I want to upgrade (or fresh install) my 1 yo Dell Vostros laptop from XP Home Premium to Win 7 Pro. Its a 2GHz C2D, 2GB RAM, 250GB, GF-8600GT-256MB, 1680x1050
1. Can I do this UG path or will it only UG to win 7 home premium? 2. Is 64 bit a good idea on this laptop or a disadvantage due to limited cpu speed/ RAM? 3. Are there likely to be driver etc issues - I know my laptop had the option of vista when I configured the order - - I presently use brother printers HL2040 and MFC-215C both 2-3 years old via WIFI from a USB print server in a D-link DI-624S storage router.
I want win 7 for 2 reasons.
1. Its new and shiny (I know!- and I call my wife a magpie!) 2. I want to able to watch recorded TV when away, on this laptop and use my windows media centre remote control (great advert-skip buttons). I presently record analog TV on a desktop XP media centre edition 2005 but may add a freeview unit to this laptop.
And I want win 7 PRO so I can use office 97 via xpmode. (office 97 is no frills speed perfection) and a couple of old industrial control programs.
Can anyone see any glaring problems with my ambitions here. Despite the obvious - that I own a Dell!
firstly, i've never heard of XP home premium, i think you mean vista. if it's xp you wont be able to upgrade easily to windows 7.
i suggest a clean install of the 64-bit version, your spec looks FINE. windows 7 WILL run like a charm. reason 1: no difference 32 vs 64 bit (for your specs), so go with the way of the future. reason 2: every manufacturer installs all kinds of junk which will be offloaded with a clean reinstall.
for driver issues, you can download the windows 7 upgrade advisor and it can tell you if everything will be fine. also you must backup your current files. AND i also suggest you download ALL the vista drivers from the dell website - they SHOULD work with windows 7 in case they dont have a driver.
if you really want to know for certain partition your hard drive and install windows 7 on a new partition (do NOT enter your cdkey/activate it! otherwise you're stuck with it) to see if it works well (well, it should!) before wiping your vista with a clean re-install.
- some good advice. I'll use the upgrade adviser. It is Win XP - not vista - just the basic XP version, not pro / buisiness version. So you say 2GB RAM is pushing it to get XPmode running smoothly - is it an emulator, like dosbox but for XP? Tho you say I wont need it for office 97 at least.
BTW I just realised I must have an old profile that this old computer browser auto logged me in as (mbowden) - I'll need to delete it somehow maybe.
I have been running Windows 7 Pro on my Vostro 1510 for a couple of months. My laptop is about 18 months old, shipped with XP Pro.
I did a clean install of 32-bit, since I only have 2GB of RAM and I'm unlikely to upgrade since it only does light duty stuff. Didn't need any Dell drivers at all, 7 took care of everything. I just loaded the latest drivers from Nvidia for the graphics card.
Pretty similar spec to yours, so you should be fine.
Joker those Telecom speed tests are impressive Is that common for Chch?
I ask because I cant get more than 2.5Mb/s (87ms ping <50mi) at 5am (one of my phone extensions now has loud static since being changed from Go large to new unlimited plan - but its always been this speed at best)
I will need to search these forums for a solution very soon as cant use that extension now.
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