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Windows Vista FAQ

Our ultimate guide to all of your Vista questions and answers.

PC World Staff

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Windows Vista FAQ

The long road to Windows Vista is nearing its end. Microsoft has finally released its latest OS to manufacturers, which are busily tuning drivers, updating software, and readying their first hardware and PCs to ship with Vista preinstalled.

Whether you plan to upgrade right away or prefer to hold off while the early adopters work out the kinks, our Windows Vista FAQ can help you finalize your Vista plans. We've collected answers to every important Vista question we could think of, and we'll continue to update this FAQ with more details as Vista rolls out. In the meantime, check in at the forum thread below with your own Vista questions, and we'll see if we can dig up the answers.

And here are links to more informative PC World Windows Vista stories and video.

In addition, for more Vista information, tips, and answers to Frequently Asked Questions, subscribe to PC World's Windows Vista newsletter.

The Basics
Q. What are Windows Vista's system requirements?
Q. What's next after Vista?
And more...
Vista Versions
Q. What's with all these different versions of Vista?
Q. If I get one version, can I upgrade to a different one later?
And more...
Windows Vista and Windows XP
Q. Can I make Vista look like an old version of Windows?
Q. Does the release of Vista mean that Microsoft will cut off support for Windows XP, as it did for Windows 98 and other old OSs?
And more...
User Interface
Q. Will Aero make me more productive, or is it just fluff?
Q. How do I enable or disable Aero effects?
And more...
Windows Explorer
Q. So it's all about search now?
Q. What makes navigation easier in Vista? What is a breadcrumb trail?
And more...
Security
Q. How do I customize the Windows Firewall to allow certain apps to bypass it?
Q. I hear that User Account Controls (UACs) are pretty annoying. Is that true?
And more...
Internet Explorer
Q. Is IE safe to use again?
Q. I like Firefox just fine. Is there any reason to switch back?
And more...
Vista Hardware
Q. What is the Windows Experience Index?
Q. What specs must a USB flash drive possess in order to work with ReadyBoost?
And more...
Networking
Q. Has setting up a network gotten any easier?
Q. How good is wireless network security under Vista?
And more...
Multimedia
Q. What's new in Windows Media Center?
Q. Will Vista play HD-DVDs and Blu-ray discs?
And more...
Apps and Utilities
Q. What does the Sync Center do?
Q. Has Windows come up with apps to match those in Apple's iLife suite?
And more...
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