Run Laptop on Windows 7

If you have an older laptop and took a pass on Microsoft's Windows Vista because of all its naysayers, it might be time to consider Windows 7 as a replacement. But does your laptop or netbook have what it takes to run Windows 7?


If your laptop is running Microsoft Windows Vista OS (which most consumer laptops that shipped beginning in January 2007 do), it already runs parts that meet the current requirements of Windows 7. If the laptop runs Vista, it will run Windows 7. Nuff said.


For non-Vista systems you can download the Upgrade Advisor to see if your laptop qualifies. To give you a little more detail, to run Windows 7 your laptop must have the following:

A processor rated at 1 Gigahertz or faster
Even if you bought a laptop in 2003, when the first batch of Pentium M processors (codenamed "Banias") came out, Windows 7 appears to have it covered as well, as long as you have at least 1GB of memory, 16GB of hard drive space, and a DX9 graphics card.


1GB of RAM (2GB for 64-bit Windows 7)
More memory doesn't hurt either, especially with older laptops that ship with 512MB. Memory modules are inexpensive, easily accessible, and can mean the difference between a clunker and Windows 7 bliss.

At least 16GB of storage space (20GB for 64-bit Windows 7)


A DX9-compatible graphics card, with the WDDM 1.0 driver
A laptop with an ATI or nVidia chipset is a really good sign that it'll run Windows 7, but make sure you have the latest graphics driver handy. Windows 7 has native driver support for legacy nVidia and ATI cards. Updated drivers are just a precautionary step.

Even laptops going back 5 or 6 years can run Windows 7, and simple hardware upgrades can be made to ensure an optimal user experience. If your laptop can't run Windows 7, it probably belongs in a museum. Things get a little hairy with laptops that venture past the 6-year mark—that's when you're dealing with Pentium II and III chips that are probably not worth the hassle unless you're a real nerd.