As I’m walking down the hallway, I passed a couple of fellow peers and I over-heard them a bit talking about Windows 7 and Snow-leopard… The curious part is the comments about how one was much easier than the other (depending on which side of this non-argument you believe, one can imagine which one is supposedly “Harder”).
So, that was not the interesting part…the interest part is the hear all of the comments that are…well, that just plain wrong. Like, gee if you are moving from Windows XP to Windows 7, you have to lose everything. Your settings, your programs…everything. Now that’s interesting. Clearly these folks have #1 never migrated from Windows XP to Windows 7, #2 never moved from one piece of Apple Hardware or OS to another (or if they have then backward capability is really a non-issue), #3 like so many other people they listen to the false or inaccurate information whose source is most likely from either MS haters or Apple Fan-Boys, or #4 they simply don’t really care what OS they are on but they like to repeat what they think know about something new that is buzzing in technology. Personally, I could give a crap.
Now, if someone where to ask me, “Hey, can I move from Windows XP to WIndows 7 and not lose any of my settings or Programs?” – My response would be…Yes, this you can. However, there are some things you need to know along the way to getting your old XP computer up and running on Windows 7. Of course at the “However” part one expects to hear the “OMFG, it’s the end of the Fracking world as I know it…I’m switching! to Apple”. Yeah…ok. In response I would just say that the stuff you need to know along the way is by no means the end of everything (like the end of the Aztec calendar 2012).
So what do you need to know. First I would recommend that you search for and run MS Capability Utility for Windows 7 (I believe this in on the install disc for Windows 7) on your hardware- you will get a report that shows you what hardware issues you may have. It will also show you what software will misbehave once it’s running under Windows 7.
Next, there are programs on the market that will store off your settings and programs (Like PC Mover- it works fine with XP and Windows 7). You will need this if you want all of your old junk back on your computer. Now if you just want you document files and your personal windows settings, then built into Windows XP/7 is a transfer my settings application (lots of info on the Web about both of these).
And lastly, find a program that will make an complete image of your current Windows XP PC to removable media like a DVD or CDR. You may decide to go back to Windows XP…this image will make that possible.
So in a nutshell to migrate from Windows XP to Windows 7:
If you want all of your programs and setting to migrate from Windows XP to Windows 7, you will need something like PC Mover. If you just want your documents and general settings you can use the built-in transfer my settings application.
Make a complete image of your Windows XP pc before you start the migration. This is insurance in case you decide to go back to your old Windows XP.
Follow the directions written by Microsoft, or least written by a non Apple-Fanboy. There is a Capability Utility that will fine most major issues with your hardware and Windows 7.
Sidebar: hardware issues generally occur because there’s not a hardware driver that works with Windows 7. I personally ran into this issue. The best way to approach the problem is once Windows 7 is installed use Windows Update to try to fine and install an updated driver. Next course of action would be to get as much information about the piece of hardware and try to search the internet yourself for a Windows 7 driver (you bet that if more than two of your hardware was sold to anyone in the world…then you are not alone with the issue you maybe seeing).
Ok, back to using my Windows 7 (in a previous life Windows XP laptop… I really do need to clean off some old apps).
~cse
cse
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