Microsoft launched windows vista in 2006. Vista was originally named LONGHORN and it came with a lot of new features compared to its previous version i.e. Win XP. It came with more security, more new features, better GUI etc. there are many tech support service providers who offer Windows Vista Support to the users.
It was possible to for a windows Vista upgrade from win XP provided the user has XP or 2K. Of course there are certain rules which need to be taken care of. All XP or 2K versions cannot be upgraded directly. Certain versions need clean installations to be done.
All Vista OEM CDs come with a vista product key to activate it and thereby registering it with Microsoft. Once registered the windows vista software becomes a registered product with MS without which the OS will stop working after a couple of days and will not open until it is registered. Activation can be done over the internet or by phone. Always remember that activation is a must but registration is not. Every user gets 30 days to activate the product.
Free windows vista service packs are available for free from Microsoft.com. You can also get free vista themes from the same site.
When windows vista was launched it created a problem initially as there was a problem with drivers. Many peripheral products and other related products had issues with vista until MS launched many upgrades. Soon windows vista drivers were updated and released and the problems started reducing.
For vista users MS office 2007 was the best choice. Many started calling this version as Office Vista.