The possibility of making a migration from Windows XP to a higher operating system is one of the main activities that we should be starting to consider from there; Since this operating system will no longer be supported as of April 8 according to Microsoft, then it may be time to be able to know if our computer has the capacity (and compatibility) to support Windows 7 in the best case.
Microsoft has insisted on making Windows XP users try to make a migration to Windows 8.1 mainly, having even offered a bonus of 50 dollars a few days ago so that its users can buy a new generation computer from its store . Now, if your computer does not have the necessary requirements to support the most recent version proposed by the firm, maybe in the best case if you accept Windows 7, something that we will teach you to discover in this article.
Migrate information and certify compatibility from Windows XP
Before starting any process of upgrade to a higher Windows XP system, you should consider migrating the most important data from this operating system; If you do not know how to do it, we recommend that you review the article where we taught the correct way to migrate user profile from one operating system to another superior as a way of a small backup; Now, different news items mention a collaboration between Microsoft and a tool called PCMOver Express, which you can use from Windows XP completely free of charge thanks to an agreement between both firms.
Among the most important requirements that Microsoft has mentioned for a computer to accept an operating system that goes beyond Windows 7 are the following:
- 1 GB RAM for 32-bit computers or 2 GB for 64-bit computers if you want to upgrade to Windows 7.
- A processor with 1 GHz speed (or higher speed).
- At least 16 GB of free space on 32-bit computers, or 20 GB on 64-bit computers for data installation.
- A graphics card that supports DirectX 9 with an updated driver ..
Most of these specifications can be considered as conventional, although if we take into account that Windows XP is approximately 13 years oldPerhaps those computers that came to have this operating system from that time, do not have these characteristics; If we want to have the necessary requirements for an update, then we should use the tool provided by Microsoft, which has the name of Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor and which will inform us if there are incompatibilities with the equipment, drivers and applications with Windows 7.
A screen like the one shown above could appear if our computer is compatible with Windows 7 despite the errors found.
Now if we want to go a little further then maybe we feel adventurous and wish install Windows 8.1 on our computer; for this there is also a tool provided by Microsoft, which has the name of 8 Windows Upgrade Advisor and that we can use it in the same way as what we mentioned above; Regarding the specifications required as compatibility, they are very similar to those requested by Windows 7.
Once we download and run Windows 8 Upgrade Advisor, a welcome screen will show us the possible successes and errors found on the Windows XP computer.
The image that we have placed above is a small example of this although, this can be easily solved with more storage space. We have placed it because older computers (13 years ago) may have used a very small hard disk for Windows XP, something that instead now falls short of Windows 8.1.
Since Windows XP will continue to exist for a long time but without support or help from Microsoft, it is well worth considering these types of alternatives; If your computer is not compatible with any of the versions we have mentioned, then maybe you can try install to any of the Linux editions, since they are not as demanding as what Microsoft proposes in its operating systems.