More tips for avoiding Windows 7 upgrade bumps
By
Dennis O'Reilly
For most PC users, the migration to Microsoft's new version of Windows will go smoothly — with a little preparation.
Spending a few minutes getting your system ready before you insert that Windows 7 installation disc may save you hours of troubleshooting and repair afterward.
The countdown to Microsoft's official Windows 7 launch to consumers on Oct. 22 has begun. As WS contributing editor Scott Spanbauer described in his
Oct. 1 Top Story,
taking some time to prep your system prior to the upgrade can go a long way toward ensuring a fruitful Win7 experience.
In addition to Scott's pointers, our readers know of one or two other tips you can add to your Win7 upgrade preparations. Tom Rosania points out one way to avoid applications that won't activate:
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"If any of your products have a limit on the number of times they can be installed with the same serial number, you might be denied permission to install them as part of a fresh install of Windows 7. Most of the time, there's nothing you can do about this. You just have to try the installation and hope that you're under the limit.
"However, some software companies allow you to deactivate the serial number from your old computer and reactivate it when you reinstall. This keeps you under the limit. Adobe in particular does this. For example, in Adobe Acrobat Standard or Professional, you can go to Help, Activation and click Deactivate. By doing this, you'll stay under the limit and you'll be able to reinstall the product."
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"The Windows 7 Upgrade Adviser doesn't work for x64 XP.… My HP OfficeJet 7210 printer/scanner lacked any 64-bit drivers from the manufacturer. But as soon as I plugged it into Windows 7 x64, it connected to Microsoft, downloaded working drivers, and — for the first time since upgrading to a 64-bit OS — is once again fully functional."
Other clutter to clean out prior to Windows 7
Scott's article listed several areas to clean prior to upgrading Vista to Windows 7. But Victor Sacco would like to add a couple of nooks and crannies to the list:
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"When running Disk Cleanup, go to Advanced options (on Vista, select from all users on this computer) and delete Restore Points and Shadow Copies. Users may be surprised at how much space is taken up by System Restore data.
"Along with unnecessary programs, uninstall all resident anti-malware applications: antivirus, antispyware, and third-party firewalls. Unless the user is running the very latest versions of these apps, they're likely not Windows 7-compatible. Even if they are, I would still remove them and reinstall them afterward.
"These programs hook and monitor the system at a very low level, and there's a real chance they'll interfere with the upgrade. The system can be temporarily disconnected from the Internet until protection is reinstalled."
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Readers Tom, Alrock, and Victor will each receive a gift certificate for
a book, CD, or DVD of their choice for sending tips we printed. Send us your
tips via the Windows Secrets
contact page. |
The Known Issues column brings you readers' comments on our recent articles. Dennis O'Reilly is technical editor of WindowsSecrets.com.
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