CompTIA A_ Certification All-In-One Exam Guide, Seventh Edition - Michael Meyers [221]
Verify Hardware and Software Compatibility
Assuming your system meets the requirements, you next need to find out how well Windows supports the brand and model of hardware and application software you intend to use under Windows. You have two basic sources for this information: Microsoft and the manufacturer of the device or software. How do you actually access this information? Use the Web!
If you’re installing Windows XP or Vista, the Setup Wizard automatically checks your hardware and software and reports any potential conflicts. But please don’t wait until you are all ready to install to check this out. With any flavor of Windows, first do your homework.
Microsoft goes to great lengths to test any piece of hardware that might be used in a system running Windows through their Windows Logo’d Products List (Figure 14-1). This list, formerly known as the Hardware Compatibility List (HCL), is the definitive authority as to whether your component is compatible with the OS. Every component listed on the Windows Logo’d Products List Web site has been extensively tested to verify that it works with Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 and is guaranteed by Microsoft to work with your installation. The URL for the Windows Logo’d Products List is www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/default.mspx. Sadly, Microsoft no longer maintains a compatibility list specifically for Windows 2000, but in general, products compatible with XP will also be compatible with 2000.
Figure 14-1 Windows Logo’d Products List
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NOTE You’ll occasionally hear the HCL or Windows Logo’d Products List referred to as the Windows Catalog. The Windows Catalog was a list of supported hardware Microsoft would add to the Windows installation CD. The Windows Logo’d Products List Web site is the modern tech’s best source, so use that rather than any printed resources.
When you install a device that’s not been tested by Microsoft, a rather scary screen appears (Figure 14-2). This doesn’t mean the component won’t work, only that it’s not been tested. Not all component makers go through the rather painful process of getting the Microsoft approval so they can list their component in the Windows Logo’d Product List. As a general rule, unless the device is more than five years old, go ahead and install it. If it still doesn’t work, you can simply uninstall it later.
Figure 14-2 Untested device in Windows XP
Don’t panic if you don’t see your device on the list; many supported devices aren’t on it. Check the optical discs that came with your hardware for proper drivers. Better yet, check the manufacturer’s Web site for compatible drivers. Even when the Windows Logo’d Products List lists a piece of hardware, I still make a point of checking the manufacturer’s Web site for newer drivers.
When preparing to upgrade, check with the manufacturers of the applications already installed in the previous OS. If there are software compatibility problems with the versions you have, the manufacturer should provide upgrade packs that you can install during the Windows setup process.
Decide What Type of Installation to Perform
You can install Windows in several ways. A clean installation of an OS involves installing it onto an empty hard drive with no previous OS installed. An upgrade installation means installing an OS on top of an earlier installed version, thus inheriting all previous hardware and software settings. You can combine versions of Windows by creating a multiboot installation. Installing usually involves some sort of optical disc, but other methods also exist. Let’s look at all the options.
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EXAM TIP CompTIA tests you on knowing how to upgrade a Windows 9x or Windows NT system to Windows 2000 or Windows XP and