Thinkpads Forum

Hi All!


Currently my computer is running a factory image of Windows Vista Business Edition(32 bit).
Recently I have accquired a copy of Windows 7 Ultimate Edition (64 bit).

I was wondering - should I format my drive (including the factory restore image) and install Windows 7?
My hard drive is an SSD (Samsung), however it does not have TRIM support (I used a tool called SSD Life to check it's health, which also stated the lack of TRIM).


Any thoughts would be most appreciated!

if Vista works for you, dont mess with it.
If you like wrestling with OS installs and drivers and possible stability issues go ahead. YMMV
If you need access to more than 4GB RAM do install the 64bit windows.

You could do a backup of your factory image before you format though.

There is the myth that 7 is much faster than Vista but many people who have upgraded ended up being disappointed because the performance increase is pretty small. Yes, it's slightly faster, but the difference is so small that you will never gain back the time spent on installing and updating 7 and looking for drivers. So, if you are pondering the upgrade because you think it will dramatically speed up your machine, then don't bother. However, if your goal is to utilize more than 3GB of RAM and/or to run 64bit programs, then these are legitimate reasons to go ahead.

I believe Windows 7 does boot a bit faster than Vista, but once you get logged in, they seem about the same. Windows 7 does support trim while Vista does not. I personally prefer a clean install, but it's more work.