Things before upgrading from vista to windows 7 please help!

johnnydaman · 18 Dec 2010

I am getting a Windows 7 upgrade for Christmas and i want it to be a "fresh" install but i have read that you cant do this. I have been told that if i want to do this i will have to reformat the disk . If i do reformat the disk, will it go back to be as fast as it was when i first got it?

Also, there is a few files like some pictures and microsoft word 2007 that i would want to keep. Is there any way to backup these before i reformat the disk?

also, any tips before upgrading? thanks

Additional:

I have windows vista home premium 64bit
toshiba satellite a500
500gb memory
4gb ram

Brink · 18 Dec 2010

Hello Johnny, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Yes, you can do a clean install with a upgrade copy of Windows 7. The tutorial below can help show you how to if you like.

Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

You could just manually copy and paste the files to say a USB flash drive to back them up, and copy them back after installing Windows 7. All of your programs and Windows 7 drivers will have to be reinstalled though.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

pebbly · 18 Dec 2010

Hi johnnydaman, Welcome to the forums read these excellent tutorials Upgrade Install with Windows 7 and Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version these may help you :)

johnnydaman · 18 Dec 2010

Brink said:

Hello Johnny, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Yes, you can do a clean install with a upgrade copy of Windows 7. The tutorial below can help show you how to.

Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

You could just manually copy and paste the files to say a USB flash drive to back them up, and copy them back after installing Windows 7. All of your programs and Windows 7 drivers will have to be reinstalled though.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

thanks very much. basically why i want to reformat is because some people have told me that it goes back to its factory settings and can speed up the computer.

when i install windows 7 i want it to be like i have got a new laptop with factory settings but i only want to keep win microsoft word and some pictures. would it be a good idea to copy and paste microsoft word and the pictures onto a usb drive then reformat vista, then install windows 7 so it will be like new? i want it like new because i have so much stuff in vista and so many hidden files that i just want to clear it...

also if i copy microsoft word onto the usb drive then copy it back onto windows 7 will i have to type the license code in again. sorry for all the questions, i dont know a lot about computers

.

ps thanks for welcoming me :P

ignatzatsonic · 18 Dec 2010

johnnydaman said:

thanks very much. basically why i want to reformat is because some people have told me that it goes back to its factory settings and can speed up the computer.

when i install windows 7 i want it to be like i have got a new laptop with factory settings but i only want to keep win microsoft word and some pictures. would it be a good idea to copy and paste microsoft word and the pictures onto a usb drive then reformat vista, then install windows 7 so it will be like new? i want it like new because i have so much stuff in vista and so many hidden files that i just want to clear it...

also if i copy microsoft word onto the usb drive then copy it back onto windows 7 will i have to type the license code in again. sorry for all the questions, i dont know a lot about computers

.

ps thanks for welcoming me :P

You CANNOT copy the Word program. You have to reinstall it. A "clean install" means that you are wiping the hard drive and starting from the ground up. You will have to reinstall all programs.

But you CAN AND SHOULD copy your personal Word documents, pictures, email, and bookmarks to another drive of some kind before you install Windows 7. If you don't, they are gone.

You will need all the license codes for Word and any other programs you use. You will need your original installation discs for those programs.