Tech tips

Tech tips - The Vista Windows Experience Index is a measurement of the capability of your computer to run Vista. If you are currently using vista, the Experience Index Score for your computer is accessible through the "Performance Information and Tools" icon in the control panel.

Every computer that has Vista installed will obtain a rating between 1 and 5.9; with 1 begin the lowest rating.

The ratings are based on your computer's processor, RAM, graphics, gaming graphics and primary hard disk. Each of these five categories is given a rating, and your machine's base score is determined by the lowest of these ratings, not an average of the five categories.

For example, the new laptop I have in front of me hast a CPU rating of 4.9, a RAM rating of 4.7, graphics rating of 3.5, gaming graphics of 3.5 and hard disk rating of 5.2, meaning that my overall score is 3.5, which rounds down to a score of 3. Not that high for a brand new machine.

Microsoft's breakdown of the base score goes something like this. A machine with a score of 1 or 2 can run Vista but just barely. You should be able to do the basics like surf the Internet or run a word processor, but you won't be able to run any of Vista's features.

Good news for me, a score of 3 means you can run Aero and other features, but again, just barely. (That is, it will run Aero if I also have a Directx 9-class graphics processor and at least 512MB of memory)

To run Vista with its full functionality, you need a score of 4 or 5.

So what is the purpose of this index? To me, this index has a dual purpose. The first being to give the user an idea of what components he would upgrade to get better performance from his machine.

In my example above, I would have to look at upgrading the graphics capability of my unit. The second purpose of the index is to allow you to match software with the capabilities of your machine. For example, I would look for software that indicates it will run on a machine with a base score of 3.

If you have an XP machine and you are considering upgrading to Vista, I highly recommend that you first download and install the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor available at www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/ Of course, you will have to install .net as part of this process. I ran this tool on an older laptop purchased in 2005.

The tool advised me that I could indeed upgrade to Vista but it recommended that upon doing so that I replace my video card. My current card apparently will not "support the Windows Aero user experience". Replacing the video card isn't an easy thing to do in this laptop!

It also advised me that I would have problems with my Nero software. In fact, it advised me that I would have to uninstall Nero before doing an upgrade.

I was very disappointed that the Advisor didn't give me a base score for this older machine. I wonder if it is a 1 or a 2? Oh well, this laptop won't be partaking in the Vista experience.

You can also use the upgrade advisor to determine if your machine currently running a version of Vista can run a more "powerful" version of Vista. I ran the advisor on a laptop running Vista Business and I was happy to read the report from the advisor that "Your Computer Can run Windows Vista" but that after installing Vista Microsoft recommends that I get a DVD-RW drive cause you need it to record DVD's! Helpful suggestion, thanks Bill.

I should mention something quirky that happened when I clicked the "update my score link" in the performance information and tools section (intended to be run after improving the hardware in your machine), my memory score went from 4.7 to 4.8. But, I didn't add more memory! Very interesting! My video card score didn't improve though, so I am still just a 3.

toddmusseau@gmail.com