Microsoft started shipping their newest version of their flagship product Windows 8<\/strong>. According to Microsoft , over 1,000 new devices have been designed to take advantage of Windows 8. But what about upgrading your existing computers from Windows 7<\/strong> or even Windows XP. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself before you begin upgrading to Windows 8<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Did I Backup my PC?<\/strong> Is My PC Configuration Compatible with Windows 8?<\/strong> Are My Installed Applications Compatible with Windows 8<\/strong> Are My Peripheral Hardware and Devices Supported by Windows 8<\/strong> Do I Have The Right Version of Windows 8 for My Device?<\/strong> Do I Need Windows 8?<\/strong> Windows 8 is considered by many to be a new era for Microsoft\u2019s popular\u00a0operating system. Make sure you have thought through your upgrade to\u00a0Windows 8 and contact your IT Service Provider if you need assistance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Upgrading to Windows 8? Microsoft started shipping their newest version of their flagship product Windows 8. According to Microsoft , over 1,000 new devices have been designed to take advantage of Windows 8. But what about upgrading your existing computers from Windows 7 or even Windows XP. Here are a few questions you should ask […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[9,10,81,82,83],"yoast_head":"\n
\nBefore you install Windows 8 you should verify that you have a recent and reliable backup of your application data and an image of your PC. These backups become vital if you need to reinstall your older operating system for any reason while upgrading to Windows 8.<\/p>\n
\nSystems requirements<\/strong> for Windows 8 are slightly higher than Windows 7. To upgrade to Windows 8 it is advised that you have a minimum configuration of 1 GHz or faster processor, 1GB (32-bit) or 2GB (64-bit) of RAM, and a DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver. \u00a0Keep in mind, these are the minimum requirements for upgrading to Windows 8.<\/p>\n
\nWhen a new operating system is released some application developers may be in catch up mode to ensure compatibility with the new O\/S. While developers of your favorite software title are busy upgrading to Windows 8 you may experience performance issues and uncover some bugs. It is a good idea to test the software on a separate machine or install Windows 8 on a secondary hard drive for testing before you upgrade all of your business machines. This will help you avoid downtime and loss of productivity. Also, don\u2019t forget to make sure your security software works with Windows 8.<\/p>\n
\nWindows 8 is compatible with a broad range of hardware and software drivers, however, you should verify these devices are supported by Windows 8. It is a good idea to ensure drivers for devices like printers, keyboards, mouses, cameras and external hard drives are all supported when upgrading to Windows 8.<\/p>\n
\nThere are three versions of the new operating system available: Windows 8<\/strong> (standard version), Windows 8 Pro<\/strong> (for power users) and Windows RT<\/strong>(short for Run Time). \u00a0Windows RT is only available pre-installed on new devices and only runs on\u00a0an AMD processor. Also Windows RT will only run applications from the new\u00a0Microsoft application store, Windows Store. If you are upgrading from \u00a0Windows 7 consider Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro.<\/p>\n
\nMicrosoft expects to support Windows 7 through 2020. It is likely you will\u00a0be able to buy new PCs with Windows 7 through 2014. In fact, PCs purchased \u00a0with Windows 8 Pro include the right to downgrade to Windows 7 in the\u00a0license agreement. While new tablets running Windows RT are designed to\u00a0take full advantage of the O\/S, users of ultra-laptops may find it\u00a0challenging to navigate Windows 8 on smaller screens.<\/p>\n