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| Questions on Windows 7? Find your answers here: |
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| 1. |
What's new in Windows 7 and why should you upgrade? |
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It's simple: Windows 7 has loads of improvements over previous versions of Windows. Like a retooled taskbar and more efficient search get you to your files faster. Or the new Action Center which puts you in charge of which Windows alerts you see. HomeGroup takes the headache out of sharing files on your home network—and you can connect to wireless networks on your laptop in just two clicks. Best of all, Windows 7 is designed to be faster, more responsive, and less memory hungry than earlier versions. |
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| 2. |
Will Windows 7 work on my PC? |
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Windows® 7 System Requirements
- 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) / 20 GB (64-bit)
- DirectX® 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
Additional Requirements to use Certain Features:
- Internet Access (fees may apply)
- Depending on resolution video playback may require additional memory and advanced graphics hardware
- For some Windows® Media Center functionality a TV tuner and additional hardware may be required
- Windows Touch and Windows Tablet require specific hardware
- HomeGroup requires a network and PCs with Windows 7
- DVD/CD authoring requires a compatible optical drive
- BitLocker™ requires TPM1.2; BitLocker To Go™ requires a USB Flash Drive
- Music and sound require audio output
Windows XP Mode requires:
- Additional 1GB of RAM
- Additional 15GB of available disk space
- Processor capable of hardware virtualization, with Intel-VT or AMD-V turned on
Product functionality and graphics may vary based on your system configuration. Some features may require advanced or additional hardware.
Download the free Windows® 7 Upgrade Advisor:
- It'll scan your PC for potential issues with current hardware, devices, and installed programs, and make pre-upgrade recommendations. As a general rule of thumb, PCs that can run Windows Vista®, can probably run Windows® 7. However, you should still use the Windows® 7 Upgrade Advisor to make sure.
Note: Information about your PC will be sent to Microsoft®, but no information will be used to identify or contact you. Before scanning your PC with the Windows® 7 Upgrade Advisor, be sure to plug in and power on any USB or other devices (including printers, external hard drives, and scanners) that you regularly use with your PC. In addition, Windows® 7 Upgrade Advisor requires .NET Framework 2.0. If your computer doesn't have it installed, you will be prompted to install it. back to top
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| 3. |
What does Windows® 7 give me that Vista® and XP don't? |
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Here's a quick overview of the key features you'll get with Windows® 7 and how they stack up to Windows® XP and Windows Vista®: back to top |
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| 4. |
What's the difference between the upgrade and full versions of Windows 7? |
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Both the upgrade and full versions of Windows 7 include the same features. To install an upgrade version, you'll need either Windows XP or Windows Vista installed on your computer first. This is not the same thing as an "upgrade installation," which is a type of installation that keeps all the programs, files, and settings in place on your PC. back to top |
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| 5. |
Can I upgrade from one edition of Windows 7 to another edition of Windows 7? |
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Yes—and you can do it in as few as 10 minutes while keeping all your programs, files, and settings in place. You can buy an upgrade key then use Windows Anytime Upgrade to unlock those premium features. back to top |
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| 6. |
What are the “equivalent” Windows 7 products for Windows Vista when upgrading? |
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Windows Vista Home Premium -> Windows 7 Home Premium
Windows Vista Business -> Windows 7 Professional
Windows Vista Ultimate -> Windows 7 Ultimate back to top |
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| 7. |
How do I upgrade from Vista® to Windows® 7? |
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Since your computer is running Windows Vista®, it meets the minimum system requirements for Windows® 7. back to top |
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| 8. |
I am running Windows XP, can I upgrade to Windows 7? |
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Microsoft designed Windows 7 upgrade media for Windows Vista. A customer with Windows XP can purchase Windows 7 Upgrade media but must back up their files, clean install and then reinstall their applications. back to top |
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| 9. |
What is Windows® 7 Starter and should I upgrade it? |
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Windows® 7 Starter is the most basic Windows® 7 edition and often comes preinstalled on small notebook PCs and netbooks. Windows® 7 Starter runs only the programs you need for a faster, more efficient experience.
