Windows 7

CrC · Jul 24, 2009

I just read and article in the Wall Street Journal talking about how it will be an upgrade to windows vista, and that it won't be an upgrade for XP users since you have to do a clean install. It is planned to be released october 22nd.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 46634.html

On October 22, Microsoft will finally release a new version of Windows that will be as good as the deeply disappointing Windows Vista should have been when it came out in January 2007. The new edition, called Windows 7, is a big improvement over both Vista and the sturdy, 2001-vintage Windows XP still widely in use. It will give Appleâ€™s long-superior Mac OS X operating system a run for its money (though Apple might maintain its edge with a new version, called Snow Leopard, due in September).

But how will Windows users transition their current computers to the new Windows 7? While this latest operating system stresses simplicity, the upgrade process will be anything but simple for the huge base of average consumers still using XP, who likely outnumber Vista users. It will be frustrating, tedious and labor-intensive.
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Windows XP to Windows 7 Upgrade Could Be Trouble
5:55

Microsoft will come out with a new and much-improved version of Windows on October 22, 2009. But upgrading from XP to Windows 7 promises to be a frustrating experience, says Personal Technology columnist Walt Mossberg.

In fact, the process will be so painful that, for many XP users, the easiest solution may be to buy a new PC preloaded with Windows 7, if they can afford such a purchase in these dire economic times. In fact, thatâ€™s the option Microsoft recommends for XP users. (Conveniently, this option also helps Microsoftâ€™s partners that make PCs.)

By contrast, if youâ€™re using Vista, the upgrade to Windows 7 should be a fairly easy, straightforward process. Because the new version shares most of the underlying guts of Vista, it installs itself on your current machine relatively quickly and smoothly, preserving all your files, folders, settings and programs. In a test of this process earlier this year, using a pre-release version of Windows 7, I upgraded a Vista laptop with no problems and little effort in about an hour.

But Windows XP users, including the millions who have recently snapped up cheap, XP-powered netbooks, will first have to wipe out everything on their hard disks in order to install Windows 7. on their current machines. In fact, Microsoft doesnâ€™t even call migrating to Windows 7 from XP an â€œupgrade.â€ It refers to it as a â€œclean install,â€ or a â€œcustom installation.â€ This disk wipeout can be performed manually, or automatically during the Windows 7 installation process.

If youâ€™re an XP user, the disk-wiping will cause you to lose your current file and folder organization, and all your programs, though not necessarily your personal data files themselves.

However, in order to preserve these personal files, like documents and photos, you will have to undertake a long, multi-step process, typically requiring the use of an external hard disk, to which all these files will have to be temporarily moved and then moved back.

That means youâ€™ll have to buy or borrow an external hard disk, or clean out enough room on one you already own, to hold all your files.

And the pain doesnâ€™t end there. If youâ€™re an XP user, moving to Windows 7 on your current computer means you will also have to re-install all your programs and restore all the software drivers for your printers and other add-on hardware. That could require locating the original program disks, or downloaded program installers, and then re-downloading and re-installing the numerous updates that have been issued since these original disks or installers came out.

And, thereâ€™s another problem: XP hardware drivers wonâ€™t work in Windows 7. Microsoft says it can automatically replace thousands of common older drivers with newer Windows 7-compatible versions, but admits that there may be some for which it doesnâ€™t have replacements. The company specifically warns that some netbooks may include obsolete drivers.
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* Mossbergâ€™s Mailbox: Private Browsing in Internet Explorer

Netbook owners face another problem. Even though Microsoft says Windows 7 will work fine on netbooks, most of them lack a DVD drive, which is needed to run the Windows 7 installation disk. So theyâ€™ll have to buy or borrow an external DVD drive.

Microsoft has taken some steps to make this easier. It plans to offer a free â€œEasy Transferâ€ program (explained at http://bit.ly/M5Il7) that will automate the process of moving your personal files to an external drive, and then restoring them to your computer after Windows 7 is installed. But this program wonâ€™t transfer your programs, only your personal data.

Also, if you donâ€™t want to use an external hard disk to temporarily store your files, you can transfer them over a cable or network to another computer. The company even has an alternative where it will stow your personal data in a special folder called windows.old, on the transformed PC. But youâ€™ll then have to manually move all of these files back to their normal locations.

Finally, Microsoft officials point out that this XP migration issue may be moot for many owners of older XP computers, because their ancient machines lack enough memory, hard disk space, or graphics power to accommodate Windows 7 anyway.

And, even if a really old machine is marginally capable of running Windows 7, itâ€™s a mistake to try and cram a new OS into it and expect a great experience.

But if you do own an otherwise capable computer that happens to be running Windows XP, youâ€™re likely facing a painful process should you choose to transition it to Windows 7.
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Lightning · Jul 24, 2009

Bleh, that's going to be a little problem for my older computers although I think I'll just leave them as is. My Vista will be fairly easy though, according to the article. Those compatibility issues might be a big problem though. Imagine businesses having to do that; they'd either have to have a lot of external drives or a server to back up all the stuff

CrC · Jul 24, 2009

I didn't really think about the businesses, but that sucks, at least most of them are on Vista anyway, but still that is an expense they will incur just to upgrade to Windows 7. I don't think that any business on XP will upgrade to the Windows 7.

I know personally, unless it has something that makes it really great... I don't plan on upgrading it. I am interested in trying it though. Maybe my university will upgrade to it before I get out of there.

edited out a typo

Lightning · Jul 24, 2009

CrC said:

I didn't really think about the businesses, but that sucks, at least most of them are on Vista anyway, but still that is an expense they will incur just to upgrade to Windows 7. I don't think that any business on XP will upgrade to the Windows 7.

I know personally, unless it has something that makes it really great... I don't plan on upgrading it. I am interested in trying it though. Maybe my university will upgrade to it before I get out of there.

edited out a typo
Click to expand...

Lol, don't think a lot of businesses are on Vista. One of Vista's problem was being compatible with business programs that worked for XP so a lot of businesses stuck with XP. Yeah, now, that the perfect combination between security, innovation, and whatever else Microsoft wanted is here, they'll be like :X:

zeta · Jul 24, 2009

I will have LOTs more to say about this topic after the next MS event I attend at the end of September. The first topic covered will be "Migrating Windows XP to Windows 7". Just wish it wasn't so close to the release date of 7.

However, this is what I have been told so far. There will be NO upgrade package for XP to 7, only Vista to 7. You can purchase 7 and "migrate" from XP to 7 with very few issues. That is, if you know how to "migrate" properly...

There was talk about an "Upgrade Kit" to be released for purchase which would help with the migration process for those who don't understand how it works. No official word about this and I haven't heard a thing about it in well over a month, so...

Like I said, I will have more input after September's event.

draze · Aug 11, 2009

That is interesting, I didn't realize it wouldn't be an "upgrade" for XP users. It wouldn't directly affect me because I usually back up and reinstall ever so often any way. But for some of my friends, this is good info.

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