Windows 7 Requirements

Most computer users mistakenly assume that if their computer is already running an older version of Windows, it is capable of being upgraded to a new version of Windows 7. However, that is not always the case. Just because your current computer system is running Windows XP, it does not mean it automatically meets the requirements to be upgraded to Windows 7.

Understanding the Requirements for Windows 7

Before you purchase a copy of Windows 7 or attempt to upgrade your current operating system, you must be sure that your system meets the mandatory requirements. These general minimum requirements are similar to those put in place for the release of Windows Vista versions. Therefore, if your computer is already running Vista then there is a higher likelihood it can also run Windows 7.

The hardware requirements for Windows 7 are as follows:

• 32-Bit Hardware Requirements: Must include a processor of 1 GHz x86. The system must have a memory of 1 GB (RAM) and the graphics card must feature a DirectX9 graphics processor. This should include a WDDM driver model 1.0. These are general requirements that are required for running Aero on Windows 7. You must also have 16 GB of free disk space available on your virtual machine and should have an optical drive in the form of a DVD drive in order to install DVD/CD media.

• 64-Bit Hardware Requirements: Must include a processor of 1 GHz x86-64 and the system must have a memory of 2 GB (RAM). As with the 32-bit, the graphic card must feature a DirectX9 graphics processor that also includes a WDDM driver model 1.0. (These requirements are in place for the operation of Aero on the Windows 7 system.) 20 GB of free space is required for the installation and use of Windows 7. Additionally, you will also need to have an optical DVD drive for the installation of media DVD/CD components.

Other Pertinent Windows 7 Requirements

There are numerous features available on Windows 7 that require additional requirements before being operational with your Windows 7 installation or upgrade.

For example, if you plan on using the Windows XP Mode that is available in Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate and Windows 7 Enterprise, then you will be required to have an additional 1 GB of RAM with an additional 15 GB of available space on your hard drive. Without this space Windows XP Mode will not be capable of running on the system.

If you want to make use of the Windows Media Center on either Windows 7 Home Premium, Window 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate or Windows 7 Enterprise, you will need to have a TV tuner in place in order to view television and to record television broadcasts.

How to Determine Full Compatibility

To ensure that you meet all the necessary requirements to run Windows 7 on your operating system, you can easily visit the Microsoft website and have your computer scanned for free for compatibility. This is the easiest and most effective way in which to determine if your virtual machine fully meets the requirements needed in order to successfully run Windows 7.