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Upgrade Advisor Tests Your PC's Windows-7 Readiness

May 11th, 2009 @ 12:00 pm

8 Comments

Categories: Computers, Software

Tags: Microsoft Windows 7, PC, Advisor, Audio Card, Graphics, Upgrade Advisor, Microsoft Windows, Productivity, Operating Systems, Software

Windows Vista was designed not for the computer people already had, but for the computer Microsoft expected they would soon own. (Surely everyone would rush out to buy a new Vista-equipped system, right?) So what’s the story with Windows 7? Well, you can find out if your current PC will run Windows 7 with Microsoft’s free Upgrade Advisor.

The Upgrade Advisor is a small download from Microsoft’s Web site, and it takes just a few minutes to run. The program tells you in plain English if your system meets the minimum specifications for processor speed, memory, free hard drive space, and graphics ability.

It also checks all of your attached devices — printers, scanners, graphics and sound cards, you name it — and lets you know of any issues with Windows 7 compatibility.

I ran the Upgrade Advisor on my year-old Dell XPS, and it reported only one issue among all my various devices and peripherals — I’d have to update the sound card driver after installing Windows 7.

If your system doesn’t make the cut, it might be time to start plotting an unfortunate “accident.” Right around the time Windows 7 starts shipping. “Gosh, I don’t know what happened, boss. Sucker slipped right out of my hands and landed on the pavement. Butter-fingers!”

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  •  
    1

    neadfiles

    05/11/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Upgrade Advisor Tests Your PC's Windows-7 Readiness

    Hmmm. That link isn't working for me. Have another?

  •  
    2

    BizHacks Dave

    05/11/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Upgrade Advisor Tests Your PC's Windows-7 Readiness

    It is working for me... you might want to try again.

  •  
    3

    BizHacksRick

    05/12/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Upgrade Advisor Tests Your PC's Windows-7 Readiness

    Works here. I suspect user error. happy No, seriously, neadfiles, are you still having problems connecting?

  •  
    4

    neadfiles

    05/12/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Upgrade Advisor Tests Your PC's Windows-7 Readiness

    @Rick & Dave. Brought IT in the mix (since issue is on my work PC). Waiting for Anti-Virus to do a full scan overnight as I suspect possible malware. Can't access www.microsoft.com or the MS updates website either. Wish me luck.

  •  
    5

    BizHacksRick

    05/12/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Upgrade Advisor Tests Your PC's Windows-7 Readiness

    Yuck. That doesn't sound good. Best of luck, indeed! Let us know if it turns out to be malware. I'm always curious to know what kinds of ill effects can result from it.

  •  
    6

    laneycath

    05/12/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Upgrade Advisor Tests Your PC's Windows-7 Readiness

    Shame on you! Either you are advocating a fraudulent insurance claim or perpetrating a white collar crime. Get with the times the old mantra of "as long as no one gets hurt it isn't a crime" is no longer true - that is exactly what all the execs were saying as they stole money from corporate America - which the tax payers are bailing out.

    "If your system doesn?t make the cut, it might be time to start plotting an unfortunate ?accident.? Right around the time Windows 7 starts shipping. ?Gosh, I don?t know what happened, boss. Sucker slipped right out of my hands and landed on the pavement. Butter-fingers!?

  •  
    7

    BizHacks Dave

    05/13/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Upgrade Advisor Tests Your PC's Windows-7 Readiness

    @laneycath: You got me. I operate a lucrative chop shop and get many of my clients through this blog, by persuading them to "accidentally" break or "lose" their corporate laptops. I split the profits 50/50 with the client, and they even get a brand new laptop from their boss in the process. It's what I call Win/Win/Win. (The third Win is for my kids, who get an extra pair of designer sneakers with every fraudulent sale.)

    Oh, no, hang on... that's not right at all. Now I remember: It was a *joke.* A harmless, inconsequential joke.

  •  
    8

    BizHacksRick

    05/13/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Upgrade Advisor Tests Your PC's Windows-7 Readiness

    @BizHacks Dave: You forgot my cut! And you call yourself a white-collar criminal...

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