Most of the laptops I’m finding from used dealers come with XP installed. If you are going to purchase a laptop or desktop through eBay or some other reseller, you will need to verify that the computer can support Windows7. Otherwise, you’re throwing good money away.

Here’s an actual eBay entry:

DELL LATITUDE D610 LAPTOP+1024+DVD+WiFi+XP-2….

This laptop comes with 1G (gigabyte) of memory and Windows XP with Service Pack2 installed. How can you find out if it will support Windows7? You will need to ask the reseller two questions:

1)      What is the maximum amount of memory the device will support?

• Windows 7 requires a minimum of 1G. You will probably want to expand to at least 2G to avoid performance degradation.

2)      How large is the hard drive?

• At a minimum, you need a large enough drive to accommodate what you already have stored plus 16GB.

If the reseller can’t tell you, go to the manufacturer’s website and search for the model name (“Latitude D610 Specifications”).  In this case, the maximum memory is 2GB and the maximum internal hard drive appears to be 160GB (could be more).

Personally, I would not choose this device for a client because it potentially does not have a long useful life. My post on purchasing hardware (http://bit.ly/1Wn0NI) recommends 4GB memory with the ability to expand further to extend the useful life of a device. However, if you are a basic user (e.g. email, surfing the web, basic application use, not application development) a device that expands only to 2GB or 4GB might be perfect for you.

Most used devices, purchased from a reseller, will only come with the Windows operating system installed. The reseller should provide you with the original installation disks and license information for Windows.  However, if one comes with other software installed, the reseller needs to furnish the original disks and license information as well. If using eBay, only purchase from a “Top-rated seller”. These sellers have a good reputation in the eBay community.

Keep in mind, you’re still going to have to upgrade to Windows 7 sometime.

If you have questions, contact your favorite IT service provider or feel free to DM me @ITMinefield on Twitter.

Wishing you safe passage through the IT Minefield!

___________________________________

Purchasing hardware is discussed in greater detail in Navigating the I.T. Minefield: Straight Talk for the Small Enterprise. To purchase your copy, please visit http://bit.ly/SNL4W.

Leslie Knight is a small business consultant with over 20 years of experience in Information Technology management in Fortune 500 companies.  She applies her experience in Corporate America (saving them millions) to smaller entrepreneurial enterprises. She is also the author of Navigating the I.T. Minefield.

If you read the “Short Rant on Hardware Manufacturers” (http://bit.ly/1RSmoo ), you know I’m not particularly fond of any of them. Very little differentiates one computer from another. So, get the best price you can that meets your requirements.

When determining which desktop, laptop or server to purchase, ask:

1)      How long do I expect to keep the hardware before upgrading again?

2)      How long has it been since my last hardware upgrade?

3)      How much hard drive am I using now compared to when I first bought the device?

These are the questions I ask as I develop migration plans for my clients and friends.

The goal of every small business owner is to extend the useful life of hardware as much as possible. I have one client who has hardware that was purchased with Windows ME and then upgraded to XP. The hardware is around 9 years old. They have extended the useful life of their computers and server as far as possible.

Since my clients tend to not upgrade often, my advice is to purchase hardware that will allow you to add RAM (memory) over time. How much memory? I am advising clients to purchase 4GB (gigabytes) initially. Why? Windows 7 requires a minimum of 1GB…that’s just for Windows 7. By the time you add the other software you have been using, you probably need 2GB. The cost difference between 2GB and 4GB is less than $100 in most cases…cheaper than a service call to order more memory and install it.

I am also advising them to consider hardware that has a maximum expansion capacity greater than 4 gigabytes. Why? Once again, to extend the useful life of the computer. If they purchase 4GB initially and that is the maximum a unit can support, they have to replace the unit once the memory is exhausted. The difference between a desktop model that has a maximum capacity of 4GB and one that can expand to 8GB or 16GB is often less than $400. That cost is substantially less than buying a new unit.

All of the major computer manufacturers will provide the hardware specifications online at their sites. They will also allow you to compare the features of their device models such as maximum memory and hard drive supported.

What about eBay? The same principles apply. You will need to do a little more homework to discover how much memory the desktop or laptop will support. If the seller can’t tell you, go to the manufacturer’s website and search for the device model.

