgrade Advisor you can do it from this screen; otherwise, click Install Now.
Check for updates
We recommend that you allow Windows Vista to check for updates at this point. Even something as simple as a newly available device driver could make an importance difference post-installation, and enabling updates now can save a lot of time later on.
Before installation, Windows Vista can check online for updates to any essential system files. Your PC needs to be connected to the Internet for this to happen
Enter your license key
Before going any further, setup prompts you for the license key. As ever, it will take you three attempts to copy this correctly from the sticker on the DVD case. We suggest unchecking the automatic activation box just in case you immediately hit problems during the installation and need to reinstall Windows Vista – you can easily activate it once you’ve completed the installation.
There’s no point activating Windows Vista immediately. you might not like it!
Choose how to upgrade
If you launched Windows Vista from within Windows XP, you now make your choice between an upgrade or a clean installation. Select Upgrade to replace Windows XP or select Custom to install in a separate hard disk or disk partition.
Windows Vista asks whether you want to perform an upgrade installation or a custom one. You won’t see this if you boot from the Windows Vista DVD.
Parition problems
Just to illustrate the importance of formatting a new hard disk or disk partition before installing Windows Vist
a, here’s what happens when you don’t – or when the partition is formatted with the older and unsuitable FAT32 file system. No matter: you can boot from the DVD and use the Drive Options tools to format the partition with NTFS.
You’ll see this message if you don’t have a suitable, NTFS-formatted partition on your hard disk.
Installation issues
Again by way of illustration, here’s what happens when you try to perform an upgrade but you haven’t remedied compatibility issues identified by the Upgrade Advisor. There’s no way forward here, so retreat and do what you’re told.
Windows Vista isn’t kidding: if it suspects trouble ahead, it simply stops.
Account setup
Those pitfalls aside, Windows Vista should now install smoothly with no further intervention from you for a while. Your PC will reboot a few times. When you see the ‘press any key to boot from CD’ option during a reboot, don’t do this – Windows Vista has already installed the required files on the hard disk, so booting from the DVD would simply start the whole process over again.
Unlike the Windows XP setup, which seems to require your attention every few minutes, the Windows Vista installer just gets on with the job.
Where in the world
Eventually, you will be prompted to specify your regional settings – Windows Vista still defaults to US settings – and thereafter to create a user account. This is the master account that Windows Vista will use by default upon every restart.
A user-account password is optional but sensible, and should really be mandatory.
Name your computer
Now give your PC a name. This will become important if and when you connect to a network. You can also select a desktop background here, but the real customisation comes later.
Be sure to choose a name that’s not already on any network that this computer will join.
Setup security
Almost there now, but first you must specify some basic security settings. We recommend that you go for the default ‘use recommend settings’ options, as this turns on the Windows Firewall and configures automatic updates.
Start as you mean to go on – with a secure PC. Using the recommended settings makes your system much safer.
International Settings
You’ll be asked to review your international time settings and then to specify how this computer will primarily be used; your choice will control how careful Windows Vista is when connecting to other devices.
Windows Vista wants to know where you are. This is to help with your Windows networking settings, although you can adjust the Network setup.
Reboot and go
And that’s that. Hit the Start button to run some final automated configuration. Your PC will reboot and, if you have upgraded Windows XP, fire up Windows Vista for the first time. Now is not the time to remember that you forgot to save files from your old Windows XP installation!
Windows Vista makes final preparations for launch.
Select an operating system
If you selected a separate hard disk or hard disk partition, you will be presented with this or a similar boot menu. ‘Earlier Version of Windows’ is, of course, your old Windows XP configuration, which you can run whenever you like. Use the arrow and Enter keys to make a selection.
Which windows? You can have two (or more) operating systems on the same PC, each running independently.
Brave new world
Welcome to your new-look desktop and the world of Windows Vista. Is it a wonderful world? Let’s find out…
Here we go – Windows Vista is up and running, and it’s displaying the Welcome Center to say hello.
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There’s every possibility that you’ll first encounter Windows Vista when you buy a new PC, but Microsoft is unsurprisingly keen on persuading as many of us as possible to upgrade older systems. Whether Windows Vista offers you sufficient enticement to bother upgrading will certainly vary from person to person and business to business, but one thing is clear – if upgrading is a hassle, it’s certainly not desirable.
Thankfully, there is a way to check how complex upgrading might be. Before installing Windows Vista on a current Windows XP system, you are well advised to check whether your PC has the brute strength to run it. Beyond checking the headline system requirements, you can download the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor. This is a small application that scans your computer hardware and reports accordingly.
1. Download and scan
You can download the Upgrade Advisor tool from here. As the opening screen recommends, connect as many of your external devices as possible, including hard drives. Initiate a scan and leave well alone for a few minutes.
The Upgrade Advisor checks that your computer is up to the task of running Windows Vista.
2. Check its findings
When the scan concludes, click See Details. This report tells you whether you can successfully install Windows Vista – or, if you can’t, why not. Check the details carefully because you may find that a simple upgrade in the graphics or memory department is all you need.
In this case, it’s a thumbs down from the Upgrade Advisor but some freed-up hard disk space should suffice.
3. The recommendation
The Upgrade Advisor makes a recommendation about which version of Windows Vista is a good fit for your PC. In this case, it suggests Windows Vista Home Basic. If you hanker for something better, click the other versions of Windows Vista in the left-hand panel. The program will now tell you about any specific problems you’ll have in relation to each version.
Select the version of Windows Vista that interests you and click See Details in System Requirements section.
4. Clarify what you need
For example, to run Windows Vista Home Premium to full effect, we’re going to need a new audio driver, a TV tuner and a new graphics card. This is because this version includes Windows Media Center, whereas Windows Vista Home Basic doesn’t – hence the earlier recommendation by Upgrade Advisor.
The Upgrade Advisor flags up any potential incompatibilities between your system and your chosen version of Windows Vista.
5. Ignoring driver concerns
Be sure to check out the Devices and Programs tabs. Don’t worry too much about driver issues, as most manufacturers – at least, those what want to stay in business – will be releasing special Windows Vista drivers quickly. You can also get many drivers directly from Microsoft just by running Windows Update after you’ve installed.
Upgrade Advisor tells you of any devices that it doesn’t have drivers for. It’s worth checking that Windows Vista drivers are available from the manufacturers before you decide to upgrade.
6. What to do next
Finally, visit the Task List tab for a summary of what to do now and what you should expect to have to do post-installation. This doesn’t include tasks like ‘dump your obsolete printer’. If you are told to uninstall software, make sure that you are prepared to live without it.
You are well advised to perform any necessary tasks now, because if Windows Vista detects these problems during installation it will refuse to continue.
A visit to Windows Update can keep devices working when you install Windows Vista.
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