Windows 7: Older Laptop Upgrade

bobkn,
The preferred approach, as given by Archie, is:
Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

Run System Info for Windows (Free Version) to see what is the maximum memory your MB can take.

Buy SIW Pro or Download SIW Home Edition

Or you can look at the specs: the max for this laptop is 4 GB.

Thanks for all the info guys for now I think I will just install Windows 7 and then consider adding more RAM afterwards. As far as buying a SSD for it I don't think I want to spend that much on this laptop.

That has given me an idea though about maybe replacing my standard 250GB hard drive on my Dell Studio 15 (1535) with a SSD... while it's also a 2008 model it has a little better CPU and 3GB of RAM. It has been upgraded from Vista to Windows 7 Home via a Clean Install.

I've always wanted to try a SSD but have been scared off because I wasn't sure what all the install entailed since I know it can't be the same as a regular drive.

Could someone give me detailed instructions on how I would go about replacing my standard drive on my Studio 15?

Also maybe you could recommend some drives at various storage/price points that have good performance, reliable, and provide good value.

Since your new questions are completely off of the topic of the thread.
Mark the thread as solved.

Post a fresh msg stated you new questions.

thanks,

PS. this will also result in you getting more and more accurate responses

Yeah, that was the "work-around" I referred to.

Not sure why I didn't provide the link. Perhaps I forgot that I wasn't in one of the Microsoft forums. Some of their moderators will delete any mention of procedures that Microsoft does not support. (Some of the approaches above can be used to install Windows 7 using an upgrade license without having a qualifying older OS in hand. Unlikely to land anyone in jail, but it's a violation of the license agreement.)

True it could be used like that, but as long as they meet the requirements in the red warning box in the tutorial it's supported. Otherwise they are violating the EULA.

It isn't necessary to run the Windows 7 Upgrade DVD from XP. When you boot the Windows 7 DVD it will see XP and allow use of Upgrade version key during install. So there is no need to do the workaround in Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version which is made available by MS for those who replace HD's or otherwise don't want to have to reinstall the qualifying XP.

Only if you wipe the HD or use a new HD is it necessary to do the workaround.