Windows 7

The testing period for Micrsoft Windows 7 is now over.

Microsoft is using an internal numbering system and the next Windows operating system is number 7 according to it. Check out our Why Windows 7 article for a detailed explanation on the subject.

Microsoft will release six editions of Windows 7 but concentrate marketing efforts on two of them. The following Windows 7 editions will be made available:

► Windows 7 OEM

► Windows 7 Starter

► Windows 7 Home Premium

► Windows 7 Professional

► Windows 7 Ultimate

► Windows 7 Enterprise

The Windows 7 pre-order deal is available only online. In the U.S. it can be purchased from Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, Fry's Electronics, Office Depot, Office Max, Sam's Club, Tiger Direct, Wal-Mart, NewEgg. In Canada, Staples, Future Shop, Best Buy, London Drugs, Amazon, and the Source are supplying the updates; in Japan, Yodobashi Camera, Amazon, Yamada Denki, and Bic Camera carry the deal.

Both special prices upgrades are available for Windows XP and Vista users. Windows XP users will have to do a clean install. Moving from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit one will require a clean install as well.

For the UK, France and Germany, pre-orders will start on July 15.

Microsoft says Windows 7 is designed to run well on PCs that meet the recommended system requirements for Windows Vista.

Before you upgrade to Windows 7, be sure to compare your PC's specifications with the Windows 7 system requirements as follows:

► 1GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor

► 1GB RAM (32-bit) / 2GB RAM (64-bit)

► 16GB available disk space (32-bit) / 20GB (64-bit)

► DirectX 9 graphics processor with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

Most recent netbooks will be able to run Windows 7. However, it is yet unclear how Microsoft plans to deliver the update to machines without an optical drive. The latest speculation on the matter suggests that Microsoft is considering selling Windows 7 on a USB drive. Alternatively, the company might partner with retailers and offer an in-store netbook upgrade program.

Microsoft said that customers who will buy a new a new Windows Vista machine between now and October 22 would get free upgrades to their respective versions of Windows 7. The offer is available for Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate editions. Computers shipped with Windows Vista Home Basic will not be eligible for an upgrade. The offer runs until January 2010.

This is the most discussed question on most forums. Well, the price is a huge difference between the upgrade and full version. Windows 7 upgrade is meant for those running Windows XP or Vista. In case, you are going for new system you could get the OEM version from the supplier cheaply. Clearly with the upgrade you get all the Windows 7 features. Then who would go for the full version. People running the age old Windows 98, or 95 need to buy the full version. Even those who want Windows 7 on a Mac computer using Boot Camp, or who are running Linux should go for it. The upgrade and the full discs are same.

Windows 7 can be installled in netbook with no DVD drive using an USB key. It needs to be installed using a USB key. The USB key must have 4GB or more free storage space. In case you can do with command lines. You might use the DIskpart utility. Most of them will prefer to use the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool. The tool will also create a bootable DVD from which you can install the OS. That's the only solution if you have a netbook without optical drives.

If i find program and devices that are compatible with Windows 7, simply look for the Compatible with Windows 7 logo in the product. These have been tested positive with 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 7.

Further, you can go online to the Windows 7 Compatibility Center and check whether the program or device is compatible with the 64-bit version of Windows 7. The software and hardware manufacturers keep on updating this information, so keep a check on it.

To qualify for the students price you need to have an email account from an institution of higher learning. The OEM price can be availed by the system builders. Generally buying a major system component such as a motherboard or hard drive qualifies you for a price considerably lower than what you'd pay for the retail box.

Not all the applications run smooth with 64-bit variant of Windows 7. Especially there could be hitch-up's with system-intrusive software, like hardware drivers and anti-virus software. It would require the 64-bit code. For instance Flash that doesn't offer a 64-bit version of its IE plugin. In order, to view the Flash based web pages you need to run the 32-bit version of browser.

All types of upgrade from Windows Vista to Windows 7 are possible, given that you are ready to pay. For more details you can read our article how Vista users can upgrade to Windows 7.

Of course, the hardware devices require 64-bit drivers to work on a 64-bit version of Windows. To check information on about drivers go to the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor web page.

First, try uninstalling and reinstalling drivers using the Device Manager by following these steps:

Step 1: Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.

Step 2: Click Hardware and Sound, and go to the Devices and Printers, select Device Manager.

Step 3: In Device Manager, expand DVD/CD-ROM drives, right-click the CD and DVD devices, and then click Uninstall.

Step 4: When you are prompted to confirm that you want to remove the device and click OK.

Step 5: Restart your computer.

The recommended hardware setup for Windows 7 is meant for average computing tasks, such as web browsing and word processing. If you plan to play graphically-intensive games or run other hardware-intensive programs, you will need more robust hardware. It will probably be possible to run Windows 7 on a less powerful system than the minimums recommend, but results cannot be guaranteed.