Filed under: OS Updates, Windows, Microsoft
No easy upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7
by Brad Linder Jan 30th 2009 at 4:00PM
Now, that doesn't mean that Microsoft won't offer a lower priced version of Windows 7 for Windows XP users who want to upgrade. What it does mean is that you probably won't be able to load Windows 7 on a computer running XP without losing your personal data, programs, and settings. But Windows 7 is enough like Windows Vista that Vista users will be able to install the newer operating system while leaving many files intact.
[via Eee PC.net]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
The Gnome said 4:50PM on 1-30-2009
I'm running Windows XP and when Windows 7 comes out(I'll check the price first and if it's low I'll buy it) I'll just do a clean install. Is not a problem for me, and I really don't believe in OS upgrades, I prefer starting from scratch.
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Peter said 4:50PM on 1-30-2009
Agreed. A clean install is always the way to go.
Also, if you are trying to upgrade an old XP box to Win7, you're going to be as unhappy as if you tried to upgrade it to Vista. New operating systems need newer hardware and especially more RAM. I'm running Vista on a very basic Pentium D processor with on-board video and it runs perfectly fine. But I do have 3 Gigs of RAM in the box and that makes all the difference.
If you're going to try to upgrade a Pentium 4, with 1 Gig of RAM from XP to Win7 you're going to be unhappy, just like you would be unhappy if you tried to upgrade that same machine to Vista.
mvp said 4:51PM on 1-30-2009
I'm doing the same.
Any settings that are hard to set or annoying I can just copy over the application files and once I feel that everything is in place it will be time to make an image.
mvp said 4:51PM on 1-30-2009
Pete I'm going to have to disagree. Just because its a new operating system doesn't mean it requires a lot of new hardware. The reason why windows 7 is coming out of the gates so early is because of the fact that Microsoft didn't want to lose its opportunity on the net book market whose specs are close to nothing.
David said 4:50PM on 1-30-2009
Peter: Depending on the Windows XP box you're upgrading, I wouldn't be so fast to claim that Windows 7 will yield worse performance than Windows XP. From my own personal experience, I've upgrade my Atom 1.6GHz netbook with 2Gb from Windows XP Home to Windows 7 Beta and the Windows 7 Beta easily runs rings around Windows XP Home, no stopwatch needed. My 1Gb Windows 7 VM also beats my 1.5Gb Windows XP VM. This won't necessarily extend to all configurations, however I expect Pentium D processors with at least 1Gb RAM will run Windows 7 better than Windows XP.
gonintendo said 6:43PM on 1-30-2009
Well, 7 w/ aero has been running beautifully on my 2.9 ghz celery w/ 512mb of ram.
Mike said 12:30PM on 2-02-2009
right, but how many common users are gonna want to erase all of their files to install some 200$ OS they just bought?
the common man doesn't want a fresh install, unfortunately.
Stefan said 4:13AM on 2-06-2009
I've been trying to find this out since the beta hit: How do things hold up if you upgrade through Vista to Win7? XP SP3->Vista SP1 -> Win7? theoretically that should keep all your programs intact while giving you a nice new Win7 desktop
Anyone tried it?
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David said 4:51PM on 1-30-2009
From what I understand (unfortunately, I can't remember the exact post), the Windows 7 *Beta* does not support an in-place upgrade from Windows XP, however Microsoft will be adding this to the final product to get people upgrading Windows XP to Windows 7 with minimal fuss. While people on read this blog probably prefer clean installs, the general public would prefer the easiest way to install Windows 7 without losing their files or settings. Microsoft want to make it easy as possible to get people upgrading.
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Neoprimal said 4:57PM on 1-30-2009
Why would anyone really want to 'upgrade' from XP to 7? I mean...what exactly are you trying to keep? Software from the days of XP will be a hazard to 7. Squeezing people to do a clean install is the smartest thing to do. I only wish they'd stop making 32bit OSes now as well.
Hell, they shouldn't even allow an upgrade from Vista. Granted, it's built on a similar infrastructure - but software life is SO much easier when people aren't screaming about driver and software issues porting from 1 OS to another.
This isn't a MS OS only sentiment. I've upgraded Ubuntu distributions with negative consequences as well. So I've learned to just clean install it all.
Buy a $60 external and use that as your backup and the experience is better when you upgrade. Then find/buy the newest software advertised to work with the OS - vs. stuffing old software into the new OS.
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El Taco said 6:43PM on 1-30-2009
I have been using Windows 7 beta sionce the day it came out, and I haven't found a single program or app that worked with XP that doesn't work with Windows 7. There might be some somewhere, but every program I've tested, from web browsers to media players to high-demand games to defrag utilities has worked.
CharlesJR said 7:29PM on 1-30-2009
Why do people think that folks with XP must have older, outdated machines?
Microsoft has been extending the stop date for selling XP for over a year. There are PLENTY of computers only a few months old with XP as a new install when they ordered it. Our company did this eight months ago with DELL boxes.
Granted, we would do a clean install if upgrading to Windows 7, but we will definitely be doing the XP to Win7 upgrade path.
