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Upgrading to Windows 7

Discussion in 'Windows Vista' started by JP, Oct 16, 2009.

  1. JP

    JP Guest

    This may not be the right place to ask this but I am unable to find a Winows
    7 newsgroup.

    I would like to install Windows 7 on top of my existing Vista Ultimate
    installation thus retaining all the programs and data. I realise this may
    not be the best way to move to the new OS but I can't bear the thought of
    having to reinstall all the programs if I do a clean install. Will it be
    possible to do this and if so, what are the drawbacks?

    JP
     
    JP, Oct 16, 2009
    #1
  3. theog

    theog Guest

    theog, Oct 16, 2009
    #2
  4. Rick Rogers

    Rick Rogers Guest

    Hi,

    Yes it's possible and there are no drawbacks. Make sure the system is clean
    (meaning no bugs or malware) prior to upgrading, and that the software that
    you wish to carry forward is compliant with Wn7 (for the most part if it's
    compatible with Vista it'll be ok in Win7). While not required, I would
    suggest disabling your antivirus product during the upgrade to prevent
    conflicts.

    --
    Best of Luck,

    Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

    Windows help -

    "JP" <JP@nomail> wrote in message
    news:OPNk8kjTKHA.3392@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > This may not be the right place to ask this but I am unable to find a
    > Winows 7 newsgroup.
    >
    > I would like to install Windows 7 on top of my existing Vista Ultimate
    > installation thus retaining all the programs and data. I realise this may
    > not be the best way to move to the new OS but I can't bear the thought of
    > having to reinstall all the programs if I do a clean install. Will it be
    > possible to do this and if so, what are the drawbacks?
    >
    > JP <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
     
    Rick Rogers, Oct 16, 2009
    #3
  5. Richard Urban

    Richard Urban Guest

    "JP" <JP@nomail> wrote in message
    news:OPNk8kjTKHA.3392@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > This may not be the right place to ask this but I am unable to find a
    > Winows 7 newsgroup.
    >
    > I would like to install Windows 7 on top of my existing Vista Ultimate
    > installation thus retaining all the programs and data. I realise this may
    > not be the best way to move to the new OS but I can't bear the thought of
    > having to reinstall all the programs if I do a clean install. Will it be
    > possible to do this and if so, what are the drawbacks?
    >
    > JP<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->



    Unlike most others, I always take the opportunity to perform a clean install
    when approaching a new operating system!

    With the classes of malware out in the wild today one can never be more that
    99% certain that their computer does not already have a root kit installed,
    along with a key logger. I use the opportunity to be 100% sure that my new
    system is actually clean. I then image the system "BEFORE" it has a chance
    to possibly become infected.

    --

    Richard Urban
    Microsoft MVP
    Windows Desktop Experience & Security
     
    Richard Urban, Oct 16, 2009
    #4
  6. gregg

    gregg Guest

    "JP" <JP@nomail> wrote in message
    news:OPNk8kjTKHA.3392@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > This may not be the right place to ask this but I am unable to find a
    > Winows 7 newsgroup.
    >
    > I would like to install Windows 7 on top of my existing Vista Ultimate
    > installation thus retaining all the programs and data. I realise this may
    > not be the best way to move to the new OS but I can't bear the thought of
    > having to reinstall all the programs if I do a clean install. Will it be
    > possible to do this and if so, what are the drawbacks?
    >
    > JP<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->

    An upgrade vs. clean install is an excruciatingly slow install and there is
    "always" a more likely possibility that there is going to be some conflict
    which keeps the install from completeing. With the way the Application Data
    in Vista and Windows 7 is identically configured, it is easy to paste the
    folders you need into Win7 so that when you do reinstall your programs, they
    will be identically configured and have all the data as they did in Vista. I
    don't find their to be really much time difference either way. The clean
    install just takes more "work", but you also get the chance to cull unneeded
    or unused programs. I always keep a folder of all my installers, so that I
    can always easily reinstall or install on another system. This is helpful
    and makes the task really much easier. For a very inexperienced user the
    upgrade may be a better option, but for most I really don't see a clean
    install being that trying.

