signal72,

Maybe this will help.

Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor

Rick

Edited!!! Question: is the mother board on the E521 64-bit? ... will I be able to upgrade to 64 bit version of xp or vista? Other data: 4 GB Ram (only 2GB visible/usable on sys info) 1GB video card (evga 9500) 100 GB free on Hard drive AMDAthlon x2 64 processor  (3800, 2000MHz)

Hi signal72

Question: is the mother board on the E521 64-bit? ... will I be able to upgrade to 64 bit version of xp or vista?

Yes but your best bet is Vista 64 bit should have all of the drivers for your 521

if i remember right !! 

XP 64 bit you can use but you will have to find some of the drivers from the manufacture of the part that does not work .

Yes i had a 521 and used both XP AND VISTA 64 bit my dad has it now for about a year or so,so it would be hard to tell you what drivers you will need .

And the upgrade is for Vista 32 bit not the 64 bit version because there is no upgrade from 32 to 64 bit !!. 

Good Luck 

seems I'm all set according to the advisor program, just need some minor updates like Musicmatch® Jukebox, roxio, dell cineplayer (I don't use), mcAfee spamkiller (don't use this either ... with avg, ad-aware, spybot, spyware blaster instead),

what are Digital Line Detect, netwaiting, MetaFrame Presentation Server Web Client for Win32 used for?

Golden Rod 5: not sure I'm getting all that you are saying ... I can upgrade, but I need to buy a full version not an upgrade version? ...

I wish I could remember everything I needed to do and type in all at the same time! ... and not close out extra windows to realize I just closed this one out too :-P

my follow up question would be can I install over what I have now and not loose everything?  Will Vista get rid of all the old XP info that I don't need (and create some room on the HD .. after eating up so much)

Hi

if you install XP or Vista 64 bit you will lose every thing on your hard drive you can not upgrade from a 32 bit OS to a 64 bit OS !!!

It has to be a clean install for the 64 bit OS !

Hope this has helped you some.

Good Luck

 holy heck that's going to be a hassle and a half ...

the good news is I'll only need a new MS Office (powerpoint, word, etc) ...

I can burn a CD or use a flash drive for all my other stuff (basically just files)

I'd have to completely reload WoW ... but in the end to utilize all of my system resources I need a newer OS ... ugh

signal72,

Instead of getting a new powerpoint, word, try installing Open Office, it's FREE.

Rick

well now that's an interesting option!

I have the exact same machine as you except I am running a GeForce GT210 video card from EVGA. I installed Vista 64 bit on the system and on a gamble that I took from a post elsewhere on the web that stated that Vista 64bit home premium would recognize 8Gb Ram, I bought 8Gb of Crucial memory (2Gb x 4) non-ECC, unbuffered, for 99 dollars from NewEgg (Part# CT25664AA800, 800Mhz) and the operating system recognized all 8Gb of it.  I have the stock Motherboard that came with the machine version 0UW457 and only updated the NForce to NForce 410/430 MCP according to CPUZ.

SO : If you install a clean version of Windows Vista 64bit, you will be able to upgrade your ram to 8Gb. This was confirmed also by me opening the properties tab when I right clicked on computer in the start menu as well as by opening up the task manager. Both show 8Gb being in full use.

Before ugrading I had:

Vsita 32bit

4 GB Ram (only visible/usable)

1GB video card (GeForce GT-210)

159 GB free on Hard drive

AMDAthlon x2 64 processor  (3800, 2MHz)

After upgrading I now have:

8189 MB Ram (all of it visible/usable per task manager) ( 8192MB per CPUZ installed total) NOTE : memory must be Non-ECC AND Nonbuffered

1GB video card (GeForce GT-210)

159 GB free on Hard drive

AMDAthlon x2 64 processor  (3800, 2MHz)

I am still using the stock 300 watt power supply that came with the system originally.

I hope this helps others that have this machine in their upgrade decision.