Windows 7 is almost here

Windows 7 is just a few days away and I know many of you are anxious to get Vista out and Windows 7 in. Well for the most part your upgrading should go fairly simple, if not long. I’ll go over our experiences installing windows 7, some tips once you’ve finished your install and the some advanced options for installing Windows 7.
On my friends Toshiba laptop we did an upgrade install from Vista Home Premium 64bit to Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit. This was easy; simply boot your computer as normal. When Windows Vista has finished loading insert your Windows 7 disc. From here just hit Install Now and follow the instructions, selecting upgrade when the option presents itself. Took us four hours.
Next was my laptop (another Toshiba), which I had setup to dual boot Windows 7 RC and Ubuntu. This computer needed a clean install and I wasn’t concerned with the Ubuntu partition. So this was also easy and even quicker. Took maybe an hour. Make sure the computer is off. Turn in on and insert the disc.
When you get the option “Press any key to boot from the disc” press a key. After a few moments you get the blue screen asking whether to Install or repair. Select install now. This time we select Custom not upgrade, and on the choose hard disk to install screen I chose to delete the original partitions and run a completely clean install.
Now once you’re done with the Windows 7 install or upgrade you need to do a few things.
First go to the manufacturer of your computer’s website and download the Windows 7 drivers for your specific model. Windows usually gets most of these for you, but I always prefer to download and install them. There may also be software specific to your computer that may be relevant for you to install.
Second go install all those fun programs you use, or if you upgraded make sure to update them to the latest version. And make sure you install a reputable Antivirus like NOD32, Norton, or MacAfee and run a full scan.
Third, customize it, make it yours.
Fourth if you did an upgrade(or even a clean install), check your taskbar for a little white flag if there is an X in red click on it to find out what the problem is and how to resolve it.
Now those are the easiest install option, upgrading from 32bit to 32bit or from 64bit to 64bit, and doing a clean install. But what about those of you running Windows xp? What if you want to upgrade to a 64bit from a 32bit? Well let’s take a look at it.
If you’re running Windows Xp, you’ll have to do a clean install. There is no upgrade option. This also applies if you want to install Win 7 64 bit and your running Vista 32 bit or vice versa. If your processor is a 64bit enable, then I would use the 64bit- but that’s just my preference. If have no data or files that you need then I follow the path I chose on laptop (above). But what if you do? You still have some options and while I haven’t tried this, I assume this would be the best option (and I do plan on trying it on my other laptop when I get another copy of Win 7). Grab the 32bit (or 64 bit if your system is 64bit).
Win 7 disc and pop it into the computer while Windows is running, we don’t want to boot with it just yet. Now launch the Windows easy transfer software from the disc in the folder ‘Support\Migwiz directory ‘double click Migwiz.exe and follow the instructions making sure to select this is my old computer and I suggest using a hard drive as the transfer method as it can take lots of space. Continue through the wizard when done unplug the external hard drive, reboot the computer and install from the disc as a clean install (note this will only save your files and settings, you’ll still have to install all your software). Once the install of Win 7 is complete, run the easy transfer again selecting ‘this is my new computer’. You’ll find Windows Easy Transfer now installed with Win 7 in Start/Accessories/System Tools/ and simply follow the directions.
This should get you up and running with Windows 7.