Ron Schenone

Microsoft Windows Vista – Do You Need To Buy A Book On How To Install And Use Vista?

Posted by on Apr 30, 2007 | 2 Comments

I received a subscription newsletter from Amazon yesterday and several of the recommendations were for books written about Vista, specifically about how to install Vista and/or using the new operating system. Prices for the titles listed ranged in price from $19.95 to $29.95 depending on the publication. This got me thinking. Does installing and using Vista require a user to spend more money on a book, or is there sufficient free information on the Internet to take care of this?

If you are buying a new computer the part about installing Vista is moot since your system will come preinstalled with the operating system. But for those considering a upgrade, installing Vista could present some challenges but I think they are fairly simple challenges.

Microsoft has gone through great lengths to help those who are considering taking the plunge. They have listed on their site the steps to take including using the upgrade advisor and also how to determine which version is right for you. Upgrade information is here.

Next you will need to decide whether you wish to upgrade over a previous of Windows or do a clean install. Here is a great article that explains how to use a upgrade version of Vista to do a clean install, if you wish to chose this option. Take a look here.

So you have made it this far. How about a manual to take you through some of the hoops of Vista? We have a free one of those as well. Microsoft has a Vista manual ready for downloading here. These are about 300 page manuals and are a fairly good source of reference.

So there you have it. And if you need more information, doing a Google will provide you with as much information as you can handle. Enjoy.
[tags]microsoft, windows, vista, guide, google, [/tags]

  • marc klink

    1] Your link for the manual in pdf format is not valid

    2] I have found, since the days of DOS that a manual frequently is necessary, as sometimes [read nearly always] the online help is not all that helpful [MS frequently has help files only half a step above Award Bios Help messages]. Yes, I realize that there is help on the internet, and from other sources, but I like to hold a book in my hand, and I imagine I am not alone. I remember when MS [and others] placed a real written manual in the software box that people would buy, along with those [at the time] little floppies of the program. In a time when everyone is trying every way to economize [read be cheap] in software production, I can’t help but believe that customer perception of real VALUE would be immensely elevated if some of the most expensive software we have ever seen, like Vista and Office 2007, would include one of these manuals.

    All the software manufacturers tell us of all the wonderful things that the latest software will do for us, but then don’t bother to expound on it with a small bound manual.

    One last thing…when you have a problem that precludes your machine from accessing the internet, that printed manual will sure come in handy, since not everyone has 9 computers in the house as I do.

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hi Marc,
    Thanks for letting me know about the link. Looks like it may have been pulled from the server.

    If I find another copy, I’ll repost it later.

    I agee that manuals are nice. I guess my reasoning is that they are nice, but often not necessary.

    9 computers? Sounds like you might be the ideal candidate for Home Server. :-)

    Later, Ron