The new operating system from Microsoft has been flying off the shelves since its official launch in October.

Is it a case of good press? Not really.

Having tested Windows 7 in its Beta stage, the success of the successor to Windows Vista has come as no surprise.

So after the 22 October launch of Windows 7, I decided to take it a step further, by upgrading a home PC which some of you may want to attempt.

This was to be my first attempt at installing a new OS on a PC and if that weren’t risky enough, I chose to commandeer a PC in constant use by a kid.

Knowing that there could be days of complaints or worse, a PC sent to the workshop, I took a deep breath and popped in the Microsoft disc.

It became clear that the Microsoft team had been taking notes since the early testing stage, so as to offer users a relatively easy experience whatever the level or stage of use.

There are prompts apart from the usual reminders to back up your information, such as the suggestion to download Windows Easy Transfer which helps you transfer files, e-mail as well as settings so that you can continue as before once the new OS is up and running.

There’s also a prompt to carry out a compatibility check, which is a useful reminder just to make sure your PC meets the specifications required to run Windows 7, such as a minimum 1 GHz, 32 or 64-bit processor with 1-2GB RAM and 16-20 GB hard disk space.

Once you’ve made all the checks, you can safely take the plunge and do a clean install over Windows Vista or XP.

Alternatively, if you have enough space on your PC or as in my case, you accidentally choose another drive with ample disk space instead of the normal C drive, you have the option later to run either Windows 7 or the old operating system.

Yes, the process is quite forgiving even from step one, which is to choose “Custom Install” if you are updating from Windows XP.

Make sure you set aside at least an hour for the entire process and have at hand any passwords, key codes and discs that may be required.

It’s best to nurse your favourite cuppa and some patience as the PC hums along with some restarts in between.

The magic is three for Windows 7, and after the third restart you are on your way.

There were no panic attacks, and even after installing the OS on a different drive, I had no problem starting up the PC in the new, attractive environment.

Having tested out Windows 7 earlier, I found the final version to be not very different to the Beta and Release Candidate which fixed the bugs and came ahead of the final launch.

Although Windows 7 is visually rich and pleasing, it doesn’t take up huge amount of resources, which means you can safely run it on a netbook.

Tasks are also easier to execute as the ribbon at the bottom of the screen is where you can place frequently used folders and applications, replacing them anytime you want.

This means you don’t need to hunt around on your desktop which is now much for your favourite pictures and widgets.

Also handy is the Snap option where you drag or nudge open windows to view them side by side rather than having to pop them up and down as in older systems.

Having passed the easy-install test, the next challenge was to return the PC to its normal user and wait for a reaction.

There were no instructions given, other than how to choose between XP and Windows 7 when the options appear after starting the PC.

Given that there were days of complaints when IE8 was installed on the PC after a service, I braced myself for a new earful while junior got used to the new OS.

But there wasn’t a peep of displeasure.

All the programs that used to run on the PC in XP were still functioning, with only one driver needing a new install which was child’s play since the OS detected the problem and went off to get the fix in one click.

Putting it down to the initial excitement of using a just-launched OS before the other kids, I waited it out.

As the days passed, the 12-year-old who decided to ‘own’ the PC deftly launched Windows 7 to quickly run through his gamut of games and videos.

“Why don’t you choose to use XP since it’s also on the PC?”, I ventured to ask one day.

It seemed a nonsensical thought to the kid who clearly enjoyed using Windows 7.

“It’s faster” he also shared. But not the PC with the new OS.

If like me, you are now shopping for something new, a number of new models are available with Windows 7 installed.

Lenovo has a new IdeaPad range from the family friendly Y550P, to the very portable U150 and U450P, as well as the SL410 and SL510 ThinkPads, while for desktops there are the Q110 and B500 IdeaCentres, all of which run on Windows 7.

The style conscious can look to Sony’s lineup of the colourful 14-inch VAIO CW and desktop replacement VAIO NW with 16:9 aspect ratio high-definition screen.

Dell has what’s said to be the world’s thinnest laptop, the Adamo XPS which measures 9.99mm, while Korea’s Samsung has released the price-conscious 14 inch X420 notebook that is just 2.3cm thin and weighs 1.76kg with its six-cell battery.

Asus has enhanced its notebook and Eee Series range to extend and improve the overall Windows 7 experience.

“Users are finding it that much easier to navigate their PCs using Windows 7” said Tony Chen, Corporate Vice President of ASUS.

“The netbooks segment in particular has seen strong growth in Asia and we expect this to continue.”

If you plan to upgrade your OS, it would be good to look at Windows 7 Professional which allows you to run programs in XP Mode, or the Ultimate which offers a little more, such as data protection, with just a small price gap differential.

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