is it better to just upgrade from Vista to Windows 7?

[Wii Master 64]

I think upgrading is easier, but I'm not sure if it's the best way out, all though, when 7 comes out, it will be my first time to ever install a new OS onto a computer. so, is it best to just upgrade? and when my copy arrives, can I just pop the DVD in there and upgrade it just like that? or is there some complicated process to prepare for all this?

 

[zigzag3143]

upgrade vs clean install

I think upgrading is easier, but I'm not sure if it's the best way out, all though, when 7 comes out, it will be my first time to ever install a new OS onto a computer. so, is it best to just upgrade? and when my copy arrives, can I just pop the DVD in there and upgrade it just like that? or is there some complicated process to prepare for all this?

First welcome to SF

Upgrading is easier but not recommended by even MS. Clean installs are a PITA but you dont want to upgrade your brand spanking new OS with all your old vista problems. there is a way to just import your settings, etc. Look in the tutorials section here at SF.

As to how you do it yep you pop the dvd in (assuming your computer can boot from it--check in your BIOS) boot from it and away you go. at the end you are going to have to upgrade any drivers that win 7 doesn't have (like a graphics driver, networking, ) but win 7 has most of the popular drivers. You need to make sure you are installing the correct version of windows (32 bit or 64 if your computer can run it) and the correct version basic, home, ultimate, etc that you want. Its not rocket science and everyone here can help. Its one reason why we are here. One thing I would do is to make a backup just in case

SO ask questions

I hope this has helped and feel free to ask more

Ken

 

[Wii Master 64]

another thing, I've heard that the upgrade can be buggy. is this true?

 

[Wii Master 64]

plus, I want to keep all my settings, apps, browsers, etc. on my computer without having to wipe my hard drive to install this thing.

 

[Frostbite]

Are you thinking of upgrading to Windows 7 RC now or just when it comes out in October?

 

[zigzag3143]

upgrade

another thing, I've heard that the upgrade can be buggy. is this true?

Yes this is true

Ken

 

[zigzag3143]

plus, I want to keep all my settings, apps, browsers, etc. on my computer without having to wipe my hard drive to install this thing.

After clean install (if you have the disk space and right version of win 7) you can import you settings and preferences. I know its a pain to have to re-install all the apps, settings, browsers, serial numbers, passwords, etc. I has been done and in other cases it has screwed up a new install so you decide

Ken

 

[Wii Master 64]

Yes this is true

Ken

is it always buggy? or does it just happen to random people?

and, which versions of windows 7 allow you to import setting and preferences from your old OS (say, vista home premium)?

 

[zigzag3143]

clean vs upgrade

is it always buggy? or does it just happen to random people?

and, which versions of windows 7 allow you to import setting and preferences from your old OS (say, vista home premium)?

Its not always buggy (a small % are) and all versions of windows allow you to import settings and prefs. there is a tutorial on it in the tutorial section here @SF

Ken

 

[Wii Master 64]

ok cool, ill try to find it. how much diskspace do you have to have to be able to move all your preferences and stuff? I have 154GB free of 222GB. I would think that is enough, but you know, I just want to be safe. oh, I forgot to ask, when you clean install, do you have to copy your hard drive onto a DVD to be able to move your system files and preferences?

 

[pparks1]

Personally, I don't upgrade anything. I always start with a clean slate and I always feel that I have better results because of it. Just take the time ahead of time to backup your data, copy your browser favorites and go for it. People are often surprised how much quicker their computers run after a clean installation.

 

[Wii Master 64]

hmm, okay. after all, I'm trying to make my final decision before october comes around (I don't want to take the time to try and install the RC due to the fact I don't understand dual booting and I don't have a blank DVD sitting around). and how do you back-up data? put it on a DVD? make a system restore (which vista does automatically now and then)? sorry about all the questions, I'm a noob at installing operating systems and stuff (like I said before, I've never done it, and this year I'll be starting my freshman year of high school; sorry about so many parentheses ).

