Windows Vista Uprade

[shylock73]

I only have 13.12GB and need 15GB to upgrade or I can use :D: disc drive. The thing is: How do I do that? Please advise in easy understandable, step by step steps, as if you are explaining to your grandpappy, ta much, TIA (I am `74` you know.....)

[LeMarchand]

What is your "D" drive? Normally it is either a CD/DVD drive (no use as Vista storage) or a recovery partition (used to restore your computer to "shop-bought" state). It may be neither of these!

[Ethel]

My laptop has a D drive - it is a large partition which can be used in the same way as my C

My recovery drive is E

Please:
Start - My Computer
Hover over C (or right click - properties) and tell us how much used space and how much free space you have.
Do the same with D.

You will need 1gb of RAM as a bare minimum to run Vista - does your machine have this?

[shylock73]

Thankyou both for a quick reply, the following is what you have asked me for. `C` total 29.9 Free...13.1
`D` 150GB.....Free....128GB
Ram.... ???? How do I find that please?

[Ethel]

You have a massive amount of free space on your D drive, which is encouraging.

You should have a Windows key next to, or very near, your space bar. Mine is inbetween the Ctrl and Alt keys.

Press that and the Pause Break key (top right of keyboard) together and your System Properties will pop up.

Mine says 2GB RAM towards the bottom.

[shylock73]

Hi Ethel, mine says 1.81GHz 448MB of RAM

[LeMarchand]

You'll need more RAM! Is it a laptop or a "normal" computer?

[shylock73]

Normal PC

[shylock73]

Will be back later.

[LeMarchand]

A couple of more questions:

Is "D" a separate drive or a partition? (Right-click "My Computer" and select Manage>Disk Management)

What is on the "D" drive?

[shylock73]

Data (D) Partition Basic NTFC Healthy 150.30

[vehelpfulguy]

If you are upgrading a laptop from Windows XP to Vista can I suggest you DONT do it.

An XP to Vista upgrade does not always go correctly and can corrupt your whole hard disk and you will lose everythiong.

If your laptop is a few years old it will probably not be powerful enough to run Vista and it will be very sluggish.

It may also be that some drivers for your laptop are not available so some components on your laptop will not work afterwards (maybe the sound for example).

If you really want vista by a new pc or laptop, that is the best way to get it.

[LeMarchand]

From the sounds of it you have one physical drive partitioned into two, with all the spare space on the partition that doesn't hold your operating system. If your Vista disc is an "upgrade" disc, it will normally need to be installed on the same drive as your existing Windows installation - which (I suspect) is the drive that does not have enough space. Factor in the insufficient RAM and the various other possible hardware problems an upgrade might throw up, and I would say that you would probably be best off not attempting to perform such an upgrade yourself. (From your description of your computer skills).

This is not to say that your system is not going to work with Vista, but that it would probably require someone who really knows what they are doing to perform the upgrade. Whilst I'm sure everyone here would be happy to help, there is a limit to how helpful we can be in a "question and answer" situation.

As vehelpfulguy says, you will find it easier to buy a new Vista machine. On the other hand, if this is a "spare" machine and the upgrade is a project rather than something you need to do I always find that the best way to learn how to do things is to give them a go - just be warned that you may end up with a brick!

If I was to attempt the upgrade, I would install more RAM, make an image of your drive, repartition the space, then upgrade to Vista and search for Vista drivers. Some of this would involve some software that you probably don't have, and would possibly need help to use.

[shylock73]

I`ll call in an expert I think, it all goes over my head. Thanks all.

[Ethel]

If you live near Dudley I'll gladly do it for you. :)