    Gregg
     
    gregg, Oct 16, 2009
    #5
  7. lemur

    lemur Guest

    lemur, Oct 16, 2009
    #6
  8. Leroy

    Leroy Guest

    The new Windows 7 Answers Forum:



    JP wrote:<!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > This may not be the right place to ask this but I am unable to find a
    > Winows 7 newsgroup.
    >
    > I would like to install Windows 7 on top of my existing Vista Ultimate
    > installation thus retaining all the programs and data. I realise this
    > may not be the best way to move to the new OS but I can't bear the
    > thought of having to reinstall all the programs if I do a clean
    > install. Will it be possible to do this and if so, what are the drawbacks?
    >
    > JP<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
     
    Leroy, Oct 16, 2009
    #7
  9. nomore

    nomore Guest

    A dose of reality:
    Win7 is a better form of Vista.
    It is less than sarcasm to call Win7 Vista SP3. As such in-place installs
    should not be problematic in the sense that in-place upgrades from XP to
    Vista are likely to be.
    In fact, I am going to see if I can simply upgrade in place the RC to the
    shipping version.
    The release candidate of Win64 that has been out there for a while is
    lacking drivers for many common recent Intel based laptop motherboard
    devices and Vista counterparts do not uniformly recognize the Win7 OS or
    work properly, most notably Bluetooth. There are several bugs in all
    versions of Win7RC that I have seen on a variety of platforms that had
    better be fixed in the shipping version, the worst of which is the way
    clicking through folders in Explorer loses the focus on what you have just
    clicked.
     
    nomore, Oct 16, 2009
    #8
  10. Gordon

    Gordon Guest

    Gordon, Oct 16, 2009
    #9
  11. Ken Blake, MVP

    Ken Blake, MVP Guest

    On Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:18:26 +0100, "JP" <JP@nomail> wrote:
    <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > This may not be the right place to ask this but I am unable to find a Winows
    > 7 newsgroup.
    >
    > I would like to install Windows 7 on top of my existing Vista Ultimate
    > installation thus retaining all the programs and data. I realise this may
    > not be the best way to move to the new OS but I can't bear the thought of
    > having to reinstall all the programs if I do a clean install. Will it be
    > possible to do this and if so, what are the drawbacks?<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->


    Yes, it's possible, and yes, I definitely recommend that you do an
    upgrade, rather than a clean installation.

    Although many people will tell you that formatting and installing
    cleanly is the best way to go, I disagree. Unlike with previous
    versions of Windows, an upgrade to Vista replaces almost everything,
    and usually works very well.

    My recommendation is to at least try the upgrade, since it's much
    easier than a clean installation. You can always change your mind and
    reinstall cleanly if problems develop.

    However, don't assume that doing an upgrade relieves you of the need
    to backup your data, etc. before beginning. Before starting to
    upgrade, it's always prudent to recognize that things like a sudden
    power loss can occur in the middle of it and cause the loss of
    everything. For that reason you should make sure you have backups and
    anything else you need to reinstall if the worst happens.

    --
    Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
    Please Reply to the Newsgroup
     
    Ken Blake, MVP, Oct 16, 2009
    #10
  12. Ken Blake, MVP

    Ken Blake, MVP Guest

    On Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:57:37 +0100, "Gordon" <gordonbparker@yahoo.com>
    wrote:
    <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    >
    > "nomore" <fac_187@hotmail.com> wrote in message
    > news:etbDLYnTKHA.4704@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
    > <!--coloro:green--><span style="color:green <!--/coloro-->
    > > In fact, I am going to see if I can simply upgrade in place the RC to the
    > > shipping version.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->
    >
    > You can't according to this:
    > <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->


    Despite Microsoft's saying you can't do it, in fact you can. There is
    a workaround that lets you do it. You can read about it here


    or on several other web sites that can be found by doing a search.

    <!--coloro:blue--><span style="color:blue <!--/coloro-->
    > And in any case, do you really want the possibility of bits of RC code still
    > on your machine? <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->


    I did that upgrade almost two months ago, and the results have been
    just fine.

    --
    Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
    Please Reply to the Newsgroup
     
    Ken Blake, MVP, Oct 16, 2009
    #11

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