So you have Windows 7.

So, despite the postal strikes, and the fact you have maxed out the credit card, you are now the proud owner of Windows 7. The sensible thing to do now, is rush over to the PC, open the DVD drawer, put the disk in, and restart the computer. Or is it? Well yes, because Windows 7 is pretty good. Though here are few things you might like to know before taking the plunge.

Back up, back up, and back up. This should be your mantra. You can not believe how important this is. Once you put the disk in the machine, and hit upgrade, you are taking a chance that Windows 7 won’t delete your data, and set fire to the house for good measure. Now, nine hundred and ninety nine thousand nine hundred and ninety nine times out of a million, this won’t, be the case, but mistakes happen.  Why not use the Easy Transfer tool? This comes with Vista, but you can also download it for XP. It is also available from the Windows 7 DVD. This will back up your settings and important files. You could also use the Backup status and configuration tool if you are migrating from Vista to back up the holiday snaps.

Check that your computer runs it. A good article by our Garry Sims covers it in splendid detail. The tool is there to check that your PC is compatible with Windows 7, and you won’t have any nasty surprises. It has been my experience that Windows 7 will run on pretty much anything, but there will be a few issues, I’m sure. So better safe than sorry. Check the minimum requirements. It might even be worth thinking about a clean install instead of an upgrade.

Don’t pay too much! It is worth noting that although the super cheap offers for Windows 7 are over, you can still pick it up cheaper from some retailers. Although this in more or less saying that it pays to shop about, here is a tip from the pages of Lifehaker that will school you on upgrading from the Release Candidate. Hows that for a money saver?

Windows 7 is a good operating system, but looking through the hype, it is not much more than some aggressive polish, and a new whistle. So don’t expect miracles from it. What you can expect is a solid and dependable platform, that has been grown from the mistakes, and successes of previous Windows operating systems. We would love to know what you think, as more and more of you come into contact with it. Feel free to let us know just what those thoughts are.