Microsoft makes it easy for users to find hardware products that work with Windows Vista. The Windows Vista Hardware Compatibility List is a catalog of hardware products that are supported by the operating system.
The comprehensive list includes all types of products from input devices to mobile devices. Any products that appear on the list have been tested and reviewed by the Windows Quality Online Services team.
The HCL for Windows Vista is available online here. You will immediately notice that there are a few different search options. You can search by hardware category using the left-hand menu and filter the results by company and logo status.
You can also execute a text search for a specific product. For example, if you are considering purchasing a specific type of printer, you can visit the HCL and type in the specific printer name to determine if it’s guaranteed to work with Vista.
If your hardware is not present on the list it does not necessarily mean you can not use it but you should verify with the hardware manufacturer that the component is Windows Vista ready.