How to determine whether your computer is ready to run Windows Vista, and how to find programs that are certified to work on Windows Vista

Determine whether your computer can run Windows Vista

If you are considering upgrading your computer to Windows Vista, you can use the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor to help determine whether your computer is ready for the version of Windows Vista that you want.

For more information about how to download and install the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/upgradeadvisor.mspx

How to find Windows-compatible programs

Know what works. The Windows Vista Compatibility Center is a Web site that has the compatibility status on thousands of applications and hardware products so you can upgrade to Windows Vista with confidence. Find links to the latest drivers and software upgrades and leave feedback on your experience. For more information, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

Windows Vista Compatibility Center

Find programs that are officially supported on Windows Vista

Programs that have earned the "Certified for Windows Vista" logo or the "Works with Windows Vista" logo are officially supported on Windows Vista by our independent software vendor (ISV) partners. The "Certified for Windows Vista" logo identifies products that are designed and tested to deliver a superior experience with Windows Vista. The "Works with Windows Vista" logo lets you know which software and devices offer baseline compatibility with Windows Vista.

Note There are many programs that are compatible and work well with Windows Vista, but that are not included in the Web sites listed in following two sections. Some programs are not included because they have not yet gone through the Windows Vista logo program, or because they are still completing the program. New programs are continually being added to the program.

Find programs that have earned the "Certified for Windows Vista" logo

The "Certified for Windows Vista" logo is a compatibility designation for programs and devices that have passed a rigorous testing program on computers that are running Windows Vista. The technical requirements for this designation target four core areas: reliability, security, compatibility with Windows Vista and future operating systems, and installation and removal.

Enable older programs to run in Windows Vista

Most programs that are written for Windows XP also work in Windows Vista. However, some older programs might run poorly or might not run at all. You can run programs that were written for earlier versions of Windows by using the program compatibility mode. If an older program does not run correctly, start the Program Compatibility Wizard to simulate earlier versions of Windows.

For more information about program compatibility, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-us/Help/bf416877-c83f-4476-a3da-8ec98dcf5f101033.mspx

Use Microsoft ACT to help you deploy Windows Vista

Note This section is intended for an advanced computer user.

The Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) 5.0 is a life-cycle management tool that assists in identifying and managing your overall application portfolio, reducing the cost and time involved in resolving application compatibility issues, and helping you quickly deploy Windows Vista and Windows Updates.

For more information about how to download and install the Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.0, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsvista/aa905102.aspxIf you have a software program that is not Windows Vista-compatible, you still may be able to make it run on Windows Vista by using the individual program's Compatibility tab. If that does not work, try one of the following resources. For more information about how to troubleshoot program compatibility, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

931362 Advanced methods to troubleshoot a program that does not run as expected after it is installed on Windows Vista

931360 How to troubleshoot program-incompatibility issues that may stop the Windows Vista Setup program

Learn more about the Windows Logo Program for independent software vendors

If you are an independent software vendor (ISV) and are interested in learning more about the "Certified for Windows Vista" and "Works with Windows Vista" logo programs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/winlogo/WLP30program.mspxIf you are interested in finding easy ways for your existing programs to work on Windows Vista and achieve the "Works with Windows Vista" designation, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsvista/aa904987.aspx