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Oh My Tech: Moving to Windows 7 can be perilous: If everything works fine now, upgrade may not be necessary.Nov 09, 2009 (The Salt Lake Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The Windows 7 upgrade advisor tells me that my [computer] will not support: Windows Aero, ArcSoft PhotoStudio 5.5 and ATI desktop component. Are these issues that I can remedy on my own? What would I need to do in order to have Windows 7? -- Sharon Fronk, Salt Lake City The No. 1 question PC owners have this month is whether they should upgrade to Windows 7, the latest operating system from Microsoft that launched Oct. 22. My answer to that is another question: Is your computer operating fine now without it? If it is -- if every program on your computer functions -- then it isn't necessary to upgrade so soon. Don't let the brainwaves from Microsoft's marketing division tell you otherwise. If you buy a new computer, getting Windows 7 pre-installed makes sense because you don't have to pay for the upgrade. It's also one of the better, less buggy operating systems to debut. But if you're sticking with the same computer, upgrading Windows can be a risky proposition. In Sharon's case, she might not be able to run the programs she listed if she upgrades to Windows 7. Windows Aero is the visual effect that spices up the look of the desktop. PhotoStudio will not run, though Arcsoft may have a patch to fix that. And ATI desktop is the software that allows you to tweak the video card. Again, ATI likely has a newer version of the software to work with Windows 7. Windows 7 will likely make your computer run faster, will take less memory and less hard drive space because it's a more efficient operating system. But the people who will see the most advantages from Windows 7 are the ones with newer, faster computers. Upgrading to any new operating system always comes with its own host of unexpected headaches. Some programs or software drivers that worked before may not work after you upgrade. Why put yourself through that if everything already works fine now? Windows 7 Tech specs The minimum requirements for Windows 7 are a 1 GHz or faster processor, 1 GB of RAM (for 32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit), 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit) and a DirectX 9 graphics card. It also requires an Internet connection. Have a tech question? Need advice on what to buy or how to use it once you've bought it? E-mail [email protected]. To see more of The Salt Lake Tribune, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.sltrib.com. Copyright (c) 2009, The Salt Lake Tribune Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |