But if you are running Windows Vista Premium (not Basic) you're in luck, upgrading can be straightforward. Windows XP will users need to offload their precious data before installing the new OS, meaning a new PC may be the easiest upgrade.
As for your current system, the first question to address is whether your current hardware will support Windows 7 — whether you can upgrade your PC. The minimum requirements, according to Microsoft, are a processor that's 1 GHz or faster, at least 1GB of RAM, 16GB of free disk space (20 if you’re going to run the 64-bit version), and a DirectX 9 graphics card. What does that all mean, you ask? You need the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor.
As the name implies, this software tool will determine whether your hardware is compatible with Win 7. It even nags you to plug in all of your external devices and make sure they are turned on, so it can do a thorough analysis.
Another question to address is a little more objective, and it's the topic of current Apple commercials. If you're running Windows XP, there's no clear upgrade path to Windows 7. Should you consider buying a new PC, potentially a Macintosh computer?
Price will probably be your biggest consideration: A Windows 7 upgrade disc costs between $120 and $220, depending on which version you choose. A new PC will run you $500 or more, while those fancy all-in-one Macs start at $1,200. In the end, the biggest factor may be the size of your wallet.
Read more about Windows7 here.
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