Chapter 1

Installing Windows Vista

Windows Vista Editions Overview

In the first chapter we will talk about preparing for the transition to a new operating system (OS) and the process of installing it. You will learn what requirements your computer hardware must meet to support Windows Vista, what versions of Windows Vista exist, and you will be able to choose the most suitable one for yourself. Installing Windows Vista will be considered in two options: both as the only one and as a second OS while maintaining the previous version of Windows on your computer. In the final section of the chapter, you will learn about a tool for transferring files and settings from the old OS to the new one, which allows you to quickly restore your familiar working environment on the updated computer.

Hardware requirements for installing Windows Vista

Windows Vista has enough high requirements to computer hardware. To ensure the new OS runs smoothly on your computer, make sure it meets the following requirements and, if necessary, upgrade components that are lacking in capacity or performance.

To support all the new features of Windows Vista (primarily the Windows Aero style), your computer must have the following components:

Processor with clock frequency not less than 1 GHz;

RAM of at least 1 GB;

Note

When installing two memory sticks of 512 and 256 MB, giving a total of 768 MB, and the remaining components shown in this list, the Windows Aero interface will be fully supported.

A DirectX 9-class video card with support for a WDDM driver, Pixel Shader 2.0 texture builders, 32-bit color depth and at least 128 MB of video memory;

A hard drive with a capacity of at least 40 GB and free space of at least 15 GB for installing Windows Vista (you use the rest of the space to install programs, store images, video files and documents that will accumulate while working on the computer);

DVD drive, since the Windows Vista distribution comes on DVD; in the future it will also be useful to you in your work for recording and reading DVDs;

Modem for connecting to the Internet (its specification depends on what type of connection you are going to use);

Sound card and speakers for sound playback. Modern motherboards have a built-in audio adapter. Its capabilities are quite sufficient.

If, in order to avoid buying expensive hardware, you are willing to give up some of the innovations of Windows Vista (in particular, the Windows Aero interface), you can install it on a computer that is less powerful than the one described above, but it must also meet certain minimum requirements:

Processor with a clock frequency of at least 800 MHz;

RAM of at least 512 MB;

Video adapter compatible with DirectX 9;

Hard drive with at least 15 GB of free space;

DVD drive.

Windows Vista Editions Overview

Taking into account the interests of various user groups, Microsoft has released several versions of Windows Vista to the market. They differ in the set of capabilities and, accordingly, in cost. This section compares versions of Windows Vista so you can choose the option that suits your needs.

There are six versions of Windows Vista: Windows Vista Starter, Windows Vista Home Basic, Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Ultimate, Windows Vista Enterprise. IN this list releases are arranged in order of increasing functionality (and cost). More simple versions Windows Vista is obtained by reducing the capabilities of the most complete edition available to a wide range of users - Windows Vista Ultimate.

Windows Vista Starter

This version is the most primitive version of Windows Vista, designed for low-income users. It lacks the Windows Aero interface and some other innovations. Windows Vista Starter supports the following components:

New indexed system for searching and organizing files;

Enhanced security features: firewall, Windows Update, Windows Defender against spyware and other unwanted programs, user account control, which prevents unauthorized changes to system settings (which can be carried out by malware);

A new version of the Internet Explorer 7 browser with improved security features, support for working with web channels, tabs and an Internet search bar;

New version mail client Windows Mail;

Synchronization Center, with which you can quickly synchronize your computer with external devices;

Center for Accessibility, with the help of which people with limited vision and other physical disabilities can configure the most appropriate interface settings and sound for what is happening on the screen;

Functions parental controls, which allows you to limit the time children spend at the computer, as well as their visits to certain Internet sites, launching games and programs;

Network and Sharing Center, with which you can quickly set up any network connection with an increased level of security and monitor its status; in addition, from now on you can get faster and easier access to network resources (files and devices);

Windows Photo Album, a new program for organizing, viewing and editing images;

Windows Media Player 11 is a program for listening to music and watching videos.

Windows Vista Home Basic

This version of Windows Vista is a basic version, it is aimed at home users with low-power computers. Like Windows Vista Starter, it lacks support for Windows Aero style, some multimedia features and business solutions. To the above list of innovations in Windows Vista Starter, in the case of Windows Vista Home Basic, you can add the following:

Built-in tool for transferring files and settings from an old computer;

Expanded capabilities for sharing files and folders over a local network;

Archiving files stored on the computer to avoid their loss if failures occur.

Windows Vista Home Premium

This version is also designed for home users, however, in addition to the components listed above, it already includes support for the following parameters:

Elegant Windows Aero style;

New programs for working with multimedia: Windows Media Center and Windows DVD Studio;

Expanded capabilities for working with mobile devices and tablet PCs;

Expanded data archiving capabilities (in this version of Windows Vista, network and scheduled archiving are available).

Windows Vista Business

This version is aimed at use in institutions and business organizations. It includes the Windows Meeting Room program, which allows you to organize collaboration and distribute documents between users over the network. There are also additional options for setting up and working on the network, using faxes, scanners, archiving files (Windows Vista Business supports previous versions of files and creating an archive image of the entire Complete PC system) and encryption support file system.

Unlike Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Business did not include the multimedia programs Windows Media Center and Windows DVD Maker.

Windows Vista Ultimate

This version of Windows Vista is the most complete in terms of the number of features, aimed at a wide range of users. It combines all the features mentioned above for one version or another, and also includes a new data protection technology - BitLocker drive encryption. Install this version if you want to try out all the new features of Windows Vista.

Windows Vista Enterprise

This edition is intended for large organizations with complex computing infrastructure and is available only to Microsoft corporate partners. This version is not commercially available. Windows Vista Enterprise provides support for all interface languages, BitLocker data encryption technology, built-in tools that improve application compatibility with previous versions of Windows, and a subsystem for UNIX applications. Windows Vista Enterprise also comes with a license to run four virtual operating system sessions that can run legacy applications built for previous versions of Windows that are not compatible with Windows Vista.

Attention!

For complete coverage of the capabilities of Windows Vista this book was written based on the version of Windows Vista Ultimate. If you install one of the smaller versions on your computer, you will not be able to test some of the features described in practice, so I recommend choosing the Windows Vista Ultimate version.

Operating system installation

If you've ever had to install one of the previous versions of Windows on your computer, then when you install Windows Vista, you will be pleasantly surprised that the entire process is carried out in graphic mode and takes relatively little time. In addition, all versions of Windows Vista are now located on one disk and you simply select the desired edition from the list.

Most often, users resort to one of two options for installing Windows Vista: as the only operating system on the computer or as a second one while maintaining the previous version of Windows. We'll look at both of these options so you can choose the one that suits you best.

Installing Windows Vista as the only operating system

If HDD If your computer is empty or has a previous version of Windows that you want to completely remove, replacing Windows Vista, follow these instructions when installing.

Insert installation Windows disk Vista to your computer's DVD drive.

First of all in BIOS settings You must specify a CD-ROM as the first boot device, since the system will be installed from a DVD. Since you are a novice user and have probably never encountered BIOS, let’s take a step-by-step look at the entire process of changing the computer boot order using Phoenix-AwardBIOS as an example. If your computer has a different BIOS version, the appearance of the menu and the names of its items may differ slightly, but the fundamental procedure will remain the same.

Note

BIOS (from the English Basic Input-Output System - basic input-output system) is a program written on a permanent memory chip, which is mounted on motherboard. The BIOS is executed when the computer is turned on; its task is to test the performance of all devices and prepare the computer to load the operating system.

To get to the BIOS menu, immediately after turning on the computer, press the Delete key repeatedly; this will prevent the system from starting to boot. As a result, the menu shown in Fig. 1 will appear on the screen. 1.1. Use the arrow keys to navigate to Advances BIOS Features and press Enter. In the submenu that opens, we are interested in the Boot Seq & Floppy Setup item, which is first in the list. Make sure it is highlighted in red and press Enter.

Rice. 1.1. BIOS settings menu

Now you have to change the device from which the download should be made (Fig. 1.2). Select First Boot Device from the list. Press the Enter key to open the device selection menu shown in the center of Fig. 1.2. Use the cursor keys to navigate to the CDROM option and press Enter to save your changes.

Rice. 1.2. Selecting a priority device for booting your computer

To exit the BIOS setup menu and save the new settings, press the F10 key and confirm exit by pressing the Enter key. After this, the computer will restart and the message Press any key to boot from CD or DVD may appear on the screen. Follow this recommendation to start booting from disk.

You can get acquainted directly with the installation process of Windows Vista by watching the video “Lesson 1.1. Installing Windows Vista."

After copying the files necessary to start the Windows Vista installation program, you will see its first window (Fig. 1.3), in which you have to select the language to install, date format and keyboard layout. If the Russian option is selected in all lists, do not change these settings and simply click Next.

Rice. 1.3. Window for selecting installation language settings

The next step is to select the action you want to perform using the installer. This can be either the installation itself or restoring the functionality of a system in which a failure occurred (we will discuss this issue in detail in Chapter 8). Since we are now interested in the first option, click on the Install button.

