On October 22, 2009 Microsoft will be releasing their latest version of the Windows Operating System. Windows 7 promises to be everything Vista was supposed to and is also touted as being extremely optimized and able to run as quickly as Windows XP. Those XP users that opted not to upgrade to Vista will surely want to upgrade to Windows 7, but these anxious end-users should dip their foot in the pool before diving in. As with Vista, XP users really should run the checker to make sure their hardware is capable of supporting the newer OS.
Run the Microsoft Windows 7 Compatibility Check
You can download and run the checker for Windows 7 here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=1B544E90-7659-4BD9-9E51-2497C146AF15&displaylang=en . You should also browse peripheral manufacturer’s websites to make sure your printers, scanners, game controllers and other devices will have driver support. If they do not, you might want to hold off until they do as this was a major issue with Vista when it was first released. Those users running Vista already should still run the checker, but if your devices worked with Vista, there is a good chance it will also run under Windows 7.
What You Should Do if Your System is Not Compatible?
If your PC fails to meet the minimum system requirements of Windows 7, you might be able to fix the problem with recommendations provided by Microsoft following the scan. Adding memory is an easy fix, or replacing an older sound card is also something that is inexpensive and easy to do. But if the motherboard itself fails (which is unusual), you might need to consider purchasing a new computer with Windows 7 pre-installed rather than spending hundreds of dollars replacing the motherboard.
So what should we do while we wait for October 22nd? Users should take this opportunity to gradually backup all their data. Even if you’re performing an upgrade instead of a full install, you should backup all of your valuable data onto your network, DVD drive, flash drive or external hard drive. Users should also make sure they have their current license Key for Windows. While you may not need that number during the upgrade, you should have it ready in case the upgrade goes bad and you need to call Microsoft.
hi there,
i would like like to know if the Acer Aspire 5050 is windows 7 compatible. your assistance will be appreciated greatly. thanks.
Download and run the checker at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=1B544E90-7659-4BD9-9E51-2497C146AF15&displaylang=en
That’s the only way to know for sure.
Hello everybody I would like to tell you Dave that the link you have provided in your comment is invalid or incorrect because when I tried to open with mozilla firefox It displayed that It cannot find server at http://www.microsoft.com. So plz Tell me a correct site to check compatibility of win 7……..:(
It works for me. Are you in The United States? Have you tried doing a Google search for Windows 7 Compatibility Checker?
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/windows-7/en-us/default.aspx