? about Vista install

[Klyla]

I am setting up my friend's new Dell computer for her tomorrow (she's 70) and it shipped with Windows Vista OS. Her old computer has Windows ME. I want to copy her address book, favorites, and documents (text files and pictures) via CD to the new computer. She uses Yahoo! mail so there's no Outlook files to move over. (I don't want to buy a transfer cable.)

Is there something I should know about how to do this, and also is there anything else strange about Vista I might need to know about before I do this? I'm a home office/housewife type who has done her share of upgrades in the past (I run Windows XP) but I'm just not familiar with Vista and thought I'd ask before I get myself too deep in doodoo.

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

 

[PC eye]

Vista is definitely a "different animal" there although still havin most of the same items like the regedit and msconfig as usual. Vista does have the wizard for transferring setting over from one system to another not seen in XP. This is one thing new there. But you will have to get used to some new changes in appearance of familiar things.

Instead of seeing icons for drives and a list of folders in the left column when opening the MyComputer icon you now have a series of text paragraphs with links in them. That's the new Vista look. You also have to disable things like the new "sidebar" that takes up 1/3 of the desktop with a clock in it. And the User Account Control acts like it's own type of firewall prompting for a decision on... "everything" even to run a program already installed.

Forget looking for the DocumentsandSettings folder since that's no longer there. Instead you now see a "users" folder and an additional Program Data folder right below the Programs Files directory. It will install much easier on sata drives since you no longer need a driver floppy. The installer will clearly detect all dirves when installing as well as inspect each drive's volume when booting up. Forget most of your older desktop applications however. Plan on buying the newer version of most programs. Even the compatibility lists at the link here seem to be inaccurate at times. http://www.iexbeta.com/wiki/index.php/Windows_Vista_Software_Compatibility_List