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[Could I upgrade a 5yr old Gateway Laptop from Windows XP to Windows 7?]

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by Drozdown, 2013/01/01.

  1. 2013/01/01
    Drozdown

    Drozdown Inactive Thread Starter

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    I am using a Gateway laptop, about 5 yrs old. cpu is AMD Turion64, 960mb ram.

    What problems will I run into if I upgrade to Windows 7?
     
    Drozdown,
    #1
  2. 2013/01/02
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Hi Drozdown, Welcome to Windowsbbs! :)

    You won't really run into any problems with Windows 7 unless there are no drivers available for the hardware or your software programs are not compatable with Windows 7.

    I would first run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to determine if the software that is installed will run on Windows 7. Keep in mind though that you will have to do a clean install if you are upgrading from Windows XP.

    Also go to Gateways website and using the model of the laptop, check to see if there are Windows 7 drivers available for it. If there are no drivers available then you may not be able to upgrade to Windows 7.
     
    Evan Omo,
    #2
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  4. 2013/01/02
    masterroming

    masterroming Well-Known Member

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    Hi Drozdown,
    Also bear in mind that you will have to re-format you hard drive before installing Windows 7 which would mean that you would lose any files or programs you have (a 'clean install') Therefore make sure that you backup you files and that you check, (with the upgrade advisor mentioned by Evan Omo) whether your software will work with Windows 7. Then make sure you have the serial keys for the programs which require them.
    These can sometimes be found in the 'about' tab of the programs.

    masterroming
     
    Last edited: 2013/01/02
    masterroming,
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  5. 2013/01/02
    Drozdown

    Drozdown Inactive Thread Starter

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    Evan,
    What do you mean by a clean install?
    There seems to be more than one version of Windows 7. Which one would I need?
     
    Drozdown,
    #4
  6. 2013/01/02
    masterroming

    masterroming Well-Known Member

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    Drozdown,
    A 'clean install' means that the hard drive will be formatted (removing all data on the drive) (see my above post, the one starting 'Also bear in mind')

    And as for which version you need which serial key do you have it should say on there which version it's for.

    masterroming
     
    Last edited: 2013/01/02
    masterroming,
    #5
  7. 2013/01/02
    lj50 Lifetime Subscription

    lj50 SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    You should not have a problem. On Noveember 12, 2009. I Zeroed out the HDD on a computer I have had since 2000 and installed Win 7 Ultimate 32bit. I am using it to post this reply.
     
    lj50,
    #6
  8. 2013/01/02
    frisco

    frisco Inactive

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    Hi Droze

    You are lucky to have gotten replies from Very Computer smart folks, I am very comp Un-smart..

    My only contribution is this >>>> why do you want you use Win 7.?

    I fully realize that 7 supposed to be safer than XP and that Xp is not or Will not be supported anymore..
    I Love my XP and have No probs with virus or other infections because I fully protect my Comp and the No support deal doesn't seem to affect me either..

    I ran 7 for 3 months when I got my new comp two years ago and detested it,, finally re-installed Xp and was again happy as a Pig in Poop..

    Just something to consider coming atcha from a diff direction..
     
    frisco,
    #7
  9. 2013/01/02
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    As has been said above, a clean install wipes out all data on the harddrive and then installs Windows 7 without any other programs. So make sure you backup your data first before installing Windows 7.

    This one will be fine, Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM.

    Just note that going from Windows XP 32-bit to Windows 7 64-bit that the system may require more RAM than 1 GB. I would recommend upgrading your RAM to at least 2 GB if not 4 GB for better performance.

    What is the model number of the Gateway laptop?
     
    Last edited: 2013/01/03
    Evan Omo,
    #8
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  10. 2013/01/05
    Drozdown

    Drozdown Inactive Thread Starter

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    Evan,
    Gateway laptop model# is MX6425.
    Why do you suggest 64bit Win7 iso 32bit?
     
    Drozdown,
    #9
  11. 2013/01/06
    SpywareDr

    SpywareDr SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Since the maximum RAM a MX6425 can address is 2GB, a 32-bit OS would suffice.
     
    SpywareDr,
    #10
  12. 2013/01/06
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Most new computers are running 64-bit versions of Windows. The good thing about 64-bit systems is that you can install and use more than 4 GB of RAM. With 32-bit systems your computer can only handle 3-3.5 GB of RAM.

    But as SpywareDr posted above since your system can only handle 2 GB of RAM at the most then buying the 64-bit version of Windows 7 Home Premium would be a waste. I assumed your system could handle up to 4 GB of RAM but I guess not.

    You should buy this version of Windows 7 instead, Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 32-bit - OEM.
     
    Evan Omo,
    #11
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  13. 2013/01/06
    SpywareDr

    SpywareDr SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    SpywareDr,
    #12
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  14. 2013/01/07
    paul_doo

    paul_doo Inactive

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    What about the graphics issues? Can that computer run windows 7 without being laggy?
     
    paul_doo,
    #13
  15. 2013/01/07
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Well according to the driver page of the Gateway MX6425 there does not seem to be Windows 7 drivers available for that model.

    There are Vista drivers available so you may be able to get away with installing the Vista drivers on the laptop if you upgrade to Windows 7 32-bit. But you do run the risk of the laptop not fully working properly without actual Windows 7 drivers being available.

    If this was my laptop I probably would not bother trying to upgrade it to Windows 7 as the RAM limitation is a major drawback and the fact there are no Windows 7 drivers available makes me a bit skeptical. You can try using the Vista drivers after you install Windows 7 but you are taking a risk.
     
    Last edited: 2013/04/27
    Evan Omo,
    #14
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