Upgrading to Windows Vista

If you're moving to Vista from an earlier version of Windows, Microsoft gives you upgrade options that depend on the version that you're currently running. A Windows Vista version upgrade is much cheaper than a full copy. You can upgrade from only Windows XP or Windows 2000; if you have an earlier version, you must install a full copy of Vista. You have two ways to upgrade:

Not Eligible to Upgrade? If you're not eligible to upgrade because you're a first-time Windows customer or your current Windows version doesn't qualify, then it's cheaper to buy the Vista upgrade version and get Windows 2000 -from a friend, coworker, computer swap meet, www·craigslist·org. . . there are plenty of copies around. (You can get a copy of Windows XP instead, but you might have trouble with its activation key if it's already been used.) Install Windows 2000 on your PC and then apply the Vista upgrade, first making sure that your hardware meets Vista system requirements (see the appendix). Don't throw out Windows 2000; you may need it to reinstall Vista someday.

This book is for you if you're new to Windows, moving or upgrading to Vista from a previous Windows version, or need a quick reference at hand. My audience is beginning and intermediate Windows Vista users, including people who are buying Vista along with their first computers. Windows veterans can look up specific tasks quickly or scan the tips and sidebars for tricks, shortcuts, and subtleties. Wherever possible, I give step-by-step instructions for using features and programs.

Conventions used in this book

Commands. I use shorthand instructions rather than list steps separately. Here's a command that opens a nested folder:

• Choose Start > Computer > Local Disk (C:) > Users > Public.

This sequence means: Click the Start button (on the taskbar, in the bottom-left corner of the desktop) to reveal the Start menu; then click Computer. Inside the Computer window, double-click the drive icon labeled Local Disk (C:) to open it. Inside that window, double-click the icon Users to open it. Inside that window, double-click the icon Public to open it.

Each shorthand element (between the > symbols) refers to an icon, window, dialog box, menu, button, check box, link, tab, or some other user-interface component; just look for the component whose label matches the element name. Whenever a particular step is unclear or ambiguous, I spell it out rather than use shorthand.

Here's a command that launches the Notepad program:

• Choose Start > All Programs > Accessories > Notepad.

This one shows file extensions:

• Choose Start > Control Panel > Appearance and Personalization > Folder Options > View tab > uncheck Hide Extensions for Known File Types > OK.

Keyboard shortcuts. Use keyboard shortcuts so that you don't waste time moving your hand from keyboard to mouse repeatedly. These shortcuts involve the modifier keys that sit at the bottom corners of the keyboard's main section. Press these keys-Shift, Ctrl (Control), and Alt (Alternate)-together with other keys to change the action. The C key pressed by itself types a lowercase c; pressed along with the Shift key, it types an uppercase C; and pressed along with the Ctrl key, it issues the Copy command.

Modifier keys are joined to other keys with a plus sign. Ctrl+C, for example, means "Press the Ctrl key, hold it down while you press the C key, and then release both keys." A threekey combination such as Ctrl+Alt+Delete means "Hold down the first two keys while you press the third one; then release all three." The modifiers always are listed first. An Alt-key shortcut joined by commas rather than plus signs (Alt, F, O, for example) means press and release each key in succession rather than pressing them all at once.

The Windows logo key, next to the Alt key on most PC keyboards, pulls up the Start menu when pressed by itself, but it also can be used as a modifier. Windows logo key+D, for example, minimizes all windows. When I give a Windows-logo-key shortcut, mentally add "if my keyboard has one," because not all keyboards do.

Tip

• Use Windows Help and Support to view or print a list of keyboard shortcuts: Choose Start > Help and Support, and search for keyboard shortcuts.

Default settings
Throughout this book, I refer to Vista's defaults, or predefined settings, that Microsoft set when it shipped Windows from the factory. In some cases a middleman-such as your PC's manufacturer, a network administrator, or whoever unpacked your computer-will have changed some default options, so your initial Windows setup might look or behave a little differently than I describe.

Companion website
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