Upgrade To Windows 7 From Windows Xp By Using The Windows Easy Transfer
Windows 7 is the latest Operating System launched by Microsoft and users having Windows XP installed in their systems have a tough time upgrading it to Windows 7.
On the release of Windows Vista, Microsoft also launched the direct upgrade ability from the older version. But, Windows 7 doesn’t provide any such upgrade for the Windows XP. The upgrading path to Windows 7 from Windows XP is not supported by the upgrade paths of the latest version. Users who try to upgrade from Windows 7 come across an error indicating that Windows XP can’t be directly upgraded to Windows 7.
There are a lot of users who buy the upgrade license for Windows 7. They need to perform the clean installation of Windows 7 which requires the installing partition to be overwritten. The overwriting process wipes off the data stored on the partition of the hard disk.
The Windows Easy Transfer doesn’t move the program files. It can only move the program settings and data. Therefore the user is required to re-install the programs in the new Operating System. The Easy Transfer from Windows doesn’t copy system files like drivers and fonts. Thus the user needs to install these too.
After successful completion of data transfer the Windows Easy Transfer pops up a message indicating the user to reinstall the programs that already existed in the earlier version of the OS. After upgrading to Windows 7, all the previous files of Windows XP get stored in the directory named as Windows.old.
The process of upgrading to Windows 7 from Windows XP is a tedious process. For your convenience follow the steps given below:
- Switch on your system having Windows XP and insert the Windows 7 disk. If the installation window is automatically opened, the user needs to close it.
- Extract the contents of the disk to a local drive.
- Open the Windows Explorer window from the Accessories tab under the Start menu.
- The computer’s DVD drive is to be browsed and then you are required to click on the migsetup.exe under the directory Support\Migwiz.
- On selecting the above mentioned directory, the Windows Easy Transfer opens up. Click the Next button on this window.
- Select a USB drive or an external disk on being asked to select the drive from which you want to transfer data from.
- Click on the “This is my old computer” command. The WET (Windows Easy Transfer) scans the system for file transfer.
- On completion of the scanning process, the user will be asked to select the files which need to be migrated. The user can also use the customize option to choose from various locations like the Desktop, Program Settings, Favorites, My Documents, Windows Settings, My Music, Pictures, Videos, Quick Launch and lots more. After selecting, click the Next button.
- Protect your Easy Transfer File by giving a password. It is optional to provide a password, you can leave it blank. Click the Save button to move on.
- Browse to the location of the USB drive selected earlier and save the easy transfer file there.
- After the settings and files are saved, click on the Next button. Windows Easy Transfer will display the location and the name of the file created.
- Click the close command to exit.
- Start the setup of Windows 7 by selecting the file setup.exe in the folder of the Windows 7 disc.
- Click on the install command
- The user will be asked to download updates available for Windows 7. This is an optional step and an internet connection is required for it. If you don’t want to download the updates then simply click next.
- Read the terms and conditions clause and set the check box as true
- For an upgrade to the new OS click on the Custom (advanced) command.
- You have to select the partition in which you will like to have Windows 7 installed in. It is recommended to select the drive which has the earlier OS stored in it. If you want a dual-boot system then select another drive other than the one already having a OS.
- Click the OK command after clicking NEXT. The remaining installation process proceeds without any interaction with the user.
- After completion of the installation process, plug in the drive which has the Easy Transfer File stored in it.
- Select the Windows Easy Transfer command mentioned under the System Tools. System Tools can be reached via Start, ALL programs, Accessories.
- The WET window opens, click the next command
- Select the drive which has the data and settings stored in it.
- Click the command “This is my new computer”
- You will be asked whether you want to transfer the old files into the new OS. If yes, then click the YES command.
- Open the location of the old files and click the transfer command.
- After transferring all files and settings, the new Operating System has been successfully installed in your system. Close the Window and enjoy the benefits of Windows 7.
The drive in the new OS will still have a folder named as windows.old. You can delete this folder to regain occupied disk space. To remove or permanently delete this folder follow the given steps:
- Select the Disk Cleanup process under the Systems Tool
- Click the “Clean up system files” command. All the files and drives are scanned for system files.
- Select the “Previous Windows Installation(s)” command and further select the files and its categories you want to remove.
- Click the OK command
- Finally click the Delete Files command. The folder is successfully deleted and the disk space occupied by it is regained.
Windows 7 gets successfully installed in your system and you can just enjoy the benefits of this awesome OS. By using the above mentioned steps the user actually bypasses the Windows Vista Operating System.