If you buy an upgrade version and your computer is currently running XP, you won’t be able to perform what’s called an in-place installation. The upgrade license is considerably less expensive than the full license. If you already own Windows XP or Windows Vista, you qualify to buy an ‘upgrade’ version of Windows 7. You may, however, encounter it pre-installed on some netbooks at the cheaper end of the market. To use XP Mode, you’ll first need to download it, together with Windows Virtual PC (it’s free).īy the way, there’s also a Starter edition of Windows 7, but it’s not available over the counter. Before paying extra for the Professional or Ultimate versions of Windows 7, check that your computer can support XP Mode by reading through the documentation provided online, in particular the ‘Requirements’ and ‘Configure BIOS’ sections. Hardware virtualization has been available in PCs for several years, but whether your particular processor supports it is a hit-and-miss affair. If you need to run old XP applications which are not compatible with Windows 7, the XP Mode feature supported by the Professional and Ultimate editions will give you that capability, but be aware that your computer will need a BIOS (basic input/output system) with support for hardware virtualization in order to run XP Mode. Backing up across a network is probably the most appealing option omitted from Home Premium, but for most people its absence won’t be a deal breaker. Home Premium is almost certainly the edition you’ll want for your home computer, and many small businesses will be happy with Home Premium, too. The Ultimate edition includes those three advanced features plus BitLocker file encryption and the ability to run multi-lingual Windows. Professional lets you back up your system to a network device it provides support for XP Mode and it allows you to connect to a company’s networking domain. There are three key differences between Home Premium and Professional. Windows 7 comes in six editions, but unless you work in a large company or live in what’s called an “emerging market” such as Bangladesh or China, there are only three editions that matter: Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate. Should I choose a 32-bit or 64-bit version?.Can I buy an upgrade version or do I need to pay for the more expensive full version?.When you buy a copy of Windows 7 to install on an existing computer, there are three key questions you need to ask yourself:

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