How To Update Windows Vista To Windows 7

Wlpncp plans to upgrade his wife's PC from Vista to Windows seven. He asked the Laptops forum for advice.

You take ii bones options: an Upgrade install, or a Custom one.

The Upgrade install seems like the obvious choice, and like the easy one. But it'south not the smart choice.

An Upgrade keeps all of your settings and programs. In theory, you can just run the install and you're done.

But reality isn't then simple. You might get lucky, but you probably won't. Chances are that things won't work the style they're supposed to, and you'll spend a lot of time trying to figure out what went incorrect. Problems may keep popping up for weeks. I've yet to do an Upgrade install that didn't end in me giving up, and starting again from scratch with a Clean i.

Past the way, the Upgrade isn't fifty-fifty an choice for XP users.

A Custom install gives you a clean re-create of Windows 7. Later on the installation, yous will have to recreate your user accounts, reinstall all of your applications and utilities, and change settings. That consumes time, but not as much as yous'd probable spend tracking down issues with a Update install.

You can choose an Upgrade or Custom install — Choices When Upgrading Vista to Windows 7

Before you do a Custom install, collect everything yous need to reinstall your programs. Gather the CDs and DVDs. For the programs yous downloaded, brand sure you accept license numbers.

Side by side, just to be rubber, create an epitome backup of your hard drive. You'll need an external hard bulldoze, and some image fill-in software. Macrium Reflect and EASEUS Todo Fill-in are both easy, dependable, and gratuitous. Either one will practise.

So boot from the upgrade DVD and do the install. When you're done, create your user accounts and reinstall your software.

You'll find your data files, and all of the other files from your Vista installation, in the C:Windows.erstwhile folder. Obviously, you'll want to movement your documents, music, and other information files into their appropriate Windows seven Library folders. This is a simple thing of dragging and dropping.

If yous want more detailed instructions, come across How to Upgrade to Windows 7. You can also read the original forum give-and-take.

Contributing Editor Lincoln Spector writes nearly technology and cinema. Electronic mail your tech questions to him at answer@pcworld.com , or post them to a customs of helpful folks on the PCW Respond Line forum . Follow Lincoln on Twitter , or subscribe to the Answer Line newsletter , e-mailed weekly.