We recommend upgrading from Windows® 7 Starter to Windows® 7 Home Premium to get the best entertainment experience, the latest technology and the ability to personalize your PC. With Windows® 7 Home Premium you can:
- Make the things you do every day easier with improved desktop navigation
- Easily create a home network and connect your PCs to a printer with HomeGroup
- Watch TV shows for free using Internet TV*
- Watch, pause, rewind and record TV on your PC with Windows Media Center**
*Internet access required. Free Internet TV content varies by geography. Some content may require additional fees.
**May require additional hardware back to top
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| 10. |
How can I find out if there are potential issues of upgrading to Windows® 7? |
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Before upgrading your existing PC, download and install the free Windows® 7 Upgrade Advisor from Microsoft. It'll scan your PC for potential issues with current hardware, devices, and installed programs, and make pre-upgrade recommendations. Follow any recommended steps for a smoother upgrade experience.
Note: Information about your PC will be sent to Microsoft®, but no information will be used to identify or contact you. Before scanning your PC with the Windows® 7 Upgrade Advisor, be sure to plug in and power on any USB or other devices (including printers, external hard drives, and scanners) that you regularly use with your PC. In addition, Windows® 7 Upgrade Advisor requires .NET Framework 2.0. If your computer doesn't have it installed, you will be prompted to install it.
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| 11. |
Can I install my copy of Windows 7 on multiple PCs? |
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When you buy Windows 7, you'll receive a product key, which you'll use to activate Windows. If you use the installation disc to install Windows on a second computer, you'll need to buy an additional copy of the same edition of Windows 7 to obtain a new product key. back to top |
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| 12. |
Will my current devices work with Windows® 7? |
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Windows® 7 was designed to be compatible with many existing devices, and chances are good that yours will continue to
work. To find out for sure, check out this handy compatibility tool which includes compatibility details for thousands of
devices. You can also see if what you're currently using will work with the Windows® 7 automatically, or if you'll need a software upgrade or new driver. Also look for products that display the "Compatible with Windows 7" logo as they've been tested to be compatible with both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 7.
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| 13. |
Will my current programs work with Windows® 7? |
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Most programs written for Windows Vista® also work in Windows® 7, but some older programs might run poorly or not at all. If a program written for an earlier version of Windows doesn't run correctly, you can try changing the compatibility settings for the program manually or by using the Program Compatibility troubleshooter within Windows® 7. If changing the settings doesn't fix the problem, go to the program manufacturer's website to see if there is an update for the program.
To run the Program Compatibility troubleshooter:
Click Start, then click Control Panel.
Type troubleshooter in the search box.
Click Troubleshooting.
Under Programs, click Run programs made for a previous version of Windows.
Follow the instructions in the troubleshooter.
If you cannot install a program, insert the installation disc for the program and, using the troubleshooter, browse to the program's setup file, usually called Setup.exe, Install.exe, or something similar. The troubleshooter is not designed to work on programs that have an .msi file name extension.
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| 14. |
What should I do if I'm having trouble with a recently installed device? |
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Try using the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter within Windows® 7. It checks for common issues and makes sure that any new device or hardware attached to your computer was installed correctly.
Click Start, then click Control Panel.
Type troubleshooter in the search box.
Click Troubleshooting.
Under Hardware and Sound, click Configure a device.
If prompted, type your administrator password or confirmation.
Run the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter.
Important: Before you install Anti-Virus software, check to see if you already have an Anti-Virus product on your computer. If you do, be sure to remove that product before installing the new one, as having two different Anti-Virus products installed at the same time can create computer issues.
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| 15. |
What is the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows? |
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The terms 32-bit and 64-bit refer to the way a computer's processor (also called a CPU), handles information. The 64-bit version of Windows handles large amounts of random access memory (RAM) more effectively than a 32-bit system.back to top |
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| 16. |
How can I tell if my computer is running a 32-bit or a 64-bit version of Windows? |
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To find out if your computer is running a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows in Windows 7 or Windows Vista, do the following:
Open System by clicking the Start button , right-clicking Computer, and then clicking Properties.
Under System, you can view the system type.
If your computer is running Windows XP, do the following:
Click Start.
Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
• If you don't see "x64 Edition" listed, then you're running the 32-bit version of Windows XP.
• If "x64 Edition" is listed under System, you're running the 64-bit version of Windows XP.
