[Yr7-10it] Win XP to Win 7

[Ian Woodside]

Sent from my iPod

On 30/07/2009, at 1:15 PM, stephen at melbpc.org.au wrote:

> It appears that the end of the dominance of Microsoft Windows, in  
> favour
> of OS source operating systems, may date from October the 22nd this  
> year.
>
> --
> Windows XP to Windows 7 Upgrade Could Be Trouble
>
> By WALTER S. MOSSBERG, The Wall Street Journal.
>
> http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204900904574304283334746634 
> .
> html
>
>
> On October 22, Microsoft will finally release a new version of Windows
> that will be as good as the deeply disappointing Windows Vista should
> have been when it came out in January 2007.
>
> The new edition, called Windows 7, is a big improvement over both  
> Vista
> and the sturdy, 2001-vintage Windows XP still widely in use.
>
> It will give Apple’s long-superior Mac OS X operating system a run f 
> or
> its money (though Apple might maintain its edge with a new version,
> called Snow Leopard, due in September).
>
> But how will Windows users transition their current computers to the  
> new
> Windows 7?
>
> While this latest operating system stresses simplicity, the upgrade
> process will be anything but simple for the huge base of average
> consumers still using XP, who likely outnumber Vista users.
>
> It will be frustrating, tedious and labor-intensive.
>
> Microsoft will come out with a new and much-improved version of  
> Windows
> on October 22, 2009. But upgrading from XP to Windows 7 promises to  
> be a
> frustrating experience, says Personal Technology columnist Walt  
> Mossberg.
>
> In fact, the process will be so painful that, for many XP users, the
> easiest solution may be to buy a new PC preloaded with Windows 7, if  
> they
> can afford such a purchase in these dire economic times.
>
> In fact, that’s the option Microsoft recommends for XP users.
> (Conveniently, this option also helps Microsoft’s partners that make 
>  PCs.)
>
> By contrast, if you’re using Vista, the upgrade to Windows 7 should  
> be a
> fairly easy, straightforward process. Because the new version shares  
> most
> of the underlying guts of Vista, it installs itself on your current
> machine relatively quickly and smoothly, preserving all your files,
> folders, settings and programs. In a test of this process earlier this
> year, using a pre-release version of Windows 7, I upgraded a Vista  
> laptop
> with no problems and little effort in about an hour.
>
> But Windows XP users, including the millions who have recently  
> snapped up
> cheap, XP-powered netbooks, will first have to wipe out everything on
> their hard disks in order to install Windows 7 on their current  
> machines.
>
> In fact, Microsoft doesn’t even call migrating to Windows 7 from XP
> an "upgrade." It refers to it as a "clean install," or a "custom
> installation." This disk wipeout can be performed manually, or
> automatically during the Windows 7 installation process.
>
>
> If you’re an XP user, the disk-wiping will cause you to lose your cu 
> rrent
> file and folder organization, and all your programs, though not
> necessarily your personal data files themselves.
>
> However, in order to preserve these personal files, like documents and
> photos, you will have to undertake a long, multi-step process,  
> typically
> requiring the use of an external hard disk, to which all these files  
> will
> have to be temporarily moved and then moved back.
>
> That means you’ll have to buy or borrow an external hard disk, or cl 
> ean
> out enough room on one you already own, to hold all your files.
>
> And the pain doesn’t end there.
>
> If you’re an XP user, moving to Windows 7 on your current computer m 
> eans
> you will also have to re-install all your programs and restore all the
> software drivers for your printers and other add-on hardware.
>
> That could require locating the original program disks, or downloaded
> program installers, and then re-downloading and re-installing the
> numerous updates that have been issued since these original disks or
> installers came out.
>
> And, there’s another problem: XP hardware drivers won’t work in  
> Windows 7
>
> Microsoft says it can automatically replace thousands of common older
> drivers with newer Windows 7-compatible versions, but admits that  
> there
> may be some for which it doesn’t have replacements. The company
> specifically warns that some netbooks may include obsolete drivers.
>
> Netbook owners face another problem. Even though Microsoft says  
> Windows 7
> will work fine on netbooks, most of them lack a DVD drive, which is
> needed to run the Windows 7 installation disk. So they’ll have to bu 
> y or
> borrow an external DVD drive.
>
> Microsoft has taken some steps to make this easier. It plans to  
> offer a
> free "Easy Transfer" program (explained at http://bit.ly/M5Il7) that  
> will
> automate the process of moving your personal files to an external  
> drive,
> and then restoring them to your computer after Windows 7 is installed.
>
> But this program won’t transfer your programs, only your personal da 
> ta.
>
> Also, if you don’t want to use an external hard disk to temporarily  
> store
> your files, you can transfer them over a cable or network to another
> computer. The company even has an alternative where it will stow your
> personal data in a special folder called windows.old, on the  
> transformed
> PC. But you’ll then have to manually move all of these files back to
> their normal locations.
>
> Finally, Microsoft officials point out that this XP migration issue  
> may
> be moot for many owners of older XP computers, because their ancient
> machines lack enough memory, hard disk space, or graphics power to
> accommodate Windows 7 anyway.
>
> And, even if a really old machine is marginally capable of running
> Windows 7, it’s a mistake to try and cram a new OS into it and expec 
> t a
> great experience.
>
> But if you do own an otherwise capable computer that happens to be
> running Windows XP, you’re likely facing a painful process should y 
> ou
> choose to transition it to Windows 7.
>
> --
> Cheers folks
> Stephen Loosley
> Victoria Australia
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