Will Windows 7 speed up my PC?

Q I have a seven-year-old Packard Bell laptop that runs the Windows Vista operating system. If I upgrade this to Windows 7, will it make my PC work faster?
Amanda James

A Windows 7 is generally snappier than Windows Vista but it is by no means a performance panacea. In other words, while upgrading to Windows 7 might add a little extra speed here and there, it won't make an ageing PC much quicker.

Something far more likely to improve performance would be an upgrade to your laptop’s memory. You didn’t tell us anything about the computer, other than its brand, but a 2005-vintage laptop is unlikely to have more than 1GB of memory fitted – and possibly just 512MB. Doubling this to 1GB or 2GB, say, would lead to significant performance improvements. Memory is cheap these days. A 1GB Sodimm costs just a few pounds from companies such as Crucial.

Indeed, if you are intent on upgrading to Windows 7 then a memory upgrade may be necessary. The latest version of Microsoft’s operating system demands a minimum of 1GB of memory, while the Home Basic version of Vista could stumble by on 512MB. There is a full list of requirements for Windows 7 on Microsoft's website.

Fitting laptop memory is usually no more difficult than removing an access panel on the laptop’s underside and slotting in an additional (or replacement) module, but you’ll need to check the PC’s manual or Packard Bell’s support website for specific guidance.