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| 17. |
Which version of Windows 7 should I install: the 32-bit version or the 64-bit version? |
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To install a 64-bit version of Windows 7, you need a CPU that's capable of running a 64-bit version of Windows. The benefits of using a 64-bit operating system are most apparent when you have a large amount of random access memory (RAM) installed on your computer, typically 4 GB of RAM or more. In such cases, because a 64-bit operating system can handle large amounts of memory more efficiently than a 32-bit operating system, a 64-bit system can be more responsive when running several programs at the same time and switching between them frequently. For more information, see Installing and reinstalling Windows 7. back to top |
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| 18. |
How do I tell if my computer can run a 64-bit version of Windows? |
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To run a 64-bit version of Windows, your computer must have a 64-bit-capable processor. To find out if your processor is 64-bit-capable in Windows 7 or Windows Vista, do the following:
Open Performance Information and Tools by clicking the Start button, and then clicking Control Panel.
In the search box, type Performance Information and Tools, and then, in the list of results, click
Performance Information and Tools.
Do one of the following:
In Windows 7, click View and print detailed performance and system information.
In Windows Vista, click View and print details.
In the System section, you can see what type of operating system you're currently running under System type, and whether or not you can run a 64-bit version of Windows under 64-bit capable. (If your computer is already running a 64-bit version of Windows, you won't see the 64-bit capable listing.)
To see whether a computer running Windows XP is capable of running a 64-bit version of Windows, do the following:
Click Start.
Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
If "x64 Edition" is listed under System, your processor is capable of running a 64-bit version of Windows.
If you don't see "x64 Edition" listed, your processor still might be capable of running a 64-bit version of Windows. To find out for sure, download and run the free Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor from the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor webpage.
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| 19. |
Can I upgrade from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version of Windows 7 or from a 64-bit version of Windows 7 to a 32-bit version of Windows? |
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You can use the Upgrade option during Windows 7 installation, which preserves your files, settings, and programs, only if you're currently running a 32-bit version of Windows Vista and you want to upgrade to the 32-bit version of Windows 7. Similarly, if you are running a 64-bit version of Windows Vista, you can only perform an upgrade to a 64-bit version of Windows 7. If you want to move from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version of Windows 7 or vice versa, you'll need to back up your files and choose the Custom option during Windows 7 installation. Then, you'll need to restore your files and reinstall your programs.
To install a 64-bit version of Windows 7 on a computer running a 32-bit version of Windows, you'll need to start, or boot, your computer using a 64-bit Windows 7 installation disc or files.
If you start your computer using a 64-bit Windows 7 installation disc or files, but your computer isn't capable of running a 64-bit version of Windows, you'll see a Windows Boot Manager error. You'll need to use a 32-bit Windows 7 installation disc or files instead.
Windows Easy Transfer can't transfer files from a 64-bit version of Windows to a 32-bit version of Windows. If you're running a 64-bit version of Windows Vista but you plan to install a 32-bit version of Windows 7, you can move your files to an external location manually or use Backup and Restore in Windows Vista. For more information, go to Back up your files and Restore a backup created on a previous version of Windows on the Windows website. (If you're running a 64-bit version of Windows XP, you'll need to move your files to an external location manually.) back to top |
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| 20. |
Can I run 32-bit programs on a 64-bit computer? |
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Most programs designed for the 32-bit version of Windows will work on the 64-bit version of Windows. Notable exceptions are many antivirus programs. Device drivers designed for the 32-bit version of Windows don't work on computers running a 64-bit version of Windows. If you're trying to install a printer or other device that only has 32-bit drivers available, it won't work correctly on a 64-bit version of Windows. To learn how to check for drivers, see Update a driver for hardware that isn't working properly or go to the device manufacturer's website.
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| 21. |
Can I run 64-bit programs on a 32-bit computer? |
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If the program is specifically designed for the 64-bit version of Windows, it won't work on the 32-bit version of Windows. (However, most programs designed for the 32-bit version of Windows do work on the 64-bit version of Windows.) Device drivers designed for the 64-bit version of Windows don't work on computers running a 32-bit version of Windows. To learn how to check for drivers, see Update a driver for hardware that isn't working properly or go to the device manufacturer's website.
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| 22. |
If I'm running a 64-bit version of Windows, do I need 64-bit drivers for my devices? |
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Yes. All hardware devices need 64-bit drivers to work on a 64-bit version of Windows. Drivers designed for 32-bit versions of Windows don't work on computers running 64-bit versions of Windows. back to top |
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