Windows 7 Reports Wrong Processor, Causes Driver Problems

Some users have reported an issue in which Windows 7 reports an incorrect processor architecture. For instance, the system may identify itself has an AMD-based chipset when an Intel chipset is actually present.
This can cause problems with drivers–if the system installs drivers for the wrong architecture–in addition to other issues.
Fix
This problem can sometimes be fixed [...]

How to Upgrade from Windows 7 RC to Final Version without Clean Install

Generally speaking, upgrading from a pre-release edition of Windows 7 (e.g. RC 7100) requires a clean install of the system, meaning that you will need to manually reload some files from a backup or other source, and will lose various system settings.
Fortunately, there is a way to bypass this requirement, although you may not want [...]

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, [...]

Netflix Streaming Doesn’t Work in Internet Explorer 8/Windows 7: Fix

Several users have reported an issue in which Netflix online streaming does not work properly in Internet Explorer 8 under various versions of Windows, or under Windows 7 in various browsers (including Internet Explorer 8). In some cases streaming works, but screensavers are not automatically disabled, the stream incorrectly uses low bandwidth, or other functionality [...]

Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor Released

Microsoft has released the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, which scans your PC to see if it’s ready for Windows 7, and tells you about any known compatibility issues.
The tool’s documentation states its “report will let you know if your PC meets the system requirements, if there are any known compatibility issues with your programs and [...]

Windows 7 RC1 Breaks Some Antivirus Software

Windows 7 RC1 breaks compatibility with some antivirus/anti-malware programs that were compatible with previous pre-release builds of the operating system. Users are reporting problems with:

avast! Home Edition
AVG Anti-Virus Free
Symantec AV Corporate Edition

Some developers are already working on Windows 7 RC1-compatible updates to their antivirus programs. A post in the AVG forums, for instance, states “This [...]

Windows 7 Antivirus Software Compatibility

Windows 7 will sport enhanced security measures that should partially eliminate the need for some anti-spyware and antivirus software, but users are still encouraged to run at least one protection mechanism. Users testing pre-release builds of Windows 7 have found that some current antivirus packages are incompatible or cause problems with the new OS, while [...]