Why Upgrade to Vista?

Get Set

Next, you need to prep your existing machine. This used to be the expert-only stuff of finding drivers, comparing software and sussing out dubious sites looking for bits of experience.

Now, however, Microsoft makes an excellent upgrade preparation tool, the Vista Upgrade Advisor. Simply download and run the tool, and you get a clear, printable list of what you need to do both for hardware and software.

Just follow the instructions: Delete all the programs that won't work; follow the links to the drivers you will need to update your new equipment. Make sure all your hardware is installed and ready to go (yes, you can easily install RAM and video cards yourself).

Then clean up and organize your files into fresh directories -- upgrades are a great excuse to clean house -- and back them up in an easy-to-find spot.

A good set of fresh CDs is preferable. It's always best to have solid media backup of your most important files, both for this upgrade and in case of future emergencies.

If you want to be really safe, look for alternative upgrade tools from your computer maker. I ran my Dell upgrade application to be doubly sure.

Go!

Finally, insert the system disk and press upgrade. Don't do the "Clean Install" option unless the upgrade management software requires you to.

And that, my friends, is that.

Your new Vista operating system will install. It will offer you the chance to build your own partition, which is not a bad idea for backing up your files. Then sit back and let Vista do the work. If my experience was any indication, you will find most of your drivers will set up by themselves, as will your peripherals and other hardware.

Of course, you are still dealing with a Microsoft product. It's slow and expensive. My own upgrade took well over four hours. But I noodled around with all sorts of features that you won't have to, so it should be shorter for you. I also spent more than $700 on hardware to run about $600 worth of software -- but I do have my geek rep to protect.

Believe me when I say you can do this. And at the end of the day, you will have what amounts to a new computer for $235 for a basic machine and $450 for a decently powered unit.

That's not bad.

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