Backup Vista and Restore to W7

[Rapporman]

I have a PC running Vista which I now wish to discontinue and upgrade the OS to W7. Can I do a backup of my files and folders on Vista using, say Easeus and then restore them to the new W7 OS. Is this possible or will there be compatibility problems?

 

[SIW2]

If it is just personal folders, then you can use anything - you could just zip them up.

If you mean programs (or anything which requires registry entries for example) then they will need to be reinstalled. Portable programs should be ok.

You might want to make an image of your vista installation, always better to be safe.

I would suggest Aomei Backupper for that, sounds like you already have an imaging program, it is probably fine also.

IIRC you can do an upgrade install from Vista to 7. That should keep your settings and programs, with a bit of luck. I would still make an image of vista first.

If you follow tutorial below, probably best not to tick "go online get updates while installing".

Upgrade Install with Windows 7

 

[Rapporman]

Many thanks S1W2. I will not go down the Upgrade route from Vista to W7, as I would imagine this infers Microsoft will require an upgrade fee. I already have a retail version of W7 on another PC which I have used for some time now but I thought it was about time I backed up my personal files and folders on my Vista PC and restore them to my current W7 PC.

Thank you once again

 

[RolandJS]

One can copy the AppData local, locallow, roaming directories for almost all configurations, after one has reinstalled all the programs. It will take some diddling and restarts to smooth things over and out.

 

[Rapporman]

One can copy the AppData local, locallow, roaming directories for almost all configurations, after one has reinstalled all the programs. It will take some diddling and restarts to smooth things over and out.

I very much regret to say Roland JS but I did not understand your reply. Unfortunately, my knowledge of computer terms is rather limited and I have no idea what AppData local, Locallow or roaming directories mean. Really, all I wanted to know is "can I backup my personal files and folders on my Vista PC and restore them to my other PC running W7" and I am hoping your reply means I can.

 

[RolandJS]

Ahhh, maybe I missed the question! Personal folders and files -- do that mean folders containing stuff you downloaded, you wrote, your pictures, and stuff like that? If yes, then absolutely you can extract those folders and files from an image pot, or you can copy the folders [and files] from the original hard-drive, and copy them onto your Windows 7! If you are meaning the stuff within Libraries, that will take a little more geekiness to copy.