Next, a window for entering the product key for activation will appear (Fig. 1.4). Each edition of Windows Vista has its own activation key, so after entering it, the system will automatically determine which version of Windows Vista should be installed. You can install the system without entering serial number by clearing the Automatically activate Windows when connected to the Internet checkbox. In this case, when you click Next and confirm your actions, a list of versions of Windows Vista available for installation will appear. Select the one you want, select the Selected Windows edition you purchased check box, and then click Next. A system installed without an activation key will function for 30 days. To continue using it after the month has expired, you will need to take care of obtaining the key and performing activation.

Rice. 1.4. Window for entering a key to activate Windows

Now you need to select the type of system installation: upgrade from a previous version to Windows Vista or perform a full installation. For the first option to be available, you need to run the installer from Windows rather than booting it from the DVD. Since we are considering the second option, only this will be available.

At the next stage, a partition selection window will open hard drive, in which Windows Vista will be installed, indicating full size and free space. Select the appropriate volume. If your hard drive is not partitioned, the list will only contain one item.

If the installer detects a previous version of Windows on the selected partition, you will be notified about it. By confirming your intention to install the new version of Windows, you agree that the old operating system files will be saved to the Windows.old folder after installation. You will be able to open them, but you will no longer be able to start the previous OS.

Next, the installation of Windows Vista will begin. It happens automatically and does not require your participation. During the installation process, the computer will restart several times. Since the BIOS settings are still set to boot from CD-ROM, do not press any keys after the Press any key to boot from CD or DVD message appears to allow booting to start from the hard drive.

When the installation of Windows Vista is successfully completed, the system will start, but before you can get to the Desktop, you will have to create an account, set the date, time and time zone, and select the computer name and Desktop background.

In the first dialog box, you need to enter a name and, if necessary, protect the computer from unauthorized persons with an account password, and also set a picture (Fig. 1.5). Details of what an account is are described at the beginning of Chapter. 7.

Rice. 1.5. Setting your account name, password, and picture

Click "Next. On the next page you will be asked to select a picture for the Desktop, and also enter the computer name (it is necessary for identification on the local network) (Fig. 1.6). The default computer name is based on your account name, but you can change it.

Rice. 1.6. Selecting a desktop picture and specifying a computer name

The next step is to select automatic update options. You can agree to install both important and recommended updates to protect your system, only important updates, or refuse altogether this method ensuring security. It is recommended to select the first option. Read more about automatic updates and types of updates in chapter. 7.

When installing Windows Vista as a second operating system, if a local network connection is detected in the original OS, a window will appear to select the network location of the computer. Click on the appropriate location to set the optimal detection parameters.

After this, the system will thank you for your settings. All you have to do is click the Start button to start testing the system performance. After it is completed, the login screen will appear (Fig. 1.7), where you will have to enter the account password specified in the first account creation window (see Fig. 1.5) and press the Enter key (in the future, the login screen will appear every time when logging in). Wait for the Desktop to load, which will end with the Initial Settings Center window appearing (Fig. 1.8).

Rice. 1.7. Login Screen

Rice. 1.8. Getting Started Center

Note

All settings that were made when you first started Windows Vista can be changed while you are in Windows Vista. Changing the Desktop settings, date, time, time zone and adding languages ​​is described in Chapter. 2. Setting up account parameters is discussed in Chapter. 7.

The Welcome Center contains two groups of icons: Getting Started with Windows and Suggestions from Microsoft. The first is responsible for typical computer settings after installing the operating system, such as installing drivers for equipment, connecting to the Internet, creating accounts for other users if several people plan to work on the computer, and getting to know the new features of this version of Windows. All these issues are discussed in detail in the book in chapters on relevant topics. However, keep in mind that you can access some of the most important configuration tools not only through the Control Panel, but also through the Getting Started Center.

In this chapter, we will only look at the tool for transferring files and settings from an old computer to a new one, since for users who decide to work with a new operating system, it allows them to save a significant amount of time and effort when setting up the system and copying the necessary files.

The second group of icons provides additional suggestions for effectively using Windows Vista.

Welcome Center starts automatically every time Windows starts. To prevent this from happening, uncheck the Load at startup checkbox located at the bottom of the window.

After Windows Vista is installed, the next time you reboot or turn on the computer, return to boot from the hard drive in the BIOS settings by selecting from the menu shown in Fig. 1.2, parameter HDD-0.

Installing Windows Vista as a second operating system

Perhaps, in order to gradually get used to the features of the new operating system or for some other reason, you will want to install Windows Vista, keeping the previous version of Windows. You can do this if you meet the following requirements: the hard drive must be divided into at least two partitions (one of them contains previous version Windows), Windows Vista will be installed into a free partition with a capacity of at least 15 GB.

Note

If your hard drive is divided into two partitions, one of which meets the requirements of Windows Vista, and the second is almost completely full, the installer may require at least 500 MB of free space on the first partition to deploy the installation image (this space will be freed later).

If you are on an older version of Windows, insert the Windows Vista installation disc into the DVD drive and wait until the window shown in Fig. appears. 1.9. Follow the Install link. The next window will ask you to connect to the Internet to get the latest installer updates. It only makes sense to do this if you have a high-speed Internet connection. Otherwise, downloading updates will take an unreasonably long time, and it is better to abandon it. All subsequent installation steps (starting with entering the key to perform activation) are identical to those described in the previous subsection, so we will not dwell on them. The only difference will arise at the stage of choosing the installation type, when an update will be available along with the full installation option. You should follow the link Full installation to save the previous version of Windows.

Rice. 1.9. Installer window

When the installation of Windows Vista is completed and the computer restarts, you will see the Windows Boot Manager on the screen (Fig. 1.10), in which you must use the cursor keys to navigate to the desired operating system and press the Enter key to start loading it.

Rice. 1.10. Windows Boot Manager

If you do not take any action at this point, after 30 seconds, Windows Vista will begin loading as the default operating system.

File and Settings Transfer Tool

As part of the Windows Vista installation program, there is a special tool for transferring files and settings (Windows Easy Transfer), which you can use to transfer personal files, program settings and the Desktop both when moving to another computer and when installing a new operating system on your computer . Using the Migration Tool, you can move the following components to a new computer (or operating system):

Personal files and folders (Documents, Images, Videos, etc.), as well as any other files and folders, indicating them as additional.

All settings and email messages, as well as your contact list.

Internet Explorer Settings.

Program parameters. It should be noted that the data transfer tool does not move the programs themselves. They need to be installed separately in the new OS, and then all the necessary settings must be transferred from the old computer.

User accounts and settings. These include all desktop design options (wallpaper, screen saver, mouse pointer appearance), Start menu and taskbar settings, as well as network connections and settings for network drives and printers.

Please note that any passwords (email, accounts, connections) saved on your computer are not transferred for security reasons and will have to be re-entered on the new computer.

There are several ways to transfer files and settings.

Via a special USB cable, which must be purchased separately. It should be noted that regular USB cable in this case will not work.

Connecting computers over a local network.

Using CD or DVD. If you are using these media, your old computer must have a CD or DVD burner installed.

WITH using USB flash memory (“flash drive”).

By using external hard disk.

If you are going to transfer data on the same computer after reinstalling the operating system, you should prefer one of the last three options.

Attention!

Keep in mind that Easy Transfer can only fully transfer files and settings to Windows Vista from Windows XP and Windows 2003 Server operating systems. You can only transfer files from Windows 2000. The program does not work with earlier versions of Windows.

Let's look at the data transfer process step by step. As an example, let's choose a situation where the operating system on a computer is planned to change from Windows XP to Windows Vista.

Collection of information in the source system

Collecting data from a previous operating system is discussed in the video “Lesson 1.2. Collecting files and settings from an old computer."

Before you decide to install on Windows computer Vista, you should, while in Windows XP, insert the Windows Vista installation disc into the DVD drive and wait for the window shown in Fig. 1.9. In it, you need to click on the link Transfer files and settings from another computer and wait for the file and settings transfer program to load. The first window is informational; click Next in it. In the next step, tell the system what you want to do New transfer, and then follow the Source computer link. Next, you have to choose a method for transferring files and settings (Fig. 1.11). We'll stop at latest version(Use CD, DVD or other removable media), assuming that the data will be copied to the disk and then transferred from it to the new operating system.

Rice. 1.11. Choosing how to transfer data from a previous version of Windows

At the next stage, you need to select the type of removable media or specify an external or network drive on which the archive will be saved. If you settled on an external hard drive or network location, you will next have to select the folder in which the data file will be written by clicking the Browse button. You will also be prompted to create a password to protect the files and settings you transfer from unauthorized access.

Next, you need to decide whose data should be transferred from the old computer: files and settings of all accounts or just your own. After this, a tree of files and parameters selected for transfer will open in front of you. If necessary, you can edit the given list by adding new elements to it and deleting existing ones. To do this, click the Settings button to display checkboxes next to the icons and control links.

To refuse to transfer an object, simply uncheck the box next to its icon. On the contrary, to add a file or folder to transfer, use the appropriate link at the bottom of the window. By clicking on the Select disks link, you can specify which partitions you do not want to collect data from.

Attention!

At the bottom right of the list, the total size of transferred files and settings is displayed. By adding or deleting elements, you can monitor its changes to determine whether there is enough space on the selected media for the archive file.

After necessary components are selected, click Next and wait for the data collection to complete.

