Careful: there were MILLIONS of problems with this particular file when it first came out. Unfortunately I haven't kept up to date to see if MS fixed them.

Be cautious upgrading to Windows 7
Steps to make the change depend on starting point

By Troy Wolverton McClatchy/Tribune news

November 2, 2009

Before you buy a copy of Windows 7, you'd do well to check whether you and your computer are ready for the upgrade.

If you're one of the millions of PC owners still running Windows XP, your computer may not be powerful enough to run the new software. Worse yet, you have a tedious and long upgrade process ahead, essentially requiring you to erase everything on your current hard drive and reinstall it.

If you've got Windows Vista, the procedure is easier, but not necessarily pain-free. And you still might want to go through the more thorough -- and time-consuming -- upgrade process facing XP users.

Windows 7, which hit store shelves in October, has multiple versions (Home, Ultimate, etc.) that come in one of two flavors: 32 bit and 64 bit. The latter can be speedier, depending on the type of software you run. But few programs can take advantage of what it offers, so be cautious in this choice.

To run the 32-bit version, your computer will need to have 1 GB of memory, a 1 gigahertz processor or better and about 16 GB of available space on its hard drive.

The requirements for the 32-bit version are about the same as those for Windows Vista, meaning that most Vista PCs should be able to run Windows 7. They're also in line with the specifications of many computers sold in recent years.

Even many netbooks, which are typically underpowered, should have enough memory and horsepower to run Windows 7.

If you want to run a 64-bit version of Windows 7, you'll need at least 2 GB of memory and 20 GB of hard drive space, and a 64-bit microprocessor.

But many XP machines won't be able to run the new software. XP requires far less power than Windows 7 -- just a 233 megahertz processor, 64 MB of memory and 1.5 GB of drive space.

Part of what has made XP popular in netbooks is that the software's modest requirements meant that manufacturers could save money by building computers with older, slower processors and less memory than on higher-end systems. In other words, even if your netbook is fairly new, it may not be able to run Windows 7.

Upgrade tips
Seek advice: A tool on microsoft.com will tell whether your computer is capable of running Windows 7.

Back up your stuff: It's a good idea any time you upgrade your OS; it's mandatory if you're running XP.

Take the "Easy" way out: "Windows Easy Transfer," a free program from Microsoft, will collect all of your settings and personal files and transfer them to an external drive. You can use the same program to restore them after you've upgraded to Windows 7.

Find your discs: If you're going from XP, you'll have to reinstall all program files after you finish the upgrade.

Get up to date: If you're running Vista, you'll need to have at least the first service pack installed before the upgrade.

Clear your calendar: Upgrading from an updated version of Vista can take less than an hour. But the process can take hours longer if you need to back up your data first or if you are upgrading from XP.