Installing WIndows 7 on XP Home machine

[tkane06]

Anyone have good instructions for installing Win7 on machines currently using XP Home? Thanks, Tkane06

[johnwgray3]

This is a really good step-by-step list from Microsoft:

Microsoft XP-to-Vista Tutorial
http:// windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/help/upgrading-from-windows-xp-to-windows-7

Note: Definately run the upgrade advisor and print it out. If it lists devices as "unknown," don't panic - most of them have a driver by now and will work from what i've seen.

Note: If you have (or can borrow or buy) and external USB hard drive, or have a network share available, download the Windows Easy Transfer utility and run it as discussed in the tutorial to migrate all your data.

[tkane06]

Thanks, John.

[c-o-l]

One thing perhaps worth saying is something I hadn't picked up anywhere - there were several points in the install process where I thought it had failed because the screen remained unchanged for such a long time, without the timer, no text to say what was happening and no apparent hard drive activity. The first time I did in fact re-boot as I thought it had crashed.

The second time I had to wait a full 5 minutes for it to move on (yes I timed it!), again with no indication at all that it was doing anything. Apart from those two points (the second delay was shorter), I have to say that install went well and I really like the new OS.

[4-60]

Laplink Upgrade Assistant software could make it easier by storing your programs and setup and restoring for you. Didn't work for me but I had a huge amount of stuff including very old stuff on my PC.

[DaveA]

You will find that the install on a OLDER machine, there will be several VERY long pauses, as it is trying to find "Generic" drivers for the older hardware.

I saw one UPGRADE take over 6 hours to complete.