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Last week I started discussing what laptop users should know about upgrading to Microsoft's Windows Vista. I haven't done the upgrade myself, as I'm waiting for Sony (my notebook vendor) to send me Vista upgrade discs. Also, I'm not convinced Vista's advantages will outweigh the potential hassle of an operating system upgrade.

But to help those of you considering a Vista upgrade, I spoke with Phil Aldrich, Microsoft practice manager for systems integrator Dimension Data North America. Aldrich has been involved in upgrading thousands of notebooks to Windows Vista.

This week: What to expect with the two Vista upgrade paths, and the effect that this resource-intensive operating system has on notebook batteries.

Clean or In-Place Install?

Microsoft offers two Vista upgrade paths for Windows 2000 and later: a clean install or an in-place installation.

Note: Older versions of Windows don't qualify for Vista upgrades. You'll have to purchase the full version of Vista, as opposed to a less-expensive upgrade version. And, of course, you'll have to make sure your notebook meets Vista's hardware requirements--which might be problematic for older machines.

A clean install wipes your hard drive clean, then installs Vista. An in-place installation leaves your applications, drivers, and other files intact when installing Vista.

In Aldrich's experience, an in-place installation can be more time-consuming than a clean install. During an in-place installation, Vista often stops and requires you to manually uninstall any incompatible application or driver before proceeding. A clean install erases your hard drive, so it doesn't require you to manually uninstall applications and drivers.

Before going down either installation path, Aldrich recommends running Microsoft's Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor to ensure that the applications and device drivers (such as printer drivers) you rely on are Vista-compatible. The tool will provide you with a list of known or possible incompatibilities.

Aldrich warns that the tool often detects applications and drivers for which Vista compatibility is still unknown. In other words, Microsoft doesn't know if those apps or drivers will work with Vista.

When I scanned my notebook using the Upgrade Advisor, the tool couldn't find compatibility information on 11 devices, the majority of which were described cryptically as Intel "USB universal host controllers." I had no luck when I searched on those questionable devices at the Windows Marketplace, which the Upgrade Advisor recommends you check for the latest compatible drivers. I had better luck finding Vista-compatible drivers by copying and pasting the device names into a Google search.

Anyhow, after running the Upgrade Advisor, you should download any Vista-compatible drivers or software updates you'll need (and can find). Then burn them onto a CD or DVD for easy access later, Aldrich advises.

Next, use Windows XP's Files and Settings Transfer wizard to store your user settings and files to an external hard drive, so that you can restore them later once you've installed Vista. To access the wizard in XP, go to Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, File and Settings Transfer Wizard. Also, back up the rest of your files to an external hard drive or other media. After you've completed these steps, you're ready to install Vista.

Does Vista Slurp Battery Power Faster than XP?

Vista is a much more resource-intensive operating system than Windows XP. Even so, Vista is also more efficient at power management, Aldrich adds. As a result, average business users are likely to see only a small decrease in their notebook's battery's life.

To take full advantage of Vista (and Microsoft's Office 2007, which Aldrich says is the "best Office upgrade" yet), Aldrich recommends at least 1GB of memory and a hard drive that spins at 5400 rpm or faster. Some notebooks, particularly older models and ultraportables, have 4200-rpm hard drives. While they'll still work with Vista, you may notice a slower response time, compared to the response times you experienced with Windows XP.

Who Should Upgrade?

If you need advanced security or are having reliability issues with Windows XP, upgrading to Vista makes sense, Aldrich says. For average business users, Windows Vista Business is a good choice, he adds. But if you're satisfied with Windows XP and don't feel particularly drawn to Vista's interface and other enhancements, stick with XP for now.

For More Information

• Windows Vista & XP Info Center
• How to Install Windows Vista (video)
• Vista's New Security and Networking Features (video)
• Should You Upgrade to Vista? (video)
• Vista's Multimedia Features and Accessories
• Sign up for our Windows Vista newsletter
• Go Mobile With Windows Vista (Microsoft)

Have You Switched?

Are you using Vista on a notebook? If so, I'd like to hear from you. Did you upgrade from XP or buy a new notebook with Vista preloaded? What are the best things about Vista for mobile users, based on your experience? What are the drawbacks? Send me an e-mail with your name and the city or town you live in.