Upgrading to Windows 7

[JP]

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

 

[Rick Rogers]

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 - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Richard Urban]

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

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.

 

[gregg]

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

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

 

[Leroy]

The new Windows 7 Answers Forum:
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/windows7

 

[nomore]

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.

 

[Gordon]

In fact, I am going to see if I can simply upgrade in place the RC to the
shipping version.

You can't according to this:
http://social.answers.microsoft.com...7/thread/efad6118-a11c-4a5f-aea6-48c500b7ebcd

And in any case, do you really want the possibility of bits of RC code still
on your machine?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

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?

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, MVP]

You can't according to this:
http://social.answers.microsoft.com...7/thread/efad6118-a11c-4a5f-aea6-48c500b7ebcd

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
http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-upgrade-windows-7-rc-to-rtm/

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

And in any case, do you really want the possibility of bits of RC code still
on your machine?

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

 

[Bill Yanaire]

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.

So you recommend an upgrade and then you say "almost everything works
usually well"?

A clean install is usually recommended. If the existing system has
problems, they can be carried over to the new version. Upgrading is not
recommended by most.

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.

HA - Why waste your time to upgrade then do a clean install when you figured
out your system is hosed? Give me a break.

You must not be a professional.