Another Day With My PC

Are you unhappy with your current operating system?

Changing the program that calls the shots in your computer is not as simple as installing and uninstalling regular applications in your PC. Aside from the fact that an OS is probably the largest tenant in your hard drive, every program’s existence also depends on it. Don’t get me wrong, though. I’m not discouraging you from changing OS. All I’m saying is that there are many things to consider before you decide to make an upgrade or make a switch.

Is Your Hardware Tough Enough?

The first thing that you have to consider is your hardware. If the unit you’re currently using is being powered by a Pentium II processor and is still running on Windows 95, then you should shelve your plans of installing Vista in it. Units that are more than two years old probably do not have the strength and stamina to carry Vista on their shoulders. Adding a few memory modules and overclocking your processor might do the trick, though. However, you may just be speeding up its demise by doing so as overclocking could fry or wear out the chip and the motherboard.

Will Your Old Apps Work?

The second thing that you have to consider is your existing applications. There are some programs that might not work with the new (or old) operating system. If you’re bent on keeping your old applications, make sure that there are drivers available for download that would make them compatible with the OS that you intend to install. You could check the Web site of your software’s manufacturer for drivers or patches. If you don’t want to go through the trouble of rummaging through links or pages for the driver that you need, then you may want to install or subscribe to a Web service that does this dirty job for you.

Oil and Water

Another thing to consider is compatibility. I guess by now you already know that Macs and PCs are like oil and water – they simply don’t mix. This is very important especially if you’re constantly trading files or collaborating with somebody on a particular application. It would be pointless to have an OS which would not allow you to do tasks with others. You’ll be a virtual untouchable in school or in the office if you use an OS that is incompatible with the one that the majority uses.

While an operating system is classified a program, it’s in a class that is separate and distinct from all the other applications. Your computer’s performance depends on the OS that it is running on. So choose wisely.