Windows 7: upgrade backup question

i have vista right now and just got win 7 premium. so what all do i need to back up before i run the install. also any advice or things i should know before i upgrade?

Back up your personal data, bookmarks, and email.

Begin the install with only 1 hard drive connected--the one that will receive Windows 7.

Decide on your partition scheme, whatever it might be.

After you finish, get anti-virus going, get an Internet connection going, go to Windows Update and get all the important and critical updates. Then think about installing your programs and restoring your backed up data.

Two ways to go.

1. Backup just your data (docs, pics, music, videos, etc).
2. Do a full backup of the entire Vista boot drive.

Preferred way is #2 as that gives you full access to everything that was on your Vista disc after Windows 7 is installed.

An external hard drive is the only useful way to do a full image backup. If backing up just data then CDs, DVDs or flash drives will do the trick.

A good, free backup program is Macrium Reflect Free.

ok any advise on if i should go to 32 bit or 64 bit. i currently have a dell xps 410 its a 2.2 gig (ithink) core 2 duo with 2 gig ram. i have 2 more gig to install after the upgrade though

I'd go with 32 bit on 4gb RAM since some is reserved for hardware. You can find out how much by typing Resource Monitor in Start Search box, click on Memory tab to look at a graph.

I would definitely get a Clean Install Windows 7 instead of in-place Upgrade. When you boot the installer it will see an OS on the HD to allow use of Upgrade version key during install.

However if you're set on it here is A simple guide to a successful in-place upgrade - Windows 7 Forums

The way I back up is to drag the active User folders to external, then after install open each one, on Organize tab Select All, drag the group to the corresponding User folder in Explorer tree at left - making sure not to release the left click until Explorer stops unfolding and confirms your copy location.

i already have the win 7 upgrade vista to 7. i got it cheep so thats why i went that way. is it going to delete all my games and everything when i upgrade?

You can do a Clean Install or an In-Place Upgrade with Windows 7 Upgrade version.

A Clean Install starts over fresh but requires that you back up your files first, then afterwards reinstall your programs and files from scratch.

The in-place upgrade keeps all your programs, files and settings in place while changing from Vista to Windows 7. However you should back up your files in case of rare failure.

The difference is that the Clean Install is cleaner and may yield better performance. But you can try the In-Place first to see how that works for you.

Read the two blue links above to understand the difference in what's involved.

ok thanx you guys have been alot of help. im thinking clean might be the way to just go get the most out of the computer.

Here are some other tips to help you get a perfect clean install:

Back up your files externally by dragging your named User account or active User folders to another HD, external drive, flash stick or disk. Don't forget to export your browser bookmarks first. If your email is stored on computer, Google how to back up mail and account settings.

Make your Recovery Disks so you have a path back to factory condition, following the steps given in your PC's setup literature or in the Manual located on the Support Downloads webpage for your model computer. As an alternative to Recovery Disks you can save a Windows 7 Backup Image or Macrium Image of the entire HD.

Run an audit of hardware and software including installed Product Keys using Belarc Advisor.


Gather your program installers. For those lacking disks, you may find them on the program's Support Downloads webpage. Favorite pre-installed apps may be found on the Downloads webpage for your model computer or manufacturer-provided Apps Disk. Others may be found by googling. Some pre-installed apps may not be available for clean reinstall - HP owners see additional note below.

Unplug all other HD's and peripherals, Boot the Windows 7 installer, choose Custom Install, then Drive Options (Advanced) to Delete all partitions not needed, repartition as desired following illustrated steps given here: Clean Install Windows 7.
● If you have a Recovery or OEM tools partition, these may not run after clean reinstall so be sure to make your Recovery Disks.
● You can wait until afterwards to see if Recovery or (Diagnostics) Tools partitions will run from boot to decide if you want to delete those partitions and recover the space into C or elsewhere (using Step 3 here).
● If you don't want to keep any partitions but also don't have a new partition scheme in mind, just click Next after Deleting all to let the installer create and format your installation partition for you.

The installer is mostly driver-complete, with newer arriving quickly via optional Windows Updates. Just in case, have your Wireless or Ethernet LAN driver on flash stick or CD so you can install it to get online quickly - these can be found on the Support Downloads webpage for your model computer . Then enable hardware driver auto-updating and check for optional Updates.

Any drivers still missing in Device Manager after several rounds of Updates can be found on the Support Downloads webpage for your model computer or device, along with possibly needed hotfixes which you can also wait to see if you need. Driver Install - Device Manager

Install updates and then programs slowly over time to gauge performance changes after each. You can roll back most any Program installs or Update using System Restore.

Don't let any programs write themselves into msconfig>Startup as they slow startup, become freeloaders on your RAM/CPU and can spy on you.
As illustrated in Startup Programs - Change uncheck everything except AV and gadgets (aka "sidebar") in msconfig>Startup.
Then after reboots do the same in msconfig>Services after checking "Hide All MS Services."
Check back with both lists periodically to see if anything writes itself back in and turn it off in its Program Preferences or Uninstall it.
● If you have any questions about a listing, Google it to learn what it does.

Use a lightweight free AV like Microsoft Security Essentials which works perfectly with the Windows 7 Firewall. If you're prone to infection add the paid real-time protection for Malwarebytes otherwise run its excellent free scanner monthly.

When finished, clean and order the HD perfectly using state-of-the-art free CCleaner "Run Cleaner" button and Registry tab, then Puran boot-time defragger + Full Disk Check after checking Intelligent Optimizer on Additional Operations tab.

Finally, save a Windows 7 Backup image externally so you never have to reinstall again just reimage the HD or it's replacement using DVD/Repair CD with the stored image.

tada,
You have received some excellent advice, although my experiences and advice given from MS (I'll try to find the precise link for MS.) is:
Go with the 64 bit version if you have the 64 bit version and your computer is capable of running the 64 bit version. This is my direct experience on a laptop on which I had originally installed the 32bit version and then later the 64 bit version. With 64 bit I have a slight performance improvement.

32-bit and 64-bit Windows: frequently asked questions

You will find answers to all 32/64 bit questions there.