Windows Vista Starter Edition FAQ
Table of Contents
1. What is Windows Vista Starter?
2. What are the networking constraints of Windows Vista Starter?
3. Is right-click enabled in Windows Vista Starter?
4. Can I print with Windows Vista Starter?
5. Can I make changes to the firewall settings?
6. Can I connect to a Sharepoint server?
7. Are parental controls enabled in Windows Vista Starter?
8. Can I have multiple accounts in Windows Vista Starter?
9. Can I install Windows Vista Starter on any hardware configuration?
10. Does Windows Vista Starter have any restrictions regarding the number of applications that can be run or windows that can be opened?
11. What are the user experience alternatives available in the different versions of Windows Vista? What are the display adapter requirements for each of them?
12. What happens if I install more memory than the maximum allowed?
13. Is wide-screen format supported?
14. Can I upgrade to a different version of Windows Vista from Windows Vista Starter?
15. Can I upgrade from Windows XP Starter Edition to Windows Vista Starter?
16. Can documents be migrated from Windows Vista Starter to any other version of Windows Vista?
17. Can I burn CDs with Windows Vista Starter?
18. Can I burn DVDs with Windows Vista Starter?
19. Is Movie Maker available in Windows Vista Starter?
20. Does Windows Vista Starter support an OPK that an OEM can use?
21. Which processors can run Windows Vista Starter?
22. What happens if I install Windows Vista Starter on a processor that is not supported?
23. What counts and does not count toward the Windows Vista Starter restriction regarding the number of programs that can be run concurrently?
24. What can cause Windows Vista Starter to start in safe mode?
25. Does Windows Vista Starter support DWM (Desktop Window Manager)?
26. Is FUS (Fast User Switching) enabled in Windows Vista Starter?
27. Was Windows Vista Starter called Windows Starter 2007?
28. Is there a retail version of Windows Vista Starter?
29. What are the differences between Windows Vista Starter and Windows Vista Home Basic?
30. In what languages will Windows Vista Starter be available?
31. Can I improve system performance by using an external USB flash device?
32. Can I watch TV on my PC?
33. Can I install Windows Vista Starter as a virtual machine?
34. Can I share pictures from my new digital camera using Windows Vista Starter?
35. Who sells Starter Edition in my city?
36. Is offline file backup available in Windows Vista Starter?
37. Does Windows Vista Starter come with an antivirus?
38. My Windows Vista machine is much slower than my Linux/XP Starter Edition machine. Can I do anything to improve its performance?
39. Is Windows anytime upgrade supported in Windows Vista Starter?
40. Is WTT supported in Windows Vista Starter?
41. In which countries will Windows Vista Starter be released in English?
42. Can I install Windows Vista Starter on a laptop?
43. Does Windows Vista Starter have an amd64 build?
44. Can I run stress on Windows Vista Starter?
45. Can I use Windows Vista Starter to connect to a corporate network?
46. Is it safe to use Windows Vista Starter?
47. Are there applications that will not run and install on Windows Vista Starter?
48. Can I stream media from my Windows Vista Starter machine?
49. What kind of authentication is supported in Windows Vista Starter?
50. How do I change the firewall settings on my Windows Vista Starter machine?
51. Can I disable the firewall on Windows Vista Starter?
52. Does Windows Vista Starter support LUA (Limited User Accounts)?
53. Can I have multiple LIPs (Language Interface Packs) on the same Windows Vista Starter computer?
54. Can I migrate to and from Windows Vista Starter?
55. Is system restore available in Windows Vista Starter?
56. Is remote assistance supported in Windows Vista Starter?
57. Can I connect to a Windows Vista Starter computer using Remote Desktop functionality?
58. Can I connect to a non-Windows Vista Starter PC from a Windows Vista Starter machine?
59. Will Windows Vista Starter work with and take advantage of my new graphics card?
Windows Vista Starter provides individuals in developing technology markets and their families the basic computing benefits they want with the security and reliability they need at an affordable price. Windows Vista Starter makes it easier to learn and use a PC with tools and tutorials for those less familiar with computers, and runs on entry-level, more affordable hardware.
2. What are the networking constraints of Windows Vista Starter?
Please refer to the diagram below.
A. What is allowed/can be done with Vista Starter
1) Connection to the Internet
a. Based on the configuration below, all the machines WILL connect to the Internet.
b. If you connect your router to the Internet and then to a Windows Vista Starter machine, you will be connected to the Internet.
2) Accessing shared folders/files/drives/printers on another machine (non-Windows XP Starter Edition) is possible from a Windows Vista Starter machine.
3) CIFS* protocol is enabled in Windows Vista Starter only for outbound connections.
4) Windows Vista Starter can access an SMB (Samba) shares on any file server using CIFS protocol.
5) A Windows Vista Starter machine can connect to the Internet using a wireless connection, dial-up connection, and Ethernet.
6) 6) A Windows Vista Starter machine can access an FTP server.
B. What is NOT allowed/cannot be done with Vista Starter
1) Windows Vista Starter cannot connect to a domain.
2) Windows Vista Starter does not allow any incoming connections.
3) A Windows Vista Starter machine cannot share its Internet connection with other machines.
4) A Windows Vista Starter machine cannot be part of an ad hoc (computer-to-computer) network.
