The release of Windows 7 is just around the corner. We have been using Windows 7 for several months and have found it a terrific upgrade from XP or Vista. It is stable, fast, uses less memory, and is far less open to infection. The general industry buzz has been extremely positive.
With Windows 7's official release to consumers just weeks away, you may be
champing at the bit to upgrade your existing system. If you choose to install
Win7 on an old Vista machine, however, a wise precaution is to clear out some
of the clutter the machine has collected over the years.
Note: Vista can be directly upgraded to Windows 7, but XP cannot. If you plan to upgrade from XP, you must back up your data, reload your system, and restore your data and applications.
Removing unneeded applications and making sure your hardware
devices will work with Windows 7 are good things to do before you purchase and
install the new operating system.
A merciless approach - ruthlessly excising software clutter prior to the OS
upgrade - will help ensure that the process goes smoothly.
First, determine which version of Windows 7 is best for your needs. For most people, the less-expensive Home Premium
version is a better choice than either Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate. But if you have a business get Win 7 Pro.
Once you've selected a Windows 7 version, download and run the beta of
Microsoft's Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, which you'll find on the company's Get
Windows 7 page. The utility will indicate whether there are known Windows 7
compatibility problems with any devices on your PC. If so, the advisor may even
suggest how to resolve the problem.
Microsoft's page states that systems running Vista will usually have no problem
moving to Windows 7. Conversely, if you're currently using XP or any other
operating system, the company says you should "experience Windows 7 on a
new PC." That may be good advice, but I'm the kind of guy who likes to
find out for myself rather than take Microsoft's word for it.
To be sure, many (most?) Windows 7 hardware and software incompatibilities
won't become known until after the OS ships on Oct. 22. This means you should
take the advisor's results at this point with a grain of salt.
There are three more
steps to take prior to beginning the upgrade.
First, use Windows' free, built-in Backup utility or another backup program to
copy your data files to a removable medium.
Second, gather the installation discs and serial numbers for your applications.
If you do a clean install of Windows 7, you'll need the discs and software
license numbers to reinstall the programs once the upgrade is finished. Also,
be prepared to download and install any patches and security updates for the
programs from the vendors' sites.
Third, be prepared for any unexpected hardware glitches. Visit the download
section of your PC vendor's site to find the Windows 7 drivers for your
specific video and network adapters. Save the Win7 version of the drivers for
your system's adapters on a USB drive or other removable medium. If something
goes wrong with your upgrade, installing the new drivers you've saved in this
way may solve the problem.
There's no reason to start your Windows 7 sojourn with a poky PC. By banishing
the bloat beforehand, you'll spend more time working (or playing) and much less
time watching the Windows hourglass.
For more information or help with your upgrade, give us a call.
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Contact your local Computer Troubleshooters
Jim Burley
203-840-1287
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