Desktops forum: Is it worth Upgrading to windows 7 or 8?

Since these are older PCs, and while you did test for Win7 readiness, you maybe painting yourself into a corner. Since, you don't plan to upgrade any h/w, you'll be pretty much less than capable under Win7. Win7 install NEED more ram and if your system can't be increased or find unable to actually increase, you're left with less than what you wanted. You also threw Win8 into the picture and here, forget it. Any XP based PC is bound to have issues or again less than desired for the install even if it could. You may not need an actual powerhouse of a PC but you may find having later build h/w or it's abilities more welcoming to Win7 or 8 when available. Plus, you want 64-bit and here you actually need a cpu capable of supporting that and thus check the readiness of any cpu at the vendor's website. This maybe the time for one PC to get the best offered now but a slew of older Pcs may not allow that if too old and as stated above.

tada -----Willy

if xp is slow, win8 won't be that that much faster. the vista laptops should be fine, but just put $10 a month in your piggybank and i'm sure you'll find a win 8 3 pack license that you can afford a couple months after it comes out.

Here's another solution that no one else put forth.
Go to START, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Information.
Set the screen to see all the information on the first page.
Do keystrokes of ALT + PrnScrn to capture that particular set of Information.
Go to your word processor and PASTE that info.
SAVE the file named for that particular computer.
Repeat these steps for each computer.

NOW, go on line to the manufacturer's Web Site for each specific computer and click on SUPPORT.
Find the message area and give them detailed info about your computer - model number, serial number, HD Size and open space on that, size of RAM, etc. then ask the question - "Will this computer support the installation of Window 7 AND will it also support the installation of a new ( Windows 8 ? ) operating system.

You might actually get a reply from them.

Any way you look at it - if I were you I would do the very least and get rid of the VISTA OS. That one can drive you crazy! Actually, Windows 7 looks and navigates much like the XP OS but has the "power" of Vista behind it.

Good luck.