Last week I talked about the reasons why some of you might--or might not--want to do a Vista upgrade. This week I've got more Vista info for you.

First up are two useful tidbits: an activation workaround that might make your life with Vista a little easier, and then a really smart trick for a clean upgrade.

Next I'll move on to a couple of articles that address Vista security and bugs, and I'll give you the scoop on a book I'll be using as soon as I install the OS.

Do You Need to Activate Vista?

It's a good question and one my buddy Brian Livingston answers. He says it's possible to avoid activating Vista for a year or so; Microsoft, of course, is yelling foul. First, read "Run Vista Legally Without Activation for a Year" for background.

With that info under your belt, take a look at Brian's thorough explanation.

A Squeaky Clean Vista Upgrade

Brian's been on the Vista bandwagon ever since he and Paul Thurrott wrote their Vista Secrets book. He's doing a good job getting users up to speed. For instance, in a recent Windows Secrets newsletter, Brian explains how to get around a Vista upgrade annoyance: Using the Vista upgrade means you need a copy of XP or 2000 already on the hard drive. That's crazy, because some users (and I'm one) want to do a clean Vista installation without taking along XP's baggage.

Brian says that he's tested an undocumented upgrade feature in Vista that lets you do a clean install--without needing a copy of XP or 2000 on the drive, or even having an XP CD.

He told me that there are a few steps in the process where most Windows users would be unsure how to proceed. So he obsessively worked by trial and error until he found a reliable solution. Take a look at the instructions.

Important: A few people have run into difficulties when using Brian's procedure. He says it's very important to follow the instructions exactly. You must not activate the operating system when you first install it. Only after you run the upgrade over the originally installed operating system should you activate it.

Once you've activated a copy of Vista, you can't activate another copy of the same product. (Unless you call Microsoft's telephone number for activation and explain that you made a mistake, and would they please give you a code to activate the product again. And who wants to do that?)

Dig This: If you need a laugh, watch this hysterical 16 seconds of panda fun on YouTube. I'll guarantee you watch it more than once.

Vista Security Issues

One of Vista's appealing features is its User Account Control, which lets you handle administrative chores without having to go through the rigmarole of logging in as an administrator. In terms of security, it's a great idea.

Symantec says it can be spoofed; Microsoft says that's not an issue. Read "Vista's UAC Warnings Can't Be Trusted, Symantec Says" to get a grasp on the situation.

I haven't used Windows XP's firewall for many reasons--including the fact that there's no outbound security, and unlike Zone Labs' Zone Alarm Free or Sunbelt's Kerio Personal Firewall, I can't fiddle and create rules to block, say, GIFs from e-mail. So it didn't come as a surprise that Vista's two-way filtering isn't so hot, either. Read "Analysis: New Windows Vista Firewall Fails on Outbound Security" for details.

Dig This: Have you ever wondered why women pay less for auto insurance? I think this commercial answers the question.

Vista Bugs and Fixes

This one's funny: A senior security program manager at Microsoft suggests that Microsoft's Security Response Center is too conservative when rating Vista's bugs (see "Microsoft Guru Wants Vista Bugs Rated Less Serious"). You'd think they'd want to play it safe, right? I wonder if this has anything to do with the lack of Microsoft security patches last week. You can read about two high-priority patches in "Microsoft Releases Two Vista Fixes."

Yet Another Take on Vista

In addition to Brian Livingston's 647-page Vista Secrets, there's another excellent book out there: Windows Vista Inside Out, by Ed Bott, Carl Siechert, and Craig Stinson. It's a 1000-page tome that I think gets deep into Vista workings, and it's the book I'll use most often.

Tune in again next week, when I wrap up my Vista extravaganza with candid opinions from PC World editors and readers.

Steve Bass writes PC World's monthly "Hassle-Free PC" column and is the author of PC Annoyances, 2nd Edition: How to Fix the Most Annoying Things About Your Personal Computer, available from O'Reilly. He also writes PC World's daily Tips & Tweaks blog. Sign up to have Steve's newsletter e-mailed to you each week. Comments or questions? Send Steve e-mail.