Many of you have asked me what my thoughts of Windows 7 are now that it has been released, and I’ve had time to really use it. You may remember from a previous post that I used the RC (Release Candidate) version of Windows 7 for about 6 months prior to it’s release, but as with all Alphas, Betas, and Release Candidates, sometimes things change. The biggest of those changes for Windows 7 was the addition of “XP Mode”. (more…)
Posts Tagged ‘upgrade’
Upgrading Windows XP to Windows 7
Friday, October 30th, 2009If you currently have Windows XP, and you want to upgrade to Windows 7, you may be disappointed to find that there really isn’t an “upgrade” option… and the option that is available is going to include some work! Users all across the nation are reporting problems related to the install of Microsoft’s new OS, but the majority of the complaints and problems are related to Windows XP to 7 upgrades.
Here is the catch – there is no true upgrade from XP. In order to move from Windows XP to Windows 7, you have to do a full install (also known as a “clean” install). During the “upgrade” process your Windows XP installation is renamed to windows.old, and then Windows 7 is installed in the windows directory. This moving of the folders does away with the existing registry which is not transitioned over to the new install, which will cause all user settings, application settings, and system wide settings to disappear.
What does all of this mean to you, the end user? It means that after “upgrading” from XP to Windows 7, you’ll have to re-install all of your applications! As well as move your data, documents, and pictures back over into your new user account. It is a daunting task for anyone wanting to undertake it… if you are a business, you can of course call us and we’ll be glad to do the install for you. For the others, see below for some best practice steps for the upgrade.
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