Installing an upgrade Win 7

[bonkers72]

Anything I should be aware of when doing an upgrade from Vista to Win 7 ? Using an upgrade disk. Have Mcaffee installed too on the Vista O.S. Thanks.

 

[seekermeister]

Is the upgrade disk on from MS or from the manufacturer of the rig?

 

[Jonathan_King]

An upgrade is easy, but a clean install is recommended. Be sure to read this first: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

 

[gregrocker]

McAfee or any of the other big bloated paid AV's are best uninstalled before attempting to Upgrade.

Then when you start your new Win7, download and install free Microsoft Security Essentials which is lightweight, invisible after install, and works in concert with the MS firewall to keep your system secure without the bloat.

 

[richc46]

It has also been suggested to disconnect everything except the mouse, keyboard and monitor.

 

[bonkers72]

Is the upgrade disk on from MS or from the manufacturer of the rig?

Yea.....it's from the manufacture {Dell} of the rig. Gonna do a clean install instead I think

 

[bonkers72]

So I'm gonna decide to do a clean install instead of an upgrade disk. First, I want to get it from Newegg.com. Could someone please send me a link to the correct os for win 7 at newegg? Thanks.

 

[loaba]

It has also been suggested to disconnect everything except the mouse, keyboard and monitor.

I second this.

Removing all peripherals is a good way to minimize driver issues. I also agree with the clean install option is better than doing an upgrade.


Note: I did a Vista-to-7 upgrade without removing any peripherals and have had zero problems

 

[Kari]

Nothing else to add than ask you to read this, if you even consider doing an in-place upgrade: http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/44793-simple-guide-successful-place-upgrade.html

Kari

 

[bonkers72]

If I do a clean install, do I need to wipe the current OS {VISTA} off the HD before OR can I just load the O.E.M. 7 disk and it will wipe out vista. Thanks.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Go ahead and load Windows 7 right on top of your current installation, without formatting or deleting any partitions.

That will save your data to a folder called Windows.old, located in the C directory.

If you don't need your data saved, feel free to format that partition.

 

[gregrocker]

You should not need to order another Windows 7 to clean install. You should be able to clean install from the Win7 Upgrade which Dell sent you. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

Try booting from the Upgrade DVD: Boot from CD - How to Boot your Computer from a Bootable CD or DVD - Boot to CD

If it won't boot then try running it from Vista, but choose Custom install as shown in tutorial above.

 

[loaba]

Go ahead and load Windows 7 right on top of your current installation, without formatting or deleting any partitions.

Dirty! Install, that is.

 

[bonkers72]

Thanks for the help and info!

 

[bonkers72]

McAfee or any of the other big bloated paid AV's are best uninstalled before attempting to Upgrade.

Then when you start your new Win7, download and install free Microsoft Security Essentials which is lightweight, invisible after install, and works in concert with the MS firewall to keep your system secure without the bloat.

I remember I had problems removing McAfee years ago on a Dell pc. Hope that doesn't happen again. Also, Microsoft Security Essentials is all I need for Anti virus? What about Avira free edition? Thanks.

 

[seekermeister]

Alvira has a much better detection rate than MSE. I'm not certain how well it works on W7 though.

http://www.av-comparatives.org/images/stories/test/ondret/avc_report25.pdf

 

[Duke of Alinor]

A clean install is best.
If you have any UI changes from stock, back them up and use the transfer.
Transfer files and settings from another computer
Back up your data, remove all but the boot drive and keyboard, mouse, monitor. You will save time in the long run.

 

[gregrocker]

Transferring settings can import corruption from Vista. Best to go clean all the way.

If you are familar with your files, dragging them to external by folder is best. If not, drag the active User folder(s) over and you get everything, but I'd only copy back contents of each active folder to new folder in Win7.

Since importing settings is a corruption path, Easy Transfer is no better than dragging your files yourself and wastes a lot of space.

 

[bonkers72]

This is the one I should get right? Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - Operating Systems

And this can go right over Vista coerrect? Thanks.

 

[seekermeister]

It's not the one that I would get. The fact that it is System Builders mean that once installed, you can never install it on another machine, and upgrading the machine that you have, may cause it to become invalid.