How to Check If Your System Can Run Windows 7 64-Bit

Windows 7 is available in two flavors: 32-bit and 64-bit. The differences between these two editions boil down to one primary subject: memory. 64-bit systems can address more than 4GB of RAM, while 32-bit systems are generally limited to using roughly 3.2GB of RAM. In other words, if your system can run Windows 7 64-bit, [...]

Bi-Hourly Shutdowns of Windows 7 Beta to Begin

Neowin reports that Windows 7 beta users who are still on build 7000 will start to experience bi-hourly shutdowns on July 1, 2009. The shutdowns are Microsoft’s mechanism to remind users to upgrade to build 7100. On August 1st, all betas will expire, and begin to show the “Windows not Genuine” message.
You can avoid this [...]

Windows Explorer Crashes: Fixes

Under various versions of Windows, Windows Explorer may repeatedly crash either when certain actions are taken (e.g. right-clicking an item), after several minutes of use, or immediately after the system starts up. In some cases, the following error messages are displayed:

“Windows Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close”

The first thing you need to [...]

Speeding Up Windows 7 with Process Explorer

Here’s a free, easy and quick method for routinely eliminating performance bottlenecks in Windows 7.
Download and install Process Explorer, which is part of the Microsoft SysInternals package. Launch the program, and you’ll be presented a beautiful display of all processes currently running on your system, along with a bevy of information about each process, including [...]

Slow Windows 7 Shutdown: Fix

If you are experiencing slow Windows 7 shutdowns, there is an easy way to identify the potential culprit (an antivirus program, driver, or other process).
Navigate to: Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > Performance Information and Tools > Advanced Tools. In some cases, this screen will display the problem files.
Failing that, open the “View [...]

Windows 7 Driver Problems? Check for Alternates

Some Windows 7 users are experiencing issues in which drivers suggested by Windows Update break functionality with certain devices.
One user, for instance, applied a new driver update–suggested by Windows Update–for his ATI Mobility HD 3650 graphics card, installed in a Lenovo W500. After applying the update, his screen went blank, displaying only the cursor. The [...]

Windows 7: Hard Drives Missing After Sleep

Windows 7 may exhibit a variety of issues when waking from sleep. One of the more recently reported issues involves the disappearance of mounted internal or external hard disks when the system is put to sleep (hibernation)–usually hybrid sleep–then woken up.
This issue will likely be resolved by a future update to Windows 7 or new [...]

BSOD with “Multiprocessor_Configuration_Not_Supported” in Windows Vista SP2 and Windows 7

[UPDATE: A Microsoft TechNet discussion thread is tracking this issue and has the latest updates on potential fixes, along with commentary from Microsoft indicating that the company is working with system manufacturers to resolve this issue.]

Several users have reported an issue in which a blue screen of death (BSOD) accompanied by the error message “Multiprocessor_Configuration_Not_Supported” [...]

What’s New in Windows 7 Build 7021: Faster Graphics, Smaller Installer

Windows 7 Build 7021 is the latest build of the new OS, due in final form on October 22nd, to leak to file sharing networks. Users report that the new release provides yet another significant speed boost, along with the following enhancements:

Smaller installer
Better automatic driver installation (if you had third-party device issues with previous releases, [...]

Windows 7 Build 7137 Leaks; Gets Another Speed Boost

The latest pre-release edition of Windows 7, build 7137, has been distributed to testers and subsequently leaked to various file-sharing services. Users of the new build report yet another speed speed boost relative to prior build,s particularly with regard to graphic performance.
Users also report the installation of new ATI graphics card drivers after the update.
If [...]