Dell Vostro 400 - Upgrade XP to Vista then Win 7

[BrokeIC]

Hi, I have a Dell Vostro 400 with Win XP Home on it and I should upgrade out of it but I want to keep all my programs and settings. I have the Dell Reinstallation DVD for Vista Ultimate 32 bit. I'm under the impression that that is an upgrade path. Once I get there, can I upgrade to Win 7 Pro 32 bit and still keep my programs?

I'm trying to follow instructions at Windows Reinstallation Guide and Related Software Guides

 

[Ztruker]

According to Microsoft, you can upgrade from XP to Vista and keep your files and programs.

Upgrading from Windows XP to Windows Vista

Ditto for upgrade from Vista to Windows 7.

Upgrading from Windows Vista to Windows 7 - Help & How-to - Microsoft Windows

Personally, I would do a clean install of Windows 7, bypassing Vista completely. Your computer will run better and there will be no leftover junk from XP to cause problems later on. Just backup your data first.

The guide you are following is overkill to the max, way to much information and steps.

No matter what you do, please backup your data first. Even better would be to make an image backup to an external hard drive so if anything goes wrong you have a easy way to recover.

Is the copy of Windows 7 a upgrade or full version?

For Upgrade: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

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

 

[BrokeIC]

I just read that Vista Ultimate can only be upgraded to Windows 7 Ultimate, which is overkill on Amazon pricewise, $300?
Can I download a Digital River .iso for Win 7 Professional 32-bit for free, do a clean install on a 2nd hard drive, and if I like it in 30 days, M$ will allow me to buy it and send me a key, and how much would that cost?

Looks like Best Buy is selling System Builder OEM versions of Windows 7 Professional SP1 for $130. I'm quite the system builder, and quite novice at it too. My computer isn't even worth twice that much, lol.

How to Extend the Windows 7 Activation Trial Period Up to 120 Days
***********
I have over 300 programs in my Program Files Menu in XP, so maybe doing an in-place upgrade to Vista would be simpler than reinstalling 300 programs.

 

[gregrocker]

To know how the hardware and programs will run Win7 run Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor.

The vast majority of consumers don't need any more than Home Premium. To determine with certainty if you need any of the additional expensive features in higher versions Compare Windows 7 Editions - Windows 7 Forums .

I would buy WIn7 Home Premium Upgrade version so it can migrate if the mobo dies, since System Builder OEM is only for PC's intended for resale. Boot the DVD, do a Custom Clean Install Windows 7 deleting all partitions to create new and format as you wish. The installer will see the underlying XP to allow use of Upgrade key during install.

 

[BrokeIC]

I'm downloading OS's (Win 7 Pro 32 bit, probably; but downloading them all in case I need them later, like in 2015) from Digital River and looking at license keys at the License Key Shop . I assume I can download a trial of Office Home and Business 2010 or 2013 and buy a license key for that too, but Office 2010 may not be offered anymore.

I'll be installing on the 2nd hard drive (Dual Boot with XP) from a DVD burnt from an .iso file.

I couldn't stand reading the non-stop horror show on the Amazon site about the XP to Vista Upgrade product, so I'll leave that alone.

Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP