Upgrading to Windows Vista

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Upgrading to Windows Vista

Introduction

This Windows Vista™ upgrade kit lets you update your computer’s operating system from Windows XP to an equivalent version of Microsoft’s newest operating system, Windows Vista.

Your upgrade kit contains two discs:

•

Windows Vista™ Express Upgrade DVD (to install the operating system)

•

Drivers and Applications Upgrade DVD (to install Windows Vista-capable device drivers and factory-installed software)

Upgrading in three easy steps

Upgrading to Windows Vista involves three main steps:

1

Preparing your system for the Windows Vista upgrade (page 2)

2

Installing Windows Vista (page 4)

3

Updating software and device drivers to Windows Vista-capable versions (page 5)

Prepare

Install

Update

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Preparing for the upgrade

Deciding the type of upgrade

Before starting the upgrade, you should decide on the type of upgrade you will perform:

•

Reformat before upgrade (strongly recommended)

This is the upgrade method we recommend for most users, because of its simplicity and low potential for file conflicts. This method reformats (erases everything off) your hard drive before installing Windows Vista. You should also use this method if:

•

Your computer has no operating system.

•

You do not want to install over Windows XP (to avoid potential file conflicts).

•

It is not possible for you to upgrade over Windows XP (because of file conflicts).

•

You want to install Windows Vista on a specific hard drive partition (for advanced users).

•

Install upgrade over Windows XP

This method installs Windows Vista on top of your current Windows XP files and should let you keep your data files, settings, and installed programs. This does not reformat the hard drive first, so it replaces only those files that are related to operating Windows Vista.

Using this method, you can run a “compatibility check” to determine whether your system is ready to be upgraded. Although it is not required that you first back up your personal files, we recommend that you do.

Preparing your computer for the upgrade

To prepare your computer for the upgrade:

1

Have your Windows Vista™ Express Upgrade DVD and Drivers and Applications Upgrade DVD ready. (These DVDs came in your upgrade kit.)

2

Find the 25-character Windows product key in your Windows Vista upgrade kit.

3

If your computer is on a network and you want it to stay on the same network after you upgrade, make note of your computer’s network name. To find your computer’s network name, click Start, My Computer, View system information, then click the Computer Name tab.

4

If you would like to later have the option of reinstalling Windows XP on your computer, you should create a backup disc for the Windows XP device drivers and software that came with your computer. For instructions, see “Appendix A: Creating a Windows XP Drivers and

Caution

This method deletes all of your current software, personal data files, and system settings, so you must back up all of your personal files before starting this upgrade method.

Important

Because the hidden area on your hard drive used for Windows XP Recovery uses storage space, we recommend that you re-partition and format the entire drive (including the hidden Recovery partition) before installing Windows Vista. Reformatting the drive provides the maximum amount of usable hard drive space.

Caution

If you have enabled TPM in your computer’s BIOS settings, disable it before running the Windows Vista installation, or the installation program may stop responding before it finishes. To determine whether TPM is enabled, follow instructions in your computer’s Reference Guide to open your computer’s BIOS Setup utility.

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Preparing for the upgrade

6

Check www.support.gateway.com or www.emachines.com/support for any system BIOS updates, and install them (if available). On the Web site, you need to enter your computer’s serial number or select your computer’s model number to check for any updates.

7

If you want a clean installation of Windows Vista and want to erase your hard drive before upgrading (recommended), then you are done with preparing your computer for the upgrade. Go to “Installing the upgrade” on page 4.

- OR -

If you are installing Windows Vista over Windows XP, continue with the following instructions for removing outdated software and drivers and for updating software to the latest versions.

8

Uninstall the following applications if they are installed:

•

Norton Internet Security

•

Norton Antivirus

•

Symantec Client Security

•

LiveUpdate

•

LiveReg

•

Wave ETS - Gateway Edition

•

Nero OEM

•

InCD

•

DVD Solution

•

Power2Go 4.0

•

PowerDVD

•

Digital Media Reader

•

Sigmatel Audio

To uninstall these applications:

a

Click Start, Control Panel, then click Add or Remove Programs. The Add or Remove Programs dialog box opens.

b

Click the program name, then click Change/Remove and follow the on-screen instructions to finish the uninstall. You can reinstall Windows Vista-capable software versions after the upgrade is complete.

9

If you use America Online (AOL), update AOL by downloading Windows Vista-capable AOL software (AOL VR) from www.aol.com, then use the new version to connect to the Internet.

10

If you use McAfee SecurityCenter, open it, then click Updates and follow the on-screen instructions.

