Test Install of 7 on USB disk then upgrade of vista to 7

[zebul666]

hi,

So my sister refused that the family bought her a new (cheap) laptop. Don't ask me why. So as I have to fix the wifi on her current vista laptop, I am thinking on upgrading vista to windows 7.

This is an old HP 530 Notebook. Only vista driver ar made by HP.

So I want to do it in 2 steps:
1) Install windows 7 on my external usb hdd to see how well the hardware of her laptop is supported. I can't search for the drivers available in windows update. So I am gonna install it to check.

2) If all is ok in step 1), check again with "Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor" then Upgrade vista 32 bit home to windows 7 home 32 bits

Is there anything I must take special care of ?

One thing for example, is that there will 2 entries to boot windows once i installed windows 7 on the usb hdd. And I might need to remove it with bcdedit. but that's not a big deal.

How much free space do I need to perform the upgrade from vista to 7 the more smoothly possible ?

Edit:
OMG: Installing Windows 7 on usb disk is not that easy: How To Install Windows 7 On USB Flash Drive or External Hard Drive
what a pain-in-***-***
Edit#2:
I have just found WinToUSB that will ease the install of 7 to USB hdd

 

[Berton]

Why not use the Windows Upgrade Advisor first?
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=20
Generally Win7 can run what Vista did but drivers are always an issue with older hardware. And be sure to get the same version of Win7 Upgrade as what the installed Vista is, either 32-bit or 64-bit, to avoid having to do a clean install. Also note that sales of Win7 have been severely decreased if not outright stopped, may have to hunt the 'net to find a place to buy. I have a couple of older WinXP Notebooks that can't be upgraded but are running Linux Mint just fine, better than just throwing them away.

 

[gregrocker]

I'd just do the Upgrade of Vista on there to Win7. No point in struggling to install it to USB which is nearly impossible and pointless to boot. A simple guide to a successful in-place upgrade - Windows 7 Forums. You be better off spending that time to Clean Install Windows 7 if she prefers 7, or reinstalling Vista following these same steps to get a perfect Clean Reinstall Windows 7.

As to the wifi, have you rightclicked the wireless icon in system tray to Troubleshoot it? If that fails plug in by wire to enable Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3) in Vista, CHeck for Updates and install all Important and Optional including drivers. If this doesn't provide the driver import it from the PC's model's Support Downloads webpage using the Vista driver if necessary, or google the wireless device's make/model for a Win7 driver. If necessary you can trace an unknown device's driver using Hardware Identification

 

[AddRAM]

Does she even want you to upgrade her Vista machine to Windows 7 ?

If a machine runs Vista, it will run 7, much better.

 

[zebul666]

Yes. That's because I thought that 7 would give a little boost to that old laptop with vista that I wanted to upgrade.
Also, I saw an upgrade as an easier path. but as AddRAM said, may be it would be nicer to do a clean install and reinstall her program and data ?

As for the usb install, I already done the first step which consist at pre-installing all windows file on usb hddd. Last step is to boot it.

So, now I wonder I do an upgrade or a clean install.

I don't think she cares at all to have 7 or vista, in fact.

 

[Pauly]

I would always do a clean install over upgrade, if you follow the clean reinstall link Greg gave you, you can be assured of the best possible install without any factory bloatware or vista leftovers

 

[zebul666]

but a clean install is a lot of work to reinstall all the software already installed

 

[gregrocker]

It's less work than trying to install to a USB drive for no good reason you can explain, and has a point: You'll have the best possible install of Win7 one can have, and it will stay that way for just as long as you stick with the tools and methods in Clean Reinstall Windows 7.

 

[Pauly]

and if you take a system image when you get everything installed and updated you will have a fall back and never have to go through that process again

 

[Layback Bear]

Surly your sister is worth the extra work to do it correctly.
Just follow Gregs instruction and make your sister happy.

 

[AddRAM]

but a clean install is a lot of work to reinstall all the software already installed

Come on Man

 

[whs]

Many upgrade installs went sour. That is something to consider because at the end you will have more work.