60 Computer Service and Repair
performing an upgrade, the new operating system
preserves existing user files such as documents,
pictures, and movies. Even the old operating
system is typically saved in a folder identified as
“OldWindows.” Saving the old operating system
will usually allow the installation of a new
operating system to be reversed if something goes
wrong. It is best to back up all important files
before installing a new operating system, even
before performing an upgrade. Things can go
wrong, and valuable files can be lost. The table in
Figure 2-26 identifies the Windows Vista editions
that can be upgraded to a particular Windows 7
edition.
For the A+ Certification exams, be sure to
know the difference between hardware
recommendations for 32-bit, 64-bit, and tablet
versions.
A+ Note
Windows 8 Editions and
Requirements
Windows 8 is available in just four editions:
Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro, Windows 8
Enterprise, and Windows 8 RT. Some Windows 8
editions are designed especially for portable
devices, such as tablets and phones. Other editions
are designed for devices with more resources such
as a powerful CPU and lots of memory.
Windows 8 will run on 32-bit or 64-bit
systems and on an ARM device. ARM devices
are also referred to as advanced RISC machines.
They are typically portable devices with limited
computer resources and are designed for very
little power consumption so that the battery lasts
as long as possible. ARM is used in devices such
as smartphones, tablets, iPads, and some gaming
devices. Some tablets use processors other than
ARM, such as the Intel Atom.
Legacy devices that do not support a
minimum screen resolution of 1024 × 768 will not
properly display apps designed for Windows 8.
Windows 8 has a feature first released in
Windows 7 called Snap. The Snap feature allows
Windows 7 Editions and
Requirements
The editions of Windows 7 you will most
likely encounter are Home Premium, Professional,
and Ultimate. There are additional editions
such as Starter, Enterprise, and those with the
letter N affixed to the edition name. The Starter
edition is limited to emerging countries and not
sold as a retail copy in the United States. Only
an original equipment manufacturer (OEM)
may purchase the Starter edition and install
it on certain minimal systems, such as tablets.
The Enterprise edition is not available for retail
purchase and can only be sold through the
volume licensing program. Volume licensing is
when multiple copies of the operating system are
sold to a large consumer, such as a corporation,
government, or educational institution. It allows
multiple copies of the same operating system to
be installed using the same activation key and is
based on the number of users or workstations in
the organization. The Professional and Ultimate
editions are also available through volume
licensing, but not to the general public or OEMs.
When you see the letter N affixed to the name of
the version it means the operating system does not
include Windows Media Player or Movie Maker.
The following table lists the Windows 7 system
requirements.
Hardware 32-bit 64-bit
CPU 1 GHz 1 GHz
RAM 1 GB 2GB
Hard drive
space
16 GB 20 GB
Graphics
support
DirectX 9 and Windows Display Driver
Model (WDDM) 1.0
DVD drive Required for installation or upgrade
using a retail version of the operat-
ing system.
Not all versions of an operating system
are upgradeable. For some editions, you must
back up all important files and then install the
new operating system. During the installation
process, all existing files are destroyed because
the new operating system deletes existing files
and replaces the old operating system. When