If you have any questions ask your favorite IT service provider or feel free to DM @ITMinefield on Twitter.

Wishing you safe passage through the IT Minefield!

___________________________________

Purchasing hardware is discussed in greater detail in Navigating the I.T. Minefield: Straight Talk for the Small Enterprise. To purchase your copy, please visit http://bit.ly/SNL4W.

Leslie Knight is a small business consultant with over 20 years of experience in Information Technology management in Fortune 500 companies.  She applies her experience in Corporate America (saving them millions) to smaller entrepreneurial enterprises. She is also the author of Navigating the I.T. Minefield.

I’m afraid I have to agree with some of my friends. Windows 7 is Microsoft’s revenge on those of us who thumbed our noses at Vista and said we’ll wait. Windows 7 is available and Microsoft went out of their way to make the upgrade difficult for those who did not upgrade to Vista. Oh well, that’s life.

On the other hand, Windows 7 is a perfect opportunity to get your I.T. house in order. If you have never created a hardware and software asset inventory, now is the time. You (or your service provider) already have to visit each computer. You may as well “write” down the information and store it somewhere (your IT manual, hard drive). You will need this information in the future. It isn’t a question of “if” but “when”.

A basic hardware asset inventory is a list of each desktop, laptop, server, network appliance, printer, uninterruptable power supply and any other device connected to a computer or your network. You need to collect the following information about each device:

While you’re at the computer, make a list of all of the installed software. Now, I’m not talking about .Net or those other programs that come with the computer. You need to look for all the software that was added to the computer.  You need to collect the following information for the software asset inventory:

As you look at the list for each computer, notice which software is obsolete. Those applications you won’t need to reinstall. Now, go find the installation discs for the rest of the software. If you find only one copy of WordPerfect X4 and it is installed on 10 computers and you didn’t purchase a multi-user license, your company is guilty of software piracy. This is the perfect time to remedy that situation.

The friend or employee who installed the software may have tried to save you money, but piracy could cost you dearly (http://bit.ly/bhmoC).

So, look on the bright side. The upgrade to Windows 7 won’t be a walk in the park, but it is the perfect opportunity to:

1)      Create a software asset inventory.

2)      Create a hardware asset inventory.

3)      Clean out old software you don’t need.

4)      Discover unauthorized software and get legal.

Wishing you safe passage through the IT Minefield!

___________________________________

These topics are discussed in greater detail in Navigating the I.T. Minefield: Straight Talk for the Small Enterprise. To purchase your copy, please visit http://bit.ly/SNL4W.

Leslie Knight is a small business consultant with over 20 years of experience in Information Technology management in Fortune 500 companies.  She applies her experience in Corporate America (saving them millions) to smaller entrepreneurial enterprises. She is also the author of Navigating the I.T. Minefield.

1)      Backup your data.

2)      Wipe the hard drive.

3)      Install Windows 7.

4)      Reinstall all of your old programs (hope you have those install disks somewhere).

5)      Restore your data files.

This process is not for the faint of heart! If you have any doubts, contact your favorite local IT service provider.

For those small business owners who don’t have in-house IT support or a regular service provider, here’s a basic plan. A service provider will go through these same steps.

1)      Determine if your computers can support Windows 7. It requires a minimum of 1G (gigabyte) of memory and 16G’s of free hard drive space. If it has been a while since you last upgraded hardware (not unusual for a small business), your desktops and servers might not be able to support Windows 7.

• Go to each computer and access My Computer.
  • Note the hard drive size and free space. If it is less than 16G you’ll need a new hard drive.
  • Click “View System Information” on the left. Note the amount of RAM.
• Some older hardware will only support up to 1G of memory. If you expect the hardware to last longer than a couple of years, you will want to invest in more than just 1G.
  • How do you know if you can add more memory? Most of the major computer manufacturers track this information. Go to their web site and look for the memory upgrade section. It will guide you through the process.
• NOTE: If you find yourself buying more memory and a larger hard drive it will probably be easier and less expensive in the long run to buy a new computer.

2)      Determine whether your old applications will run on Windows 7.

