Should I update my machine from xp to windows 7

Here is something from Microsoft that is a place to start.


http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/downl...ils.aspx?id=20


If the computers pass this test from Microsoft is just a starting place.

Answering the questions like ignatzatsonic has posted should still be done.

You need to know more than whether Windows 7 will work on those computers but will Windows 7 work good on those computers.

MRTMS said:

My question is this "just because i can does that mean i should".

Of course not. But in general people are better off running the most current version of any software, operating systems included. But it always comes down to that cost-benefit analysis.

MRTMS said:

Will i get much of a performance boost.

Not necessarily. Because W7 is a more "robust" operating system than XP you might even notice a slight performance drop.
It depends on the hardware in your PCs. That said, I have run W7 on 10 year old Pentium 4 machines, and once I got past the problem finding working drivers they ran pretty well. I did not notice any appreciable difference in starting programs, switching windows, etc.

4 year old machines contain hardware that you can be fairly sure to find current Windows 7 drivers you will need. Many may even be included in the Windows 7 installation.

MRTMS said:

What are the factors that i need to take into account.

An important factor is the RAM. You must have a minimum 2GB of RAM to even attempt a W7 install. But 4GB is highly recommended for running W7 without performance issues.

Just do your homework and find the W7 drivers you need for the hardware in your machine before you move to install. If you have used a W7 computer already you know where all the "buttons" are, if not spend some time doing that. W7 does the same things as XP, it's just that it does it slightly differently.

MRTMS said:

will this increase the longevity of the machines.

No - from a hardware sense.
Yes - from a user's perspective. W7 is a current operating system and will have software, hardware, and utilities made to run on it into the future. XP is already being phased out in that respect.

MRTMS said:

Would i be better of buying new machines.

Of course! It's the same question as "should I repair my car or buy a new one?". It comes down to cost, doesn't it?

The common answer which recommends migration from XP to Win 7 is because of security reasons. There are no XP updates any more and you will be more and more exposed to malware.

I don't think you would see any other gains such as performance, hardware longevity, etc.

Another strategy would be to keep XP away from the internet and run all internet activity thry Linux - either in double boot, or in virtual or from a USB flash drive. That would be the cheapest solution because it costs nothing (maybe a new 16GB USB flash drive).