SOS for OS upgrade

[freefall]

Greetings...
I would like to try and do something I have never done before, and could sure use some support and guidance. I would like to upgrade my factory installed Vista to Windows Seven. I plan to purchase a new, complete, retail copy of a 32 bit W7 program on Ebay with the product key, to install in my Dell Dimension E521.
My plans are to save all important files onto a CD Rom prior to doing anything else.
Here is what I am unsure of:
Do I remove all Vista programs from my computer before I install, or will the new program do that for me?
Do I need any addition software or drivers to install W7?
Is there anything I need to know/do before I try this, other than what I have already mentioned?
I will greatly appreciate any and all input.
Dan

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi and welcome to SevenForums,
Good luck with ebay
Best to just get a tried and true system builder from Newegg.com
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit - Operating Systems - Newegg.com

 

[AddRAM]

You will never find a legitimate Retail copy of Windows 7 on Ebay, no matter what anyone tells you. You will get ripped off


I would not use Ebay, buy it from Newegg, as Mike has already suggested.

You shouldn`t need any drivers during the install, but get the network drivers now, so you can install them and get online.

Just go to Dell and punch in your model. See if the have drivers for Windows 7. Dells are a PITA.

You don`t have to remove anything, just delete all partitions when you install W7, then just click next.

Or if you want you can create a partition to install windows on.

What is the size of the drive you intend to use ?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

In my opinion a Partition Wizard Boot CD is the best tool you can use to setup your drive.

https://www.partitionwizard.com/partition-wizard-bootable-cd.html

 

[freefall]

TrashZone, thanks for the quick reply.

I'm sensing Ebay is not the place to shop for programs.

As you can probably tell I'm new to upgrades, having blissfully used my Vista for many years. I've been shopping around and find I'm more than a bit confused as to what to buy and why. Having been recently disabled I'm currently on tight budget and hoping to save as much as I can on this.

This system builder you speak of, is it everything I might need to do an install and upgrade?

No sarcasm intended, I'm really starting out on this clueless.

 

[AddRAM]

You are not gonna do an upgrade, you are gonna do a clean install.

You want to get rid of every trace of Vista.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

 

[freefall]

AddRAM, thank you for the warning. Any thoughts I had about Ebay are now gone.

I'm not sure what a partition is. Would New Egg offer a Partition Wizard Boot CD?

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
yes Newegg will mail you a dvd and a activation key and is about all you need to install win-7.

You will need to transfer your personal files = not programs.. to another hard drive before installing win-7
Or you can buy a new hard drive or solid state drive and install 7 on it and keep the old hard drive and transfer the files to it after.

 

[freefall]

Thank you TrashZone and AddRam for the links, tips and valuable guidance.

I will follow your generous advice and update you on how it goes.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
If you buy a new hard drive or solid state drive there is no reason to not keep your current Vista intact and dual boot both installs
Albeit Vista is a bit out of date security wise it is still an option to dual boot since win-7 has a totally separate activation key

I use one of these to swap out 2.5" hard drives or solid state drives after shutting down my system
It's great to have
Amazon.com: Vantec 2.5-Inch Dual Bay Trayless SATA III - 6G Mobile Rack (MRK-225S6-BK): Computers & Accessories

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Here it is installed

 

[AddRAM]

No, you create a Partition Wizard Bot CD yourself.

All you do is download the iso file then burn to CD.

https://www.partitionwizard.com/partition-wizard-bootable-cd.html

And a partition is a section of a hard drive or it can be the entire hard dive.

Just like a partition divides a house into different rooms, same thing.

Example:

These are all Primary partitions.

 

[freefall]

I'm learning more about this stuff in the past few hours than I have in past few years. You guys are great!

I have checked out all the links, trying to digest all this new information, and have a much better feel for what needs to be done.

I noticed the Newegg link leads to a 64 bit OS, yet current Vista is 32 bit. My E521 is fitted with a AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor. So... I should be able to run a 64 bit OS with no problem, yes?

 

[freefall]

Hi TrashZone. The Duel Bay is cool, but I was thinking of installing the Vista into my wife's old laptop (now loaded with XP) and use it to feed live stream net movies on to the family room TV.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
If Vista came preinstalled on the machine it's on now it's not transferable to another machine
Those are similar to oem/ system builders which are locked to the one computer it's first installed and activate on.