5) A Windows Vista Starter machine cannot create a network bridge to join two or more networks together. However, a Windows Vista Starter computer can communicate with computers on a different network if someone on another computer has created a bridge between the networks.
6) If you still can’t connect to a share, then check the Ipsec policy on the domain to ensure that the policy allows domain-less systems to connect.
*CIFS or Common Internet File System: A standard remote file-system access protocol from Microsoft, which is a subset of the Server Message Block (SMB) file-system protocol, and is used over the Internet to enable groups of users to work together and share documents across the Internet or within corporate intranets.
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3. Is right-click enabled in Windows Vista Starter?
Yes. In Windows Vista Starter right-click is enabled on the menu, and its properties function on the toolbar and Start menu.
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4. Can I print with Windows Vista Starter?
Yes. Windows Vista Starter can utilize a printer that is attached to the machine and also printers that are shared on a non-Windows Starter computer. This can be done using supported protocols like SMB, LPR, and via a h/w print server.
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5. Can I make changes to the firewall settings?
Yes. You can make changes to the firewall settings, similarly as with any other Windows Vista version. Applications can dynamically change settings and enable ports as well.
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6. Can I connect to a Sharepoint server?
Yes. You can connect to a Sharepoint server.
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7. Are parental controls enabled in Windows Vista Starter?
Yes. Windows Vista introduces a rich and powerful set of parental control features to help parents monitor, manage, and administer their child’s computer use—and help keep them safe.
For more in-depth information please access the following link: Parental Control.
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8. Can I have multiple accounts in Windows Vista Starter?
Yes. You can create multiple-user accounts, each account with its own password and only one administrator account, similarly to all other Vista versions.
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9. Can I install Windows Vista Starter on any hardware configuration?
Windows Vista Starter can be installed and used on the following PC hardware:
- PC with Intel’s Celeron®, Celeron® D, Celeron® M; AMD’s Duron™, Geode™, Sempron™; similar value processors from other manufacturers; and all Pentium III and lower processors other than Xeon
- 233 MHz processor clock speed required and 300 MHz or higher recommended
- 256MB of RAM minimum; 512 MB of RAM recommended; 1 GB of RAM maximum
- 17 GB of available hard-disk space
- CD-ROM or DVD drive
- Super VGA resolution video adaptor and monitor
- Maximum resolution allowed by the OS is 1024 x 768
- Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device
These specifications are not final and will change prior to release of Windows Vista Starter.
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10. Does Windows Vista Starter have any restrictions regarding the number of applications that can be run or windows that can be opened?
You cannot open more than three applications (Win32 processes) with visible top-level windows using Windows Vista Starter. Each application can in turn open as many (n) windows as required. The following are examples of applications that don’t count toward the limit of applications that can run concurrently:
- Applets that start as a windowless, background process (volume control, instant-messenger applications, antivirus/antispyware notifications, network status, battery life, etc.)
- Applications launched from the system tray are not blocked.
- Processes that derive from other processes initiated by the end user or running in the background
- Applications not initiated by the user
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11. What are the user experience alternatives available in the different versions of Windows Vista? What are the display adapter requirements for each of them?
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12. What happens if I install more memory than the maximum allowed?
Windows Vista Starter’s maximum currently allowed memory is 1 GB. Installing more than the allowed configuration will not affect the performance of the machine, but the operating system will only use the maximum allowed memory.
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13. Is wide-screen format supported?
Yes. Wide-screen format is supported.
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14. Can I upgrade to a different version of Windows Vista from Windows Vista Starter?
Upgrading from Windows Vista Starter to a different Vista version is currently not possible.
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15. Can I upgrade from Windows XP Starter Edition to Windows Vista Starter?
Upgrading from Windows XP Starter Edition to Windows Vista Starter or any other version of Vista is currently not possible.
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16. Can documents be migrated from Windows Vista Starter to any other version of Windows Vista?
Yes. Document migration is possible in Windows Vista Starter. Windows Easy Transfer allows migration of documents and settings from Windows Vista Starter to other versions of Windows Vista. Documents can also be migrated between any version of Windows Vista by copying files from a local to a remote folder or by using media like USB drive or CDR/DVDr.
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17. Can I burn CDs with Windows Vista Starter?
Yes. You can burn CDs with Windows Vista Starter using the CD-burning wizard. You can also use Windows Media Player to make music CDs.
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18. Can I burn DVDs with Windows Vista Starter?
Yes. You can burn DVDs with Windows Vista Starter.
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19. Is Movie Maker available in Windows Vista Starter?
Yes. Movie Maker is available in Windows Vista Starter, but not the advanced features. The following advanced features are disabled in Windows Vista Starter:
- DVD video authoring
- Direct Media Mode (Hot Start)
- Media Center Features (incl. extender and games support)
- Simult. Limited RDP/media center extender sessions
- High Definition Publish from Movie Maker (high def home movie)
- High Def capture from HDV camcorders
- Advanced Photography
- Premium games (3D chess, Shanghai Solitaire)
- Windows Codec package (Dolby and mpeg2 decoders)
- Windows Media Player network sharing service
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20. Does Windows Vista Starter support an OPK that an OEM can use?
Yes. Windows Vista Starter does support the OPK.
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