Is your computer ready for Windows 7?
Windows 7 was launched recently. If you wish to upgrade your computer to this new version of Windows, how can you do so easily without any problems?
Smoother than Vista
The main reason why you might want to switch to Windows 7 is that it runs much more smoothly than Vista. But if you don’t wish to buy a new computer equipped with Windows 7 just for that, you could upgrade your current computer. Here’s how to best prepare yourself for this task.
System requirements
The system requirements for Windows 7 are quite modest: a processor of 1GHz or more, 1GB of RAM and 16GB of free disk space. We would recommend at least 2GB of RAM and 50GB of free space on your hard drive. Besides, you need a relatively recent graphics card. It’s therefore best to run the Upgrade Advisor (look for Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor on http://www.microsoft.com/downloads) on Windows XP SP2 or Vista. The program will scan your computer and then tell you whether or not your configuration is ready for an upgrade and whether any programs or peripherals are incompatible with Windows 7. Note. Even if the Upgrade Advisor doesn’t return any problems, it’s best to use Google to check whether older hardware is compatible with Windows 7. The rule is if it runs on Vista, it will run on Windows 7.
Remove programs
For an easy upgrade to Windows 7, it’s best to remove all programs you’ve never used, such as software you installed for a trial but haven’t used since. This is done via the Control Panel; Programs and Features. Alternatively, you can use free uninstallsoftware such as Revo Uninstaller (http://www.revouninstaller.com) for stubborn programs that won’t be removed. Finally, it’s best to defragment your hard drive as well. You can use the built-in defrag tool in Vista, but we prefer a free utility such as MyDefrag (http://www.mydefrag.com), which is better as well as faster.
Make a backup
Before starting the upgrade to Windows 7, make a system backup. You can copy the most important folders to an external hard drive or use the excellent Genie Backup Manager Home (http://www.genie-soft.com). The program can be tried out free of charge for 30 days. Registration costs £35 and the program runs on Windows 7 too.
Upgrade or clean installation?
After inserting the Windows 7 DVD into the disk drive, you will be immediately asked to choose between an upgrade from Vista to Windows 7 or a clean installation. The first option keeps all your programs intact and is recommended if you’ve taken all the advice given above. A clean installation is neater and faster and ensures that Windows 7 runs perfectly right from the start. But it also means that you will have to reinstall all your programs and copy all your documents and other data. Note. In some cases a clean installation is the only option (for instance when switching from a 32-bit to a 64-bit version).
How much does Windows 7 cost?
An upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium costs £79; the full retail version costs £150. For the Professional edition, prices are £190 and £220. The differences between the different editions are detailed at Microsoft (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows7/products/compare).
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