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Can Your Computer Run Windows 7?

Posted by paul on October 21st, 2009

Can Your Computer Run Windows 7?

Can Your Computer Run Windows 7?

If you’re thinking of upgrading to Windows 7 – now that the release date is upon us – you may be wondering if your computer has what it takes to run the new operating system. Today, I’ll take a look at what you need (and want) to run Windows 7, and whether an upgrade will improve your slow computer performance.

Windows 7 System Requirements

If you hadn’t initially planned to run Windows 7, the system requirements may have slipped past you. The OS does have some specific operating requirements so you’ll want to make sure your computer is up to snuff.

Start with a processor that’s 1 GHz or better and you’ll be in good shape. Windows 7 will run in either 32-bit mode or 64-bit mode. If you plan to run XP in virtual mode, you’ll need a processor that can do virtualization. This is absolutely critical. To determine whether your processor can virtualize XP, use the Microsoft Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. This can be downloaded at Microsoft’s Web site. Generally, processors that can provide virtualization services include Intel VT processors and AMD-V processors.

If your processor is a 32 bit processor, you’ll need to have at least 1 Gb of RAM installed. If you’re running in 64-bit mode, double that to 2 Gb. Add another 1 Gb of RAM if you plan to run XP in virtual mode.

Windows 7 takes up 16Gb-20Gb of hard disk space. The larger hard disk space requirement applies to 64-bit setups. Add an extra 15 Gb if you plan to run Windows XP in virtual mode. You’ll also need a DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver. Windows installation also requires a DVD/CD drive to accommodate the installation media.

For users who are running Windows Vista Home Premium edition or a Windows Vista Professional edition, an upgrade path is available and you merely need to do an “upgrade installation.” If your computer currently runs Windows Vista Home Basic or an earlier version of the Windows OS, you’ll be required to do a clean installation, which will require you to back up all of your data before installing the new OS.

After you upgrade, you’ll find that Windows 7 boots faster, runs faster and is generally pleasant to use. You should also find that there will be a host of available drivers from third-parties, due in large measure to the efforts of Microsoft to press manufacturers to have drivers available on release date.

Photo Credit: AussieGall, via Flickr

Upgrade Or Update: Fixing A Slow Computer

Posted by paul on August 21st, 2009

Upgrade Or Update: Fixing A Slow Computer

Upgrade Or Update: Fixing A Slow Computer

If you’ve put off updating your slow computer because you’ve heard horror stories about Windows Vista, from my personal experience, I’d say that the tales of woe are overdone. I’ve used Windows Vista quite happily at home for about a year and during that time, have had very few problems. I will say that Windows Vista doesn’t necessarily behave as well in a networked environment.

Will Windows 7 Speed Up Computer Performance

I happen to be one of those people who think that Windows 7 will tend to perform more or less as advertised. I also think that users who expect to hang tight with an operating system that has been in office longer than any sitting president since FDR will be in for a rough ride.

Microsoft has improved many things in Windows 7, from its speed and stability, to its look and ease of use. Certain elements are still around – like the registry, for example. I expect the registry to behave much like the registries we’ve seen in other versions of the Windows operating system. I also suspect that there will still be a need for registry management tools like RegCure.

I think users can expect better driver performance and better driver policing on the part of Microsoft. Users will have drivers for the most common peripherals available right out of the gate. (Microsoft won’t want to break its corporate leg on the same step twice, especially since the company’s initial response to Windows Vista driver issues amounted to a permanent turn-off by most consumers.)

I believe you’ll see better performance from Windows 7 than you did from Vista. In most cases, Windows 7 outperforms both Windows Vista and Windows XP. That’s good for users who are looking for some guidance on whether to upgrade to Windows 7 or to update their computers.

My personal take on the upgrade v. update debate is this: if you’re working on a computer that’s three years older or more, you may get more efficiency out of updating your computer to a compact desktop model, like Dell’s Studio Hybrid computer that comes pre-loaded with Windows 7, rather than struggling with upgrading your hardware and then installing the new OS. The Dell Studio Hybrid (and others just like it) take up very little desktop space and can be had complete with OS for about $500. Given the cost of an upgrade, a low-cost update option would still allow you to use your old XP/2000/ME/NT/98/95 (or dare I even say Windows 3.x?) computer and allow you to get to know Windows 7 for about the same amount of money.

Photo Credit: Tripu, via Flickr

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Will Switch To Windows 7 Speed Up Your Computer?

Posted by paul on July 24th, 2009

Windows 7 Upgrade Provides Clean-up Opportunity

Windows 7 Upgrade Provides Clean-up Opportunity

If you’re running an older version of the Windows operating system, you may be wondering if Windows 7 will speed up your computer a bit. For users like you, there’s good news and bad news.

Windows 7 Migration May Provide Cleanup Opportunity

Actually, the good news is kind of thin. If you’re already running Windows Vista, you’re probably in good shape for Windows 7. You’re likely to have all of the hardware support you’ll need, but you could still run into a few pitfalls, not the shallowest of which is Vista Home Basic. If you’re running Vista Home Basic, there’s no easy road from Vista to Windows 7 for you.

You’ll either need to reinstall the operating system or upgrade to Windows Vista Home Premium first, as opposed to just upgrading what you’ve got to Windows 7. Sorry! That means you’ll need to take special care with your files and applications. On the other hand, if you’re transferring files from your old system to a new one that runs Windows 7, Migration Day would be a great time to rid yourself of old applications, taskbar widgets and the virtual tons of stuff that takes up space on your hard drive but doesn’t perform even one useful function.

Cleaning out your old applications and re-installing the ones you still use on your new OS is the opportunity to regain some speed from your old hardware. When you re-install your applications, however, take a good look at the “standard installation” before you choose that route. Often, the standard installation will pull the old “start on bootup” trick, meaning that the application will start up every time you boot your computer. This takes up a lot of memory and will degrade the performance of your computer if you let that one slip by often enough, especially for little applications and widgets that you don’t really need.

Cleaning out your old hard drive will also give you the opportunity to leave old files behind. In many cases, these things just take up space, hastening the inevitable disk fragmentation that will occur. If you think you may need old files at some point, burn them off to a CD or store them on a USB drive. My bet is that you’ll never need these items. If you do, they can be kept handy without bogging down your computer.

If you’re running Windows XP or an even older version of the OS, Microsoft recommends that your “upgrade” to Windows 7 consist of buying a new computer with the OS pre-loaded. (Seriously!) That’s fine if you’re in a position to do that. It’s Microsoft’s way of saying that you’d need to do some serious hardware upgrades to your old computer if you really want to run the latest software.

Photo Credit: Certified Su, via Flickr

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