November 12, 2009

Upgrading from XP or Vista to Win7: What you should know!

Filed under: PC, Software, Windows 7 — Tags: computer, computer upgrade, computers, software upgrade, upgrade, upgrade to windows 7, vista, win7, Windows 7, windows vista, windows vista upgrade, windows xp, windows xp upgrade — admin @ 9:00 am

Windows 7, just release in October of 2009 is worth considering.  It’s not a first generation overhaul but a reworked version of Windows Vista.  Before you go online to buy your upgrade there are a few things you should know:

First, everything that made migrating from Windows XP to Vista a big pain has been overcome and the rest of the world has had time to update their support for Vista.  Thus, upgrading from Vista to the new Windows 7 is done easily by performing an ‘in-place’ upgrade, which will retain all the programs, data, settings, favorites, etc.

Windows XP users, on the other hand,  are going to have a tougher time.  An in-place upgrade is as easy as paying for an upgrade online and running the upgrade installer but for Windows XP users it’s not that easy.  They will have two choices: wipe everything out and start with a fresh installation of a full copy of Windows 7 or upgrade to Windows Vista and then upgrade again to Windows 7.  Both options have their downfalls, either loose all your data or spend a lot more money as well as each of time consuming in and of them self.

Your best bet is to start completely over.  The amount of junk and trauma that builds up in a computer over the years especially if it wasnt serviced regularly is best left behind during an upgrade.  A free upgrade adviser is available through Microsoft.  If you have to start over anyway, buying a new computer with Windows 7 pre-installed or getting a new Vista system with an upgrade coupon will be the smarter way to go.  Especially since mainstream support for Windows XP ended in April of 2009.

November 9, 2009

32 bit vs. 64 bit Windows 7

Filed under: PC, Software, Windows 7 — Tags: antivirus, computer, computer repair, computer service, computer software, laptop repair, recover my files, software upgrades, Windows 7, windows vista, windows vista upgrade, windows xp upgrade — admin @ 2:16 pm

Before you get too hyped up on the 64-bit revolution, let’s make sure you aren’t “buying a car based on the tachometer”. Without question, the future of personal computing is in the 64-bit realm.  64-bit processors and operating systems have been out for quite a long time, but primarily only useful to very knowledgeable techies that had specific tasks they needed to address (such as video editing, computer aided design, graphic design or gaming).

Here is why we view 64-bit computing in the late stages of the leading edge:

• 64-bit Operating Systems require 64-bit processors
• To take full advantage of the 64-bit platform, you must also have 64-bit applications, which are few and far between for the casual computer user
• You must have 64-bit drivers for all of your hardware and peripherals (forget about support for really old components, printers, scanners, etc.)
• You must have 64-bit Anti-Virus software & other vital security software
• You’re wasting your time if you don’t have more than 3 Gb of RAM (and actually 4-8 Gb to really make it worthwhile)
• You must be willing to put up with companies that are still trying to get their drivers and software compatible with 64-bit operating systems (which, thanks to Vista, is becoming much less of an issue)

While having a 64-bit operating system can be viewed as ‘future-proofing’, the question you have to ask yourself is: are you willing to take the chance of compatibility problems to be ready for the future? (iTunes seems to be a common configuration issue for many 64-bit converts on Internet forums.)

For most folks, seeing any appreciable difference between a 32-bit & 64-bit system while surfing the Internet, checking e-mail & writing letters is likely to be slim to none.  None of the ‘average user’ tasks really stress a properly configured 32-bit system.  With all the 64-bit hype, too many users are improperly blaming the ’32-bit limitation’ as the reason why their computers are running so slow.

The reality is that most folks don’t properly maintain their computers and are inundated with unnecessary programs, hidden malware and cheap hardware (that wouldn’t have a prayer of running a 64-bit OS anyway!) If you just have to have 64 Bit Windows 7 watch out for the Upgrade gotcha. 32 Bit Vista does not upgrade to 64 Bit Windows 7! To go from 32 to 64 you must do a clean reinstall.

In review, 64-bit is absolutely the way to go if you can verify your hardware, peripherals, drivers and programs are all compatible with a 64-bit environment.  If you are technically incapable of determining these things, too lazy to do the homework or don’t want to have to wipe out your existing Windows Vista installation, stick to the 32-bit version (or consult a knowledgeable professional).

November 6, 2009

What exactly is Windows 7’s XP mode and what is it used for?

Filed under: PC, Software, Windows 7 — Tags: computer repair, computers, hardware, Microsoft, RAM, Software, upgrade software, Win 7, Windows 7, windows xp, XP safe mode — admin @ 2:02 pm

Microsoft knew that it was going to have a tough time convincing hardcore Windows XP users to migrate to Windows 7 because some older applications and hardware (like scanners) that required Windows XP could not be updated to work in Windows 7.  Accordingly,  certain versions of Windows 7 have an optional feature called Windows XP Mode, which unlike the ‘XP Compatibility mode’ that was in Windows Vista, is an actual complete copy of Windows XP with SP3 (Service Pack 3) that can run as a ‘virtual’ system within Windows 7.

This means that older or outdated applications and peripherals that would only work in Windows XP can run in a virtual session that will appear as just another icon in Windows 7 (and it’s really cool how smooth it works!)

But, before you get too worked up about this creative approach to migrating older users and applications, there are some ‘requirements’ that you should know about. To support XP Mode, you will need a newer computer with a processor capable of ‘hardware virtualization’  (AMD-V or Intel VT), at least 2 GB of RAM and a recommended 15 GB of free drive space.

If you want to see if your computer is capable of supporting Windows XP Mode, you can run Microsoft’s Hardware-Assisted Virtualization Detection tool. In addition, the only versions of Windows 7 that support XP Mode are Professional, Ultimate & Enterprise edition which means that if you get the Home Premium version, which is the least expensive, you don’t have this option.

The reality is, you won’t need this feature to simply surf the web, exchange e-mails and write some letters; it’s only for those will special programs and older peripherals.  The XP Mode feature is a godsend to corporate IT departments as it provides a much more comprehensive way to migrate to Windows 7 without the expense of updating old custom programs that were designed to run in Windows XP.

What is very important to understand is that this is not a replacement for Windows 7 and should only be used for specific programs or devices that won’t work in Windows 7. For instance, if you plan on using XP Mode, you wouldn’t want to surf the Internet from within the XP session because it would expose you to all of the vulnerabilities that Windows XP has. Windows 7 is significantly more secure for web browsing in today’s hostile Internet environment (keep in mind, Windows XP was designed to deal with security threats that existed in 2001), so minimizing what you do in XP Mode is prudent.

As you may have already realized, this feature is not designed to be setup by the casual user, so if you think you might have a need for the feature, consult a knowledgeable technical resource or your local computer expert to review your specific situation before you spend the money on something you don’t actually need!