14 DAY TRIAL // Tomorrow, October 22nd, 2009, Microsoft will release the latest iteration of its Windows client to the public. And while the vast majority of new copies of Windows 7 will be sold preloaded on OEM machines, licenses will also be acquired by customers running older computers. Just ahead of the Windows 7 General Availability, Microsoft has wrapped up a free tool designed to streamline the transition of PCs running Windows XP and Windows Vista to Windows 7. Starting earlier this week, users with XP and Vista computers have been able to grab the RTM (final) Build of Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor version 2.
“Download and run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to see if your PC is ready for Windows 7. It scans your hardware, devices, and installed programs for known compatibility issues, gives you guidance on how to resolve potential issues found, and recommends what to do before you upgrade,” Microsoft informed.
As far as I’m concerned, current Vista users looking to upgrade could manage even without running this tool. However, not the same is valid for XP users. The gap between XP and Windows 7 is even wider than that between XP and Vista. XP users that at any time tried Vista and ran into incompatibility issues, whether software or hardware related, are bound to come across similar problems with the latest version of Windows. Evaluating a Vista or XP computer for Windows 7 upgrade readiness with the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor version 2 is a simple and effortless process, and I recommend it to all users looking to upgrade.
The general rule is that if it worked with Vista it will work with Windows 7, for both software and hardware. However, there are exceptions. I personally dumped an old hardware component that had drivers for XP and Vista, but which was no longer supported by the manufacturer and wouldn’t work with Windows 7. Trust me, it pays to identify incompatibility issues and resolve them before you actually install Windows 7.
“Be sure to plug in and turn on any USB devices or other devices, such as printers, external hard disks, and scanners, that you regularly use with the PC you're checking,” Microsoft advised. “The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor scans your PC for potential compatibility issues and lets you know about your Windows 7 upgrade options. Within minutes, you'll get a report that tells you if your PC meets the system requirements, if any known compatibility issues with your hardware, devices, and installed programs are found, and gives guidance on what to do before installing Windows 7 on your PC.”
Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor version 2 is available for download here.