How to Install Windows 7

Check Your Machine's Specs

The first thing to do is check whether your desktop or laptop PC is capable of running Windows 7. If it's already running Vistawith acceptable performance, then the answer is yes. Officially, you need at least a 1-GHz CPU and 1GB RAM, but testers of the OS have successfully got it running on machines as out of date as a 266-MHz Pentium II with 96MB of RAM. Go ahead and try that kind of thing if you want, just don't use your license key on that type of machine. It may run, but you'll spend a lot of time waiting for it, and it won't display the glassy new Aero interface and enhancements.

If you're unsure whether your current system can run Windows 7, download and run Microsoft's Upgrade Advisor to assess your hardware's capabilities. When I ran it on an aging XP laptop, it told me I needed to back up my files and perform a Custom installation (see below), that my hard disk didn't have enough free space (you need 16GB), and that the laptop wouldn't run Aero Desktop. The good news, however, was that my 1.6-GHz CPU and 1.5GB RAM were sufficient. The advisor actually checks a lot more than the basic system requirements, and it lists every piece of hardware and software you have installed at the bottom of its report.

Choose an Edition

Home Premium, Home Basic, Professional, and Ultimate.The key thing to consider here is that you have to do a clean installation without the ability to carry your apps along if you move from one level of Vista to another level of Windows 7, say from Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 Professional. The exception is Windows 7 Ultimate, which will let you perform an in-place upgrade from any level of Vista as long as you don't change whether you're using the 32- or 64-bit version.

After that Choose 64-bit or 32-bit

After Running Setup

Once the setup has run its course, you'll be asked to type in a username (20 characters maximum) and computer name (15 characters maximum). Then you're asked for a password, password confirmation, and password hint. (You can bypass this last step if you're not worried about others getting into your PC.) After this, you're supposed to enter your product key, but since you have a 30-day trial, you don't need to right away. The same page by default sets the system to automatically activate Windows, but you may want to uncheck this if you're just trying out the OS. After 30 days, you'll see messages and warnings that you need to Activate, so it's not like you can forget about it.

Then you choose Security settings. The large choice at the top for Default Settings makes a lot of sense—it turns on automatic updates and checks online to resolve problems. The other two choices, "Install important updates only" and "Ask me later," leave you a bit less protected. After this, you'll be prompted for your Time Zone and be given a chance to check the date and time. Windows gets this over the Internet, so you shouldn't have to set it manually.

Now comes the Welcome screen and the "Windows is preparing your Desktop" Message. And that's it—you're running Windows 7! You'll likely see updates in available in Windows Update, which will probably require a restart.

Nikon Coolpix S1000pj

As the point-and-shoot digital camera market matures, it seems like flashy, never-before-seen features are what manufacturers are using to make their shooters stand out of the crowded pack. Case in point: The $350 Samsung DualView TL225, which features two LCDs, including a forward-facing display so you can easily capture self-portraits. But this pocket camera also offers excellent image quality and a very solid feature set for the price. Another example: Nikon's 12.1-megapixel Coolpix S1000pj ($429.95 list), which grabs your attention with its built-in projector that can project images onto a nearby wall, so you don't have to huddle around the camera to see the photos or video you've captured. But unlike the Samsung TL225, which is a terrific camera that happens to have a buzz-worthy feature, the S1000pj, besides its projector, is an otherwise mediocre camera that comes at an extraordinary price.

COMPANY

• Nikon USA
• http://www.NikonUSA.com

SPEC DATA

• Price as Tested: $429.95 List
• Type: Compact
• Megapixels: 12.1 MP
• Maximum Resolution: 4000 x 3000 pixels
• Media Format: Secure Digital High Capacity
• 35-mm Equivalent (Wide): 28
• 35-mm Equivalent (Telephoto): 140
• Optical Zoom: 5 x
• LCD size: 2.7 inches
• Wireless Connectivity: No
• HD Video Capture: No

LG launches 3 mid-range touchscreen phones in India: GW525, GT505 and GM730

LG Electronics India has introduced three new handsets that like to claim the titles of ‘mini computers’ – the GW525, GT505 and GM730.

LG GW525

The LG GW525 is designed with messaging on-the-move in mind, be that via social networks, email or SMS and IM. Easy to use, accessible messaging features, combined with a 2.8-inch touchscreen and side-slide QWERTY keypad make this the ultimate device to stay in touch with friends and family.

