How do I upgrade from XP with clean registry?

[rdoty]

I'm getting the dreaded "SMART" warning about my hard drive dying so I purchased a new HD and Win 7 upgrade SW. My old XP setup was beginning to have registry issues. I can't find the original XP disk with which I could do a completely clean install/upgrade on the new HD and then transfer files and programs that I want to save. So the option is to do a transfer of my old HD to the new one then do the upgrade.

Is there any way to do this and end up with a clean registry? I've got Registry Mechanic installed on the old HD but I still have conflicts, most having to do with incomplete uninstall issues that I can't seem to resolve.

 

[Maguscreed]

As long as your win xp key is legit you can borrow a disc from someone else and use it.
Really sounds like a clean install is your best bet. Sounds like the original drive is already corrupted beyond saving.

 

[hjonesMCT]

Just one bit of info to help you on your way to Win7--you can't upgrade from XP. So your Windows 7 install will be clean and fresh. You'll have to migrate your userdata over using either Windows Easy Transfer or USMT (part of Windows Automated Installation Kit or WAIK, a free MS download), and you can specify which apps, files and users to migrate using the migration xml files (if you want to get that specific). Your registry should be clean with the clean install.

 

[gregrocker]

You do not need to have XP on the system to use Win7 Upgrade version, just have a XP/Vista OEM copy for that machine or retail copy which you don't use again while it is qualifying for Upgrade.

If you install to clean HD, leave the Product Key blank during install, then afterward do the quick registry workaround to activate Upgrade version on cleaned HD given here: Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

Leave all other HD's unplugged during install.

It's easiest to back up your XP files externally, then drag them in manually to corresponding Win7 folders under your User name. Importing settings is corruption path into a brand new OS clean install.