Windows 8 was officially released yesterday and it's at present time to decide whether you want to upgrade or not. If you lot take decided to upgrade a Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 machine to Windows eight, you lot probably want to make sure your organization tin can support Windows 8 earlier you purchase the upgrade.

To check if your PC is compatible with Windows 8, you lot tin can download and run the Windows viii Upgrade Banana. The upgrade assistant will get ahead and scan your hardware, programs, and fifty-fifty whatsoever connected devices to make sure they will work with Windows 8.

Windows 8 requires certain CPU features similar PAE, NX, SSE2, etc, so it's a skilful idea to use this tool if your computer is a bit on the older side.

The tool will besides give you a compatibility report for your programs and let you know whether y'all need to uninstall the program or update the program before upgrading. Once you download information technology, install it and run it, the program volition automatically offset scanning your computer for apps and devices.

upgrade assistant

Information technology will then tell yous which apps are compatible and which apps you need to review.

compatible apps

In that location are some new features in Windows 8 like secure kick, snap, and fast startup. Upgrade assistant will notify you if any of those items are not supported past your organisation:

windows 8 upgrade

If you didn't already know, Windows 8 does non include built-in software to play DVDs. If you desire that feature, you lot'll have to buy the Pro pack and get Windows Media Center. Note that if y'all already have Windows 8 Pro, y'all can get Windows Media Center Pack for gratuitous until January 31st, 2013, and so get information technology fast!

Also, Microsoft Security Essentials is being replaced by Windows Defender in Windows 8. It'due south basically the same affair, but for whatever reason they are including Windows Defender built into Windows viii. So if you accept Security Essentials installed on Windows 7, you'll have to remove it before upgrading.

You also get a list of uniform software and hardware that will work with Windows 8:

compatible software

When yous click Next, you'll be asked what you would similar to keep. This volition determine which version of Windows 8 will work best for you.

what files to keep

Note that depending on what version of Windows you accept, you can merely upgrade to certain editions of Windows 8. For instance, if you have Windows 7 Ultimate, you can only upgrade to Windows eight Pro.

If you have Windows 7 Pro, you can upgrade to Windows viii Pro or Enterprise. If you have Windows 7 Enterprise, yous tin only upgrade to Windows 8 Enterprise. Check out the Wikipedia commodity for more than details.

In my instance, since I accept Windows 7 Ultimate, whatever option I selected gave me the aforementioned result: Windows viii Pro for $39.99.

windows 8 pro

That's about all there is to the Windows viii Upgrade Assistant. It's mostly useful for figuring out which hardware and software will not work on Windows 8. Information technology's also useful if you have an older PC and you're not sure if your CPU is going to be supported by Windows viii. Enjoy!