XP to Windows 7

I'm going to install windows 7, but I need a bit of advice.

My dad recommends that I uninstall all programs but still leave the OS (XP), intact, and then let the custom install take it from there.

From others, I've heard that a full format of your drive is better, but more risky, as you may not be able to get it fully functioning.

Also, can I partition and install Windows 7 at the same time ?

This is the first time I'm installing an OS without having a new system, so I'm a bit in the woods as to how it goes.

 

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Read the material posted on this site, http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/win7_upgrade.asp

 

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Also, how old is your hard drive? Hard drives are continually improving, and you can buy a 350 to 500 gigabyte drive for a pretty reasonable price these days. Buying a newer, faster drive to install Windows 7 on would make the process easier, and would probably net you a faster machine with more storage capacity.

 

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Hard Drives are about 3 years old.

 

I just upgraded from XP to 7. Sort of. I bought a new notebook that came with it. So, I just migrated the files I wanted. I never even bothered with Vista because of all the issues, but 7 is absolutely perfect.

~String

 

I recommend wiping your hard drive and doing a fresh install. I believe that you cannot install Windows 7 on top of XP (as an upgrade) anyway.

Your father may have meant that you should keep XP as a dual boot option. This is not a bad idea, and can come in handy if you need to access the filesystem outside of Windows 7. It may also give you an alternative platform to run legacy programs.

A drive should survive a format with no issues, especially at 3 years young. If your 3 year old drive fails a format, you ought to replace it anyway. It could be a great excuse to buy into an entry-level SSD if you have the beans.

That depends on whether or not a partitioning program is embedded in the bootable CD. I recommend partitioning beforehand in case that isn't the case.

The woods are sparse. This is an anticlimatic experience. Good luck!

 

And that is the way to do it. I don't really see the point in putting 7 on a computer old enough to have XP on it.

Just wait until you buy a new computer and that will do it. Or go with the new HD, that would lessen the pain.

Did you pay for 7? You can buy a new computer for $300 and 7 costs $150 or what, so it is just better to get even the cheapest new computer...
I just ordered a netbook and it still has XP on it. Is there anything special you want to do with 7?

 

I upgraded XP to Windows 7 on my netbook, and it runs great, in fact Im convinced it performs better. I expected the opposite, more slowdown.

 

Just curious, did you pay for it or just running the evaluation copy or stole it?

 

I bought a copy, although I have to admit, this is the first time I actually went out and payed for a Windows OS. The XP was pre-installed, but I have been impressed by Windows 7.

 

At three years old, it's almost certainly SATA instead of PATA. A new Western Digital Black SATA 7,200 RPM drive with 32 megabytes of cache would be significantly faster than any three year old drive, even a three year old Western Digital Raptor (their highest performance drives). You'd get better performance, an easier install, and you'd still have your XP install as backup. It'd be about $70.00 U.S., and a good investment if you have the money.

 

Ok, so it's done. I discovered that Windows 7 DOES NOT (if you chose the custom install portion), entirely format your drive. Instead it keeps your old folders/files in a folder called windows.old.

Now, I performed the "Windows easy transfer option" and that took longer than the install. But since The installation kept my files anyway, what was the point of backing up and using Windows easy Transfer ?

Also, Should I reinstall my programs or copy paste them from the old folder ?

 

Re-install I think, registry setting need writing.

 

Is there anyway to transfer book marks and plugins from old Mozilla? They're both the same versions.

 

Heavy sigh. It was all explained in the link.

http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/win7_upgrade_02.asp

 

In addition, Is win7 only using Dx11 ?

 

My apologies, I'd read a similar version of your link before you posted here. I must have missed that...

 

Correct.

Windows Vista should be seeing DX11 as well, through an update. Windows 7 should have innate DX11 support.

 

Challenger78,

Please note that when migrating from Windows XP to Windows 7 you will not have an "in place upgrade" option. You will however have the option to select "custom" install when prompted. The Windows 7 install process will then copy all of your data in "My Documents" over to a Windows.old folder within Windows 7 itself. All applications and documents stored in other locations will have to be reinstalled / transferred manually.
For more information on the Windows 7 Upgrade, please go here: windowsdotmicrosoftdotcom/en-US/windows7/Installing-and-reinstalling-Windows-7 (Replace the "dot" with a period ".")
For additional assistance with the migration of Windows XP to Windows 7, please go here: technetdotmicrosoftdotcom/en-us/windows/ee150430dotaspx

Jessica
Microsoft Windows Client Team