Upgrading to Windows 7 – Part 1
The launch of Windows 7 is an exciting development and most of us would want to look at upgrading to it from the existing Windows Vista operating system. However, there are certain procedures that we need to follow so that the upgrade is smooth.
a) Is it possible to upgrade?
The first thing to check for is whether your computer is in a position to accept the new operating system. Microsoft has made available a tool referred to as the Windows 7 upgrade advisor which needs to be just downloaded and then installed. This tool does a good job of telling you whether your PC has the requisite hardware and software capability to run Windows 7. The tool also advises you where to fetch the necessary drivers. It would also prompt you to uninstall certain programs that may interfere with the upgrade process such as the anti virus program if any and ask you to reinstall the same once the upgrade is complete.
b) Back up procedure
As with any upgrade, you need to make sure that you have created sufficient back up of all important files and documents. The use of an external hard drive is recommended. Regular back ups are anyways advisable to protect your music, photos and other crucial data as hard disk failures are quite rampant and you would stand to lose everything in a jiffy if you have not taken care to take adequate back up precautions.
The good news is that external hard drives are becoming very affordable and you can now get more space than ever at much cheaper rates. In any case, buying one is always prudent and a good investment. Windows Vista provides a tool which facilitates such a back up including the saving of all files and other important settings related to the profile. All you need to do is link the external hard drive to the USB port. You are also free to use the back up tools that come with the hard disk and in case you are too particular and wish to play very safe, you are at liberty to take two back ups.
In case of a clean install process, you only need to make use of a utility tool called Easy Transfer. This is available in both the Vista and XP, so you can download as per your system requirement. Though the process is simple, it can take time. It prompts you to confirm for which version the application is required and then it is up to you to decide the files to be backed up.
