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I Got My WIndows 7 Upgrade..Now What?

By on December 22, 2009 8:20:15 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

I got my free WIndows 7 upgrade. Now I'm afraid to install it.

Anyone wanna walk me through this?

+736 Karma | 57 Replies
December 22, 2009 8:29:33 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

I did mine from Vista Home Premium 64 bit to Win 7 Home Premium 64 bit.  It was the easiest upgrade I can remember.  You can do back ups but I didn't and didn't lose anything.  The upgrade walks you through step by step, I'm some of a clutz and didn't have any problems. 

Just read the information on the screen before you press a key.  I myself find that very hard to do. 

December 22, 2009 8:32:41 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

I have Vista Home Premium 32 bit going to Windows 7 Home Premium.

December 22, 2009 8:45:16 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

The only thing that I did that might be considered unnecessary, was to go back to default setup on anything that was changed using Stardock software like WBs, Icons, CursorFX etc. and then turned off things like Object Dock and DX Themes and Widgets.

December 22, 2009 9:09:43 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

i have vista 64 bit, and i wanted to install it on a pre seperated partion that starkers created for me on my new harddrive,

it was easy as anything,  just popped the disk into the cd rom drive and just installed it, but of course i selected where i wanted it to be installed on. so i selected 'advanced' set up. i did that through vista.  but the disk also gives you an option if you want to simply upgrade or install it. so you can either upgrade over your vista or install it on a different partion.

xx good luck po. you will be fine. i promise.

 

oh and ps. i got the same disk as you the free upgrade one.

December 22, 2009 9:14:11 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

I think if you have 32 bit, you're going to have to do a clean install, so it won't be as easy as mine was (or Philly0381's); you're going to have to reinstall your other software, and you'll lose data if you haven't backed it up somewhere; still, I think Microsoft did their best to make this upgrade easier than they have in the past.

December 22, 2009 9:42:42 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

I got two discs.

HP Upgrade Assistant

Windows 7  (For use as an Upgrade to Qualifying HP WIndows 7 Upgrade Option PC)

Not sure based on that that I can install it on a seperate partition.

I ran the Windows 7 upgrade advisor and it says I only need to uninstall 2 programs.

I have my Vista recovery discs made.

December 22, 2009 9:45:11 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

That is correct k10w3, I just took it that Po was staying with 32 bit.

December 22, 2009 10:04:01 PM from Sins of a Solar Empire Forums Sins of a Solar Empire Forums

speaking of Windows 7, are there any free .rar unzipping programs, or do I have to buy one.  I know windows xp had some free ones, but are there any for windows 7?

December 22, 2009 10:19:22 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

pop it the disc and follow directions. it'll take a bit of time but it'll install eventually. i'm sure they didn't send a 64 bit disc since your rig came with 32 bit. i know with the gateway/acer/emachines upgrade path, they want you to back everything up but it isn't absolutely needed. you can back stuff up if ya want, tho. i've yet to see an upgrade installation destroy personal data. upgrading takes quite a while, tho.

December 22, 2009 10:20:27 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

have fun and play with it,dummy!

December 22, 2009 11:53:31 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Quoting dresda,
speaking of Windows 7, are there any free .rar unzipping programs, or do I have to buy one.  I know windows xp had some free ones, but are there any for windows 7?


I use IZarc, which is free, and I'm using Windows 7.  You can download it here:  http://www.izarc.org/

December 23, 2009 1:01:54 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Not sure based on that that I can install it on a seperate partition.

Po`, you should be able to do the same as Kitty did on her Dell.... put in your Win 7 upgrade disc as normal and when you get to the installation part select 'Advanced Setup' to choose the partition you wish to use.  That way you do not risk losing any personal data and you keep Vista intact, which is handy for skinning WB's, etc..

BTW, Win 7 installs quickly and efficiently, plus it installs all your drivers, so it's a breeze and you should have no issues.

Have fun.

