Assessing a Computer for a Windows 7 Upgrade

Testing a computer to see if it can handle Windows 7 is as easy as using Microsoft’s Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to scan the computer to make sure it can run Windows 7, determine the version of Windows 7 that would be best suited for a computer, and supply hardware upgrade suggestions. One thing to remember though, is that Microsoft’s Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor wasn’t designed to work on computers older than Windows XP Service Pack 2.

If you want to test a computer to see if it can successfully make the move to Windows 7 or see if a computer is capable of handling a more robust version of Windows 7:

• Set your browser to http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/downloads/upgrade-advisor and click "Download the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor".

• Select the connection type for your computer using the Estimated Download Time drop-down column and then click the Download button and select run.

• After the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor is downloaded, the Windows 7 Upgrade Wizard will appear to help you through the installation of this tool.

If the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor doesn’t automatically launch after installation, click the Start button and open All Programs, then click Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor from the list of programs. Once the program launches, click the "Start Scan" button (it’s the only option available). On my old XP Home computer, the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor took about four minutes to complete the scan. After the process is complete click the "See Details" button to see if you can make the move to Windows 7 without too much trouble.

At the top of the screen you will find the results indicating whether you can operate Windows 7 on the computer scanned and information on the version of Windows 7 the Upgrade Advisor suggests. Should the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor suggest the computer scanned is not suitable to handle Windows 7, you can examine the data under System Requirements to figure out the problem preventing you from enjoying the benefits. In addition, the Upgrade Advisor lists any specific hardware problems in the "Action Required" column.

If you want to delete the Windows 7 Upgrade Adviser program after you’re finished. Click the Start button and open the Control Panel, select "Add or Remove Programs" in Windows XP or "Program and Features" in Vista, and then select the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor from the list and click the Remove/Uninstall button.