This information complied by:

Sprague, Director
Information Systems Planning & Support
Offices of the Chancellor & Provost

WINDOWS VISTA HARDWARE ASSESSMENT TOOL 1.0
The network-based tool assesses the hardware capabilities of connected PCs and ranks them by three criteria:

 - Vista incompatibility
-  Vista Capable-running with limited capabilities, such as the basic user interface
 - Vista Premium Ready-running all capabilities, including the Aero user interface

The tool makes specific hardware recommendations based on the assessment of each client PC, such as upgrading system or graphics memory. The software had been available in beta for a number of months before being released Feb. 20 as a Version 1.

ACT (APPLICATION COMPATIBILITY TOOLKIT) 5.0
Microsoft designed ACT 5.0 to analyze some of the possibly most worrisome compatibility problems, such as UAC (User Account Control). In Windows Vista, all users-even administrators-run in standard mode.
However, many applications expect elevated user privileges, which could create mild to serious-as in program failure-compatibility problems with Vista. ACT 5.0 also can assess Web site or Web-based application compatibility with Internet Explorer 7.

KEY MANAGEMENT SERVICE (KMS) FOR WINDOWS SERVER 2003
Allows organizations to batch activate Vista PCs using an MAK (Multiple Activation Key). Activation takes place with Microsoft.

VOLUME ACTIVATION MANAGEMENT TOOL (VAMT)

• Related: University of Wisconsin-Madison VACT Support Notice

BDD (SOLUTION ACCELERATOR FOR BUSINESS DESKTOP DEPLOYMENT) 2007
Business Desktop Deployment (BDD) 2007 is the best-practice set of comprehensive guidance and tools from Microsoft to optimally deploy Windows Vista and the 2007 Office system.

VIRTUAL PC 2007
Microsoft expects businesses to use Virtual PC 2007, which is freely available, to run virtualized older Windows versions while migrating to Vista. The idea is to maintain application compatibility without delaying Vista deployments. Businesses subscribing to Software Assurance can run four guest operating system licenses on Windows Vista Enterprise Edition and Virtual PC 2007.