Contents Preface ...................................................................................................................................................xxvii Read This First .................................................................................................................................... 1 Don’t Believe the Hype .............................................................................................................................. 2 The Value of Vista ...................................................................................................................................... 3 Windows Vista in 15 Minutes ................................................................................................................... 3 The New Start Menu ............................................................................................................................. 4 Windows Aero........................................................................................................................................ 5 Flip 3D .................................................................................................................................................... 6 Programs Explorer Replaces Add/Remove Programs .........................................................................8 Putting Some Gadgets in Your Windows Sidebar .............................................................................. 8 Instant Search and the Search Pane .................................................................................................... 9 Internet Explorer 7.0 Catches Up ....................................................................................................... 12 IE Protected Mode, Phishing Filter, and Other Security Features ...................................................13 Support for RSS News Feeds .............................................................................................................. 13 Encrypt Entire Drives with BitLocker ................................................................................................ 15 Use Easy Transfer to Move Data to a New PC ..................................................................................15 Parental Controls ................................................................................................................................. 17 New Games: Mahjong and Chess ...................................................................................................... 18 Windows Media Player 11 .................................................................................................................. 19 New Music and Video Services .......................................................................................................... 21 Windows Movie Maker and DVD Maker .......................................................................................... 22 Windows Photo Gallery ....................................................................................................................... 23 Windows Media Center ...................................................................................................................... 25 But Wait; It Gets Better ............................................................................................................................ 26 Windows Vista Service Pack 1 ........................................................................................................... 26 Windows Live and Microsoft’s Online Services ................................................................................ 29 Windows Live OneCare and Windows Home Server ......................................................................29 And More ............................................................................................................................................. 29 My Promise to You ................................................................................................................................... 30 Part I: Surviving SetupCOPYRIGHTED ........................................................................................31 MATERIAL Chapter 1: Selecting the Right Vista Version ......................................................................... 33 An Overview of All the Vista Versions .................................................................................................. 34 Understanding the Differences and Choosing the Right Version .......................................................36 Step 1: Whittling Down the Product Editions List .............................................................................36 Step 2: Understanding the Differences between the Product Editions ........................................... 39 Step 3: Making the Right Product-Edition Choice ............................................................................44 Purchasing Windows Vista ..................................................................................................................... 48 With a New PC .................................................................................................................................... 48 442001ftoc.indd2001ftoc.indd xxiiiiii 99/2/08/2/08 11:02:26:02:26 PPMM xiv Windows Vista Secrets Retail Boxed Copies ............................................................................................................................ 49 OEM Versions ...................................................................................................................................... 53 Windows Anytime Upgrade ............................................................................................................... 55 Summary ................................................................................................................................................... 57 Chapter 2: Installing or Upgrading to Windows Vista .........................................................59 Taking the Easy Way Out: Acquiring Windows Vista with a New PC .............................................. 60 Interactive Setup ...................................................................................................................................... 60 Clean Install ......................................................................................................................................... 61 Upgrading ............................................................................................................................................ 79 Dual-Booting with Windows XP ......................................................................................................... 83 Upgrading from One Vista Version to Another: Windows Anywhere Upgrade ............................... 90 How It Works ....................................................................................................................................... 91 Upgrading with an Anytime Upgrade Disk ....................................................................................... 92 Installing Windows Vista Service Pack 1 .............................................................................................. 94 Slipstreaming Service Packs and Other Vista Updates .......................................................................96 Performing a Clean Install with an Upgrade Version of Vista ..........................................................100 Microsoft’s Documented Method for Clean-Installing Vista with Upgrade Media...................... 100 Delaying Product Activation ..................................................................................................................102 Installing Windows Vista on a Mac ......................................................................................................105 Dual Boot: Using Boot Camp ............................................................................................................ 105 Windows on Mac: Virtualization Solutions ...................................................................................... 108 Summary ..................................................................................................................................................110 Chapter 3: Hardware and Software Compatibility .............................................................111 Hidden Perils of the Vista Upgrade ......................................................................................................112 The Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor ...................................................................................................113 Using the Upgrade Advisor .............................................................................................................. 114 Picking through the Results .............................................................................................................. 116 Drivers That Lack a Vista-Compatible Version .............................................................................. 119 Understanding Windows Vista Compatibility Issues ..........................................................................119 Hardware Compatibility ................................................................................................................... 119 Software Compatibility ....................................................................................................................