Transferring data to a new operating system

Transferring files and settings to Windows Vista is demonstrated in the video “Lesson 1.3. Transferring files and settings to a new computer."

The next step in moving data is to directly transfer it to the new operating system. After Windows Vista is installed, go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Transfer Tool Windows data to start the transfer program.

In the welcome window, click Next. If there are any applications running on the system, close them. Since we are considering the case when the archive file is located on external media, the next step is to select No, files and settings have been copied to a CD, DVD or other removable media and then specify the media type. When choosing an external hard drive or network location, indicate in which folder the archive is located. If using a CD, insert it into the drive (or be sure to connect flash memory to your computer if files and settings are saved on it).

If you protected it with a password when collecting data on your old computer, enter it to access the archive.

In the next window, you will have to decide whether the files and settings will be transferred to an existing account or to a new one created during the transfer process.

In the first case, you just need to select your account name from the drop-down list. To create a new account, enter a new name (it may duplicate the one that existed on the old computer). Click "Next.

At the final stage, you will be asked to review the files and settings to be transferred and click the Transfer button to start the process. After all the data has been copied, you will see a progress report. Click Close to exit the transfer program. A reboot may be required for the changes to take effect.

The Windows Vista operating system has become available for corporate clients November 30, 2006. For two months after that, it was used exclusively by this category. General access appeared only on January 30, 2007. There is a server type of OS called Windows Server 2008. Its review is presented in the corresponding section of our website and you can familiarize yourself with it.

Windows Vista editions

Windows Vista Starter. The simplest option with the lowest cost. This publication is intended for family use and does not imply a high level of knowledge. The interface is simplified and contains only the minimum necessary functionality. It is intended to target developing countries, for which the lowest cost is set among all existing options.

Windows Vista Home Basic. Another simplified edition intended for widespread sale. It has somewhat limited functionality. Aero interfaces are not supported and EFS is not supported.

Windows Vista Home Premium. A more advanced edition, but it retains certain functional limitations. There is Windows Media Center, as well as the Aero interface and some other features. WITH full list can be found on the Microsoft developer website. There is support for working with touch devices. Restrictions apply to working with the EFS system - it is not provided.

Windows Vista Business. It is a standard publication for enterprises that can be used in any environment. A distinctive feature is that it is business-oriented, which does not include certain entertainment functions. There's Aero, Windows Tablet PC features, system backup and recovery, and a whole host of other important features. Although the developer suggests using the system for all businesses, it is more suitable for small businesses.

Windows Vista Enterprise. The edition is aimed at business use and, compared to the previous version, provides a larger list of functionality. To install, you must first enter into an agreement with the developer. Additional factors are the presence of BitLocker, as well as rights to 4 virtual OSs. There is a special subsystem for programs developed on the basis of UNIX.

Windows Vista Ultimate. This type of operating system was developed specifically for ordinary users and small companies that need full functionality. In addition to the full range of capabilities, there is a fairly large list of multimedia.

Separately, we can highlight Vista Ultimate Limited Numbered Signature Edition, which was released with a circulation of 20,000 copies. Its only difference is the real signature of Microsoft CEO Bill Gates. The European version had to use some modifications. They are related to the peculiarities of antimonopoly legislation. The publications included the need to cut out Windows Media Player, as well as a number of other multimedia features.

History of Windows Vista

Initially, the OS did not have a name, but only a codename - Longhorn. After some time, development reached a point where initial statements could be made. On July 22, 2005, the creation of a new Vista OS was announced. After this, changes were made to the server part. It was called Windows Server 2008. As mentioned earlier, Windows Vista first became available on November 8, 2006 for OEMs and only 2 months later it could be purchased by ordinary users.

The developer had some concerns about certain components. This includes running OpenGL as an add-on to Direct3D. This approach raised concerns about reduced productivity. Support for OpenGL from the operating system has not gone away and, as practice has shown, there have been no problems in this area. The WinFS file system was not used. Attempts to use it were met with a decrease in performance, which was unacceptable.

Features of Windows Vista

The developers tried to bring as much new things into the system as possible and this should be noted. The number of improvements is quite large, but only the most important features will be listed below:

• Windows Aero interface. It is the graphical component that is considered one of the key features of this OS, since the developers spent a lot of time on it. The Windows Aero interface is the most popular, but far from the only one. Including the possibility of extensive user settings. Windows Vista was able to set trends in graphical interfaces, which were then transferred to other operating systems from this company. For example, this includes translucent windows, three-dimensionality of the desktop, an abundance of beautiful textures, and more.
• Side panel. Provides the ability to customize the sidebar at your discretion. You can put not only programs there, but also other important things. For example, exchange rates, weather in your region, etc.
• Improved Windows Explorer. It is planned to preserve the Windows XP menu structure using another additional panel. It is possible to use some adjustments regarding the organization of the window itself. Numerous options can be used.
• Improved search engine. This operating system uses an index search engine. It allows you to start the process already in the process of entering the required letters. The closer the user is to finishing printing the request, the fewer options will be displayed. This is very convenient due to saving search time.
• ReadyBoost technology. It is especially important for those devices that do not have sufficient RAM. You can use the capacity of a flash drive to fill the gap. Additionally, there are quite effective built-in diagnostic tools. They allow you to identify and take action to eliminate most problems.
• Energy saving and power functions. Compared with its predecessor - Windows XP, we can note more economical consumption of electricity. Several power options are available - economical, standard and performance.
• Hibernation mode. This option for the operation of the device means that there will be a transition to settings that allow maximum energy savings. At the same time, all applications and open documents are saved. The main advantage of the hibernation mode is the ability to recover in the shortest possible time.
• User Account Control. Allows you to manage user accounts. Among the possibilities, it is necessary to note a warning when performing certain actions. This includes installing new software or launching applications. It becomes possible to install malware in automatic mode. Only the user can give permission.
• To increase the level of protection against viruses or unauthorized access, use Windows Defender. It is quite efficient for embedded software.
• BitLocker drive encryption. There are two key functions provided. This includes encrypting the entire OS volume, as well as checking the integrity of boot components.
• Information recovery. During operation of the device, you may need to return to the state of the computer that was some time ago. This is precisely why system restore points are used. A similar function was present on its predecessor, XP, but here it is implemented with higher efficiency.
• Improved network features. As practice has shown, the network functions of Windows XP have begun to lag behind user requests in recent years. It is for this reason that this direction has been seriously improved. Improvements have affected almost all areas. The TCP/IP stack is capable of supporting a two-layer IP protocol architecture. IPv4 and IPv6 share a transport layer. A particularly important achievement was the implementation of automatic settings. Special attention deserves the creation of a unique architecture of Native Wi-Fi wireless networks.
• Conference hall. This software is built-in and allows a group of users ranging from 2 to 10 people to work simultaneously. This feature has found its use when editing documents, as well as for performing demonstrations in PowerPoint. Equally important is the ability to distribute files in an accelerated mode.
• Windows CardSpace. A special technology that makes life easier for those who use a significant number of passwords. It allows you to use your information card when entering a site that supports CardSpace. It contains the necessary information in a securely encrypted form.

Criticism of Windows Vista

This operating system has some disadvantages and more attention should be paid to this point. Many complaints were made regarding the system requirements. The developers of Windows Vista took a bold step - they divided the system requirements into two groups. The first of them was called Vista Capable and provided the ability to run all key functions. This is where an important problem emerged. It consisted in the impossibility of using graphic innovations, since their requests went beyond the minimum system requirements.

The User Account Control system for users demonstrated uselessness during use. It protected against automatic launch of malicious programs, but required constantly pressing confirmation while working on the computer. This is especially problematic, especially when you consider that there are better solutions from other developers. As a result, most users simply turned off this function. This approach had a negative impact on the overall security level of the OS and made it much more vulnerable. Another factor is that there are a huge number of ways to bypass UAC.

Windows Vista updates

To improve the reliability of the operating system, Microsoft regularly releases improvements. They allow you to increase productivity, improve functionality and eliminate various shortcomings. The first service package contains all updates for the year since release, as well as expanded capabilities. There are many components that have made working with the OS easier and more efficient.

Much more important is Service Pack 2, which has been available for quite some time. It is necessary to list what exactly it includes:

• Windows Search 4;
• Possibility of supporting Bluetooth technology;
• Support for 64-bit VIA processors;
• Recording discs in Blu-ray format;
• Wizard for performing wireless network settings;
• exFAT file system, which has advanced synchronization capabilities;
• Support for smart cards with ICCD/CCID format;
• Improved security system for content in WMC;
• Increasing the efficiency of Wi-Fi immediately after it wakes from sleep mode;
• DirectX improvements are provided;
• The RSS located in the sidebar has been updated;
• Improved performance when playing HD video;
• The number of half-open connections is now infinite.

Story

Early in development, the system was known by the code name Longhorn (named after the Longhorn Saloon near the Whistler ski resort in British Columbia). The name "Vista" was announced on July 22, 2005. A few months later, Microsoft also renamed Windows Longhorn Server to Windows Server 2008. Since November 8, 2006, a full version of Windows Vista has been available to hardware manufacturers. The public release to end users took place on January 30, 2007.

