There are a few ways to test if your system is compatible with 64-bit versions of Windows 7. The first and easiest method is with a freeware program developed by Steve Gibson from Gibson Research Corporation called Securable. Securable not only tells you if your computer is 64-bit capable but also tells you if it has hardware Data Execution Prevention (DEP) and Hardware Virtualization enabled. Hardware DEP is a hardware capability in modern processors that marks all memory regions not containing executable code as nonexecutable.
This protects the system's heaps, stacks, data, and communications buffers from running any executable code. In other words, it protects against the buffer overrun attacks that are very common today. Hardware Virtualization allows for Windows XP Mode to run. The issue with the Securable method of checking hardware compatibility is that only one computer can be checked at a time. This can be a huge issue for administrators with many computers.
Another method of determining if the systems in your environment are 64-bit compatible is by using an asset management application that determines CPU type, name, and/or description. Such applications are common in larger networks and examples of these include Microsoft SMS or SCCM, ManageEngine's Asset Explorer, etc.
Like any software, Microsoft has published their minimum requirements for systems running Windows 7. As a general guideline, any 32-bit Vista computer should be able to run Windows 7 32-bit as well; the same is true for 64-bit versions. The requirements were elevated for the 64-bit versions of Windows 7 to 2 GB of memory; however, systems with 1 GB have been known to run Winows 7 64-bit without issues.
Additionally, some features of Windows 7 have more specific hardware requirements. Windows XP Mode requires an additional 1 GB of RAM, 15 GB of free hard disk space, and a processor that is capable of hardware virtualization (Intel VT or AMD-V for example). The Windows Aero feature requires a graphics card with 128 MB of memory or more and support for DirectX 9 and Windows Display Driver Model 1.1 or higher.
Microsoft released an upgrade advisor to test your current systems prior to deploying Windows 7 to ensure compatibility and minimum requirements. Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor not only checks your hardware but also your entire system for compatibility.
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