Not sure if this will work on a Vista install or not it's been so long since I've used it
Click the Start button and right click the Computer listing and select Properties
Can also go to Control panel and click on System
All the way at the bottom where it say windows is activated
Does the code say OEM on it ?

http://www.sevenforums.com/windows-...ne-activation-issue-posting-instructions.html

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Is your machine 64 bit okay,
See if this exists,



Unfortunately Newegg is out of 32 bit

We can get you installation media though all you need is the activation key

 

[SIW2]

You can get the installation media from Dell. It should have the needed drivers for your model already included, and it will include some updates. The download is quite big as it contains a lot of language files.

You need the service tag from your machine. E521 Service Tag.
Dell Windows Recovery Image

I just checked, they don't seem to have an image for that machine. You can use the d/l addram suggested.

You might want to extract 3rd party drivers from your Vista installation first. Extract them into a folder, then you can install them after you have installed win7.

You can do it easily with the free double driver

Download Double Driver - MajorGeeks

 

[freefall]

I have to say, I joined this forum looking for help and support, and found plenty of both. You guys are great.
Here is where I'm at:
Following the advice of xania I downloaded a Windows Seven Upgrade advisor. Everything checked out for a 32 bit install, but it was noted I was lacking enough RAM for the 64 bit. Glad I checked first, and thank you xania.
Like TrashZone, I discovered that Newegg was out of stock on 32 bit, so I went shopping and located this click here anyone sees a problem with this program, I'll make the purchase later tonight.
I also followed Burn-it's suggestion to download from Dell all the windows drivers onto an USB.
On the subject of drivers, I checked my old WorksSuite box and all the drivers and disks for Vista are there. Two years ago, after a system crash, one of the techs where I work installed a new, larger capacity hard drive for me. When I went to re-load Vista with the new drive it would not take. I got a MS warning that I was using an illegal copy. I contacted MS and explained what had happened, and was given a reactivation code for the program, which, I was told, would work anytime I might needed to once again re-install. Hanging on to or transferring Vista should should not be a problem should I decide to.
I also found all the install discs and drivers for the devices I use.
Following AddRam's advice I downloaded and saved to disc the Partition Wizard Boot. I also located and bookmarked the link for the MajorGeeks Download Double Driver provided by SIW2.
Tonight I'm planing to save all my files to a brand new USB.
Thanks to everyone's help, I'm feeling pretty confident right now that I can achieve what I had planned do.
My one concern though is something xania noted... "When you run the Windows 7 install, unless you tell it otherwise, it will completely wipe your existing C: drive before starting the install - the alternative to this is possible but I would not recommend you try it."
This sounds a bit ominous. Is having a wipe of my C: drive a good thing, or should I tell it not to?
Seriously, I don't have a clue.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
This one looks okay 64 bit though so like I said we can get you a 32 bit download for that version the key will still activate it
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Microsof...fault&beacon_version=1.0.1&findingMethod=p13n

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html#option2

Well yes you'd want to clean the disk meaning you'd have transfer all your personal files elsewhere well before and confirm those personal files definitely all transferred okay on another machine.

Pretty much why I said buy a new hard drive and do it later
New hard drives are only about 50.us depending on storage size 3.5"
WD Black 500GB Performance Desktop Hard Disk Drive - 7200 RPM SATA 6 Gb/s 64MB Cache 3.5 Inch - WD5003AZEX-Newegg.com

https://www.amazon.com/Black-500GB-Performance-Desktop-Drive/dp/B008968L6M

 

[freefall]

Hi TrashZone,

I did checkout new drives and externals and was tempted, but right now I need to be careful of budget.

At the end of July I was on my knees up on the roof putting some patch around one of skylights in the kitchen. I was not being as careful as I should have, and when I stood up I stepped back on the can lid which caused me to slide just enough to go right over the edge.

Thus the username on my account here.

I was only one story up but, landed on my back in a rock garden. Six freakin' large bushes behind the house that could have broken my fall, however I missed them all and landed on a rock.

Until disability insurance kicks in I'm getting by on accumulated sick days and unused vacation pay. And at 63, a bit worried how long I may be laid up so I'm keeping the belt tight until I see how it all turns out.

But I do appreciate the advice and links.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Sorry to here that

Is making a system image on the external hard drive an option ?
Using free macrium reflect you can access a system image just like a normal folder albeit a very large one and copy and paste personal file pretty easily
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQA7NlLvxg8

Macrium Reflect Free