sbncmo wrote:
Hi Allen,
Changing the version from Vista to to Windows 7 - that may be a big problem. My OS is Vista and I don't know if any new OS will be Vista or if everything will be Windows 7. My sons says Vista is being done away with, but I don't know. But I will keep in mind to check for updates. Thanks.
Hi sbncmo,
Obviously there is no way I can say for sure since I don't know what software you have but it should be fairly easy, though possibly time consuming if you have a lot of software, to check with the vendor and see if they are compatible with 64 bit Windows.
My example may have actually not been the best of going from Vista to Windows 7. Windows Vista and Windows 7 are very similar in many ways and I've got a few hundred applications and games (including intense 3D games) and I have not found one yet that worked on Vista and stopped working on Windows 7.
A better example would be going from say XP to Vista or Windows 7. When I went from XP to Vista I had about a dozen games and a couple of other software that either stopped working or simply would not work properly and I had to give them up. Vista and Windows 7 is pretty radically different than XP.
I honestly don't think you will have a problem but if there is software you simply cannot afford to take a risk on, do check with the vendor first.
Best wishes.
Allen
Don't rely on the store salesman for technical information!
There's a very good chance that any new PC with WIndows 7 on it (and I hope you do not find one with VISTA <g>) will come with Microsoft Works preinstalled but the thing to do is to look at the START / All Programs menu on the demo model and look to see if Works is listed.
The thing to beware of is that if it shows Microsoft Offfice as installed it is likely to be a trial version good for 30 days and then you have to buy it and itls going to be $100 or more and you may find the differences hard to adapt to even although it should import and convert all your data files. If you don't have installation disks for Works, I see Amazon has Works 8 on sale for $12 ... Works 9 for $70 if you do have to buy.
No problem with that printer since HP has the full 64 bit set of files:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareCategory?os=4063&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&sw_lang=&product=3645094#N201
but that means that they should be on the disk you got with the computer and you might only need to download something to get an update -- I see a bunch of critical updates there but don't worry about them until later since I don't spot anything likely to affect you from the beginning.
Just remember to Follow the Instructions for installing the HP printer when you get the new PC -- you have to install the HP software BEFORE you first plug the USB cable from the printer to the PC!
I honestly would recommend HP for a new PC or LeNovo (used to be IBM) since the online support for both is superb.
Thanks Allen,
The programs I'm concerned most about are my word processor (MS Works), my Family Tree Maker, my financial programs, my pictures, and my games. Being disabled & fairly house-bound, the games & FTM keep me occupied & I need the financial programs for our personal finances & my husband's business. I use MS Works to keep track of medical activity for my different doctors and other things. And who would want to lose hundreds of pictures? Some things can be replaced, but these things can't. Well, I have them on a USB drive now, but if they aren't compatible, they are still lost. When we go shopping for a new harddrive and computer, I will check with the vendors to see if there are updates before we purchase anything. Thanks for your help & the encouragement on this aspect of my problem.
Thanks Hugh,
I read everything that is preinstalled on the computer. When my husband got his laptop, he had the 30 day trial MS Office version & didn't realize it - made him mad. And the word processing program he does have preinstalled for free does not work with MS Works, so when his printer is out of ink & he types up a document & emails it to my computer, it won't print. He hates it. I can't remember what program it is.
That's good to know about my printer. Being so new, I figured it should update easily.
I wouldn't mind getting another HP cpu, but since this is the second time that we have havd trouble with it, my husband is fed up with it & doesn't want another one. I don't know if I can convince him or not. I flipped it up on it's narrow side yesterday. It is a lot cooler & not making as much noise. I know that doesn't stop my harddrive from crashing, but maybe keeping it a little cooler will hold it off a few more days.
Hi sbncmo,
As Hugh mentioned, MS Works definitely will not be a problem. Most computers come with that by default. Pictures and things like that defintely will not be a problem either.
For Family Tree Maker and some of the games you should check with the vendor to make sure. Though it appears that 64 bit Windows Vista and Windows 7 is supported and in fact the following URL shows that some patch was released for a problem reported on 64 bit OS. Search for 64 bit on that page.
http://ftm.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/ftm.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=5220&p_created=1275592258&p_sid=iIsctcAk&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9MTEsMTEmcF9wcm9kcz0wJnBfY2F0cz0mcF9wdj0mcF9jdj0mcF9zZWFyY2hfdHlwZT1hbnN3ZXJzLnNlYXJjaF9ubCZwX3BhZ2U9MSZwX3NlYXJjaF90ZXh0PTY0IGJpdA!!&p_li=&p_topview=1
Hope this helps.
Best wishes.
Allen
For info, I have a relatively new laptop. It does not have Microsoft Works on it. I would say that most of the time it will be a trial version of Office.
I have found Win 7 to be an extremely cooperative operating system. I suspect that you will be able to install your present Microsoft Works as a 32 bit program in a 64 bit machine. If you have problems with it, it might be time to switch to either OpenOffice, which has everything Microsoft Office has, for free, or LibreOffice, which is by the same developers and still being updated.
http://www.openoffice.org/
https://www.libreoffice.org/
I went from XP to Win 7 and found it remarkably easy to deal with. It will be easier for a Vista user.