Got XP? Want Vista SP1? Here's Your Checklist!

You can't get your hands on Vista SP1 until Wednesday, giving you have an extra day to get your system ready for Vista SP1. Use it wisely.

Before you decide you absolutely, positively must perform an upgrade of XP to Vista SP1, read my cover story from the March 2007 issue of Maximum PC: Windows Vista Survival Guide. If you'd rather read it in its full magazine glory, click here for the PDF of the entire issue. I make a pitch for performing a clean install (it's possible, even from an upgrade version; see the PDF version of the July 2007 issue, pp.38-39 "Vista Activation Oddities"; for a more detailed look at the process, see Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows article.)

If you don't want to install a new hard disk and reinstall your apps (in other words, you're still on target for an upgrade of your XP installation to Vista SP1), here's your pre-install checklist:

• 1. Download and run the Vista Upgrade Advisor. It helps you determine if your system's ready for your favorite Vista edition (Tip: if Windows Vista Basic is the recommended edition for you, it's time for a new PC!).
• 2. Download driver updates needed to prepare your system for Vista per the Vista Upgrade Advisor. If you can find native Vista drivers for some types of hardware (printers, network adapters, to name a couple), you can download Windows XP drivers.
• 3. Install any uninstalled updates to Windows XP SP2: Windows Update's the easiest way to do it. If you have problems with Windows Update, give Dial-a-Fix a try - it can help.
• 4. Run your favorite backup program to back up your system. If you don't have one, download Windows Easy Transfer for Windows XP; you can use it to save copies of system files and configurations to an external hard disk or network folder in case you have problems with your XP to Vista update. To back up programs for transfer, use Windows Easy Transfer Companion (beta).
• 5. Make sure you have enough free disk space (at least 15GB) on your system drive. If not, move some digital content to an external hard disk or run System Cleanup to free up the space you need.
• 6. Create a restore point using the System Restore tab of the System Properties sheet.
• 7. Check your system for problem applications and update them.

Whether you're updating Vista RTM to Vista SP1, or upgrading from Windows XP SP2 to Vista SP1, be sure to see our extensive coverage of what to expect. Happy updating/upgrading!

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Still on the fence about Windows Vista? Get down from there (you might get splinters!) and get to your favorite bookstore for a copy of Mark's book Maximum PC Microsoft Windows Vista Exposed. It's available at Amazon.com and other fine bookstores.