Windows Vista is an OS, so it's software.
software
An extremely large range of hardware and software will work with Windows Vista. It would be impossible to list here all of them.
Vista is software (a program) ... a graphics card is hardware.
Vista Upgrade Advisor
To ensure that all hardware and software on a system is compatible with Windows Vista, Microsoft provided the "Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor." This tool scans the system and identifies any potential compatibility issues with the existing hardware and software, offering recommendations for upgrades or replacements if necessary. Users can download this tool from Microsoft's website to assess their system before upgrading to Vista.
Free Vista Window Drivers are available from Microsoft, from the hardware/software manufacturer such as Adobe, or on aggregated driver and software sites such as CNet's Download.
Problem Reports and Solutions
Some software are dependent and others are not. A webcam software is dependent on the hardware.
Windows failed to start,a recent hardware or software change might be the cause?
Usually software but some hardware firewall devices are produced.
A VDU is hardware.
You can use Device Manager for the hardware and Add/Remove programs for the software.