Worth Upgrading Old Computer?

[JoJo boy]

I got a free copy of Win7 Pro (32-bit) the other day and am thinking of installing it on my parents computer. The thing is my parents computer is very old. Its a an HP with the following specs
CPU AMD XP3200+
Ram 1.5gb of 3200 (400mhz)
HD WD 200gb 7200rpm
GFX ATi 9600XT 128mb
MB Asus KT400
Im wondering if it will run fine or not on this. They currently run Win XP HOME which does fine with this system. Is anyone running something similar to this with Win 7?

[Steve R Jones]

Have to ask my favorite question:

What are the top ten features of Win 7 that you think would benefit your parents the most?

Do you still live with your parents so you can answer the 60,000,000 questions they'll have once you boot it up for the first time?

I'm running the RC version on a much older/crummier pc then what you listed and it runs fine.

[Forextrading]

Are you partial to Windows, I am not sure what Windows 7 requires hardware wise, but I do know that XP required a computer with at least 2 gig of RAM and a faster processor to be fully fucntional. I know that computers that are made within the last 5 years are compatable with XP so I am guessing that those same computers would run Windows 7. Have you considered Linux. Linux Mint is easy to install and if your parents, like mine, only use the computer for internet purposes, then a Linux computer would be fine. Linux Mint does not require a very fast processor and the RAM does not have to be as high either compared to Windows. Anyway these are just my thoughts.

[JoJo boy]

Have to ask my favorite question:

What are the top ten features of Win 7 that you think would benefit your parents the most?

Do you still live with your parents so you can answer the 60,000,000 questions they'll have once you boot it up for the first time?

Increased Security
Libraries
Desktop/Aero Updates
WMP 12
Remote Media Streaming
Jump Lists
Newer Versions and more Windows Games
Reasons I want it put on there
Remote Desktop (I can look at things from my apartment that normally have to wait until I get home in a few weeks.)
WorkGroups
Simple Backup & Restore
I am already feeling that Win XP on the school computers are annonying to use compared to Win7.

I live only an hour away and am home every other week so it will not be bad to answer their questions.

[Ubon94]

I suggest you let your parent experience Win7 first before upgrading.
One of my family member was playing around on my Win7 PC yesterday and she didn't like it. She told me not to put it on her xp PC..

If you do decided to upgrade check to see if there are drivers available for Win7..

[LordZordec]

I got a free copy of Win7 Pro (32-bit) the other day and am thinking of installing it on my parents computer. The thing is my parents computer is very old. Its a an HP with the following specs
CPU AMD XP3200+
Ram 1.5gb of 3200 (400mhz)
HD WD 200gb 7200rpm
GFX ATi 9600XT 128mb
MB Asus KT400
Im wondering if it will run fine or not on this. They currently run Win XP HOME which does fine with this system. Is anyone running something similar to this with Win 7?

If the video card is Aero capable and you can upgrade the memory to 2GB+, I would say go for it. As is, you have a good candidate for Windows XP though.

[Timman_24]

Do NOT install linux on your parent's computer. I made that mistake once. I don't see any reason to upgrade to 7 over xp for a casual user with an older PC. Unless they have to have better security and you got a free version then it will just be a novelty. They can wait until they purchase a new computer that comes with it.

[PDR60]

Do NOT install linux on your parent's computer. I made that mistake once. I don't see any reason to upgrade to 7 over xp for a casual user with an older PC. Unless they have to have better security and you got a free version then it will just be a novelty. They can wait until they purchase a new computer that comes with it.

That's funny, I converted my mom and sister over to Linux a couple of years ago and they love it. If you spend enough time with them and show them how to update and give them the programs they need, its not a big deal. My sister was even able to do her own upgrade of Kubuntu 9.04 to 9.10 without any help.
Once most casual users get some time with a good distro with all the softwares they need, they like it. Its also pretty hard to kill.....