upgrd from xp to W7, but to a new HHD in same PC
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upgrd from xp to W7, but to a new HHD in same PC
I am new to this forum and find it incredibly helpful and amped that I found it. Hats off to all who contribute.
I am the owner of a small office with 6 PC's running xp pro. Most are Dell, some are old enough to consider replacing, some will be fine for a 32 bit W7 environment and one I want to upgrade to a 64 bit W7.
I heard that with the price of hard drives so affordable ($50), it makes sense to install a new HDD in the upgrade pc's and proceed with the W7 install. But I'd like to confirm this makes sense and is easier, and is not a bad idea to get into a "green" HDD. I found this thread, and was wondering it there was a better one or not. Clean install Win7 in new HDD, w/XP on old HDD?
I also think I could save some money by buying the Home Pre 3 pack and then using the upgrade anytime, and get into W7 Professional for $120 each. Any issues with that idea.
Bottom line for me is to confirm the new hard drive purchase makes the install much easier, cause the backup to external is not necessary. But want to make sure there is a tutorial, YouTube or thread here that describes the best way to accomplish that sort of backup. My plan is to come in on a weekend and upgrade several pc's at a time.
For a typical office user, email, word, outlook, etc, what series of Dell's are popular. Optiplex or Vostro's. One box will hold our UPS shipping server.
Would I install the Quickbooks Enterprise 5 seat edition on the PC of the person mainly using it or should that sit on a more idle pc, as others will need to access it once in a while.
Backup: perhaps another thread to itself, but I seem to be on a roll. Figuring a Synology DS211 with one WD 1TB green drive backing up our Buffalo Link Station file server. Is synology's (backup PC's to DiskStation) software better than what is built into W7. The DiskStation would backup the PC's and the Link Station.
Going to replace 10/100 switch with a gigabit switch. Thanks for any help or suggestions.
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All sounds good.
Keep in mind that if you get a new hd, that you first confirm whether the existing hd is pata (ide) or sata connections. If you want to go "green", those drives are typically sata and older mobos may or may not have sata connecters. If the mobo doesn't, consider a pci sata controller card. Also, consider space limitations on the Dells, dependeing on their form-factor.
I would install Quickbooks on an idle pc or even a server so others can access it more easily.
Kuddos for replacing the switch :)
Re backup. I am not familiar with Synology, however, I am not impressed with the software built into 7, so I'd go with Synology...
Good luck
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I'll deal with the dual boot and leave the other questions to those more knowledgeable about office software.
For the dual boot desired unplug XP hd during install - just pull the two plugs firmly but carefully - then swap the cable to the new HD or set it to boot first in BIOS setup, after DVD drive.
After Win7 install, plug back in the XP HD to boot it via the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key which every computer and mobo has:
Asus - F8
HP/Compaq - Esc
Sony - F2
Acer - F12
Gateway - F10
eMachnes - F10
Toshiba - F12
Dell - F12
IBM/Lenovo - the blue Thinkvantage button
This keeps the HD's independent to come and go as you please, while each will still be accessible to the other for accessing data. If you have permissions issues for copying over files, just place this shortcut on your rightclick context menu to take control of any folder/file: Take Ownership Shortcut
If you'd like to set up one HD as the template install for most of the other computers, after install and setting up all programs/settings you could SysPrep the HD which removes all drivers and activation to prepare the HD's image to start up on any hardware: Windows 7 Installation - Transfer to a New Computer. The image may start up on same models without SysPrep.
I'd keep Win7 backup images of each install anyway so you never have to reinstall again, just reimage the HD or it's replacement in 20 minutes using DVD with stored image.
Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup
Backup User and System Files
If you use the upgrade version to clean install Win7 without XP plugged in, the DVD will not see another OS to pass flag allowing Upgrade version key up front during install. So leave the box blank and after install do the simple registry workaround here to activate at Computer>Properties: Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version
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I also think I could save some money by buying the Home Pre 3 pack and then using the upgrade anytime, and get into W7 Professional for $120 each. Any issues with that idea.
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Why waste money on Home Pre 3 pack, when you can do a clean install with Pro.
Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version
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I also think I could save some money by buying the Home Pre 3 pack and then using the upgrade anytime, and get into W7 Professional for $120 each. Any issues with that idea.
.
Why
waste money on Home Pre 3 pack, when you can do a clean install with Pro.
Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version
Well, the 3 pack would be $40 per pc, plus the Anytime which is $80, so for 120 I have an upgrade. Sounds like it would save a bit, and from what I read, it is all installed anyway in the home premium, just extra modules are turned on in the Anytime Upgrade.
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For the dual boot desired unplug XP hd during install - just pull the two plugs firmly but carefully - then swap the cable to the new HD or set it to boot first in BIOS setup, after DVD drive.
Sounds like the option to change the boot order is easiest. But, can we back up a bit. Install new HDD and format it ??(fat or ntsb)...?? restart dell and get into the Bios edit mode, change the boot order to DVD, then new HD then old drive. install upgrade DVD, continue boot up, into the upgrade UI. Good so far?
finish the install but ignore the Auto activate option for now.
If there are slave primary jumpers on the old drive, would I be switching them in the previous steps?
Do a restart if no upgrades are in progress, and F12 it (one-time BIOS Boot Menu key for Dell) and...... I think I am lost now. I know I want to change the boot order back to New HD, DVD, old HD, but when or how will the new upgrade install see the XP version on the old HD. Dang, almost to complicated.
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Theog,
Option one on the link above sounds pretty straight forward.
Install new drive, if there are jumpers on the old drive, leave them as is.
change boot order to dvd, new drive, old drive
accomplish clean install at boot without auto activating.
Somewhere along the line the install will see the XP image on the old drive.
If I encounter activation issues, refer to option 3, the registry workaround.
Am I getting this right?
thanks for your help.
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If you leave the XP HD plugged in, the Win7 installer will see it and allow use of Upgrade version key during install without having to do the registry workaround in tutorial. It will also autoconfigure a Windows-managed Dual Boot menu during install.
However the Win7 HD will then be interlocked with XP HD with the System boot files placed on XP HD. This will require recovering the System boot files back into Win7 partition in order to remove XP later.
It is easier to unplug the XP HD during install to set up a BIOS-based Dual Boot. It requires doing the quick registry workaround in tutorial in order to activate, but the drives remain independent booted only via the BIOS so that they can come and go as you please.
When you first plug in the new HD, you may need to initialize it in XP Disk Mgmt. If not, use the Win7 installer Custom>Drive Options to create New partitions and Format before install.
Last edited by gregrocker; 02 Feb 2011 at 23:06.
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Re backup. I am not familiar with Synology, however, I am not impressed with the software built into 7, so I'd go with Synology...
What are some features of W7 backup that are weak in you opinion. at first glance it seems pretty user friendly.
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Re backup. I am not familiar with Synology, however, I am not impressed with the software built into 7, so I'd go with Synology...
What are some features of W7 backup that are weak in you opinion. at first glance it seems pretty user friendly.
Hello rickharp, welcome to Seven Forums!
A lot of people have serious issues with the Windows backup program.
If you have data for the business you don't want to lose, check into a paid option like Paragon.
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