Q. What is the Windows Experience Index?

A. This built-in performance analyzer is found in the Control Panel under Performance Information and Tools. Your Windows Experience Index is the lowest of five scores assigned to your system's CPU, memory, basic graphics capability, 3D graphics power, and hard disk speed. Microsoft hopes that the Windows Experience Index will replace the lengthier enumeration of system requirements found on software boxes. Instead of reading that a game requires at least 1GB of RAM, a Pixel Shader 2.0 graphics board, and a 2-GHz CPU, for example, you'd see that a game requires a WEI score of, say, 3.2 or better.

Q. What do ReadyBoost, ReadyDrive, and SuperFetch do?

A. SuperFetch, a new memory manager for Windows, uses available memory to proactively cache data that you're likely to need. Eventually, it learns which applications and data you (and any other users who log in to your machine) habitually use and when you use them, and it does so on a per-user basis.

ReadyBoost makes more memory available to SuperFetch by creating new memory pages on USB flash drives and using the flash memory in hybrid hard disks.

ReadyDrive uses the Non-Volatile RAM cache on a hybrid drive to store critical data during state transitions such as when booting your PC or resuming from standby. Before shutting down, Vista transfers the critical data your PC will use for booting or resuming into that NVRAM cache. As a result, the PC doesn't have to wait for a hard disk to spin up before it can start loading data.

Q. Can I finally rely on the Windows Firewall?

A. Vista's Windows Firewall is a full-blown security tool. The Windows XP version could block only unwanted inbound connections; but the Windows Vista version blocks unwanted outbound connections as well, so you may be able to dispense with your third-party firewall.

Q. What do the other Windows Security Center apps do?

A. Parental Controls is a nice tool for parents who wish to limit the way their children can use the Internet and the computer. BitLocker Drive Encryption works with hardware to encrypt the contents of an entire PC hard drive; if you lose your laptop, no one will be able to read its data.

Q. I hear that User Account Controls (UACs) are pretty annoying. Is that true?

A. In short, yes. By far, UACs are the most annoying thing about Windows Vista. When you need to change certain system settings, install software, or perform any of a number of other tasks, a prompt will appear, nagging you to click OK, or type in a password. This feature can be disabled, but before doing so - please read the next FAQ.

Q. Does UAC actually help with security?

A. Yes, there is method in the madness, and UAC prompts do help protect you. By forcing you to confirm that you wish to take various actions, UACs prevent spyware and other malware from making changes to your system without your knowledge.

Q. I'm pretty good with a computer, I'd like to turn UAC off. How can I do it?

A. In 'Control Panel', select 'User Accounts' and 'Family Safety', 'User Accounts', and then click Turn User Account Control on or off. This of course triggers a UAC prompt that you'll have to answer before you can proceed - But it's a small price to pay. :)

Q. Can I make Vista look like an older version of Windows?

A. Yup! Right-click the Start button, select Properties, and choose Classic Start Menu to get a Start menu that's composed primarily of cascading menus that lead to programs. Right-click the desktop, select Personalize, and double-click Theme to choose the Windows Classic theme, which does away with much of Vista's slickness (and gives you a Start button labeled "Start").

Q. Now that Vista is out, will new applications require it? If I stick with Windows XP, will I be unable to get any new software?

A. Past Windows transitions give us hope that most applications will be available in Windows XP-friendly editions for quite awhile--after all, millions and millions of people will continue to use XP for years to come--but a gradual transition to Vista will occur over the next few years. Cutting-edge games will make the earliest transition to the new OS, since DirectX 10 (the new version of Microsoft's APIs for game programmers) will be Vista-only.

Q. Has setting up a network become any easier?

A. Yes, much easier. A simple wizard walks you through the process--and it works. Troubleshooting is better, too. And the Network Center provides a quick overview of your network so you can see whether everything is working right.

Q. I like Firefox just fine. Is there any reason to switch back?

A. IE 7 is a major step up from its predecessor, but Firefox is safer, has more features, and is far more customizable with add-ons and themes. IE 7 remains a valuable option when you encounter one of those clueless, IE-only Web sites.

Q. What does the 64-bit version get you? Is there any reason not to run it on a capable PC?

A. Like the 64-bit version of Windows XP, the 64-bit version of Windows Vista looks almost identical to the 32-bit version but allows you to run both 32-bit and 64-bit applications, and to use more than 4GB of system memory. The 64-bit versions of data-intensive applications such as CAD, photo-, video-, and audio-editing tools may perform better than 32-bit versions on the same system. However, 64-bit Windows has some drawbacks, starting with the fact that it requires 64-bit drivers, which are sometimes hard to come by. Eventually, we'll probably all be using 64-bit operating systems (and then 128-bit, etc.). Unlike XP Professional 64-bit, Vista 64-bit drivers have been fairly common amongst the top tier hardware/software developers.