The new LiveSquare feature shows your favourite friends as animated characters on your screen. If one of those contacts sends you a text, their character will tell you that there is a message waiting.

The GW525 retails in India at Rs. 13,990.

LG GT505

Like the GW525, the LG GT505 also offers push social networking services, consumer push email and business push email via Microsoft Exchange Active Sync. In addition, the GT505’s 3-inch touchscreen and GPS functions make it an ideal navigation device.

It comes preloaded with a 30-day free trial of ‘Wisepilot for LG’ – a turn-by-turn navigation solution with voice instruction and a choice of 2D or 3D mapping to guide you.

The handset packs in a bit of fun too, with a 5-megapixel camera that lets you take great snaps and then share them with your friends via social networks

The GT505 retails in India at Rs. 14,990.

LG GM730

Built around a 3D cube layout, the S-class UI of LG GM730 and Windows Mobile combination makes the device quite easy to operate. By connecting the phone’s email, schedule and contact lists, users can send and receive messages using less key presses than on regular smartphones.

Advanced multimedia features such as a 5-megapixel camera, MP3 player and numerous action-packed games make this phone a full-featured entertainment device.

The 11.9mm-thick GM730 retails in India at Rs. 22,490.

Your Windows 7 Upgrade: Why and How

Microsoft offers a free Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor and that is the best place to begin your upgrade odyssey. Also, here is a link to the official Windows 7 Upgrade and Migration page. You may want to read it before making your upgrade decision.

Be warned: Vista users get to upgrade while XP users will migrate to the new OS. The difference is important, as you will see.

Windows Vista Users -- If you have survived this long with Windows Vista, you may be in no hurry to upgrade. People who like Vista may actually consider Windows 7 a step backwards in some regards.

The good news is that you can upgrade a Windows Vista machine to Windows 7 with a minimum of difficulty. Also, a machine that runs Vista may run Windows 7 a bit faster.

Windows XP Users -- On the Windows Upgrade Advisor page, Microsoft states: "If your PC can run Windows Vista, it can probably run Windows 7, but it's still a good idea to use the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor."

That means newer Windows XP machines can migrate to Windows 7, perhaps where you chose not to have Windows Vista preinstalled. However, if you are running a 5-year-old XP machine, I would not expect to upgrade or to have some regrets if you do.

Be warned that there is no easy upgrade option for Windows XP to Windows 7. Here is what Microsoft has to say about it:

"The upgrade option is not available in Windows 7 Setup when installing Windows 7 on a computer running Windows XP. However, you can use Windows Easy Transfer to migrate files and settings from Windows XP to Windows 7 on the same computer.

"To do this, you must first copy files to a removable media, such as an external hard drive or UFD, or to a network share. Next, you will install Windows 7 and then migrate your files back from the removable media onto your computer. When you are finished, you must install your software programs again, but your files and settings will have been copied from Windows XP."

Corporate IT -- I will not presume to tell IT Pros whether to upgrade. I believe many companies will find the new enterprise features of Windows 7 a good reason to switch, though many may wait until the OS has been on the market for a while and the presumed kinks have been worked out.

Small Business -- I treat small businesses much like consumers and, to that extent, I don't recommend upgrading XP machines unless they are fairly new and you don't mind having some people running XP and others running Windows 7.

Windows 7 is a very nice OS, but upgrading and migrating is not as simple as it might be. Have fun shopping for a new Windows 7 machine.

Windows 7, Microsoft’s most widely tested product, launches at a price cut in India

On Thursday, Microsoft launched its most highly-anticipated product, Windows 7, across the world. And for once, users in India have gotten a break.

According to Microsoft, the Windows 7 beta program had over eight million people signing up for it, making this the most widely-rested beta product in the company’s history. The different versions of Windows 7 are available in India at the following prices:

Windows 7 Home Basic - Rs. 5,899

Windows 7 Home Premium - Rs. 6,799

Windows 7 Professional - Rs. 11,199

Windows 7 Ultimate - Rs. 11,799

The prices are significantly lower than the product is retailing at in the US. So far, the cheapest way to get Windows 7 seems to be in Indonesia, where the Home Basic package costs Rp 9,00,000 (Rs. 4,400 approx).