how to change windows xp sp3 32 bit to windows vista?

You need to make sure the computer can run windows vista first. Use windows vista upgrade advisor.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.as...

I can't help you with the rest as that is illegal.

You can not.

Microsoft does not offer any of their products as an online upgrade. If you want to do an upgrade, you need to do it with the disk.

Secondly Microsoft certainly does nothing for free. You want Vista, you need to pay for it. If you don't and get a pirated copy (which is illegal) you're going to find yourself not being able to get software upgrades for it and will have unpatched and security compromised software just begging to be infiltrated with viruses.

And lastly don't. If you want to upgrade, switch to Windows 7. It's the version of Vista that doesn't suck. It performs better, is more stable, and well...just flat out works.

Unlike Vista.

We would all like to install OS for free. But Mr Gates has made it virtually impossible and illegal. Even if you manage to download a pirate version you will not be able to authenticate it and update it security wise. Save up your pennies and buy an OEM version of Windows 7. Vista was a failure anyway.

You cannot legally get a copy of Vista to do this.

But even if you do manage to find an illegal copy, I really wouldn't recommend Vista under *any* circumstances. Either stick with XP or go to Windows 7.

Use a legal vista installation disc and then choose upgrade to upgrade to vista without disturbing your files and settings

if you really want something for free, install another operating system like this:

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=113

burn it as image at slowest speed to dvd, using infra recorder.

- or -

create bootable usb stick using unetbootin.

defrag Windows, then resize it and reboot a couple of times after, so check disk can run.

set bios to boot from correct media or use one-time boot selection by pressing a key like F12 during boot.

load the media, dont choose install, check your computer etc works properly (eg. fan, cpu not overloaded, temperature by installing psensor, graphics). you may need to install proprietary drivers using an app already on the system, after installing linux mint.

to install the system, click relevant icon/menu entry, follow the wizard, either do it the simple way and choose install next to xp, or choose the something else option for manual.

- for manual:

this in the partition layout you want, though make sure you havent already used your 4 primary partition limit !

if you have 3 or less primary partitions, continue...

create new:

- extended partition type (may not be an option until creating the fourth partition on your hard drive, but this is a general guide), make it fill the rest of your hard drive, it is a container for future partitions (of the logical type).

next partitions:

- format ext4, mount point /boot, size 500mb

- format ext4, mount point /, size remainder of drive that you want, except leave room for swap...

- format swap area (linux swap), no mount point, size of ram + 1/2, if you have lots of ram make it 4gb.

finally underneath the partition table is an option for grub boot loader location, choose the /boot partition.