It's worth noting that many of the features planned for Windows Vista were dropped by Microsoft due to public outcry. For example, it was assumed that OpenGL would be implemented as an add-on to Direct3D. This would lead to a serious drop in OpenGL performance compared to Direct3D and would result in the OpenGL version being fixed. The fears were not justified OpenGL support remained in Windows Vista. The WinFS file system was also not included in Windows Vista - this time due to performance problems.

Review

In Windows Vista, the memory and input/output management subsystem has been updated. New functionality is also “Hybrid sleep mode” or “hibernation” mode, when used, the contents of RAM are additionally written to the HDD, but are not deleted from memory either. As a result, if the power supply does not stop, the computer restores its operation using information from RAM. If the computer's power is turned off, the operating system uses the copy of RAM stored on the HDD and loads information from it (analogous to sleep mode). The mode is implemented thanks to the so-called “hibernation files”, which occupy space on the hard drive equal to the amount of RAM installed on the computer. It is possible to custom delete these files and lose the hibernation function. At the same time, restoring these files without much difficulty is possible by calling special commands from command line.

Features of Windows Vista

New or Improved Features

Security improvements

• User Account Control (UAC)- a user account control system that requires explicit user permission when performing any action that requires administrative authority, regardless of the rights of the current user account. If the user is not an administrator, a prompt will be displayed in which you can select an administrative account and perform an operation with its rights by entering a password - this allows you to configure the system and install applications from the account limited user, without explicitly using the runas mechanism and without the need to switch to another account (which was required in XP, for example, in the case of changing TCP/IP parameters). If the user is a member of the “Administrators” group, then he will need (with default settings) to confirm the use of rights by responding to the system prompt. UAC requests data in Secure Desktop mode, which protects against data interception and control of the input window by third-party programs (approximately the same mode was used when entering a domain with the requirement to press Ctrl-Alt-Del twice). UAC can be disabled for certain categories of accounts and reconfigured using a local (or group when used in a domain) security policy: for example, you can set a password to be required for all users (including administrators) to use administrative rights, prohibit these actions for users of limited accounts, and etc.
• Technologies that prevent the use of exploits- the Windows Vista operating system has some advantages that prevent the exploitation of detected vulnerabilities in software, but are fully realized only in 64-bit versions and with programs written taking into account these capabilities:
• Bitlocker disk encryption- Provides encryption capability system disk using the command line interface and other sections. In this case, a USB key or Trusted Platform Module is used to store encryption keys. To encrypt partitions, by default, the AES algorithm is used with a key length of 128 bits in CBC encryption mode. This feature is present in Vista Enterprise or Ultimate versions.
• EFS file encryption system. This system, which first appeared in Windows 2000, works in versions of Vista Business, Enterprise or Ultimate and provides the ability to “transparently” encrypt files at the file system level using AES (with a 256-bit key) or 3-DES algorithms. For each file, an encryption key is randomly generated, which, in turn, is encrypted with the public key to users (default 2048 bits). In Vista, using policies, it became possible to set different lengths public key user (1024, 2048, 4096,...), save the key on smart cards (by default, the key is stored locally, protected by the user’s password) and encrypt the swap file, and also require mandatory encryption of the user’s document folder.
• Preventing virus infections from retrievable media. By default, Windows Vista disables autorun of programs from flash cards and USB devices. This keeps the computer from self-infecting itself with viruses, which can also be carried by flash cards. There are also policies that control access to external media (including USB), which also helps protect confidential data.
• Blocking direct writing to disk. Windows Vista prevents direct writing to the disk (\\.\PhysicalDriveX) if the disk has a mounted file system. For more details, see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/942448/
• Windows Defender. Windows Vista has a built-in program that helps combat spyware.
• Parental control. Windows Home editions include parental controls that help limit children's use of the computer. For example, you can set up a web filter to block unwanted sites and prohibit the use of computer games that are not suitable for their age. You can also use parental controls to block the use of a specific program, set a time limit, and view a report on the operation of parental controls. It is no secret that in Windows XP and earlier operating systems it was necessary to spend a lot of effort and time to insure against the consequences of careless use of the computer by children.
• Internet Explorer 9. Windows Vista has the option to download the Internet Explorer 9 browser.
• Data Execution Prevention (DEP) in Windows Vista has changed in that it is now enabled by default. And now this OS can include software implementation of protection, even if the processor does not support DEP. However, false positives may occur and some incompatible legacy and even some new programs may not start, although they can be added to the exception list or, as a last resort, DEP can be disabled using the command line utility “bcdedit”.

Service Packs and Support

Service Pack 1

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) was released on February 4, 2008.

• According to Microsoft, after installing SP1, copying files to local drives will be 25% faster.
• Resolved an issue that caused error messages to appear when copying large files over a local network. Windows Vista with the service pack installed will also process high-resolution images more quickly.
• The service pack includes additions that improve the compatibility of the operating system with new video adapters, some types of monitors and printers.
• The update package also includes fixes that reduce the time it takes for your computer to wake up from sleep mode, improve the performance of Internet Explorer 7, and improve the power management scheme for notebook computers. Traditionally, the service pack includes all previously released updates and fixes.

The update package was initially available in five languages ​​- English, German, French, Spanish and Japanese. In mid-April 2008, Microsoft published versions of the service pack in other languages. Meanwhile, compatibility issues between SP1 and some device drivers remain unresolved. Before installing SP1, Windows Update checks your computer for problematic components, and if any are found, it postpones the installation.

Before installing Service Pack 1, you must first uninstall its test version.

Service Pack 2

Service Pack 2 is available for download from the Microsoft website. Service Pack 2 contains:

Unlike Service Pack for previous versions of Windows, SP2 cannot be installed without first installing SP1. This is done with the aim of unifying the SP for two platforms - Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.

Microsoft was going to release Service Pack 3 (SP3) for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 in 2010. But it soon became known that the release of the update package was cancelled.

A huge number of users around the world removed legal Windows Vista from laptops and installed Windows XP instead, often unlicensed. The reason here is only in the unsatisfactory performance of Vista on this equipment, because no previous version of Windows has ever caused such a reaction (that is, this cannot be explained by the conservatism of users), and Windows 7 does not cause it either.

After the release of Windows 7 (essentially an improved version of Windows Vista with performance optimizations and bug fixes), Windows Vista almost immediately died out (which did not apply to its server version). Since the standard practice of developers of desktop applications in our time is to test them on two operating systems - Windows XP and Windows 7. And then, as of May 2012, Windows XP is rapidly losing its possessions, giving way to Windows 7.

The manufacturer has extended the support period for Windows XP to an unprecedented period in history. computer equipment(with the exception of extremely expensive enterprise-scale servers) for a period of 13 years. In addition, MS failed to refuse to sell Windows XP before the release of Windows 7, although such a refusal is standard practice for this company (like any other).

see also

Notes

1. It"s the end of mainstream support for Windows Vista
2. Free support for Windows Vista and Office 2007 ends today
3. Microsoft Launches Windows Vista and the 2007 Office System to Consumers. Press Center. Microsoft New Zealand (30 January 2007). Archived from the original on August 23, 2011. Retrieved November 9, 2009.
4. Accessed July 2012, W3schools.
5. Windows Vista now has native OpenGL support.
6. Vista: now signed by Bill Gates - Tsifrovik.ru
7. Microsoft and PC makers are improving the Windows Vista upgrade experience for consumers. PressPass. Microsoft (May 18 ). Archived
8. Windows Vista Enterprise Hardware Planning Guidance - A guide to Windows Vista's planned hardware requirements. Microsoft. Archived from the original on August 23, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2006.
9. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/facts.mspx archived page
10. Reducing Windows Vista boot time
11. Microsoft's hidden diagnostic tool unlocks Vista startup secrets
12. Microsoft Security Intelligence Report, Key Findings Summary. (Jan-June 2007.) The full report.
13. TheVista.ru:User Account Control
14. The Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 Developer Story: Windows Vista Application Development Requirements for User Account Control (UAC). The Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 Developer Story Series. Microsoft (April 2007). Archived from the original on August 23, 2011. Retrieved October 8, 2007.
15. User Account Control Overview. Technet. Archived from the original on August 23, 2011.
16. Application protection technologies in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008
17. About the unique security features of 64-bit versions of Windows Vista
18. Address Space Layout Randomization in Windows Vista
19. Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption Frequently Asked Questions. Microsoft. Archived from the original on August 23, 2011. Retrieved September 5, 2007.
20. Niels Fergusson (August 2006). "AES-CBC + Elephant Diffuser: A Disk Encryption Algorithm for Windows Vista" (Microsoft). Retrieved 2008-02-22.
21. Protect your data with BitLocke drive encryption
22. New Security Features in Windows Vista(technet.microsoft.com)
23. Updated EFS in Vista and Longhorn (oszone.net)
24. Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1)
25. List of drivers incompatible with Windows Vista SP1
26. NVIDIA WORLD / News / today, July 1
27. Download details: Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 - Five Language Standalone for x64-based systems (KB948465)
28. Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (SP2) and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) - All Languages ​​Standalone Version (KB948465)
29. Obtaining the latest Windows Vista service pack
30. Windows Vista: tests | THG.RU
31. Photographers have problems with Windows Vista | THG.RU
32. Symantec sees an Achilles" heel in Vista (English)
33. Microstft increasing security risk with Vista (English)
34. (English), slides 3-7
35. Microsoft: Kernel mede code signing walkthrough (English)
36. Driver Signature Enforcement Overrider 1.3b (English)
37. Microsoft blocks 64-bit driver (English)
38. Windows Vista Content Protection: 20 questions and answers (English)
39. Microsoft: Premium Content Copy Protection Architecture, slide 9
40. Patent Pending: Hardware Functionality Scanning
41. Microsoft: Premium Content Copy Protection Architecture, slide 13; this is called "resolution constriction".
42. Six months on, Vista users still gripping
43. Microsoft: "User Account Control (UAC) is annoying users"
44. Norton Labs

Windows Vista was released on November 30, 2006 for enterprise customers. Regular users were able to purchase the operating system on January 30, 2007.

