You can download Windows 8, to install it as the main operating system. The initial problem, as happens every time a new version of Windows is released, is the compatibility of your computer and the devices connected to it.
Even if Microsoft ensures that Windows 8 works well on every PC where Windows 7 can run, it is important to understand if the PC hardware (therefore the video card or the printer) and the programs you use on your PC also work with Windows 8 without compatibility problems.
For this purpose, an automatic analyzer came out that checks the system to see if the hardware and software applications are compatible with the new version of Windows.
To check if your computer is compatible with Windows 8.1 before proceeding with the installation, you can use the automatic control tool provided by Microsoft.
The download of the tool is only 5 MB and can be performed immediately on any Windows PC.
The program checks all installed programs, drivers, internal computer hardware and connected devices.
At the end of the verification, you get a summary report with the number of compatible programs and those that may not work properly with Windows 8.
By clicking on the detail link, you can see which software is definitely not working (red cross), which require a configuration change (yellow exclamation point) and which ones are fine.
The final report can also be printed.
Note that the Microsoft MSE antivirus is not, for now, compatible.
At the end, you can close the installation program or you can continue proceeding with the download of Windows 8 and the subsequent installation on the computer.
On another page, the computer hardware requirements for Windows 8.1
The online compatibility center allows you to search for programs, mp3 players, video cards, various devices and printers that work with Windows 8 without further intervention.
The product categories are divided into two main groups: programs and hardware parts .
The list includes some famous paid and free programs such as, for example, Microsoft Office, Adobe Reader, ImgBurn and Opera.
Many others are missing from the appeal but this does not mean they are incompatible.
For the hardware it is the same, the list mainly lists new peripheral and device models including smartphones, network cards, camera models, video cards, sound cards and more.
However, there is no indication on older computer models so it is not clear whether it is possible to upgrade an old laptop to Windows 8.
As for the video card drivers, which I consider the most important, the two companies that supply most of the graphics cards, AMD ATI and NVIDIA, have already made the drivers available to make their video card work.