CharlesJR
Neoprimal said 8:34AM on 1-31-2009
Charles,
I'm not sure if your comment is pertaining to my own, but I did not mention the use of 'old' machines. I am referring to the use or attempt to use old software in a new OS.
Thunderbuck,
Theoretically. The truth is that many, many XP to Vista upgrades don't work well. That's why there was so much early outcry about problems with Vista. It's never sound to run 'newer' software over older software....never. That's why lots of software now uninstalls or asks you to uninstall before you install the newer version. While an upgrade will work, sometimes the clean install is the best option. You can probably get away with a 'virgin' xp to Vista upgrade (where XP is practically new and there aren't tons of xp drivers and software hanging out in the system), but I've never seen an aged XP to Vista upgrade go well - not to say it doesn't happen though.
So I think they're doing the right thing. By pushing a clean install, Windows 7 problems will be it's own...and not at the fault of old Windows XP software and drivers.
CharlesJR said 4:55PM on 1-31-2009
Hey Neo ...
I was responding to your opening sentence:
"Why would anyone really want to 'upgrade' from XP to 7? I mean...what exactly are you trying to keep?"
I'm not trying to keep anything. You wanted to know why someone would want to upgrade, and the answer is we run modern boxes, with the vary latest and greatest software on them. We didn't choose XP because of legacy needs: we chose it because of stability and training considerations.
Having to do a clean install is, of course, the "safest" way to go, but its also the longest and not necessary on every computer if I can help it.
Anyhow, just offering an explanation to your question.
Its really not so strange of an idea that there will be a lot of us that want the upgrade option, rather than a clean install.
Enjoy your weekend!
CharlesJR
Neoprimal said 6:54PM on 1-31-2009
Charles,
I understand.
I guess it's not horrible to want a direct upgrade path. But XP is what, 8 years old or so? I mean, I understand that it performs how some people want it, and I can understand that they prefer it to Vista (and in some cases, downgrade brand new purchases). But I still don't think that's reason enough to warrant MS going through hoops to allow people to upgrade from it. It just doesn't seem reasonable to ask to upgrade an 8 year old OS.
I use Vista 64 on my main Machine and Windows 7 64 on my laptop, so I have to admit that I didn't realize that there were many software titles that are XP AND Vista compat. still. Many of the software titles I use have a Vista 32/64 only flavor, then 2000-XP flavor. Especially when it comes to driver packages. In fact, the only programs I have that run XP AND Vista are the ones in my Program Files x86 folder (which I'm trying desperately to cut out). When you say latest and greatest on XP, I'm thrown for a loop.
Also, there are QUITE a few titles that will freeze Vista in it's tracks. To name one, there's a program called Motorola Phonetools 4 and 5 (5 is supposed to be Vista capable, but isn't) that has frozen every Vista 32 boot I've tried it on. Imagine upgrading XP with that in there? Insta upgrade failure, and no easy way to fix it. (System restore fixes it).
Anyway, I do see your point. And while I still don't agree, I respect your opinion.
Take Care and have a good weekend also.
Thunderbuck said 6:43PM on 1-30-2009
I don't totally buy this post.
Now, mind you, I don't think you really SHOULD upgrade from XP to Win7, but it should be at least theoretically possible. After all, it's theoretically possible to upgrade to Vista from XP, and Win7 isn't so radically different.
There's two big caveats, though. First, the upgrade from XP to Vista is really flakey. I can't remember ever seeing it actually work. Secondly, it looks more and more like Win7's the best chance to make that big leap from x86 to x64, and there's NO way to make that work as an upgrade (you can't even do, say, 32-bit Vista to 64-bit Win7).
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rorr40 said 10:14PM on 1-30-2009
I ran the Windows 7 from TechNet on a dual boot with Vista Pro, (partition), just to assess it, and it ran circles around Vista. It seem the Microsoft should have waited and released 7 instead of Vista!
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Neoprimal said 8:34AM on 1-31-2009
So you haven't heard the rumors? I'm pretty sure they aren't true....but rumor has it that Windows 7 is a part of a worldwide 'Mojave Experiment' by MS where they're tearing the OS away from the Vista name to remove all the negative stigma to the OS caused by Apple and naysayers.
Wouldn't that be awesome? That SP2 = Windows 7 as we know it?
I can only dream, hope...wish....
You'd get your wish too - Windows 7 would be free!
gdtjr said 10:22PM on 1-30-2009
'But Windows 7 is enough like Windows Vista that Vista users will be able to install the newer operating system while leaving many files intact.'
Another reason on my list why we Vista users should get 7 at at least a discount...or something along the road of FREE!
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66sweep said 12:23AM on 1-31-2009
I installed Windows 7 on my Acer Aspire One today. The upgrade option fails saying you can't upgrade XP to 7. The interesting thing I found here was I went ahead and selected what I thought was going to be a clean install. To my surprise, the used space on the hard drive was nearly identical to what it was before the install. As I browsed through the drive I discovered all of my data was still there. All of my docs, music, apps, etc. were not lost during the install. None of the apps will run, but they're there. This is the fist Windows install I've seen behave this way. I wonder if there's a way to roll back to the previous install of XP since everything is still there?
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