The server version of Windows Vista was the Windows Server 2008 operating system.

End of support

2016: Termination of support from April 11, 2017

Standard support for the system ended on April 10, 2012 and Microsoft is now trying to complete the five-year extended support period. As part of these activities, patches and security updates are released. After a year, Vista computers remain unprotected.

As of January 2017, the OS was installed on less than 1% of PCs using Microsoft systems, reports research firm Net Applications. According to Microsoft itself, various versions of Windows are now used on 1.5 billion PCs, that is, the number of devices with Windows Vista is about 14 million. This is not so much in comparison with the older Windows XP, the share of which exceeds 9% of all Windows devices. computers.

The developers clarified that the OS will continue to work on user computers, but will be vulnerable to viruses. In addition, if the OS user uses to exit to Internet Internet Explorer 9 (the recommended browser for Windows Vista), it may also encounter security issues as browser support is being discontinued along with OS support. In addition, Microsoft does not guarantee compatibility with the “decommissioned” OS of future applications. As an alternative, the company suggested that users upgrade the operating system to Windows 10 (with the exception of PCs with an old configuration).

2012: Completion of the main support period

Microsoft announced on April 10, 2012 the end of the so-called “mainstream support” period for the operating system. Windows Vista. Now users will only be able to receive free updates for this OS if they fix serious application security issues. In this mode, the operating system will be supported for 5 years, until April 2017.

Editions

• Windows Vista Starter– a publication intended for family use and users entry level in emerging markets. Features: 32-bit operating system specially designed for low-cost computers, simplified Windows Vista interface, various functional limitations.

• Windows Vista Home Basic- edition for home users who require basic computer capabilities. This edition lacks the Windows Aero interface and does not support the EFS encrypted file system.

• Windows Vista Home Premium- edition for home desktop and laptop computers, contains Windows Media Center, interface Windows user Aero, Windows DVD studio, scheduled archiving and network archiving functions, support for touch devices. Just like Home Basic, there is no support for the EFS encrypted file system.

• Windows Vista Business is the primary edition of Windows Vista for desktop and mobile PCs in organizations. This offer is intended for the small, medium and large enterprise segments. Windows Vista Business contains all the features of Windows Vista Home Basic (except for some entertainment features), plus the following distinctive features: Windows Aero interface, Windows Tablet PC functionality, backup and recovery features (CompletePC backup tool, automatic file recovery and shadow copying), domain connectivity, Group Policy and Encrypting File System support, and special features for small businesses, including fax support, scanners and small business resources.

• Windows Vista Enterprise is a premium edition of Windows Vista for desktop and mobile PCs used in organizations. This offer is only valid for Microsoft Software Assurance customers. In addition to all the features of Windows Vista Business, this edition includes the following features: BitLocker drive encryption, support for all existing interface languages, licensing rights for four virtual operating systems, Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications (SUA).

• Windows Vista Ultimate is the most comprehensive edition of Windows Vista for desktop and mobile PCs and is designed for home users and small businesses. This release has everything Windows capabilities Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Enterprise, and also has advanced multimedia tools.

• Windows Vista Ultimate Limited Numbered Signature Edition– limited version (20 thousand copies) signed by Bill Gates.

In addition, Microsoft is releasing several more versions of Windows Vista specifically for the European market. To comply with antitrust laws in Europe, these versions do not include Windows Media Player or other multimedia components.

Peculiarities

• New interface Windows Aero. Windows Vista offers a variety of user interfaces, ranging from a Basic interface (reminiscent of Windows XP) to a rich various effects high quality graphical interface, called Windows Aero. The new Windows Aero interface features beautiful graphics, translucent windows, 3D perspectives, rich textures and animations.
• Sidebar. You can install some special widgets in the sidebar. This could be a clock, a photo slideshow, news feeds, an address book, or a quick notes panel. You can also display the weather forecast, exchange rates, etc.
• New Windows Explorer. The new Explorer retains the Windows XP menu structure and adds another panel. It allows you to change the organization of the Explorer window, as well as the display of file and folder icons. Depending on the contents of the panel, different options are displayed.
• Updated search system. Windows Vista has an integrated index search engine. The search is carried out immediately, as you type the desired word. As you enter each additional letter, Vista narrows the search result. If you need to run a program, then just enter part of the name of the shortcut or executable file.
• ReadyBoost Technology. Designed for computers with little RAM, ReadyBoost technology allows you to use the capacity of a flash drive to supplement RAM.
• Built-in diagnostics. Hardware diagnostic tools can detect errors and either fix the problem themselves or help the user perform a recovery.
• Energy Saving and Power Features. Vista's power management has been significantly improved over XP, now using what are called "power plans." Microsoft supports three plans: Balanced, Economy, and Performance.
• Hibernation Mode. Hibernation is a power supply mode in which everything open documents and applications are saved to the hard drive, and only after that the computer’s power is turned off. When the user wants to return to work, the computer wakes up from hibernation mode and restores previously saved documents and applications.
• User Account Control (UAC)- a user account control system that requires explicit user permission when performing any action that requires administrative authority, regardless of the rights of the current user account. User Account Control, for example, warns the user before installing a new program, as well as when starting executable files. This method prevents automatic installation malicious and spyware, since all other windows will be blocked until the user responds in the UAC confirmation window.
• Windows Defender designed to protect the system from malware and spyware.
• BitLocker Drive Encryption. BitLocker performs two complementary but distinct functions. First, it provides encryption of the entire volume of the Windows operating system. Second, on computers with a compatible Trusted Platform Module (TPM), it allows you to verify the integrity of boot components before Windows Vista starts.
• Recovery function. Windows Vista, like Windows XP, supports restore points. However, in Windows Vista this feature is more powerful and allows you to restore individual files or folders to a previous state.
• EFS file encryption system. EFS is designed to encrypt files and folders at the user level. If several users work on the same computer, then, thanks to EFS, each of them can encrypt their data.
• Improved network features. To improve security, most networking features in Windows Vista have been improved. The TCP/IP stack now supports a two-layer IP protocol architecture, in which IPv4 and IPv6 share a transport layer and a framing layer. Additionally, starting with this version of Windows, IPv6 is enabled by default. A new version The TCP/IP stack has many capabilities. Among them is the ability to automatically configure. In addition, Vista has its own wireless network architecture called Native Wi-Fi, which is part of the networking stack. It provides many advantages, including:
  • Improved ability to discover and create wireless networks;
  • Quickly connect to a wireless network using Network Sharing Center;
  • Wireless single sign-on service, which verifies network availability before the user is authenticated to Active Directory;
  • Support for modern security protocols (WPA, WPA2, EAP, PEAP-TLS, WEP);
  • Protection against most types of attacks on wireless networks;
  • Diagnostic tools that help identify network problems and automatically fix them.
• Conference hall– a built-in program that helps groups of two to ten users work together. The conference room is suitable for demonstrating PowerPoint presentations or editing documents. Also, the conference room will simplify the work of distributing files.
• Windows CardSpace is a new technology from Microsoft designed to reduce the number of passwords used. When visiting a website that supports this technology, you can use an information card instead of entering a password. All data necessary for user authentication is stored on it in encrypted form, which provides additional security.

Criticism

Microsoft's system requirements for hardware that can run Windows Vista have been widely criticized. As you know, Microsoft has divided system requirements into two categories: "Vista Capable" and "Vista Premium Ready". The "Vista Capable" label meant that the computer could run Vista with all the basic features. However, as it turned out, on a computer with parameters that meet the “Vista Capable” criterion, you cannot take advantage of all the graphical innovations of the new operating system.

The User Account Control (UAC) system was also criticized. According to representatives of Kaspersky Lab (KL), the User Account Control (UAC) tool built into Windows Vista is such a annoying security feature that many people simply disable it. Natalya Kasperskaya, being the head of LC, noted that without UAC, Windows Vista is less secure than Winows XP SP2. In addition, LC stated that the company's analysts have discovered five ways to bypass UAC, and the creators of malicious software will discover even more.

Updates

Service pack 1

SP1 contains the full set of updates for Windows Vista that Microsoft released during last year, as well as new opportunities. In particular, the speed of copying files has been increased, the software update process has been improved, support for Direct3D 10.1 has been added, compatibility with MPEG-2 has been improved, and errors that occur in Windows applications Calendar and Windows Media Player, system performance and power consumption have been improved.

Thanks to the SP1 update, Windows Vista now supports the majority of existing hardware and software at the time of the package's release - about 80 thousand devices and components. Also with Windows release Vista SP1 added compatibility with major business applications from vendors such as Adobe, Cisco, Citrix, IBM, Nortel, Oracle, SAP, Sun and Symantec.

