Should I upgrade A31 to Vista Ultimate... or keep with XP?

[A31]

I was thinking about upgrading my A31 from XP Professional to Vista Ultimate... do you think I should do it? These are my specs...

.80GB HDD
.1.5GB RAM
.Pentium 4M 1.8GHz
.ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 graphics card (I know I won't be able to use Aero on this card)
.It has a Wirless internet connection

It currently has XP Pro SP3 on it, but I was thinking...maybe Vista Ultimate would run fine on it? Obviously it would an x86 system as my processor does not x64 systems. The type number is A31 2652-MZG if that helps...

Thanks for your opionions!
A31

[jdhurst]

I have two thoughts:

1. The current specs are fine for XP Pro and you can stay happily there for a while. It is a bit light, and the hard drive is a bit small to run more advanced systems.

2. If you do wish to take the plunge, Vista has been orphaned by users and by Microsoft and it is a dead end street. So look instead at Windows 7 Pro or Windows 7 Ultimate. You need to use the 32-bit version.

Not sadly at all, 32-bit has also died. So on balance, I would stay put, find a much newer 64-bit machine and put Windows 7 Pro 64-bit or better on it. ... JDH

[A31]

So look instead at Windows 7 Pro or Windows 7 Ultimate. You need to use the 32-bit version.

I have the Windows 7 Pro DVD downstairs, sad thing is though, it is already installed on one our computers and with WGA etc... it will be a while before we can use it again.

The current specs are fine for XP Pro and you can stay happily there for a while

OK, I think I will stay with XP pro then. Thanks!

[gb_ibmguy]

I too have the itch,

I've been thinking of taking one my spare A31p's and trying a dual boot with Windows 7. I've got a 2 Ghz, 160 Gig, 2 Gig ram Flexview just sitting around here not doing anything and a copy of Windows Ultimate at my disposal. A stupid endeavor? probably. But, since my xServer is up and stable, what else have I got to do?

UPDATE:
However, after just running the Windows 7 update Adviser program and having it tell me to basically buy a new box, I think I'll refrain from trying it on any of my A31p's. Maybe one of my Intellistations or Thinkcentres will do better

[A31]

I ran the Vista Upgrade Advisor on my A31...said that Vista Business would be best for my A31, though I am thinking Home Basic or Home Premium maybe is the best?? I only have the Windows Vista Ultimate DVDs anyway, I do not have the Vista Business or Home Basic/Home Premium DVDs.

[Temetka]

As long as you have no need to connect to a Domain server, then Home Premium will be just fine. However if you connect to corporate networks then you will need Business, Pro, or Ultimate.

On the A31P I think Windows 7 would run just fine. Heck I am running Windows 7 Ultimate on my X41T and even though my Intel 915 GPU is not supported by Aero, it runs just fine. Snappy actually and that is with only 1.25GB of RAM.

You can always install it without activating it to play around and see what you think.

[jdhurst]

I wish Microsoft would put Home to death. People buy it, and then 10 minutes later forums all over light up with what Home cannot do. Home cannot do anything useful in my opinion and that is why people complain about it. Crippled networking, crippled file sharing, no VPN and the list goes on. ... JDH

[A31]

I wish Microsoft would put Home to death. People buy it, and then 10 minutes later forums all over light up with what Home cannot do. Home cannot do anything useful in my opinion and that is why people complain about it. Crippled networking, crippled file sharing, no VPN and the list goes on. ... JDH

+1 for what you just said!!
I have used Vista Home Premium on three different machines, and then everytime I use it I always end up thinking 'why is this so rubbish?'. Luckily my copy of Vista is Vista Ultimate and the copy of Windows 7 we have is Windows 7 Professional!

My Dad works in a business that helps people with their machines. Usually the machines have XP Professional on them, but he gets one with XP Home Edition, he'll very often go and install a genuine copy of XP Pro on them!!

I remember the days when there was only ONE version of Windows!! ie - there was no such thing 'Windows 95 Home' or 'Windows 95 Pro', it was just 'Windows 95'!! I think the first verison of Windows to have lots of different editons was NT 4.0 - with NT 4.0 Workstation, Server & Terminal Server.

I'm keeping with XP Pro on the A31 - mainly becuase the A31 is now in a bit of a state (have to drain the power out everytime I start it up) and when I tried Vista Ultimate with 1.5GB RAM on there, it was fairly slow.

[jdhurst]

Windows 7 is changing things.

Asker: I have Windows 7 and I cannot do what I need.
Me: Follow these steps and it will work.
Asker: No - I have Windows 7 Home.
Me: I see. Go to Windows Anytime Upgrade, select Pro, put in your Credit Card, apply the new key and follow steps.
Asker: WOW! It works!

... JDH