• Go to each computer and access Control Panel (Start -> Settings -> Control Panel) or consult your Software Asset Inventory.
• Select Add or Remove Programs.
  • This will give you a list of most of the programs installed.
• Contact the application vendor (website or phone).
  • Most vendors support the current version and the previous version. If your software is older, you are probably on your own.
  • You can try to install these programs on Windows 7, but the results may be unpredictable. The vendor will not feel any obligation to fix the old program to make it work on Windows 7.
• Be sure you have the old software installation disks. If you don’t have them, you’ll need to buy the new version.
• NOTE: If you customized the application (forms, queries, screens, etc.) or paid for customization, it will need to be repeated for the new version. Plan accordingly.
• FYI. If you have an application that allows you to deposit checks from your desktop, be sure to include the bank in your plans. For one of my clients, the bank will have to reinstall their software.

3)      Create your migration plan.

• Which computers require a hardware upgrade?
• Which ones must be replaced?
• Which software must be upgraded or replaced?

Armed with this information, you can determine the costs and a timetable for your company’s migration to Windows 7. The good news: You have until 2014 to convert your computers to Windows 7! Microsoft will continue to support security patches for XP until then. You don’t have to spend several thousand dollars in 2010 to get it done.

Wishing you safe passage through the IT Minefield!

________________________________________

Asset inventories, backup and other topics are discussed in greater detail in Navigating the I.T. Minefield: Straight Talk for the Small Enterprise. To purchase your copy, please visit http://bit.ly/SNL4W.

Leslie Knight is a small business consultant with over 20 years of experience in Information Technology management in Fortune 500 companies.  She applies her experience in Corporate America (saving them millions) to smaller entrepreneurial enterprises. She is also the author of Navigating the I.T. Minefield.

If you have questions, feel free to ask @ITMinefield on Twitter.

According to PCWorld (http://bit.ly/4qnWK), XP will still be available for delivery on some computers through June 2010. Support for XP, in the form of security patches, will continue until April 2014. Bug fixes will only be available for businesses that have signed support contracts with Microsoft (most small business owners don’t have this type of contract).

So, do you need to be in a rush to upgrade? No. When should you upgrade? Sometime during the next four years. I’m not trying to be flippant. You can probably wait six months to a year, to allow other bugs to be discovered. Here are four things to consider when deciding when to upgrade to Windows 7:

-          Cost. The cost of an upgrade is $299 per computer for Windows 7 plus the cost of any software that must be upgraded. The hidden cost will be for hardware. Do your computers and servers have sufficient memory and hard drive to support the upgrade? If it has been a while since you purchased hardware, you may need to upgrade.  This is an additional cost for which you will need to plan.

-          Effort. Unfortunately, if you are running XP, you can’t just buy the Windows 7 upgrade and install it. You must backup you data, wipe the hard drive and then install XP. This is not a task you should undertake lightly.

-          XP Bugs. If you run into a bug in XP and you don’t have a support contract with Microsoft, their response will be “You need to upgrade to Windows 7.” If the bug is an annoyance, you can delay the upgrade. However, if it is preventing you from conducting business, you should upgrade soon.

-          Critical applications. When do you plan to upgrade mission critical applications? Do these applications require Windows 7? Or more importantly, do you have a critical application that you can’t upgrade (e.g. software vendor went out of business) and won’t work with Windows 7? Windows 7 has an XP mode that will allow many of these applications to continue to work or you can leave that PC out of the migration.

-          Features. Does Windows 7 possess features that will create a strategic advantage for your business?

If you don’t have a compelling business reason to upgrade, you can wait and plan the upgrades. It is not necessary to upgrade all of your computers at one time. You can upgrade them as finances allow. If you have any questions, contact your I.T. service provider or feel free to ask ITMinefield on Twitter.

Wishing you safe passage through the I.T. Minefield!

__________________________________

Upgrading hardware and software are discussed in greater detail in Navigating the I.T. Minefield: Straight Talk for the Small Enterprise. To purchase your copy, please visit http://bit.ly/SNL4W.

Leslie Knight is a small business consultant with over 20 years of experience in Information Technology management in Fortune 500 companies.  She applies her experience in Corporate America saving them millions to smaller entrepreneurial enterprises. She is also the author of Navigating the I.T. Minefield.