The first publicly available version of Windows Vista SP1 RC was released in December 2007. On March 18, 2008, the update package was released in English, French, Spanish, German and Japanese. In April of the same year, the Russian version of the first update package was released.

Service pack 2

The second update package for the Windows Vista operating system is currently in beta testing. The final version of the package is expected to bring support for 64-bit processors

Quite a lot has already been written about the new Windows Vista operating system, so users should not have any problems setting it up. At the same time, it is still premature to talk about a mass transition to a new OS. There are three main limiting factors preventing this.

Firstly, Windows Vista has poor compatibility with most applications, meaning many of them simply do not work under Windows Vista. To be fair, it should be noted that as updates to the operating system are released and new versions of applications appear, the number of programs incompatible with Windows Vista is gradually decreasing.

Secondly, Windows Vista is excessively demanding of computer hardware resources. And since not everyone has new, high-performance PCs on which Vista can run with all its visual effects, in most cases users postpone the transition to it until they buy a new PC.

Thirdly, the feasibility of the transition. Actually, why switch to Windows Vista if everything works fine with Windows XP and there are no problems? After all, by and large, compared to Windows XP, Windows Vista does not have many functional advantages. Now, if it turned out to be more productive, this would be a weighty argument in its favor.

In this article, we will compare the performance of Windows Vista and Windows XP operating systems and provide recommendations for upgrading to Windows Vista.

Discussions on operating system performance

Before moving on to considering the methodology for testing the performance of operating systems, let's try to more precisely formulate what exactly we want to find out and what generally should be understood by the performance of an operating system.

Let's assume that the Windows Vista operating system is installed on the same computer one time, and Windows XP is installed on the other, and the same task is launched (it is assumed that in both cases the same versions of applications are used). For example, this could be a script for processing digital photography, converting a video file, or something similar. If this task is faster on a computer running Windows Vista, then we can conclude that in this case Windows Vista operating system is more productive than Windows XP. Thus, given the unchanged configuration of the computer and the set of applications used, the performance of the operating system can be unambiguously linked to the time it takes to complete a certain task.

The problem, however, is that with this approach to the concept of operating system performance, we can only talk about performance for a given computer configuration and for a specific task. And from the fact that for a particular PC configuration one operating system turns out to be more productive than another, it is still impossible to make an unambiguous conclusion that similar results will be obtained for another PC configuration. The same applies to conclusions regarding comparisons of operating system performance when using different tasks. That is, the fact that for solving one problem one operating system turns out to be more productive than another does not yet allow us to conclude that solving another problem will produce similar results.

Another problem with measuring operating system performance is that sometimes different versions of applications are used for different operating systems. This is why it is impossible, for example, to compare the performance of any operating system Windows family with any operating system of the Mac OS family. Actually, it is not clear what is being compared in this case - the performance of operating systems or applications for them. Fortunately, when comparing operating systems of the same family (for example, Windows XP and Windows Vista), this problem does not arise, since, as a rule, all applications that support Windows Vista also support Windows XP (the reverse is true, however).

Another problem associated with measuring OS performance is the different versions of device drivers for different operating systems. For example, you want to compare the performance of the Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems in some 3D game using a standard benchmark. The problem in this case is that the test results will also be determined by the version of the video card driver, and the drivers for Windows XP and Windows Vista are different. Therefore, it is not entirely clear what is being tested in this case - the performance of the operating system or the video card driver. This problem, however, can be reconciled if everything installed drivers considered as part of the operating system. Ultimately, device drivers operate at the OS kernel level and it would be logical to consider them as such component operating system.

Benchmark requirements for OS comparison

So, after we have defined what is meant by operating system performance and what problems are associated with this concept, we can try to formulate the basic requirements that must be met when comparing the performance of operating systems.

To correctly compare the performance of operating systems, you need to use a computer with an unchanged hardware configuration. In addition, to obtain a more objective picture, it is advisable to make a comparison in various PC configurations. For example, first make a comparison using a top-end computer configuration, and then an entry-level computer.

Particular attention should be paid to the selection of benchmarks (tests) for testing. First, they must be fully compatible with both operating systems. Secondly, to compare OS performance, it is necessary to select benchmarks that would allow you to evaluate the performance of the system as a whole, and not of its individual parts. Therefore, you should abandon synthetic tests that minimize the influence of the operating system on test results and evaluate the performance of individual computer subsystems, such as the processor, memory and hard drive. In addition, it is desirable that the benchmarks used are based on real applications and allow performance to be assessed across different application categories. For example, in ideal the benchmark should evaluate the system's performance when working with office applications, with 3D applications, with content creation applications, etc. In this case, the results of comparing the performance of operating systems can not be tied to a specific application, but can be extended to categories of applications or tasks.

Thirdly, benchmarks must demonstrate stable results, that is, have good repeatability. Perhaps, when using the Windows Vista or Windows XP operating system, it is the last condition that is most difficult to fulfill, and much in this case depends on the tests themselves, and on the testing methodology, and on the algorithm for calculating the result, and on the settings of the operating system.

Dynamic self-tuning functions of Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems

The problem is that the operating systems Windows XP and, especially, Windows Vista are self-tuning and have such a wonderful feature as dynamic adjustment (dynamic tuning) for various application usage scenarios. From the point of view of the average user, this function is very useful, however, when testing system performance, it has a negative impact on the stability of test results, which should be taken into account.

Windows XP

Self-configuration of Windows XP occurs every time you install and launch a new application. That is why the test results obtained after the first run of the test, and the results of the same test obtained a day later during subsequent runs on the same computer, can differ significantly - due to the self-tuning of the operating system, the results obtained later will be higher.

Dynamic self-tuning of the Windows XP operating system refers to functions such as:

• optimization of file placement on the hard drive (Disk Efficiency Optimizations);
• optimization of operating system loading (Boot Prefetching);
• optimization of application loading (Application-Launch Prefetching).

Optimizing the placement of files on your hard drive

The physical placement of files on your hard drive can have a significant impact on system performance. The Windows XP operating system constantly monitors the file access scenario on the hard drive and every three days in the background it optimizes the placement of files to speed up access to them. Information about the most frequently used files is saved in the operating system directory in the Prefetch folder (%windir%\Prefetch), and you can view which files need to be optimized for placement on your hard drive in the %windir%\Prefetch\Layout.ini file by opening it in text editor.

Optimized file placement means that the most frequently used files are placed, firstly, together, and secondly, on the edge of the disk (platter), which provides faster access to them and thereby increases overall system performance. Recall that characteristics such as access time, access time, and linear read (write) speed depend on the physical location of the data on the hard drive platter.

Optimizing the placement of files on a hard drive becomes especially important when using large-capacity hard drives.

Note that optimizing the placement of files on the hard drive, periodically performed by Windows XP in the background, does not replace the defragmentation procedure. Therefore, the periodic need to defragment the hard drive remains relevant. When using the defragmenter built into the operating system, the optimized file placement structure is not disrupted.

Operating system boot optimization

Optimizing the loading of the operating system (Boot Prefetching) leads to increased loading speed of the operating system. In this case, the operating system tracks all the files that are required to boot the operating system and optimizes their placement on the hard drive. In addition, during the loading process of the operating system, the required data is prefetched into RAM, that is, the data to which access will presumably be required is preloaded into RAM. It is important to note that the Boot Prefetching procedure begins only after third reboot operating system when enough information has been accumulated to optimize file placement.

Optimizing application downloads

Optimizing application loading (Application-Launch Prefetching) is not much different from the procedure for optimizing operating system loading. Its meaning is that the Windows XP operating system monitors all data used by launched applications and optimizes their placement on the hard drive, and also prefetches this data for pre-loading into RAM. Note that when the application is first launched, data is not prefetched. That is why, if we are talking about a test application (benchmark), then the first test run usually demonstrates lower results than all subsequent ones.

Windows Vista

The Windows Vista operating system has even more advanced self-configuration tools compared to the Windows XP operating system. Actually, all the functions for optimizing the placement of files on the hard drive, loading applications and the operating system, characteristic of Windows XP, apply equally to the Windows Vista operating system. In addition, the Windows Vista operating system features new performance technologies such as SuperFetch, ReadyBoost, ReadyBoot, ReadyDrive, and new memory management technology.

In addition, the Windows Vista operating system has a feature such as file indexing to ensure that you can quickly find the information you need.

Actually, now we only need to familiarize ourselves with technologies such as SuperFetch, ReadyBoot and file indexing functions, since they determine the possibilities for dynamic self-tuning and affect the stability of results during testing.

SuperFetch technology

SuperFetch technology is, in a sense, a development of Boot Prefetching and Application-Launch Prefetching technologies. SuperFetch technology optimizes the placement of files on the hard drive, coupled with the ability to read ahead of those files based on monitored data access statistics. This takes into account the history of memory accesses over a long period. In addition, SuperFetch technology is inseparable from the new memory management technology.

