Recently Microsoft released Windows 7. Which has been receiving great comments with excellent rating. Because of the design to simplify things we do every day, work the way we want, and make some exciting new things possible. Here are some good reason why we want/need to upgrade to Windows7 (Get quicker access to all of our stuff, Easily create and share movies, Manage open windows more easily, Connect to networks easily, Quickly find what we are looking for, Do more and wait less, Share files and printers among multiple PC’s, Touch and tap rather than point and click, Stay entertained effortlessly, Manage devices more easily and may more…)

Now that we learned why we need to go for Windows 7, lets learn its System Requirements. (To see if you can upgrade your existing PC.)

Process One:

System Requirements:

• 1 GigahHertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
• 1GigaBytes(GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2GigaBytes(GB) RAM (64-bit)
• 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20GB (64-bit)
• DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
• DVD Player

Process Two:

GREAT! I have the above requirements. What else do I need to Start the Upgrade Process?

We will need to check if your existing PC drives support Windows 7? So, go to your PC manufacture’s site and check if your PC Drive for windows 7 are available. Here is list..

• Dell
• HP
• Gateway
• Acer

Once you are satisfied with the Windows 7 Drivers follow below.

• We need a retail Windows 7 DVD. If you don’t have one you can BUY IT HERE, (Bestbuy, Office Mac, Office Depot, Staples etc…) or any other online store.
• An External Hard Drive/USB Flash Drive (Size: Depends on how many file you need to backup.)

Process Three:

Before we start the upgrade process, lets make sure we back-up all our files from your existing PC.

Connect your USB Drive/External Drive and start dumping all your

• important folder and files into it (Documents, Pictures, Videos, Music etc.).
• If you have multiple users copy their folders and files
• Copy all your brower bookmarks and passwords
• Your Project Folder etc..

Once your are done, safely remove your USB Drive/External Hard Drive.

Process Four:

If your existing PC has the above requirements we are good to go with the upgrade.

Finally, you are ready to install Windows 7. Pop in the DVD and restart your computer. Boot from the DVD and follow the prompts to install Windows 7.

• Choose Custom (Advanced install) when given the choice: - This will do a clean install
• Then choose the system drive (which was your C: on Windows XP) as the partition you would like to set up Windows 7.

Once done, reboot you PC and you are now, ready to use your PC with Windows 7. But wait you have one more thing left to do.

Process Five:

Here you are. You are there but, you need couple more things to do.

• First install Anti-Virus to secure your system and your data. (MS Security Essentials, AVG, Avast and Antivir..)
• Then import your/other users Documents, Pictures, Videos, Music and bookmarks from your USB Drive/External Hard Drive.

Hope this article will help you plan and upgrade from XP to Windows 7. Please let us know, you have an challenges with your PC.

You can always follow us @machackpc for more Tips, Tweaks, Hints, Hacks and Updates on your PC, Mac, Linux, iPhone and any other technology related.

Related articles, you may be interested on.

• How to Access Mac Snow Leopard file from Windows 7
• How to Access Windows 7 files from Mac Snow Leopard
• Free Remote Desktop Sharing Software & Its Comparison

Enjoy..

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