Computer Support in the Cambridge Area

Support - Supply - Repair - Maintain

Microsoft's latest operating system for your desktop is Windows 7, it has a range of new features and improved loading speeds. If you are used to Windows Vista the look and feel will be familiar to you, but if Windows XP is your current system there are some differences to get used to - but none should stop you giving this latest version serious consideration.

As always there are a series of things to consider when looking at a new operating system and the following are the most common questions that we get asked:

Windows 7 - the latest desktop operating system from Microsoft

For Windows XP  users you only have one choice and that is to do a complete fresh installation. Please make sure that you backup all your data and have copies of any programs you want to put back on when you are finished (and don’t forget your ITunes and email!)

If you have Windows Vista then you can get the upgrade version of Windows 7 and let the software do the hard work for you. But before you take this route do consider if you can spare the effort to do a full re-install, the reason for this is that if you have any issues or problems with your Vista installation these could be brought forward to Windows 7.

But whatever route you choose remember to make sure that you have the drivers for your PC - things like your mouse, monitor, keyboard, printers an scanners. If you spend a few minutes getting these together before you start it will make things easier.

There are some minimums which Microsoft state and these are:

• 1 Ghz processor
• 1 GB RAM
• 16 GB of Hard drive space
• DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0

But the above will not let you use all of the new features so for the best experience in Windows 7 consider:

• 2 Ghz Dual core processor
• 2 GB RAM
• 35 GB of Hard drive space

But also remember the more power and memory you have the better any operating system will run - especially once you load up your own software such as MS Office, Google Earth etc.

Most new programs (anything released in the last year) should work fine with Windows 7 - but never assume anything. So if you use Sage or QuickBooks for your accounts, a Desktop Publishing package to do Newsletters or you have a specific graphics package you use then please check with the manufacturer.

If the information is not on their website then give the sales line a call - they will know what versions are compatible.

If you do have some software that is not compatible with Windows 7 and getting a newer version is not an option then Microsoft has though of this. In the business/professional versions (I.e. Not Home version) there is a “Windows XP Mode” that allows you to run programs in an XP shell - you do need to download it from the Microsoft website and make sue your PC is powerful enough to run it!