Posted on 03/15/2014 7:57:07 AM PDT by tbw2
Need advice on upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7
Save ALL your important data, program installers (with license keys), bookmarks/favorites, network configs, etc. to an external hard drive. Do a fresh install of winders 7 (make sure the hardware is compatible). Then reconnect to your network, reinstall programs, and move data back.
Figure a weekend worth of time.
Did you download Microsoft’s Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to see if your computer can run Windows 7 ?
Don’t do an upgrade.
Do a clean install. Transfer all of your files to a USB memory device, and then when you get to the point in the windows install where it asks where you want to install it, delete the partition(s) then select new partition format it and then install it to that partition.
Then reload all of your applications. Then bring back your data.
Windows 8 is better than 7 because it is faster and consumes fewer system resources. I don’t particularly dig the new “start menu” but tolerate it.
Buy yourself a new hard disc and do a clean install. I went SSD.
Rather than an upgrade, it might be easiest to get an OEM copy of 7 and a new hard drive to install it on. It will give you a nice clean system. Something to consider.
what is the easiest and/or least painful way to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7?
All applications will need to be reinstalled. Gather up your install disks and license keys and whatnot.
Install the XP component of the Windows 7 "Windows Easy Transfer" program. Run it, and have it bundle up your docs, pictures, music, etc. etc. Have it save it to an USB hard disk or memory stick.
When I do that I also use ntbackup to back up various items, also saving the backup file to an usb hard disk. Belt and suspenders, just in case windows easy transfer doesn't get something. Win 7 doesn't have ntbackup, but there is a utility that can be downloaded from Micro$oft to recover files from the older backup utility.
Go to the manufacturer's web site and download Win 7 drivers for your hardware.
Boot your install DVD, format the disk and install Win7.
Once Win 7 is up and running, use Windows Easy Transfer to recover your user profile.
M4L
Download Microsoft’s Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to see if your computer can run Windows 7 ,it may save a ton of trouble .
Good advice!
You definitely want a clean install. Also, you won’t have a choice if you are migrating from XP 32-bit to 64-bit 7 or 8.x.
Windows 7 is pretty nice but I’d go as far to say that if you are going to upgrade from XP, jump to 8.1 and be done with it. I’m definitely not a “Metro” fan but Windows 8.1 with Classic Shell is pretty darn good.
YMMV
Incorrect. An "upgrade" disk contains the entire ISO of Win7 and just needs a windows XP disk to verify license before it installs. It never actually needs XP installed.
I found it easier to buy a Win7 desktop, because my XP crashed and died.
Prices on new laptops and desktops are low. You might consider that purchase. XP machines were limited to 4 gb memory (IIRC).
Additionally, you need to check which software and hardware might not work under Win7. I lost several software programs. They were too old and no upgrades or comparable replacements were available. I did manage to finagle a few other programs to work partially or fully under Win7. I also lost an older desktop laser printer because no one created a driver for the 64-bit Windows 7.
If you don;t like Windows 8, you can use one of the free utilities that bring back the start button and the program menu. Start Menu 8 from IOBIT and classic shell from Classic Shell will do the trick.
If your current CPU is not a core2 Duo or better, why bother?
Most laser printers are compatible with the generic HP Laserjet drivers.
I recently did this for two PCs. Easy Transfer is good, but not perfect. I used a networked external hard drive for the Easy Transfer files, but found that a lot of data wasn’t included if the default storage locations (pictures not in “My Pictures” for example) didn’t have all the data you wanted to migrate. Pay particular attention to where that stuff is on the XP install, modify the default Easy Transfer settings to match, and also make a separate backup of anything critical just in case.
Make a list of programs you like and need (7-Zip, a PDF reader, etc) so you can re-install the W7 versions after the switch, and make sure you know if you are running 32 or 64 bit W7 so you can choose the right versions.
Be prepared to wait a long time for all the W7 updates to download and install. I think the earlier estimate of a weekend for the project is a good one.
Also, I went from two ten year old PC’s to new machines, and didn’t have to worry if my old hardware was up to W7 standards. If you plan on loading W7 on an older XP PC, you might double check the system requirements for W7.
Good luck.
Agree.
Just purchase an OEM copy of Win 7 for about $140. Bring up your XP start the Win 7 install disk and pick upgrade a pervious version of windows. Most of your settings and most drivers will still be there. You may have to go to one or two vendor sites for upgrades but it will work.
My goodness, how old is a computer that came with XP. How much money do you have wrapped up in it?
Is it a heart lung machine running on XP? Take that computer off the grid and run XP infinitum.
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