December 23, 2009 1:03:57 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

pop it the disc and follow directions.

have fun and play with it,dummy!

So...I get the feeling I'm stressing too much about this? lol

Thanks folks. Guess I just gotta jump right in.

December 23, 2009 2:22:53 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Po....The best thing to do is back everything up first and just do a fresh install. It's better to have backed up than to not have backed up at all. Better safe than sorry and getting that sinking feeling when you see empty folders or not see your old files where they were.

December 23, 2009 7:27:49 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

allow me to clarify my earlier statement. if you're going to do a fresh (clean format) install, definitely back up your data.if you'reg going to do an upgrade, i see no need to back up data since i've yet to see a loss of data during an upgrade. given a choice between a fresh install and an upgrade, i most definitely would choose a fresh install.

December 23, 2009 7:31:50 AM from GalCiv II Forums GalCiv II Forums

Hi!

I got my free WIndows 7 upgrade. Now I'm afraid to install it.

Don't repair if it isn't broken.

BR,  Iztok

December 23, 2009 7:44:08 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

i see no need to back up data since i've yet to see a loss of data during an upgrade.

Back things up.

There IS NO sensible alternative.

Think of your data like the sticker I have on my bike....which reads...

"If you value your life as much as I value my bike....then don't fuck with it."

Only fools and horses don't backup....

December 23, 2009 7:50:02 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Po....The best thing to do is back everything up first and just do a fresh install. It's better to have backed up than to not have backed up at all. Better safe than sorry and getting that sinking feeling when you see empty folders or not see your old files where they were.

Ah, but that's ony if he were installing over Vista.  If Po` clean installs to a separate partition via 'Advanced Settings', it will not affect his current installation/other drives.  That way there's no pre-installation messing around and he can just sit back and watch it do its work.

 

December 23, 2009 10:47:19 AM from JoeUser Forums JoeUser Forums


December 23, 2009 10:59:34 AM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

How about a W7 update from XP or better to get an OEM of 32 bit professsional?  I can't go 64 bit until I can build an entirely new system.

December 23, 2009 12:01:40 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

How about a W7 update from XP or better to get an OEM of 32 bit professsional?

Hey Ed, there is no direct update from XP to Win 7 (different architecture), it has to be a clean install.  However, you can select a different installation path via 'Advanced Settings' to clean install Win 7 on different drive/partition to XP, thus leaving it intact and operable should you ever need it.   Also, an OEM version, which you don't need a previous version to qualify, may actually cost you less than an uprade version.

Thing is with that, though, an OEM is either or 32 bit, 64 bit... not both.  Meaning, if you plan to build a new machine later, you might want to wait to purchase an OEM copy of Win 7 until then, if you'd rather run 64 bit, that is.

December 23, 2009 12:55:31 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Now what?  Now bask in the glory that is Windows 7!  Can you clean install with the upgrade package?

December 23, 2009 1:14:08 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

Can you clean install with the upgrade package?

I've backed up all the important stuff.

I don't know if I can do a clean install. I assume you are tralking about partitioning my HD and running both? I don't know if I can or want to.

I can return my PC to factory condition, do the updates, and then do the W7 upgrade. I suppose that would be as close as I could get to a 'clean' install. (?) I'm not sure.

I have windowblinds I started in Vista. WHat happens to them? Shit. This is a pain in the ass.

December 23, 2009 1:21:27 PM from WinCustomize Forums WinCustomize Forums

 

This is a pain in the ass.

Wouldn't that be a pain in the OS?

If you have the HDD space,dual booting would make sense to me. You paid for two Windows versions,why not be able to use both?

I have windowblinds I started in Vista. WHat happens to them?
It would make that a non-issue.

December 23, 2009 1:28:45 PM from Stardock Forums Stardock Forums

Hi Ed,

If you buy the retail version of Win 7, it comes with both 32 and 64 bit versions.  The OEM might save you up front but the retail version may save you in the long term. 

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