Not a convert of Win7 yet......I'm thinking....

I have the following:
MSI P-35 Platinum MoBo/3.3GB DDR memory/Intel Core2 Q6600 CPU/ Nvidia GeForce 8600GT with 512MB/500GB Internal WD HDD/500GB Ext, WD HDD/WinXP SP2-32 Bit/ DirectX v.9/NERO 9

Technology can be expensive. Always changing. I would like to upgrade to Windows 7, granted, I would rather have 8GB memory for my MEM hungry Photoshop CS4, but because of my 32Bit OS, I can not. is it worth it to upgrade to the 64Bit,then have to upgrade my 8600GT, then buy more Ram (I have 4 sticks @ 1GB each) will have to replace with 8GB.

Can anyone tell me if my optical CD/DVD drive swill be ok, or a non-issue?

Epson NX300 Scanner/Printer all-in-one? Intel Core2 Quad 6600?

MSI P-35 Platinum MoBo? Will all this be a nightmare....OR stick to 32 Bit Windows7? If I build my own, I was thinking of getting the OEM system build version of Pro 7.

Change is scary...and can be very expensive as well. Took me a liong tome to change from Windows 98 to XP, Love XP...will I love Windows 7?

I want to do video editing too. I bought the pinnacle Studio MovieBoard and studio12 software, but having issues with the capture..most tell me to upgrade to fix issues. I'm getting sound capture, but no video using composite connections to analog Camcorder.

Seems like a nice place to visit. Thanks!

Hi Bozobytes

Your MOBO will be fine, go 6 or 8gb ram, your GPU is getting on a bit go ATI, your Q-core will support 64-bit and yes you will like / love Windows 7 ... suggest go Win 7 Pro (just my opinion mate )

Yes, I agree! Change CAN be scary, but its a good thing also, especially in the respect of Windows 7.

It looks like you'll be able to run Windows 7 64 bit. Your memory shows "3.3GB", which really means you have 4 GB installed. Windows 7 64 bit will be able to fully utilize all your RAM.

Try it... you'll like it!

You should have no problems with Windows 7 install. Be sure to get the latest drivers for your motherboard, video card, sound drivers, etc., for whichever version you decide to install.

Windows XP does not upgrade to Windows 7.
Microsoft calls this" a custom install", meaning a clean install.
You start,” the upgrade disc,” Windows 7 from within the Windows XP system, this allows Windows 7 to verify a legal OS.
It then gives options for a clean install. My full experience, one system.

This assumes your hardware is acceptable to run Windows 7.
The hardware you have listed is superior to what is on my XP unit.

On my Windows XP system I had no problem installing Windows 7.
Returned to Windows XP SP3 Home premium X86, for this system XP actually is
faster on boot, close down and bringing up programs.

Windows 7 is for more robust hardware then this systems capabilities.
I use Windows 7 Home Premium X64 on other systems.
From my limited knowledge of Windows OS, Windows 7 is excellent.

You really don't even have to do that. Just install from boot up. I have even wiped friends' hard drives clean prior to an upgrade install and had no issues at all.

I agree with Veedaz here, Pro may suit you, just in case your programs don't work with Windows 7. If you have a processor capable of it, you can download Windows Virtual PC w/XP mode to run any older programs you may have that won't run on 64 bit Windows 7. You may have to enable hardware virtualization in the BIOS to run it, the instructions are there for most brands. And you will love Windows 7, it's speedy and dependable, and easy to learn. Coupled with 6 to 8GB RAM, you'll fly across the net.

Thanks everyone for their "two cents" which to be, is more valuable than the face value.

Your MOBO will be fine, go 6 or 8gb ram, your GPU is getting on a bit go ATI, your Q-core will support 64-bit and yes you will like / love Windows 7 ... suggest go Win 7 Pro (just my opinion mate )


My 8600GT is 512MB, are you advising to jump to 1GB memory on the PCI-E GPU? what about the new NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 ? Coming out in mid-April

Someone mentioned update drivers, meaning I do this immediately after upgrading to 64 Windows?

There still many questions I have but I'll check in later. Thanks again!

Your video card should be good for now. I would get an ATI Radeon card, better bang for the money spent and the reviews on the new nVidia cards aren't that great, yet. Plus they're very expensive. You can get a very good DirectX 11 Radeon card for around $100.

Yes, update your drivers. Prior to the install of Windows 7, go and download all the pertinent drivers for your motherboard from the MSI website, sound chipset, LAN card, video card, etc. and save them to a thumb flash drive, external hard drive or burn them to a CD-RW disc. That way you'll have them ready to go after install.

So if I want to jump into the Windows 7 arena with 64 Bit, First I would have to trash the 4 single 1028GB sticks of PC6400 to get the 8GB Ram. (I hate new technology...very expensive upgrading) Or keep 2 sticks in two slots, and get 2- 2GB to get 6GB Ram. Anyway............

And I don't have to be concerned with my Epson NX300 or any optical CD/DVD drives working with Windows7 64Bit platform?

Update MSI MoBo prior to install of win7..... "sound chipset, LAN card, video card, etc. and save them to a thumb flash drive, external hard drive or burn them to a CD-RW disc." Go to the MSI website and manually download from the MSI site. Does Windows7 need any additional newer drivers for my existing hardware to work in 64 Bit environment?

I usually use the MSI Updater to update.

Windows Update will give you some of your needed drivers, but by no means all. Whichever way you prefer to update should be fine, as long as the site provides all of your updates. Some sites (such as Driver Max) will show you the one you have installed, then the latest version in their database. Even if you download your drivers to CD, USB stick, or whatever, prior to the install, which you should do, there will be some out of date drivers anyway. But that will be a great starting point, and a necessary one, to have as many as possible in advance. Then update from there. I feel that you'll pull it off with minimal problems. At least you have a game plan, which is more than 80% of those who move forward from an earlier OS doesn't. Many pop in the Windows 7 disc, boot from it, and thinks that the OS performs miracles, then wonders what went wrong. Should you need any further assistance or questions, before, during or after the install, feel free to post. Best of luck with your install.