Hiya, I'm sorry If I've posted in the wrong category. I'm rather a 'novice' when it comes to Computers. I have the necessary requirements to use a computer to a certain aspect within my Job criteria, although most of it is Jargon.

I've recently made a decision to upgrade from Windows XP to the forthcoming Windows Vista Ultimate Edition. Only due to the fact, the company I work for have invested in having the entire network upgraded with the latest operating system. I know change can be a good thing, however I absolutely dread it, especially when its computer related.

Well, my laptop in work will also be upgraded and luckily enough by the Tech Team! However, I have also been advised to upgrade my personal laptop to avoid conflicts with applications and transfering data to computer to computer. The company are supplying all clients complemnetary with the necessary 'OEM Version of Windows Vista Ultimate' free. The only hassle is we have to perform the upgrade without any additional help because its our ‘Personal’ possession, and it's rather ludicrous especially when your a novice at computers.

If someone would please help a 'damsel in distress', it would be much appreciated. I've been notified by a friend that I had to check my laptop for compatible 'drivers', in preparation for the upgrade so the device runs smoothly and efficiently. Fair play, he helped a fair bit until it became complex for him as well as myself. Eventually he advised me, before I became too stressed and end up trashing the laptop to post for advice on this forum with the listed 'drivers' in hope that maybe the 'Top Techs' could be my hero and resolve my situation.

I swear one day that next time I shall purchase one of those 'Windows Vista for Dummies', before my company thinks I'm out with the ark with Computing. lol. OK, what I've done so far, I've run a gizmo 'Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor', and it has given me a list of incompatible drivers. I've tried to the best of my ability to try and find these drivers using search engines to save the required drivers to my hard drive and later burn to a disc until the release of Vista.

Here's a list of the incompatible drivers:-Crystal WDM AC'97 Driver for ICH4

• AIM 3.0 Part 01 Codec Driver CH-7017-A
• AIM 3.0 Part 01 Codec Driver CH-7017-B
• Intel® Graphics Chipset (KCH) Driver
• Intel® Graphics Platform (SoftBIOS) Driver

This driver it said there were no issues with but with this message: If you disable automatic updating during Windows Vista installation, go to the Windows Update website after installation to get the latest driver for this device.

• Intel® 82845G Graphics Controller

My friend also informed me that I should post my laptop details, it's a little old however I have a work laptop accept it's limited that I find rather hard and complex to work with so I prefer to use mine when it comes to 'home/office'.

Manufacturer: SAMSUNG Electronics
Model: SENS V20
CPU: Intel® Pentium® 4 CPU 2.00GHz
Memory: 512.00 MB
Hard Disk Drives: "C" - 14.44 GB Free (30.00 GB Total)

I would much appreciate your help, any feedback and advice is always appreciated.

Thanks ever so much,
Rebecca

Hello and welcome to the forum,

Firstly, thanks for the detailed post.
Looking at the specs for your home laptop and looking at the recommended specs for running Vista Ultimate Edition I would advise you to stick with XP.

You didn't mention your laptops graphics capabilities, ie A separate graphics card or onboard graphics. Use this if you need to find out.

Also, note the free hard disk requirements, 15GB versus your 14.44GB!

It would be a lot to expect your system to run Vista Ultimate, and it would more than likely slow the performance down a good bit.

Has the upgrade advisor program mentioned anything about your systems ability to run Vista?

Well, I recently had the 'RAM' upgraded from 256MB to 512MB recently and the Hard Drive is now 40GB .

The Graphics I've been told are 64MB Shared, and the Tech who upgraded the laptop explained that I would't be able to 'experience' the aero theme, but should be able to take Vista Ultimate. Although the theme doesn't matter to me, as long as it displays something lol.

But you know what these 'high street techs' are like, always there to take a quick buck off the novists. I paid in total for the 512MB upgrade, and 40GB Hard Drive around £90 with a re-installation of Windows XP. He's a friend of the family, and I also part exchanged the 256MB and the 20GB Hard Drive...

Before I run the advistor with the previous spec, It said the Vista would't be able to run. However after the upgrade It now says its able to run vista, however I need to resolve the issues with the 'Drivers' etc.

Thanks again for your time and effort, it's much appreciated