Changing OS from XP to Windows 7

I will be removing Windows XP and installing Windows 7; this will be a complete new install of the 32 bit Windows 7 OS.

While I have used the tool Microsoft provides to check system compatibility with Windows 7, I am concerned about possible problems. I plan to do the following: Remove all programs; this will be a full, new install to ensure a clean system and a good registry. I plan on installing the 32 bit version of Win 7. I will purchase a new wireless link; my current unit is not compatible with Win 7.
All other components (and drivers) are compatible. I have complete data backup on a removable hard drive; I back up ALL data regularly, and I intend to continue doing that.
The programs I use most frequently are freeware; I will download as needed. Since I use Mozilla Thunderbird as my email, and Mozilla Firefox as a browser, I will use Mozbackup to ensure that I retain all needed settings and messages. The one game I use regularly has a windows 7 download available; the forums state emphatically that it is more reliable than the XP versions.

Ok, that being said, what is waiting out there to ambush me? What problems or headaches should I be aware of? I'd like to have a roadmap through this minefield.

Joe

 

There is nothing waiting to ambush you,Windows 7 is much faster than XP and smoother than Vista.
Microsoft really did their homework on this OS and got it right before they launched it on Joe public.
I have been running it since it was in Beta form as have a number of members here, posting results to MS so they could iron out the bugs.

I used Vista for about 2 years and would now not even consider going back to it.

As long as your PC has passed the MS test for compatibility you are ready to go.

I hope you enjoy the experience.

 

Do you have 2GBs of RAM as that's the sweet spot for W7? How old is your machine? W7 'may work' marginally but not be stellar. Can you give us the main Everest report to give us an idea of what you're running at the moment?

 

I've attached an Everest report to this post. The machine is about a year old, built as a light weight gaming machine. It has 4 gigs of ram, so that should be good.

Let me know if there is more information you need.

Joe

 

You will have no problem installing 7 on your rig.

If you load it on drive "C" it will have more than enough.

Just for your info these are the minimum requirements for 7.

http://windows.microsoft.com/systemrequirements

 

Seems you have a dual cored CPU on there, correct?(You can find out what you have by hitting 'Start> right-click My Computer> properties'. You have plenty of memory and a great video card!:drool Like Bill said, you are just fine for W7.:major

Sorry, I tend to be on the conservative side of things when answering hardware questions.

 

I prefer conservative myself.

In answer to your question, I have an AMD Quad Core. Based on your replies and other research, I believe that my system is capable of running Win 7.

I'd like to thank you for your time and answers. Before I do the install I'll probably open a new thread in order to find out what installation problems I might encounter, and how to avoid them. I'll also do a full backup of all data onto my removable drive and take the drive to a Win 7 machine to be sure it can be read. (Unreadable backups are directly equal to no backups.) The data is the most critical part of the install; I can always wipe and reload the system if I foul up on the first try.

Thank you again.

Joe