While Windows XP uses data prefetching to speed up the loading of the operating system and applications, the data prefetching mechanism in Windows Vista applies to any type of data used. In effect, Windows Vista tries to predict what data will be needed and load it into RAM in advance. Data that is prefetched (read ahead) is placed by the memory manager in a special cache called the Standby list. It is important to note here that the Windows Vista operating system uses a fundamentally different cache to store prefetched data than Windows XP. In this case, a mechanism for prioritizing loaded memory pages is supported (each memory page is assigned a priority from 0 to 7), and eight wait lists are created in the cache, each of which stores memory pages with one priority level.

The SuperFetch function runs as a Windows service inside the Service Host process (%SystemRoot%\System32\Svchost.exe). It tracks the history of memory page accesses and instructs the memory manager to preload data or code from files on disk or from the page file to the wait list, as well as instructions to assign priority to memory pages. The SuperFetch service greatly enhances memory page tracking by accounting for pages that were previously loaded into memory but were subsequently freed by the memory manager for other data and code. This information is stored in the %SystemRoot%\Prefetch folder as script files with a *.db extension, along with standard read-ahead files used to optimize application startup. Having detailed information memory usage, the SuperFetch service can prefetch data and code when physical memory is freed.

When memory is freed (for example, when an application exits or when an application frees allocated memory), the SuperFetch service instructs the memory manager to load recently fetched data and code. This procedure is performed at a rate of several pages per second with Very Low I/O priority, so preloading does not interfere with user and other active applications.

ReadyBoot technology

ReadyBoot technology is designed to speed up the loading of the operating system and is used only if the computer has more than 700 MB of RAM. If the system uses less RAM, then the read-ahead mechanism when loading Windows Vista is no different from the mechanism used when loading Windows XP.

ReadyBoot technology uses a special cache in RAM to optimize the operating system boot process, the size of which depends on the total amount of available RAM.

After each boot of the operating system during idle moments, a special service analyzes information about file accesses for the five previous loads and determines which files were accessed and where they are located on the disk. Based on this analysis, the service schedules caching for the next system boot. Processed information about calls is stored in the %SystemRoot%\Prefetch\Readyboot folder, and the caching plan is stored in the HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Ecache\Parameters registry key.

File Indexing Feature

Another innovation of the Windows Vista operating system is the File Indexing and Search Service, which provides quick search various documents, photographs, mail messages and other data. It runs by default and monitors changes to the contents of the NTFS file system. By default, only a portion of user data is indexed, and the indexing service runs at low priority whenever the contents of the file system change.

General recommendations for testing in Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems

So, the main problem when testing systems with installed Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems is to ensure repeatability of test results, taking into account the dynamic self-tuning functions of these operating systems.

There are two possible testing scenarios. The first of these is to completely disable all dynamic self-tuning functions by configuring operating systems. It really is possible to do this. For example, in both Windows XP and Windows Vista, you can disable optimization of disk file placement by making appropriate settings in the registry. To do this, you need to set the Enable key to N in the HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOptimizeFunction registry key (the default value of the parameter is Y).

In order to disable data prefetch functions, in the Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems, you must make changes to the registry key HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SessionManager\MemoryManagement\PrefetchParameters, assigning the EnablePrefetcher key the value 0. By default, the value of this key is 3, which means allowing data prefetching for both the operating system and applications. Key value 1 corresponds to allowing data prefetching for applications, key value 2 corresponds to data prefetching for the operating system. Moreover, in the Windows Vista operating system, you can stop and block the SuperFetch service.

In addition, after making all the necessary changes, you must clear the contents of the %SystemRoot%\Prefetch folder in Windows XP and the %SystemRoot%\Prefetch and %SystemRoot%\Prefetch\ReadyBoot folders in Windows Vista.

Despite the theoretical possibility of prohibiting the dynamic self-tuning functions of the Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems, it hardly makes sense to do this, since in this case testing is carried out without taking into account the very important functionality of the operating systems and the results obtained in this way are unlikely to be relevant. In addition, although dynamic self-tuning functions are implemented differently in the Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems, without taking them into account, it is unlikely that the performance of these operating systems can be correctly compared. Therefore, it is more correct to use the second testing scenario, which takes into account all the capabilities of operating systems for dynamic self-tuning.

In this case, the testing methodology can be divided into three stages: preparation, system training and obtaining test results.

The preparation stage consists of installing the operating system, all drivers and updates, as well as the necessary benchmarks and applications. At the system training stage, the data necessary for self-tuning of the operating system is collected and analyzed, and at the stage of obtaining test results, the system itself is tested.

So, the testing sequence in this case is as follows.

Preparation stage

1. The operating system is installed.
2. All necessary drivers and operating system updates are installed.
3. The necessary configuration of the operating system is performed.
4. All necessary benchmarks and applications required for testing are installed.
5. The hard drive is being defragmented.

Training stage

1. The %SystemRoot%\Prefetch folder in Windows XP and the %SystemRoot%\Prefetch and %SystemRoot%\Prefetch\ReadyBoot folders in Windows Vista are cleaned.
2. The operating system is rebooted three times.
3. After the last reboot of the operating system, a pause of at least five minutes is made so that all background processes are completed. Additionally, you must ensure that the Indexing Service (for Windows Vista) has completed the file indexing process.
4. The benchmark starts.
5. Rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks command is executed.
6. The hard drive is being defragmented.
7. The computer restarts.

Testing phase

The benchmark is run the required number of times (at least three times) with the operating system rebooted after each test run.

In the testing procedure described above, perhaps only the training stage needs comments. It starts by clearing the %SystemRoot%\Prefetch folder in Windows XP and the %SystemRoot%\Prefetch and %SystemRoot%\Prefetch\ReadyBoot folders in Windows Vista. Let us remind you that these folders contain data used to optimize the placement of files on the hard drive and proactively load data into RAM. During the system training phase, it is better to clear the contents of these folders in order to start collecting the necessary information for optimization from scratch.

Running a benchmark at the training stage is necessary in order to again enable operating systems to optimize the placement of data files and applications on the hard drive, as well as to accumulate the information necessary for pre-reading data. Note that the benchmark results obtained at the training stage are not indicative and should not be taken into account when processing testing results.

As already noted, processes for optimizing the placement of files on the hard drive are carried out in the background once every three days when the operating system is idle (when there are no active processes). However, all background tasks that are waiting to be executed can be forced to start using the Rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks command. It is advisable to execute this command not from the command line, but from a BAT file. In this case, a command window will open, which will be active until all processes forcibly running in the background are completely terminated.

Upon completion of the Rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks command, the placement of files on the hard drive will be optimized based on the accumulated information.

After additional defragmentation of the hard drive, which, as already noted, does not disrupt the structure of placement of optimized files on the hard drive, the training stage can be considered complete.

It is important to note that if not one, but several benchmarks are used during testing, then the use of each new benchmark must be started from the training stage, that is, by clearing the %SystemRoot%\Prefetch folder in Windows XP and the %SystemRoot%\Prefetch and %SystemRoot% folders \Prefetch\ReadyBoot in Windows Vista.

Performance comparison between Windows XP Professional SP2 and Windows Vista x86 Ultimate

So, after defining the requirements for benchmarks and presenting general principles testing, you can proceed to consider the methodology for comparing the performance of the Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems.

For testing, we used 32-bit versions of the Windows XP Professional SP2 and Windows Vista Ultimate operating systems. Moreover, we note that in our case we used English versions operating systems, since one of the benchmarks we use for testing is simply incompatible with localized versions of the OS.

Benchmarks used

We selected the following benchmarks for testing:

• Futuremark 3DMark06 v.1.1.0.

All of them are compatible with both Windows XP Professional SP2 and Windows Vista Ultimate x86.

Benchmark Futuremark PCMark05 v. 1.2.0 Professional Edition is well known and allows you to evaluate the performance of both the system as a whole and its individual subsystems (processor, memory, hard drive and video card).

The Futuremark 3DMark06 v.1.1.0 benchmark, aimed at determining system performance in 3D games, also does not need comment due to its widespread use. But the BAPCo SYSmark 2007 Preview 1.01 benchmark appeared recently (at least this version of it) and is not as well known, unlike the two previous benchmarks (primarily due to its inaccessibility to a wide audience). Therefore, let's look at this test in more detail.

The BAPCo SYSmark 2007 Preview 1.01 benchmark allows you to evaluate system performance when working with various categories of applications. It has a total of four application categories, or four download scenarios: E-Learning, Office Productivity, Video Creation, and 3D Modeling.

The E-Learning scenario simulates the creation of an electronic knowledge base, that is, the user’s work with content creation applications. Applications used in this scenario include:

• Adobe Illustrator CS2;
• Adobe Photoshop CS2;
• Macromedia Flash 8;
• Microsoft PowerPoint 2003.

The Office Productivity scenario simulates how a user interacts with Office applications. It uses the following applications:

• Microsoft Excel 2003;
• Microsoft Outlook 2003;
• Microsoft PowerPoint 2003;
• Microsoft Word 2003;
• Microsoft Project 2003;
• WinZip 10.0.

The Video Creation scenario simulates the creation of videos using special effects and individual digital photographs. This scenario uses applications such as:

• Adobe After Effects 7;
• Adobe Illustrator CS2;
• Adobe Photoshop CS2;
• Microsoft Windows Media Encoder 9 series;
• Sony Vegas 7.

The 3D Modeling scenario simulates the user's experience with 3D modeling applications. Applications used in this scenario include:

• AutoDesk 3ds max 8;
• SketchUp 5.

