Solved Need assistance upgrading XP to Windows7

[lvr181]

About to upgrade my old tower system from XP to Windows7. Have read the articles on doing a normal clean install (I am going to be using an upgrade Windows7 disk) but I have some queries.

1) If I install over the XP system do I lose my motherboard drivers?

2) Should I decide to install over XP then I thought I will remove/save all the content, uninstall all programs, do a disk cleanup and defrag so as to get a best install possible. Is this necessary or overkill?

3) Should I just do a normal clean install following instructions from this forum?

Any suggestions most welcome - thanks

btw - have completed Windows7 upgrade advisor and no real problems have shown up.

Not so

 

[kegobeer]

You can't upgrade from XP to 7 and keep any files. The upgrade process will wipe the drive and install Windows 7. So, if there's anything you want to keep, move it to another partition/removable drive/etc. Visit your hardware manufacturer's website(s) and download Windows 7 drivers first, so you can have them on hand after 7 is installed and if Windows doesn't automatically install drivers for them.

You don't need to do anything to the drive to prep it.

 

[lvr181]

Thanks kegobeer. Have now shifted all content, favorites, email files etc to removeable drive.

"Have you updated your system specs?" Not quite sure what you mean by that one? According to the windows upgrade advisor I do not have any hardware problems.

 

[Corazon]

What he meant was filling in detailed info about your system specs here on the forum, that is, in your user profile. Notice that we all have a little link below our user names etc. that says My System Specs.

 

[lvr181]

Ah ha - thanks Corazon, gotcha.

Will do so right after this reply

 

[karlsnooks]

Most probably you will not need to install any special drivers.

Win 7 comes with all kinds of drivers. A big, big improvement over XP.

Simply install Win 7.

Update the Win 7, being sure to install critical, important, and optional updates in that order.

This is not XP. Do not 2nd guess Win 7 about updates. Simply install any and all updates which Microsoft presents.

If after, and only after, installing Win 7 and all of its updates, then you can go to the websire of the mobo mfg and see what updates they have for Win 7 and if the updates are more recent than what Win 7 has already installed.

Please read this procedure completely.
UPDATING YOUR WIN 7
ASSURE THAT YOU RECEIVE ALL UPDATES
WIN | type WINDOWS UPDATE | ENTER |
Change settings (left-hand column) |
checkmark all four of the boxes | OK button

Approve any dialog boxes presented. Let Windows install any update features.

WIN is the key with the Microsoft flag on top.

INSTALL CRITICAL UPDATES
Check for Updates (left-hand column)
Install ALL critical updates.
Restart your computer (even if not prompted)

Repeat this procedure until there are no more critical updates.

DO NOT TRUST the “Windows is up to date” in center of dialog. until you see that TWICE IN A ROW!

INSTALL IMPORTANT UPDATES
Use the “critical update” procedure until all important updates are installed.

INSTALL OPTIONAL UPDATES
Use the “critical update” procedure until all optional updates are installed.

Under Optional updates you will be presented with a list of about 34 language updates.
You can hide those updates so that aren't continually notified of those updates. When you click on 34 optional updates are available, then you
a) highlight all of the language updates,
b) right-click anywhere in the highlighted list.
c) click on Hide Updates,
d) OK button.


UPDATE GOLDEN RULES
Install ALL, yes, ALL updates.
This is Win 7 and not Vista or XP (eXPired).

UPDATE IS HUNG –TAKING FOREVER
Hung is very doubtful unless you interrupted updates.

CTRL + SHIFT + ESC key combo will pop-up the Task Manager.
Lo and behold, Windows Update is still running!

You hold down the CTRL and SHIFT keys.
While holding them down, tap the ESC key once.

 

[Corazon]

Ah ha - thanks Corazon, gotcha.

Will do so right after this reply

And a great job you did with it

 

[lvr181]

Thanks to kegobeer. corazon and karlsnooks for your much appreciated help. As soon as I get the time over the next few days I will do the upgrade with more confidence than I had before.

 

[gregrocker]

In addition to the excellent information provided, I would not change out any drivers given by the installer and quickly updated by optional Windows Updates unless performance problems directly point to that/those driver(s). Win7 is the authority on its own drivers.

If you have wireless you should put your driver on a stick or CD so you can get online quickly to update drivers if the wireless driver for some reason isn't provided.

 

[whs]

As a precaution I would first run the Windows 7 upgrade advisor to make sure that there are not any showstoppers: http://windows.microsoft.com/upgradeadvisor

 

[kegobeer]

As a precaution I would first run the Windows 7 upgrade advisor to make sure that there are not any showstoppers: Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor - Download - Microsoft Windows

He did.

According to the windows upgrade advisor I do not have any hardware problems.

 

[lvr181]

Thanks everyone - I can report that the "upgrade" went off without a hitch

 

[karlsnooks]

Excellent!

Thanks for getting back to us with the results.

 

[lvr181]

Thanks everyone for your input - upgrade successful without any "hitches" whatsoever!