Comments on: How To Upgrade From XP To Windows 7 In 4 Easy Steps http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-upgrade-from-xp-to-windows-7-in-4-easy-steps/ Cool Websites, Software and Internet Tips Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:28:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Larry http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-upgrade-from-xp-to-windows-7-in-4-easy-steps/#comment-421644 Larry Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:51:32 +0000 http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=27132#comment-421644 Hey, Easy Transfer is really not the way to go - M$ just threw it out so that they can say "everything's fine"! If you use <a href="http://www.zinstall.com" rel="nofollow">Zinstall</a>, you skip most of this tutorial - it just <strong>automatically</strong> moves all your apps, settings and files to 7 - and you don't even have to run it before installing 7. Good luck! Hey, Easy Transfer is really not the way to go – M$ just threw it out so that they can say “everything’s fine”!

If you use Zinstall, you skip most of this tutorial – it just automatically moves all your apps, settings and files to 7 – and you don’t even have to run it before installing 7.

Good luck!

]]> By: 1fastbullet http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-upgrade-from-xp-to-windows-7-in-4-easy-steps/#comment-420103 1fastbullet Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:04:26 +0000 http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=27132#comment-420103 I think you jumped a step. Step one should have been "Pay Microsoft $200. Do not pass Go" I think you jumped a step.

Step one should have been “Pay Microsoft $200. Do not pass Go”

]]> By: ron http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-upgrade-from-xp-to-windows-7-in-4-easy-steps/#comment-417504 ron Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:44:45 +0000 http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=27132#comment-417504 Pretty good article. A couple of suggestions. In the "Drivers" step, copy them to a USB drive. Download XP, Vista and Win7 drivers if possible. I've read some really interesting stories about driver problems. In one case, video performance was degraded until a good audio driver was installed. When doing an upgrade, before the Install step some bloggers have suggested creating a new Win7 partition to do a clean dual-boot install to. That way you still have working XP/Vista to fall back on, and you get a clean install. Here is a link to first part of 3 part story about doing that: • http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/window-on-windows/?p=1728&tag=leftCol;post-1751 At the same time I would suggest creating a separate "Data" partition. That way in future if you have to do a re-install or refresh from backup you no longer have to worry about losing your personal data files. Here is a link to instructions on how to redirect windows "home" directory locations: http://searchenterprisedesktop.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid192_gci1352927_mem1,00.html At the end of the "Install" step, run Windows Update. There already are some Win7 patches that need to be applied, the sooner the better. In the "Installed, now what" step I would suggest a couple more things. First, do a full defrag. Win installs use lots of temp files, leading to lots of fragmentation. Second, after finishing install, before adding apps, do a full bootable image copy backup of the OS. That way if/when things get messed up you can restore your full installation which will be faster/easier than doing a new install. Then after installing all of your "base" applications, do another backup. So now when windows trips over its own feet you have 3 options, 2 of which will provide benefits of OS re-install but still save considerable time over doing a fresh install of the OS. Pretty good article. A couple of suggestions.

In the “Drivers” step, copy them to a USB drive. Download XP, Vista and Win7 drivers if possible. I’ve read some really interesting stories about driver problems. In one case, video performance was degraded until a good audio driver was installed.

When doing an upgrade, before the Install step some bloggers have suggested creating a new Win7 partition to do a clean dual-boot install to. That way you still have working XP/Vista to fall back on, and you get a clean install. Here is a link to first part of 3 part story about doing that: • http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/window-on-windows/?p=1728&tag=leftCol;post-1751
At the same time I would suggest creating a separate “Data” partition. That way in future if you have to do a re-install or refresh from backup you no longer have to worry about losing your personal data files. Here is a link to instructions on how to redirect windows “home” directory locations: http://searchenterprisedesktop.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid192_gci1352927_mem1,00.html

At the end of the “Install” step, run Windows Update. There already are some Win7 patches that need to be applied, the sooner the better.

In the “Installed, now what” step I would suggest a couple more things.

First, do a full defrag. Win installs use lots of temp files, leading to lots of fragmentation.

