Depending on the version of Windows you’re currently running, installing Windows 7 on your PC may be a lengthy process.

Before you buy or install Windows 7 on your PC:

Run Windows Upgrade Advisor to make sure your PC can run Windows 7.

Decide to buy an Upgrade or Full product

All editions of Windows XP and Windows Vista qualify you to upgrade. So, if you’re running either on your PC today, buy a package labeled “Upgrade”.

Understand the upgrade process for your PC

Moving to Windows 7 Professional from Windows Vista Business qualifies as an upgrade. All other paths, including a move from a 64-bit edition of Windows Vista to a 32-bit edition of Windows 7, require a more detailed re-installation process.

Determine if 32 or 64-bit is right for you

Each package contains two disks: one with the 32-bit edition and one with the 64-bit edition of Windows 7. Please make sure you know which to install on your PC. The benefits of 64-bit are most apparent when you have a large amount of random access memory (RAM) installed on your computer, typically 4 GB of RAM or more. In such cases, because a 64-bit operating system can handle large amounts of memory more efficiently than a 32-bit operating system can, a 64-bit system can be more responsive when running several programs at the same time and switching between them frequently. Please note: if you are presently running 64-bit software on a PC running a 64-bit edition of Windows Vista and you move to a 32-bit edition of Windows 7, your 64-bit software may no longer work.

Use the Compatibility Center to ensure your other hardware and software will work with Windows 7.

Find out how easy it is to upgrade to Windows 7 with the Getting Started guide

Processor Required

1 GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor

Hard disk

16 GB available disk space (32-bit) / 20 GB (64-bit); for the download version, an additional 3 GB is required

Memory Required

1 GB RAM (32-bit) / 2 GB RAM (64-bit)

Video card

DirectX 9 graphics processor with WDDM 1.0 or later driver

Other

Additional requirements to use certain features:

• Internet access (fees may apply)
• Depending on resolution, video playback may require additional memory and advanced graphics hardware
• For some Windows Media Center functionality a TV tuner and additional hardware may be required
• Windows Touch and Tablet PCs require specific hardware
• HomeGroup requires a network and PCs running Windows 7
• DVD/CD authoring requires a compatible optical drive
• Music and sound require audio output

Product functionality and graphics may vary based on your system configuration. Some features may require advanced or additional hardware.

Windows 7 Professional includes all the Home Premium features you love and the business features your work demands. Connect to company networks easily and more securely and share files across the various PCs in your home. In addition, you can run many Windows XP productivity programs in Windows XP Mode and recover your data easily with automatic back-ups to your home or business network.

Take a look at these highlighted features in Windows 7 Professional:

• Run many existing productivity and business programs designed for Windows XP—additional necessary software is available for download, free-of-charge from Microsoft
• Back up your files to an external hard drive, secondary hard drive, writable CD or DVD, or to a network location
• Find virtually anything on your PC—from documents to photos to e-mail
• Take advantage of the powerful diagnostics and troubleshooters built into Action Center to resolve many computer problems on your own
• Use HomeGroup to connect your PCs running Windows 7 to a single printer
• Interact with any compatible device connected to your computer—see device pictures and status, and run common tasks from a single window