Windows7How

Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor

October 6, 2009

Is my computer capable of running Windows 7?

The official release of Windows 7 is just around the corner. A lot of people may have already told you how great the newest OS is; how it does not require abundance of resources and how not only is it compatible with Windows XP applications but also elegant and slick as Vista.  Even so, you might be a bit skeptical about it, and that is perfectly okay. You might be unsure whether all of your hardware devices will work on the newest OS, or whether hardware manufacturers will release the appropriate drivers for them. You also might be skeptical whether all of your favorite software applications will run the way they should in the new working environment. We find, just as you do, that these questions are very important.

There are several ways that may help you find out whether your computer is fully ready for running Windows 7. One way, which we seriously do not recommend, is to inform yourself on the numerous forums by spending your time reading millions of entries or asking all kinds of (so-called) experts on the subject. The chances are you will only mess up the whole installation by listening to all kinds of opinions. Another way is to check and compare the (minimal) hardware requirements, but we have a better, faster and easier way. You can use the free and almost always accurate analytic tool that has been developed by the same company that has been working on Windows 7 – Microsoft.

According to Microsoft, all you need is a processor with at least 1GHz, then depending on the version of the system you need 1GB RAM for the 32bit version or 2GB of RAM for the 64bit version and the last but not least, you would need 16GB/20GB of free space on your hard drive. In order to see the true might of your computer and thus check this information, all you need to do is right click on Computer and choose the appropriate option that will show you the general information about the system (usually is the option Properties). So far so good, but what about the components and/or software applications without the appropriate drivers? In cases when manufactures do not release drivers for a new OS, compatibility issues will arise, and that is a big no- no.

In order to solve these dilemmas, you would need Microsoft and its free tool Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. The tool is still in beta-phase of testing but is available for download from the Microsoft’s official web site. After a simple and fast installation, you can start the tool immediately. Except for one button that starts analyzing your system, there is no interface whatsoever. By clicking the button “Start Check”, you initialize the process for analyzing the system and checking for all your attached devices and installed applications. Be cautioned that the process may take a while, up to several minutes. After the analysis is complete, you can see all of the results in a detailed report. On the top you have the most important information. It informs you if you can install Windows 7 on your computer, and if so, what is the recommended edition. Below this information, you have the information about the other components, such as the processor and hard drive, and their abilities. You will also be informed of any incompatible or older components. In a situation where everything is in a perfect working order, you will be informed that there are no known compatibility issues between your computer and the new operating system. On the bottom, you are presented with a list of the installed software. The chances of getting more remarks in this section are bigger, but you should only concern yourself if the tool reports a complete incompatibility. “Minor issues” is just a notification that informs you of slight problems and advises you to visit the website of the developer of the software for further details.

You can save the report you are issued with and open it anytime you would like by using your internet browser.

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Tags: browser, compatible, forums, free tool, hard drive, hardware requirements, official site, ram, software, upgrade advisor, win 7, windows 7 requirements