Upgrade Windows XP to Windows 7
by Mark Best on Oct.19, 2009, under Laptops, Technology
Many of you did not upgrade from Windows XP to Windows Vista, but are planning to upgrade to Windows 7. How dare you leave the Microsoft upgrade path? As a punishment, you can’t upgrade directly from XP to 7; you have to do what’s called a clean install, which means you have to jump through some hoops to keep your old data and programs.
Not to worry, we’ll show you a couple ways to deal with the pain of installing Windows 7 on your XP machine. And afterward, Microsoft will forgive you your trespasses. Maybe.
Before you start, do these three things.
1. Run the Windows 7 upgrade adviser. It will let you know if your computer can handle any version of Windows 7.
2. Check the Windows 7 compatibility center. This is different than the upgrade adviser. It will tell you if you need to update your drivers or apps to make them work in 7.
3. Make a copy of your hard drive, just in case things go horribly wrong. I recommend using Macrium Reflect; it’s a free download available from Download.com.
OK, now you’re ready to upgrade.
…
Originally posted at CNET TV
