Changing from Windows XP to Windows 7

On the lead-up to April 2014 when MS pull the plug on XP, I need to know what it means IF I decide to upgrade my XP to Win 7.

In my case this will be done by a very trusted and competent computer service company that I have dealt with several times in the past. My question is :-

Can Win 7 be installed as a direct replacement for XP, where ALL my many programs, personal data and extensive customised paraphernalia to the precise letter, including my desktop background and many icons, will be transferred over, so that everything is as it was, except for using a different OS ?

I do not intend to re-invent the wheel after many years honing it to perfection.

Your advice and information on this will be gratefully received.

 

If keeping everything exactly as it is now is your biggest concern, then maybe you should stick to Windows XP...

 

I think it can be easily done from XP to Win7. The only minor concern is that only you can really configure or set things as they really were on XP, you can't possibly expect somebody else to do it in detail for you. In terms of operational skills upgrading from XP to Win7 is certainly smoother than an upgrade to Win8.

 

If you have enough memory it might be an idea to dual-boot. Failing that the best thing that I can think of is to just save all your files on a portable drive of some form & transfer them to Win 7. Much as I loved XP, Win 7 is probably my favourite Windows OS of all time.

 

From an elementary viewpoint, I see no reason why the Win 7 hard disk, memory, registry etc. cannot be technically cloned with all the existing XP data - Emails, programs, personal data, settings, customisation and operational characteristics.

Such that when using my brand new computer with Win 7, there will be little change to the content, appearance and operational features of the old XP set, except perhaps for minor cosmetic trimming.

Is that not possible for my computer engineers ?

 

I honestly don't know. When I've purchased a new machine I've just transferred all of my files via an external hard drive. I prefer a relatively clean start with a new OS.

 

I believe that electronic/technical cloning of data from an old machine to a new machine has been standard practice for many decades and suspect that an XP to Win 7 transition is no exception for users who require it.

There would be minor irregularities of course, not so much concerning compatible programs, but with aesthetic and personalised requirements.

 

Your personal data can be transferred without any change, as far as I can remember it also depends on the type of upgrade, namely whether it is a real upgrade from XP to Win7 or a new Win7 installation. With the direct upgrade one gets the option to keep all the personal data into a Windows folder which can be accessed with the new installation.

With a new installation your personal data has to be saved temporarily to another hard drive and then tranferred back on to your new OS. As for the programs, I think it is better to have them re-installed.

 

It sounds do-able.

Good luck.

 

I agree with the others that with time and patience, it can be accomplished between you and the tech that assists you. I'm just not so sure about automating the transfer. From my own experience, I've tried a couple of different automated setting and program transfer apps with little success. Supposedly, Windows Easy Transfer ( http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/windows-easy-transfer ) is now better than ever. Maybe it really is...

Beyond this, I've used and/or owned every version of Windows since 3.1. Windows 7 is my favorite. You going to love it!

 

guest, there are ways to carry over your programs' settings from one operating system to another, even if said programs don't have an inbuilt backup and restore feature.

 

Have you asked the trusted and competent computer service company you intend to have do the work? What did they say about it?

 

That's what I was wondering too.

Taking that literally, definitely not.

 

if he were to hire them to do that, which is pretty intricate it would likely cost him quite a bit, hence he's probably hoping he can handle the task himself

 

Maybe this will help. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/help/upgrading-from-windows-xp-to-windows-7#T1=tab01

 

Honest to truth.. win7 is not so much exactly like xp. I cannot expect a person to know my every thing that I want from xp to win7. Too much customs you have built to expect it.

To say, common things that would be comon, like bookmarks and background, yes, easy and know how. But how you have put in you own settings, in any and all spaces, just too much for someone who does not know intimate all you done to your computer.

Best bet, I am thinking, to get another drive. Install the win7 to new drive (with old one unhook at install, then hook again after win7 running). Now only you have ot know, what customs and settings do I have? Where are the file or such that need to also beon win7 to do same thing.

Example of this. You have porgram that does one thing. You install on win7, yes. Then on xp find the ini file or registry setting (boot to xp still, just choose drive to boot not even needing bcd or boot.ini) and get registryes.

Point is, win7 is can run almost all of old stuff you have. But how to tell it what you want, do you really expect another engineer to do? Maybe, but you must to have list in great details all of that you have to do for them. If not, they must have mind reading power to sea that.

In win7 is better some times. and most of it good. Some miner thing can be not as good as xp, or some say to it as mihgt be perhaps on annoying?

Over them all, to say, after you get to adjust to win7, I think after a time your point of views will be that it is better. xp is now, for mine view, so not sleak and in some many things not faster. But that is, a few thing xp better, but not the majorities, so it gets to be the forgottan after the time.

Maybe helps?

 

I changed from XP to Win 7 64 bit, and many of the old programmes I had for Genealogy purposes on XP wouldn't run on Win 7 64 bit.
Someone mentioned a dual boot, I did this to try and solve the non running programmes issue on Win 7, but what isn't mentioned is the anomaly that every time you boot into XP and then re boot back into Win 7 it deletes all the restore points on Win 7, plus it's a chore doing that. Eventually I opted for running XP mode on a virtual drive within Win 7, just so I can run my older programmes which is much more convenient.
It's not really possible to ask a third party to set things up as you really want them, and it's better to get all the latest programmes for your newer system. OR stay with XP !

 

Gordon,

If you use a third party boot manager and not the Microsoft boot manager you can prevent this happening.

 

Of course all replies so far are extremely relevant, but I have a point which is more relevant.

If I wish to purchase a new house and my possessions and accumulated furniture and sentimental trappings are not acceptable, such that I have to scrap all these and start life again from scratch, then the answer is - I keep the house I have got.

If the simple process of transferring data from one machine to another has become an insurmountable problem in 2014, then perhaps technology has gone backwards since WW2.

 

name a few things in particular that you want to preserve your configurations/settings of, from xp over to 7

 

It's not so simple, XP was first released in 2001 and Windows 7 in 2009, 8 years in computer technology is an eternity. Upgrading from Vista to Win 7 is effortless as they are almost the same OS, XP is just too old. In any case transferring data from your XP to Win 7 is a pretty straight forward operation, and programs can be easily re-installed by your service company, but you'll need to supply their respective keys in order to activate them again.

 

I reckon I`ll just relax in my rocking chair, puff my pipe, swaff a pint, pat the dog and enjoy my faithful, indomitable and faultless XP for the next five years in perfect peace and tranquillity, wondering why I ever even bothered about MS`s harsh execution policy.

 

I'm pretty sure there are plenty of people who will stick with XP. I would have done if I hadn't actually have had to buy a new computer.

 

Dave,

I am beginning to feel you an I constitute an army of TWO.

New computers are no problem to me, money is no object. But I highly respect and reward faithful, reliable and impeccable service.

XP has given me more than that over the years and I `aint gonna kick it in the teeth just because of MS`s autocratic tantrums.

Surprisingly enough, some people collect antiques.

 

As i understand it,microsoft are intending to stop support of XP so maybe a change now would be in your best interests j.