Screen shots: Experts give Vista advice

Ask nine Windows experts for advice they'd give a user ready to make the jump to Windows Vista, and you get nine different pieces of advice. Here is a collection of Vista "gotchas" and tips from some of the most savvy Microsoft watchers out there.

ZDNet Blogger and Windows Book Author Ed Bott: If you decide to go the dual-boot route, realize that XP and Vista use different formats for System Restore checkpoints.

Credit: Ed Bott

.Net Developer and 64-bit Expert Ryan Hoffman: "Instead of simply stopping the user from installing the driver in the first place, Vista's otherwise improved error messages and diagnostics fail to help the user."

Credit: Ryan Hoffman

.Net Developer and Windows-Now Founder Robert McLaws: If you are an NTBackup user, you need to take care in how you do your Vista backups.

Credit: Robert McLaws

Tech Pundit Chris Pirillo: "The (Vista) search tool is a mess," from a user-interface perspective.

Credit: Chris Pirillo

Houston Chronicle Tech Blogger Dwight Silverman: Don't skip the important first step of running Microsoft's Upgrade Advisor tool before moving your current system to Vista.

Credit: Dwight Silverman

MVP and Windows Book Author Steve Sinchak: Running disk cleanup can play havoc with your "Hibernate" settings in Vista.

Credit: Steve Sinchak

SuperSite for Windows Editor and Book Author Paul Thurrott: "Make sure everything will work (by setting up a) dual-boot between XP and Vista before committing your entire PC to the new OS."

Credit: Paul Thurrott

MVP and Windows Book Author Sandro Villinger: If you're running Vista on a laptop, beware of battery-life issues.

Credit: Sandro Villinger

MVP and CEO of Stardock Brad Wardell: Watch for updates from video-driver makers, who've been having trouble with Vista compatibility.

Credit: Brad Wardell