Windows 7 - frequently asked questions
February 1st 2010 05:28
Are drivers available for the Windows® 7 operating system and, if so, how can I access them?
What are the hardware requirements for Windows 7?
What is involved in legacy testing for Windows 7?
Which version of Internet Explorer comes with Windows 7?
Are the security features in Windows 7 robust enough that organisations can dispense with desktop virus-protection software?
When will Windows 7 Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) be released?
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1. Are drivers available for the Windows 7 operating system and, if so, how can I access them?
Dell will begin posting Windows 7 drivers to the Dell Support Website in October 2009 when we launch Windows 7. In rare cases, there may be no Windows 7 drivers available for some hardware and software.
2. What are the hardware requirements for Windows 7?
The following table shows the minimum hardware requirements for Windows 7 as provided by Microsoft:
Minimum 32-bit Operating System
Minimum 64-bit Operating System
Processor
1 GHz or faster, 32-bit (x 86)
1 GHz or faster, 64-bit (x 64)
Memory
1 GB RAM
2 GB RAM
Available Disk Space
16 GB
20 GB
Graphics
DirectX® 9 graphics processor with Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) or higher driver
These minimum requirements are for basic computing tasks such as word processing and Web browsing. Additional memory and graphics may be required for more powerful computing tasks.
Additionally, the following are the minimum hardware requirements for running Windows 7 in Windows XP Mode:
Processor: Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT) or AMD-V™
Memory: 2GB (32-bit), 3GB (64-bit)
Available Disk Space: 15GB
3. What is involved in legacy testing for Windows 7?
When testing legacy platforms, we execute the same tests on each platform and perform specific testing if the configuration contains a device such as Bluetooth, wireless or modem.
Legacy testing includes determining Windows 7 basic functionality and makes sure that:
Hardware devices are operational
No data is lost
Basic Windows 7 functions are working properly
There are no requirements or plans for Dell to provide Windows 7 drivers or BIOSs for legacy platforms. Exceptions to this rule may occur when a critical fix is required that would prevent the operating system from loading with Microsoft retail media and/or Error Log Analysis (ELA) bits with in-box drivers.
Customers are free to use Windows Vista® drivers from the Dell Support Website and are encouraged to run Windows Update from their Start menu, to ensure that the most recent drivers are installed on their computers.
4. Which version of Internet Explorer comes with Windows 7?
Windows 7 comes standard with Internet Explorer® 8.
5. Are the security features in Windows 7 robust enough that organisations can dispense with desktop virus-protection software?
Although Windows 7 has a number of robust security features (For example: enhanced firewall, spyware defense, Network Access Protection and Encrypting File System), the operating system does not replace traditional desktop security software from vendors such as Symantec and McAfee.
Dell recommends that you continue to utilise a third-party security solution in addition to the Windows 7 operating system to help ensure that your systems are well protected.
6. Will Microsoft ® Office 2007 work with Windows 7?
According to Microsoft, Microsoft Office 2007 will work on Windows 7.
7. When will Windows 7 Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) be released?
Microsoft has not publicly given a release date for Windows 7 Vista SP1.
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