Test bench configuration

For testing we used a computer with the following configuration:

• processor - Intel Core 2 Extreme Q6850;
• motherboard - ASUS P5K Deluxe (BIOS version 0501);
• motherboard chipset - Intel P35 Express (south bridge ICH9R);
• memory - two DDR2-1066 Kingston KHX8000D2K2/2G modules with a capacity of 1 GB;
• video card - MSI NX8800GTX (GPU NVIDIA GeForce 8800GTX);
• hard drive - Seagate ST3120827AS.

Before the installation of operating systems began, the BIOS settings of the motherboard were set to AHCI mode for the SATA controller to which the hard drive was connected.

When using the Windows Vista Ultimate x86 operating system, the following utility drivers were additionally installed:

• LAN driver v. 8.56.6.3;
• video driver NVIDIA ForceWare 162.22.

When using the Windows XP Professional SP2 operating system, the following utility drivers were additionally installed:

• Intel Chipset Device Software 8.3.0.1013;
• Intel Matrix Storage Manager 7.6.0.1011;
• audio driver SoundMAX v.6.10.1.6180;
• LAN driver v. 8.56.6.3;
• Jmicron JMB363 RAID Driver v.1.17.15.0;
• video driver NVIDIA ForceWare 162.18.

Setting up operating systems

After installing the operating system with default settings and all the necessary drivers, a preliminary additional customization operating system.

For the Windows XP Professional SP2 operating system, the following additional settings were made:

Screen Saver disabled;

The Always On power consumption scheme is selected and the ability to turn off the monitor, hard drives and enable Standby mode is blocked;

System Restore is disabled;

Built-in Firewall disabled;

Display of the taskbar on top of other windows is disabled (the Keep the taskbar on the top of other windows checkbox was unchecked);

The Security Center service is blocked.

For the Windows Vista Ultimate x86 operating system, the following additional settings were made:

The screen resolution is set to 1024x768 pixels with a color depth of 32 bits and a frame rate of 75 Hz;

Screen Saver disabled;

The High Performance power consumption scheme is selected and the ability to turn off the monitor is blocked;

Display disabled Windows panels Sidebar;

The system recovery function (System Protection) is disabled;

User Account Control (UAC) feature is disabled;

The ability to defragment according to a schedule is disabled;

Disabled Windows service Defender;

The built-in Windows Firewall is disabled;

The Automatic Updates function is disabled;

The Security Center service is blocked;

Feature disabled remote control(Remote Desktop);

All desktop visual effects are included (Adjust for best appearance);

Displaying the taskbar on top of other windows is disabled (the Keep the taskbar on the top of other windows checkbox was unchecked).

Testing methodology

After the initial setup of the operating system, all benchmarks were installed in the following order:

1. BAPCo SYSmark 2007 Preview 1.01;
2. Futuremark PCMark05 v. 1.2.0 Professional Edition;
3. Futuremark 3DMark06 v.1.1.0.

Next, the hard drive was defragmented, followed by a stage of training the system to conduct the BAPCo SYSmark 2007 Preview 1.01 test. Let us remind you that this stage begins with deleting the contents of the %SystemRoot%\Prefetch folders in Windows XP and the %SystemRoot%\Prefetch and %SystemRoot%\Prefetch\ReadyBoot folders in Windows Vista. Then the operating system was rebooted three times and after a five-minute pause (to complete all background processes), the BAPCo SYSmark 2007 Preview 1.01 test was launched. Note that to control the duration of the pause when using Windows It's convenient for Vista to run the Resource Monitor service. When all processor, hard drive, and memory activity ceases, all background processes can be considered terminated.

At the end of one run of the BAPCo SYSmark 2007 Preview 1.01 test, the command Rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks was executed, and then the hard drive was defragmented and the computer was rebooted.

After this, the BAPCo SYSmark 2007 Preview 1.01 test was run again. In this test, by clicking on the corresponding icon on the desktop, you could select a single (Official Run_1) or three-time (Official Run_3) run of all scenarios (E-Learning, Office Productivity, Video Creation and 3D-Modeling). In addition, the BAPCo SYSmark 2007 Preview 1.01 benchmark supports running from the command line with the ability to specify any number of runs. Since this testing required at least five test runs, a BAT file with the command SYSmark2007.exe projectname=Test iterations=10 was used to run it. A total of ten test runs were performed, which ensured high reliability of the test results.

Upon completion of testing using the BAPCo SYSmark 2007 Preview 1.01 benchmark, the stage of training the system to conduct the Futuremark PCMark05 v.1.2.0 Professional Edition test began, that is, the contents of the %SystemRoot%\Prefetch folders in Windows XP and the %SystemRoot%\Prefetch and %SystemRoot%\Prefetch\ReadyBoot in Windows Vista and the computer rebooted three times. After a pause to complete all background processes, the Futuremark PCMark05 v.1.2.0 Professional Edition test was launched. In the test settings, the subtests System Test Suite, CPU Test Suite, Memory Test Suite, Graphics Test Suite and HDD Test Suite were selected.

Upon completion of one run of the Futuremark PCMark05 v.1.2.0 Professional Edition test, the command Rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks was executed, and then the hard drive was defragmented and the computer was rebooted.

Then the Futuremark PCMark05 v test was run ten times. 1.2.0 Professional Edition. After each test run, the result was recorded and the computer was rebooted, and before starting the test there was a pause sufficient to complete all background processes.

The testing methodology using the Futuremark 3DMark06 v.1.1.0 test was no different (except, of course, from the test itself) from the testing methodology using the Futuremark PCMark05 v.1.2.0 Professional Edition test. That is, it all started with the system training stage and ended with running the Futuremark 3DMark06 v.1.1.0 test ten times. After each test run, the result was recorded and the computer was rebooted, and before starting the test there was a pause sufficient to complete all background processes.

The only thing to note is that the Futuremark 3DMark06 v.1.1.0 test was run with default settings, that is, the screen resolution was 1280x1024, the Anti-Aliasing function (Anti-Aliasing: None) and the Optimal filtering mode (Filtering: Optimal) were disabled.

Test results

Since each test was run ten times during testing, this allowed us to obtain reliable results with very little error. Based on the results of ten measurements in each test, the average result (arithmetic mean), standard deviation and confidence interval with a probability of 95% were calculated. For those familiar with mathematical statistics, concepts such as standard deviation and confidence interval are clear, but for the rest of us, we note that the measurement error in our tests did not exceed 2.5%, and for most results it was less than 1%.

After such a long and tedious preface, let's move on to the most important thing - to consider the test results, which are shown in Fig. 1, 2 and 3, and are presented in more detail in the table.

Operating Room Performance Comparison
Windows Vista Ultimate x86 systems
and Windows XP Professional SP2

	Windows Vista Ultimate x86	Windows XP Professional SP2
SYSmark 2007 Preview v.1.01
Office Productivity
Futuremark PCMark05 v.1.2.0

As can be seen from the test results, there is no clear performance leader. Everything ultimately depends on the applications used. The most revealing test in this regard is BAPCo SYSmark 2007 Preview 1.01. In the E-Learning and 3D-Modeling scenarios, the performance of both operating systems is almost the same. In the VideoCreation scenario, Windows Vista clearly takes the lead, while in the Office Productivity scenario, everything is exactly the opposite - a clear advantage in favor of Windows XP. Accordingly, if you have a powerful, modern home computer and you work with video editing programs, then it is more preferable to use the Windows Vista operating system. If you work with office applications to solve most problems, then the best choice is the Windows XP operating system. Well, in cases where applications for creating content or working with 3D graphics are mainly used, it makes no sense at all to think about which OS to choose.

Rice. 1. Test performance comparison results
BAPCo SYSmark 2007 Preview 1.01

Rice. 2. Performance comparison results
in the Futuremark PCMark05 v.1.2.0 Professional Edition test

In the Futuremark PCMark05 v.1.2.0 test, the leadership was in the Windows Vista operating system. However, it is characteristic that in the subtests measuring the performance of the processor, memory and hard drive, Windows XP won (albeit with a slight advantage), and only in one subtest, measuring the performance of the graphics subsystem, did Windows Vista have a significant advantage. Actually, it is precisely because of this that Windows Vista won in terms of the integral performance indicator in the Futuremark PCMark05 v.1.2.0 test. Of course, in this case, the test results largely depend on the version of the graphics card driver (remember that for the Windows Vista and Windows XP operating systems, different versions drivers) and not from the operating system, and make an unambiguous conclusion that the Windows Vista operating system faster than Windows XP, not entirely correct. Therefore, the test results can be formulated as follows: with the NVIDIA ForceWare 162.22 video driver for the Windows Vista x86 operating system, the system demonstrates higher performance than with the NVIDIA ForceWare 162.18 video driver for Windows XP.

In the Futuremark 3DMark06 v.1.1.0 test, the results were quite unexpected. Both in terms of the integral performance indicator and the results of all individual subtests (SM2.0 Score, HDR/SM3.0 Score, CPU Score), the Windows XP Professional SP2 operating system won. Yes, the driver didn’t help here either. Therefore, if we are talking about gaming computer, then, given that there are still very few games that support the Direct X10 API, it is better to use the Windows XP Professional SP2 operating system.