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Activation Mechanics Here’s how product activation works. When you choose to activate, either during setup or later when XP reminds you to do it, an installation ID code is created from the product ID code that you entered during installation and a 50-digit value that identifies your key hardware components. You must send this code to Microsoft, either automatically if you have an Internet connection or verbally via a phone call to Microsoft. Microsoft then returns a 42-digit product activation code. If you are activating online, you don’t have to enter the activation code; it happens automatically. If you are activating over the phone, you must read the installation ID to a representative and enter the resulting 42-digit activation code into the Activate Windows by Phone dialog box.

No personal information about you is sent as part of the activation process. Figure 14-3 shows the dialog box that opens when you start activation by clicking on the reminder message balloon.

Figure 14-3 Activation takes just seconds with an Internet connection.

Installing or Upgrading to Windows Vista

Preparing for a Windows Vista installation is not really different from preparing for a Windows 2000 or XP install. There are, of course, a few things to consider before installing or upgrading your system to Vista.

Upgrade Paths

Windows Vista is persnickety about doing Upgrade installs with different editions; although you can upgrade to any edition of Vista from any version of Windows XP, many upgrade paths will require you to do a clean installation of the Vista operating system. Note that you cannot upgrade from Windows 2000 to Vista, but must do a clean installation. Vista’s upgrade paths are so complicated that the only way to really explain them is using a grid showing the OS you’re trying to upgrade from and the edition of Vista you’re upgrading to. Fortunately for you, Microsoft provides such a grid, which I’ve re-created in Table 14-1.

Table 14-1 Vista’s labyrinthine upgrade paths.

Hardware Requirements

Windows Vista requires a substantially more powerful computer to run than Windows 2000 or XP. Make sure your computer meets at least the following minimum hardware requirements suggested by Microsoft, though it would be far better to meet my recommended requirements:

If you’re uncertain about whether your computer will run Vista, you can download and run the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor from www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/get/upgrade-advisor.aspx, which will tell you if your computer meets Microsoft’s minimum requirements.

EXAM TIP The CompTIA exams are likely to test your knowledge regarding the minimum installation requirements for Windows Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, or Ultimate. Know them well!

Hardware and Software Compatibility

Windows Vista is markedly different from Windows XP in many very basic, fundamental ways, and this causes all sorts of difficulty with programs and device drivers designed for Windows XP. When Vista came out, you probably heard a lot of people grumbling about it, and likely they were grumbling about hardware and software incompatibility. Simply put, a lot of old programs and devices don’t work in Windows Vista, which is bad news for people who are still running Microsoft Word 97.

Fortunately, Microsoft offers a Windows Vista Compatibility Center where you can check whether a piece of software or hardware will work with Vista. Most programs developed since Vista’s release in 2007 should work, but checking the compatibility of any programs you absolutely cannot do without is always a good idea.

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NOTE Software incompatibility in Vista was such a problem for many corporate customers and end users that Microsoft is including a Windows XP Mode in the higher-end editions of Windows 7, enabling most Windows XP programs to be run despite the different OS.

Upgrading Issues

A few extra steps before you pop in that installation disc are worth your time. If