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Windows Vista Information

Overview

Windows Vista will replace Windows XP, just like Windows XP replaced Windows NT on Personal Computers years ago. The new Vista operating system is more graphics intensive than XP and it requires more powerful hardware to run optimally.

Like many government agencies and companies, Northeastern University will not be installing Vista campus-wide on NU-owned computers at this time. However, if you would like to install Vista on your NU-owned computer you may do so at your own risk. See the Rollout to Faculty and Staff Computers section of this webpage for more information. If you do elect to upgrade to Vista from XP, you must make sure that your current computer meets the NU minimum system requirements.


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NU Minimum System Requirements

The specifications listed below are for minimum Vista performance. With these specifications, Information Services does not guarantee that Vista will run optimally. If you choose to install Vista on your centrally-managed NU-owned computer, you will be doing so at your own risk.

Minimum System Requirements
  • 1 GHz processor or higher
  • 1 GB RAM or higher
  • 70 GB hard drive or higher
  • 128 MB video RAM or higher

Microsoft has published Windows Vista system requirements here.

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Deployment to Faculty & Staff Computers

Information Services has created a beta (not fully tested) Windows Vista base image. If you are interested in having this beta image installed on your computer and your computer meets the NU System Requirements, please call the IS Help Line at (617) 373-4357(xHELP) to schedule a desktop visit so that a technician may assess your computer's hardware in order to determine whether or not your computer is capable of running Vista. Please note that if you decide to run Vista, you will be doing so at your own risk.

Please note that not all centrally-managed computer applications have been tested and approved to run on Vista.


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Known Compatibility Issues


Software Compatibility Issues
  • Not all centrally-managed computer applications have been tested and approved to run on Vista. If you are running Vista and experience a problem with a centrally-managed computer application, please report it to the IS Help Line at (617) 373-4357.

Hardware Compatibility Issues
  • We are currently unaware of any hardware compatibility issues with Vista, but will post them here as they are discovered.
NOTE: It is the responsibility of the individual manufacturer to release versions of their applications/drivers that are compatible with Windows Vista.

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