Upgrading OS system (XP)

[cockpheasant]

I run a computer with an AMD athlon 64 3200+ motherboard and an ATI radion 9800 pro secondary graphics card. At the moment it is running XP home but in view of the future plans of microsoft I should like to upgrade to Windows 7. Is this possible please...and how?:confused:

[KenB]

Hi

 

Take a look here:

click here

 

This will scan your system and tell you if what you have will be able to run Win7

 

Make sure you click on the "Details" and other buttons first before downloading :)

 

Let us know the results.

[cockpheasant]

Hi Ken. Many thanks for the info. The result shows positive, with just a few tweaks to be done (easy?) Surprisingly for an ancient unit it is capable of running the 64 bit version of 7 although the present XP is just 32 bit. To do this the RAM would have toi be upgraded to a min of 2Gig to run in widows XP mode, but this is no loss to me. All that I have to do now is source a 7 disc and work out the installation process, any idea where iI can aquire a printout to cover this?

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, to save a lot of work, here is a link where someone has kindly done all the writing for us.

 

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

 

Firstly, make sure everything is fully backed up elsewhere and also any programs you have installed now, that you have the original disk or other media for the programs before you start, as doing a full clean install, which is the best way, will fully reformat and delete everything that is on your hard drive.

 

Please do obtain a legal copy of Windows 7, many dealers will still be selling them and possibly cheaper than Microsoft. Please do not go and get a cracked copy, as well as being illegal most are either not complete copies, and sometimes also they can carry virus or other malware. A cracked copy might be free, but in the end not worth the hassle. Besides we can't help if anything goes wrong.

 

Nev.

[cockpheasant]

Many thanks for the info Nev, can I please beg for some more. I have 2 comps, lap and desk. Lap runs vista desk runs xp. Can I install a single copy of win 7 on both machines? I am aware that I already have two licences so would an upgrade disc be preferable? Also, I have read that the new o/s needs to be activated via a number on a sticker attached to the comp. The xp unit is 10 years old with an unreadable sticker. Can I find the no within the o/s system somewhere? Thanks in anticipation. Whew, I hate being 70, clockwork was so much easier!!!

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, if you get upgrade disk for the Vista machine, that will be no problem, however from XP you have to start from scratch with a full W7 disk as a direct upgrade isn't possible.

If buying a windows 7 disk you may be able to obtain a multiple license disk which will allow installation to two or more computers, however a single license disk will not.

 

Nev.

[cockpheasant]

Thanks again Nev. Any thoughts on the missing no?

[Plastic Nev]

If the missing number is the XP desktop and you buy a full disk for it, the old XP number is irrelevant as the new disk will come with its own, if multiple license, it comes with a fresh number for each installation.

Really it is all about the activation of Windows once it is installed, so each install has to have a different product key number for the activation to work.

Have a read of this link, and do follow up the links within it, it best describes what Microsoft mean and how they work the license system.

 

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/get-windows-product-key#get-windows-product-key=windows-7

 

Now another question pops up, instead of a full windows disk and license, multiple license or other wise, why not obtain two OEM disks, it may be a lot cheaper and is certainly worth thinking about.

This article explains a lot and although dated 2009, it is still relevant.

 

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/features/351598/how-to-buy-windows-7-for-50-less-the-truth-about-oem-versions

 

I have just looked on Amazon and OEM versions are available at reasonable prices.

 

Nev.

[KenB]

If you are still thinking of putting Win7 on the XP machine you may want to run this software to determine if this is actually possible.

 

click here

[cockpheasant]

Many thanks again Nev. Maybe I can input a little,whilst not presuming to teach you to suck eggs, there is a site called magical jelly bean with a free download keyfinder which works a treat and finds the product key in seconds. Regards, John F.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi John, yes I know about that, there is also Speccy which will find the key, however, why look for it on a machine running windows XP when intending to install Windows 7?

The key for XP is of no use as it is only relevant to XP, which would be fine if re-installing XP, but Windows 7 must have its own key.

 

Nev.

[KenB]

Did you see my post ? ...... #9

[cockpheasant]

Please excuse my tardiness Ken. I ran the check and the old XP unit will support Win 7.32 bit. as will the Vista unit. I am just in the process of updating the points picked up by the XP check, (audio drivers etc) and am climbing the learning curve until I am sure what I am doing. I have downloaded the official windows disc and I am still considering which way to jump as per the activation code.

[cockpheasant]

Nev, thanks for the pointer. Things are starting to become clearer now. I shall get there eventually, I just learn more slowly with the advancing years.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, thanks for the update on where you are at so far, just take your time and makes sure you understand everything before starting the actual install.

Any problems do let us know, we are here to help.

 

Nev.

[KenB]

Please excuse my tardiness Ken

It is I who should be apologising - I asked you to run that check in my very first post http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/angry/bang-head-on-wall.gif

[cockpheasant]

OK gentlemen, first of all, the compliments of the season to you. Next.....after weighing up the costs and pros v cons, I found a supplier who was offering refurbished Dell units with Windows 7 and a much much higher spec than my desktop which will also accommodate Win 8. The price was not a great amount over the cost of purchasing a new O/S and so I went for that. The laptop is newer so I shall get an upgrade disc. Many thanks once again for all your help. Reg John F.

[KenB]

Hi John

 

Thanks for getting back to us - it is always nice to hear a positive conclusion :)

[cockpheasant]

Back again guys. I dont know whether this is the correct thread, but in the new windows 7 I tried to connect first to this site and then to my TOMTOM update. The sites said that I needed Flashplayer which is incorporated into chrome but when my tomtom connects, the browser reverts to IE. Trying to download Flashplayer results in a flagup saying the file has an invalid signature and has been blocked by IE. Help please..its late and I am crying with frustration.