Upgrading from XP to Win 7

[techwanabe]

I have a computer my sister gave me, Dell Dim 9100. It came with XP. Is the cheapest option to upgrade it to Windows 7 by buying an "upgrade copy"?

Also, I am planning on picking up a used computer; many have XP on them. Again, want to go with Windows 7. What are my options? Buy a used XP and buy a copy of Win 7? How much would that cost? Or, buy a computer with Win 7 pre-installed.

Just checking out the options and costs.

Moved from SFW to Operating Systems
-ViRGE

 

[Matt1970]

To make 7 run worth a hoot you really need 2 GB of ram so by the time you get the older PC, pay for the ram and copy of windows you will probably be better off with a used system with 7 on it. Be careful of craigslist and ebay Win7 computers. Unless they come with a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) sticker, odds are they are cracked one way or another and are just an update or 2 away from getting the "This copy of windows is not valid" on your desktop.

 

[techwanabe]

To make 7 run worth a hoot you really need 2 GB of ram so by the time you get the older PC, pay for the ram and copy of windows you will probably be better off with a used system with 7 on it. Be careful of craigslist and ebay Win7 computers. Unless they come with a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) sticker, odds are they are cracked one way or another and are just an update or 2 away from getting the "This copy of windows is not valid" on your desktop.

What about going the upgrade route to Win 7 on an existing PC I have that come with Windows XP (Dell PC with XP)?

 

[Mushkins]

What about going the upgrade route to Win 7 on an existing PC I have that come with Windows XP (Dell PC with XP)?

If it came with XP, odds are its on its way out and doesn't have enough hardware power behind it to really run Windows 7 adequately. A new copy of Windows 7 home premium OEM costs $100, and will die with that machine when it kicks the bucket. Might as well save up another $200-250 and buy a brand new sale-of-the-week PC at any big box retail. There's still plenty of stuff out there with Windows 7 on it if you're adverse to Win8 and dont mind buying online.

 

[techwanabe]

Something to think about... At work we have plenty of Dell 755's and 760's which seem to run Windows 7 quite decent, so I was going to see if I could pick something up for cheap used. tks!

 

[gmaster456]

You could take a look at something like this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16883155699

 

[Hugh Jass]

Unless they come with a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) sticker, odds are they are cracked one way or another and are just an update or 2 away from getting the "This copy of windows is not valid" on your desktop.

[redacted]

We do not allow the advocacy of piracy on our forums
-ViRGE

 

[Kaido]

Just checking out the options and costs.

Best Buy is having a sale on a 15" Dell laptop for $279:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dell---I...&skuId=8786054

Comes with:

* Windows 8 (you can use StartMenu8 to make it like Windows 7)
* Dual-core 1.5ghz Ivy Bridge CPU (today's Celerons aren't like the old ones)
* 4GB RAM
* 320gb hard drive
* Card Reader
* Bluetooth
* Wifi
* Ethernet
* 1" thick
* 15.6" LCD with 1366 x 768 resolution
* DVD burner
* Keyboard, touchpad, and battery (who needs a UPS?)
* HDMI jack to hookup to a monitor or HDTV

$279. Essentially a computer with Windows 8, keyboard, mouse (trackpad), monitor, and backup battery. Hard to beat that if you just need something basic on a budget.

 

[techwanabe]

Wife doesn't want laptop, but thanks for the suggestion.

Went with a refurb Win 7 64 bit Dell Opt 755 w/4 gb ram, installed existing linksys wireless card and cheap 3D Radeon HD video card with VGA and DVI outputs for dual monitors. Not amazing but for $16x out of pocket, it is a big step up from the 9 year old Dell Dim 8400 Pentium 4 3.1 single core w/ Radeon X800SE and only 1 gb ram! That PC has been on borrowed time for the last couple years. The old computers OS corrupted yesterday and would not boot. It was not worth re-installing XP on it as we've been planning on replacing it for a few months now.

 

[BrandtTheMan]

Wife doesn't want laptop, but thanks for the suggestion.

Went with a refurb Win 7 64 bit Dell Opt 755 w/4 gb ram, installed existing linksys wireless card and cheap 3D Radeon HD video card with VGA and DVI outputs for dual monitors. Not amazing but for $16x out of pocket, it is a big step up from the 9 year old Dell Dim 8400 Pentium 4 3.1 single core w/ Radeon X800SE and only 1 gb ram! That PC has been on borrowed time for the last couple years. The old computers OS corrupted yesterday and would not boot. It was not worth re-installing XP on it as we've been planning on replacing it for a few months now.

Not a bad deal. That should get you by for a few more years as long at the 755 doesnt have any Mobo issues.