 

[zigzag3143]

upgrade vs clean

ok cool, ill try to find it. how much diskspace do you have to have to be able to move all your preferences and stuff? I have 154GB free of 222GB. I would think that is enough, but you know, I just want to be safe. oh, I forgot to ask, when you clean install, do you have to copy your hard drive onto a DVD to be able to move your system files and preferences?

thats certainly enough HD space. Clean install means just that. No importing, re-installing all the apps, settings, etc. a PITA to sure but the best way by far to install. It makes so much difference that I do a clean install every 4 months.

Ken

 

[Wii Master 64]

thats certainly enough HD space. Clean install means just that. No importing, re-installing all the apps, settings, etc. a PITA to sure but the best way by far to install. It makes so much difference that I do a clean install every 4 months.

Ken

what, exactly, do you mean by "no importing"? no importing what? and another thing, if you have to use a blank DVD to reinstall everything, how are you supposed to put it in when you have the windows 7 install disk in the drive? or do you do all that when it's already installed? and how do you move files (or burn) to a DVD from vista? if you want, you could give me some links to some threads in the tutorials section on all this if you're getting tired of explaining. I can't find anything....

 

[pparks1]

and how do you back-up data? put it on a DVD?

Personally, I prefer to copy the data to an external hard drive. They are very inexpensive these days. I'd suggest a western digital passport drive as it's a 2.5 notebook drive that you can connect via USB and it power itself from the USB port. Then just drag and drop over the stuff that you want to make sure is backed up. It's a good insurance plan for those valuable things like pictures and so forth that you simply cannot replace.

 

[Wii Master 64]

hmmm, okay (guess that means i need to put more stuff on ebay lol). so, can you actually just do a clean install without moving everything? or what? ive been watching youtube videos on how to do all this stuff and it looks like you could do a clean install and keep everything...although, that doesn't make sense because it's a clean install. im confused!

 

[Wii Master 64]

also, i bought the windows 7 upgrade disk for $50. can I do a clean install with that disk? in microsoft's product description, they said you could, but microsoft has it's ways of wheeling and dealing. so, what do you guys have to say to that?

 

[pparks1]

Yes, you can use the upgrade disk and do a clean install. You will just have to provide the previous OS disc during the process.

When you do a clean install, you do just that. You typically format the partition and load from scratch. Which pretty much means that all of your data files are wiped out.

Now, what I often do is break my hard drive into at least 2 partitions. My OS of course lives on the C drive and I often put data, downloads, music, videos and everything else on the D drive. Therefore, during the OS install, I just overwrite the data on C and leave D totally intact. But even though I do this, I always make sure to have a backup/secondary copy on an external hard drive...just in case something bad happens and my D drive gets wiped out.

 

[zigzag3143]

clean vs upgrade

what, exactly, do you mean by "no importing"? no importing what? and another thing, if you have to use a blank DVD to reinstall everything, how are you supposed to put it in when you have the windows 7 install disk in the drive? or do you do all that when it's already installed? and how do you move files (or burn) to a DVD from vista? if you want, you could give me some links to some threads in the tutorials section on all this if you're getting tired of explaining. I can't find anything....

Ok lets look at this another way clean=formated partition nothing left.
Upgrade means old OS (vista) is imported into windows with your setting and preference.

With a clean install you dont move files or burn files from vista they are thrown away. GONE. here is a link to the tutorial section look under whatever letter you want but you should start learning this stuff.

So now you have it? either upgrade vista to win 7, or just install win 7 and delete the vista files.
Ken

 

[Wii Master 64]

so, what you are saying is that, in order to do a clean install with a windows 7 upgrade disk, i have to reinstall vista? oh crap...im in for it now, my vista came preinstalled, and im not going to spend $150 just to go out and buy it again then install a totally new OS! if that's the case, then im upgrading.