Windows Vista Security: Praxisorientierte Sicherheit für Profis

Starting and Using Windows Vista

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11

Reviewing and Activating Your Computer

In the Welcome Center, the View Computer Details task is selected by default.

Because you are just getting started with Windows Vista, you’ll probably want to

click Show More Details to access the System console and view additional informa-

tion about your computer. As Figure 1-3 shows, the System console provides links

for performing common tasks and a system overview in four basic areas:

Windows edition

Lists the operating system edition and service packs. To protect your computer

and optimize performance, you’ll want to ensure that your computer is running

the latest service pack. With Windows Vista, you can install service packs and

other product updates automatically as part of Windows Update. To learn more

about Windows Update, see Chapter 20.

System

Lists the processor, total memory, and performance rating of your computer.

Your computer’s performance rating was computed automatically during final-

ization of the installation. The Windows Experience Index is calculated based on

the processor speed, total memory, graphics processor, and hard disk transfer

rate. To learn more about updating your computer’s performance rating and

techniques for improving your computer’s performance, see Chapter 3.

Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings

List the computer name, description, domain, and workgroup details. All com-

puters are members of either a workgroup or a domain, and this membership

affects how you can configure the computer and the options available. To learn

more about making your computer a member of a workgroup or domain, see

Chapter 20.

Windows activation

Lists the computer’s product ID and activation status. If your computer is using

a retail version of Windows Vista, it must have a product key and you must acti-

vate the operating system using this product key. In Windows Vista, the prod-

uct key provided during installation is what determines the operating system

version and features that are installed. When you upgrade your Windows Vista

edition, you are essentially buying a new product key and telling Windows Vista

to unlock and install the additional features of this edition. See Chapter 22 for

details on upgrading Windows Vista editions.

Windows Vista performs activation and uses product keys differently than Windows

XP. By default, Windows Vista requires activation over the Internet. In the System

console, activate the operating system by clicking “Activate Windows now” under

“Windows activation” and then clicking “Activate Windows online now” in the

Windows Activation dialog box. Your computer then checks your Internet connec-

tion and attempts to activate the operating system. If this process fails, you’ll need to

resolve any issues that are preventing your computer from connecting to the Internet

and then click “Activate Windows online now” again.