11

Install the latest Windows XP versions for your other non-Gateway or non-eMachines applications and device drivers (except for the software and drivers you have uninstalled in Step 8 above). You can often find updates (if available) on the software publisher’s Web site. For technical support of non-Gateway or non-eMachines software, you must contact the software publisher.

12

Install the latest Windows XP operating system updates. While your computer is connected to the Internet, click Start, All Programs, Accessories, then click Windows Update and follow the on-screen instructions (if any).

13

Click Start, Turn Off Computer, then click Restart. Your computer restarts.

Important

You should follow the remaining steps in this procedure only if you are installing Windows Vista over Windows XP.

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Installing the upgrade

14

When Found New Hardware Wizard windows appear after restarting Windows, click Cancel to close each of them.

15

You are done with preparing your computer for the Windows Vista upgrade. Go to

“Installing the upgrade” on page 4.

Installing the upgrade

To install the Windows Vista upgrade:

1

Insert the Windows Vista™ Express Upgrade DVD into your computer’s optical drive. The Windows Vista setup wizard should run automatically. If it does not run automatically, click Start, Run, Browse, then find and run the setup.exe file on the DVD.

The Install Windows window opens.

2

If you are installing Windows Vista over Windows XP (not reformatting the hard drive first), you should run the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor, which can alert you to software and hardware conflicts that should be resolved before starting the upgrade. For instructions, see “Appendix C: Running the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor” on page 8.

3

In the Install Windows window, click Install now. The Which type of installation do you want? window opens.

4

If you are erasing your hard drive before upgrading to Windows Vista (recommended), click Custom (advanced).

- OR -

If you are installing Windows Vista over Windows XP, click Upgrade, then click Go online to get the latest updates.

Important

If you do not click Cancel to close the Found New Hardware Wizard windows, Windows XP will reinstall drivers that you have just uninstalled, and you will need to uninstall those drivers before continuing with the upgrade.

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Updating software and device drivers

To update software and device drivers to Windows Vista-capable versions:

1

If you erased your hard drive before upgrading (a “clean” install), you need to re-install America Online (AOL) if you want to use it for accessing the Internet. For instructions, see

“Appendix D: Upgrading America Online (AOL)” on page 9.

2

Install any updated Windows Vista drivers. For updating the Sigmatel Audio drivers, follow the Technical Support Web site instructions on page 6.

To install updated drivers using the menu screens on the Drivers and Applications Upgrade DVD that came in your Windows Vista upgrade kit (recommended):

a

Insert the Drivers and Applications Upgrade DVD into the optical drive. Recovery Center opens.

b

Click Device driver recovery, then click the category of device driver you want to install.

c

Click the device driver to install, then click Next. The device driver is installed.

- OR -

To install driver updates from the Internet:

a

Make sure that your computer is connected to the Internet.

b

Click (Start), Control Panel, System and Maintenance, System, then click Device Manager. The Device Manager opens. Any device that does not have a current Windows Vista driver has a yellow exclamation point on the device’s icon.

c

Right-click the device’s icon, click Update driver software, Search automatically for updated driver software, then click OK. Your computer searches for the updated driver on the Internet, then installs it.

Important

Throughout this process, if a dialog box appears asking for your permission to continue, click Allow or Continue.

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Updating software and device drivers

- OR -

To install driver updates by using the Device Manager to find specific files on the Drivers and Applications Upgrade DVD:

a

Insert the Drivers and Applications Upgrade DVD into the optical drive.

b

Click (Start), Control Panel, System and Maintenance, System, then click Device Manager. The Device Manager opens. Any device that does not have a current Windows Vista driver has a yellow exclamation point on the device’s icon.

c

Right-click the device’s icon, click Update Driver Software, Browse my computer for driver software, then select the drive your DVD is in and click Next. Your computer searches on the Drivers and Applications Upgrade DVD for the updated driver, then installs it.

- OR -

To install driver updates from Gateway or eMachines’ Technical Support Web site:

a

Make sure that your computer is connected to the Internet.

b

Connect to www.support.gateway.com or www.emachines.com/support.

c

For a Gateway computer, enter your computer’s serial number, click Submit, then click Driver Downloads.

d

For an eMachines computer, click Product Support and Downloads, select your computer’s model number, then click Downloads.

e

Click the driver download you need, then follow the on-screen instructions to install it.

3

Re-install all software that is still missing or is no longer working. If you erased your hard drive before upgrading (a “clean” install), you also need to restore your personal data files.

To re-install all factory-installed Gateway or eMachines software:

a

Insert the Drivers and Applications Upgrade DVD into the optical drive. Recovery Center starts automatically. If Recovery Center does not start automatically, click Start, Run, Browse, then run the \GRC\Grc_Vista.exe file on the DVD.

b

Click Application recovery.

c

A window opens that displays a list of available software. For playing DVDs, we recommend that you install the new version of PowerDVD available in this menu.

d

Click the software that you want to install, then click Next. The software is installed.

Perform these steps for each of the applications you are installing.

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Appendix A: Creating a Windows XP Drivers and Applications Recovery Disc

To re-install non-Gateway or non-eMachines software:

•

Use the original install discs to re-install the software, then install any available Windows Vista updates for those applications. You can often find updates on that software publisher’s Web site. For technical support of non-Gateway or non-eMachines software, you must contact the software publisher.

•

If you used Symantec security software in Windows XP and want to continue using it, contact Symantec for Windows Vista-capable versions.

•

If you used McAfee SecurityCenter in Windows XP and want to continue using it, you should update McAfee to version 7.2 or later. To update it, open McAfee

SecurityCenter, then click Updates and follow the on-screen instructions.

To restore your personal data files:

a

Copy your personal files from your backup media to your hard drive.

Congratulations! You have successfully upgraded your computer to Windows Vista!

Appendix A: Creating a Windows XP Drivers and Applications Recovery Disc

In case you need to later restore your Windows XP installation (for example, if you experience difficulties while upgrading to Windows Vista and want to return to Windows XP), create a Drivers and Applications Recovery Disc for your computer’s original Windows XP operating system.

To create a Drivers and Applications Recovery Disc for Windows XP:

1

Make sure that you have blank discs ready. Depending on the type of recordable drive your computer has, you need either several CD-R discs or one DVD-R or DVD+R disc.

2

Click Start, All Programs, System Recovery, then click Create My

Drivers-Applications CD(s). A message asks you if you want to “Burn ISO” (record recovery discs) or “Create ISO” (copy the files to a drive).

3

Click Burn ISO. The Recovery CD/DVD Creator dialog box opens.

4

Click Start Creation. A message tells you the number of blank discs that are required for the recovery disc set.

5

Click the type of recordable disc you want to use.

6

Make sure that you have the appropriate number and type of blank discs, then insert a blank disc into the recordable drive.

7

Click OK. The program prepares the recovery files, then records the recovery files to the blank disc(s).

8

If a message tells you to insert another blank disc, remove the completed disc, then insert a blank disc.

9

When you see the message “The Recovery ISO Image has been created successfully,”

remove the last disc from the drive, then click OK.

10

Return to Step 5 on page 2.

Important

If you experience problems with software or device drivers after upgrading to Windows Vista, we recommend that you uninstall the software or driver and install a new version compatible with Windows Vista.

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Appendix B: Backing up your files

Back up all of your personal files onto something other than the hard drive that you are installing Windows Vista to. You can back up to writable CDs or DVDs (the most common type of backup), a removable or external drive, a backup tape, or a network location.

To back up files:

1

Click Start, then click My Computer. The My Computer window opens.

2

Right-click the drive that you want to back up, click Properties, then click the Tools tab.

3

Click Backup Now, then follow the on-screen instructions to select a backup storage location and the files and folders to back up.

4 Appendix C: Running the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor

To run the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor:

1

In the Windows Vista setup program window, click Check compatibility online.

2

Follow the on-screen instructions for downloading, installing, and running the Upgrade Advisor. After the Upgrade Advisor finishes checking your computer, the Scan complete window opens.

Help

For more information about backing up files, see your computer’s Reference Guide, or click Start, then click Help and Support. Type backups in the Search Help box, then press ENTER.

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Appendix D: Upgrading America Online (AOL)

3

Click See Details. The results screen tells you whether your computer can run

Windows Vista and whether your computer has driver or software problems that need to be resolved before upgrading.

4

If the compatibility check finds driver problems, fix them before starting the Windows Vista upgrade.

•

To fix driver problems, click Devices, then follow the directions that appear in the Action Required column for the listed problem.

•

To fix software problems, click Programs, then uninstall or update the software that is not Vista ready.

5 Appendix D: Upgrading America Online (AOL)

To install AOL:

1

Insert the Drivers and Applications Upgrade DVD into the optical drive. Recovery Center starts automatically. If Recovery Center does not start automatically, click Start, Run, Browse, then run the \GRC\Grc_Vista.exe file on the DVD.

2

Click Application recovery. A window opens that displays a list of available software.

3

Click America Online, then click Next. The software is installed.

4 Trademarks

Gateway and the Black-and-White Spot Design are trademarks or registered trademarks of Gateway, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Intel, Intel Inside logo, and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation. Microsoft, MS, Windows Vista, and Windows are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other product names mentioned herein are used for identification purposes only, and may be the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

MAN VISTA UPGRADE INST R0 02/07