The Transition from XP and Vista to Windows 7 Detailed
As Windows 7, the next iteration of the Microsoft developed operating systems, approaches RC (Release Candidate), RTM and GA (General Availability), you will want to move on from your XP and Vista to the six different versions of Windows 7. Purchasing a brand new version of the Windows 7 OS might prove to be rather costly as we’ve seen, but luckily enough the Redmond software developer will make the transition simpler than that (upgrade options, possibly even free ones).
Upgrading (in the true sense of the word which is to say installing the OS on an already running one without losing any user data and existing apps) is only possible for Vista users. Migrating from Vista to Windows 7 goes like this:
- Vista Home Premium -> Windows 7 Home Premium
- Vista Business -> Windows 7 Professional
- Vista Ultimate -> Windows 7 Ultimate
Please keep in mind that if you do not wish to follow these upgrade paths, you will have to perform a clean install.
Once you have Windows 7 installed on your machine, you will seamlessly be able to migrate from one version to another thanks to WAU (Windows Anytime Upgrade). Each of the six Windows 7 versions are superset, culminating with Windows 7 Ultimate.
If you are the kind of person that stuck with XP and refused to switch to Vista, you will find the migration process towards Windows 7 a bit more cumbersome. The first problem is that you will have to perform a clean install (remember to backup your data and the software apps you have installed on that partition because they will be lost in the installation process). Once the installation process is complete, you will have to migrate your data and apps manually (there is even a tool called Windows Easy Transfer that Microsoft has provided). The second issue is that upgrading from XP to Windows 7 will cost you more compared to people switching from Vista.
One other migration option would be to purchase a system with Vista pre-installed on it (after July 1st) and upgrade to Windows 7 for free (when it becomes available, of course).
Upgrading (in the true sense of the word which is to say installing the OS on an already running one without losing any user data and existing apps) is only possible for Vista users. Migrating from Vista to Windows 7 goes like this:
- Vista Home Premium -> Windows 7 Home Premium
- Vista Business -> Windows 7 Professional
- Vista Ultimate -> Windows 7 Ultimate
Please keep in mind that if you do not wish to follow these upgrade paths, you will have to perform a clean install.
Once you have Windows 7 installed on your machine, you will seamlessly be able to migrate from one version to another thanks to WAU (Windows Anytime Upgrade). Each of the six Windows 7 versions are superset, culminating with Windows 7 Ultimate.
If you are the kind of person that stuck with XP and refused to switch to Vista, you will find the migration process towards Windows 7 a bit more cumbersome. The first problem is that you will have to perform a clean install (remember to backup your data and the software apps you have installed on that partition because they will be lost in the installation process). Once the installation process is complete, you will have to migrate your data and apps manually (there is even a tool called Windows Easy Transfer that Microsoft has provided). The second issue is that upgrading from XP to Windows 7 will cost you more compared to people switching from Vista.
One other migration option would be to purchase a system with Vista pre-installed on it (after July 1st) and upgrade to Windows 7 for free (when it becomes available, of course).