Second, after finishing install, before adding apps, do a full bootable image copy backup of the OS. That way if/when things get messed up you can restore your full installation which will be faster/easier than doing a new install. Then after installing all of your “base” applications, do another backup. So now when windows trips over its own feet you have 3 options, 2 of which will provide benefits of OS re-install but still save considerable time over doing a fresh install of the OS.

]]> By: Stu http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-upgrade-from-xp-to-windows-7-in-4-easy-steps/#comment-414682 Stu Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:12:51 +0000 http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=27132#comment-414682 Jack, I came accross this article at Paul Thurrott's Super Site for Windows. I think it addresses this issue. http://community.winsupersite.com/blogs/paul/archive/2009/10/23/clean-install-windows-7-with-upgrade-media-the-answer.aspx. Jack, I came accross this article at Paul Thurrott’s Super Site for Windows. I think it addresses this issue.
http://community.winsupersite.com/blogs/paul/archive/2009/10/23/clean-install-windows-7-with-upgrade-media-the-answer.aspx.

]]> By: Jack http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-upgrade-from-xp-to-windows-7-in-4-easy-steps/#comment-414014 Jack Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:16:53 +0000 http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=27132#comment-414014 Varun, Here's what I don't get. To upgrade to W7 from XP, you need to do a clean install. However, you need the XP installation for the upgrade to work. What gives? Varun,

Here’s what I don’t get. To upgrade to W7 from XP, you need to do a clean install. However, you need the XP installation for the upgrade to work.

What gives?

]]> By: Eric http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-upgrade-from-xp-to-windows-7-in-4-easy-steps/#comment-413596 Eric Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:49:12 +0000 http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=27132#comment-413596 I always buy a new hard drive when I upgrade the OS. The new drive becomes the boot drive and its a fresh install. Yes I have to reinstall all my applications, but I don't install all the crap I don't really need. It's sort of like a deep spring cleaning for your PC. I always buy a new hard drive when I upgrade the OS. The new drive becomes the boot drive and its a fresh install. Yes I have to reinstall all my applications, but I don’t install all the crap I don’t really need. It’s sort of like a deep spring cleaning for your PC.

]]> By: Tim http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-upgrade-from-xp-to-windows-7-in-4-easy-steps/#comment-413595 Tim Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:43:25 +0000 http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=27132#comment-413595 I got in on the Win7 Pro Upgrade back in June during the MS Promo and received it today. I am planning to upgrade to Win7 Pro from XP Pro this weekend. Which version is this article about (Upgrade or Full)? I hope I haven't just wasted my money by buying the wrong version. Thanks in advance! I got in on the Win7 Pro Upgrade back in June during the MS Promo and received it today. I am planning to upgrade to Win7 Pro from XP Pro this weekend. Which version is this article about (Upgrade or Full)? I hope I haven’t just wasted my money by buying the wrong version.

Thanks in advance!

]]> By: Ishan@ILoveFreeSoftware http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-upgrade-from-xp-to-windows-7-in-4-easy-steps/#comment-413333 Ishan@ILoveFreeSoftware Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:57:40 +0000 http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=27132#comment-413333 I am going to upgrade my XP laptop to 7 shortly, and this article will come really handy at that time. Thanks for all the details. I am going to upgrade my XP laptop to 7 shortly, and this article will come really handy at that time. Thanks for all the details.

]]> By: Robomaster http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-upgrade-from-xp-to-windows-7-in-4-easy-steps/#comment-413314 Robomaster Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:36:55 +0000 http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=27132#comment-413314 Great article! I upgraded from Vista to 7 TWICE. It was a pain, both times. I'm one of those people who is very 'portable' when it comes to computers, so all of my data can fit onto a 5 GB thumb drive and my iPod. It made it a ton easier to upgrade. I feel for those people who have hundreds of gigs of useless junk they have to sift through whenever upgrading an OS. Pity. Great article! I upgraded from Vista to 7 TWICE. It was a pain, both times. I’m one of those people who is very ‘portable’ when it comes to computers, so all of my data can fit onto a 5 GB thumb drive and my iPod. It made it a ton easier to upgrade.

I feel for those people who have hundreds of gigs of useless junk they have to sift through whenever upgrading an OS. Pity.

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