Home > IT Answers > Microsoft Windows > Upgrade from Windows XP SP3 to Windows 7 Pro
NewnanIT
1,110 pts.
 Upgrade from Windows XP SP3 to Windows 7 Pro
Windows 7 Pro, Windows 7 Professional, Windows XP SP3, Windows XP, Windows Upgrades, Application management
What is the best way to upgrade from Windows XP SP3 to Windows 7 Pro? How can we migrate all the applications and files with the least amount of administrative energy?
ASKED: Oct 28, 2010  3:19 PM GMT
UPDATED: February 2, 2011  9:01:20 AM GMT
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FrankTheTank
1,200 pts.
Answer Wiki:
As far as I know you have to do a complete reinstall because windows does not let you skip a OS in a upgrade. But usually in a upgrade scenario you have to reinstall the applications anyways and transfer files. If all your systems are using the same applications and you bought a Windows 7 key that allows multiple users you can make a custom install disks that install all the updates, applications, and whatever else you choose in the same install with windows. You can use a program called nlite to make the disk and enter all the information so when the disk installs it will not prompt you for anything. You can get a list of other similar tools here: http://www.techradar.com/news/software/operating-systems/10-tools-for-creating-custom-windows-installation-discs-679477. Also depends if your going to keep a 32-bit environment or upgrading to 64-bit because then no matter what you would have to do a reinstall and make sure all your programs work in a 64-bit environment.
Last Wiki Answer Submitted:  Nov 1, 2010  8:51 PM (GMT)  by  FrankTheTank   1,200 pts.
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There is no way to upgrade from XP to WIN7. I’ve tried several programs that purport to move applications, but have generally found it is better, and easier, to just install the programs needed. The results are better.

Probably the best way to go about this is to build a base machine, loading WIN7 along with all the apps everyone uses. Then image that machine. You may want to build more than one image, depending on the size of your company and the difference in installed software.

All data would ideally be stored on a server in a business situation. If you have a policy for this, just notify users that they need to ensure all data is on a server as the machines will be converted to WIN7 on such and such a date. If the data is not on a server, IT does not take any responsibility for lost data. If you do not have such a policy, no time like the present to institute one. The only thing that should be saved form the machine is probably the bookmarks file.

On the given day, blow the image onto the user’s machine. Perform any tweaks needed, like setting up Outlook for them, applying the latest updates that may have been released since the image was made, unless you are using WSUS, installing other programs that may be needed by a particular user. It should, depending onthe machine, take less than 30 minutes to image, and less than 30 minutes to tweak per machine. Several images can be done at once.

Next is to let all your calls drop to voice-mail. You may face a lot of calls from users because their machine is different, they are missing their mah jong game, their movies are gone, etc.

Stevesz
 2,015 pts.
 

You may consider to use WET (windows easy transfer) and PickMeApp: two free solutions to migrate from XP to Windows 7. WET may transfer your XP settings to Win 7 while portable PickMeApp tool may transfer programs from XP to Windows 7. PickMeApp claims to support unlimited number of programs.

159753645
 10 pts.