Tools to tell whether Windows 7 will work with your stuff

end user ^ | October 20, 2009 | Todd Bishop

[george76]

Here's some important information for anyone thinking about upgrading to Microsoft's new Windows 7 on an existing machine, or using an existing device or peripheral (such as a printer or camera) with a new Windows 7 PC.

Microsoft today released a new version of its Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, which scans a computer to see if it can run the new operating system; along with a Windows 7 Compatibility Center, letting you see if your devices will work with Windows 7.

Although many people will get Windows 7 when they buy new PCs, the automated Windows 7 Upgrade Adviser will help those who want to install it on machines currently running Windows Vista or the older Windows XP.

[maine-iac7]

I didn’t jump onto the Vista band wagon - and amen to that - and I won't be jumping into “7” anytime soon. XP works fine and until a new thing comes along and runs through it's shakedown period smoothly, no thank you.

“If it ain't broke...”

Vista was the best thing that ever happened - for Apple.

[BubbaBasher]

The bottom line? Just do it! If your PC is running Windows XP it will run Windows 7 better. The amount of drivers in Win7 is phenomenal. I’ve had less problems with 7 than any other upgrade. Vista was a dog but now it’s time to get rid of XP. You’ll be happy you did.

[gimme1ibertee]

My brother got a new computer (Compaq) w/Vista and hated it so much he stopped using his computer. Maybe he should try Windows 7.

[ShadowAce]

[BubbaBasher]

Windows 7 has been through a shakedown period like never before. Millions, yes millions of people around the world have been running 7 for many months. I think this is probably the most stable OS that has ever been released.

[CedarDave]

I’ve got two old HP but primo printers running on my XP, one dating back to Windows 95 days. They run fine on XP as does XP on my five-year old computer. I’m not about to update as long as XP is maintained by MS. And if I did want to update, I’d probably wait until Win 7 SP-2 or 3.

Once bitten, twice shy.

[aft_lizard]

Windows 7 has gone through a very extensive “shakedown”, probably the largest beta test in the history of OS’s. And it went extremely smoot.

I swear though it’s like some people have a pre-canned response to certain things and it just comes up often enough that they apparently don’t know what they are talking about.

BTW you can still down load the RC and test it until March 2010, then you can say things like what you are saying.

[TomGuy]

primo printers running on my XP

I was looking at some ads for new Win7 computers (laptop & desktop). One thing I noticed was that many of them no longer have parallel ports. Instead, everything is USB.

My b/w laser printer is parallel. That means an additional $12-15 to buy a parallel-to-usb -- assuming the ole Minolta PagePro would even work with Win7.

I had to replace nearly all peripherals -- printer, scanner, etc. -- when I upgraded from Win98 to XP. I don't intend to do that again -- since I mainly use the computer for home computing, Internet surfing, occasional letters, etc.

[rabscuttle385]

If your PC is running Windows XP it will run Windows 7 better. The amount of drivers in Win7 is phenomenal. I’ve had less problems with 7 than any other upgrade. Vista was a dog but now it’s time to get rid of XP. You’ll be happy you did.

No, I won't, at least, not after spending a thousand bucks for Windows upgrade licenses for two notebooks and three desktops, the horror of re-installing from scratch, and then the horrors of upgrading only God knows how many applications and pieces of hardware.

Thanks, but no thanks. My family's home network is running quite smoothly on XP Professional (and I am actually going to install 2000 on another system later) right now, and as they say, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" (except for replacing our DSL gateway's integrated firewall with a separate box with BSD).

[rabscuttle385]

I was looking at some ads for new Win7 computers (laptop & desktop). One thing I noticed was that many of them no longer have parallel ports. Instead, everything is USB.

What ads were you looking at?

Most "consumer"-grade equipment no longer have serial or parallel ports, but a lot of "business"-grade equipment does. Try Newegg or Micro Center, the latter if you have one in your area.

[Still Thinking]

Or just go to Linux or Apple and continue to run XP virtually.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

I might sidegrade to 7 after the beta is over, somewhere around service pack 3 or 4.

Until this microsoft product has been in the wild for a couple years, it simply can not be considered mature.

[BubbaBasher]

You can get a 3 user license Windows 7 Family Pack from Newegg for $149.99.

[Captain Beyond]

bump

[TomGuy]

What ads were you looking at?

Most "consumer"-grade equipment no longer have serial or parallel ports, but a lot of "business"-grade equipment does. Try Newegg or Micro Center, the latter if you have one in your area.

I am on Tigerdirect.com's email list. They recently sent out a mailing of several new laptops and desktops pre-loaded with Win7.

One very reasonably priced one had 3 USB ports and no parallel port.

[rabscuttle385]

You can get a 3 user license Windows 7 Family Pack from Newegg for $149.99.

...which I can't upgrade to, since I have Windows XP Professional, and unless Microsoft has changed its policies, one can NOT "upgrade" from a business version of Windows to a home version of Windows without buying a brand new full retail license.

[rabscuttle385]

I heard nasty things about TigerDirect a few years back, so I skipped ‘em outright and went for Newegg.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883107588

Micro Center also makes wonderful PowerSpec desktops. The one I bought in 2007 had a parallel port, though I’m not sure if they have them on the newest ones.

[TomGuy]

I order quite a bit from Tigerdirect. Never have had a real problem with them.

Their prices are pretty competitive. I live in a small rural town of 14,000, so not much local shopping opportunities, except for Walmart.

[BubbaBasher]

The upgrade policies have changed. All you need to upgrade to any version of Windows 7 is an activated copy of any version of XP or Vista. Once you have your Home version of Win7 installed you can choose to upgrade to Professional or Ultimate directly from Windows. You get another key and the new features are turned on. You don't need to re-install anything.