So you finally decided to be an early adopter and upgrade your current Windows to Windows 7. Why upgrade? For one, you’re getting at least an $80 discount getting an upgrade compared to buying a full standalone retail version. In this economy, $80 is a sure heck of a saving. And if you’re running Vista, Microsoft claims that you’d have a better user experience running 7.
Here’s a quick guide if you’re upgrading from a previous Windows version such as XP or Vista.
1. If you’re an XP user, be warned that upgrading will basically overwrite your system. And that means you have to re-install all your applications as well.
2. Before upgrading, make sure that you check your computer manufacturer’s site if they have device drivers for Windows 7 for your hardware. Typically, Windows 7 will have these ready for you but you don’t want to take any chances.
3. Back up all your important files. Upgrading from Vista supposedly lets you keep your documents but again, better be safe than sorry. Backing your files up is always good practice anyway.
3. Within XP or Vista, pop in the Windows 7 installer DVD into your DVD drive.
4. If you think you need more help with your upgrade, you can install the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to help you out. Otherwise, you can simply click Install Now.
5. Microsoft might have some important updates to the installer and you can opt to Get Important Updates for Installation. Needless to say, this only works if you have an active Internet connection.
6. You’d be prompted to accept the End User Licensing Agreement which you have to accept before you can continue. (Who even reads these EULAs? As our legal advise, read it.)
7. You’d then be asked to key in your Product Key. There’s also an option to activate Windows once the system connects to the Internet. It’s pretty convenient to have this enabled.
8. Next, you’d be asked what type of installation you want. If you want to simply upgrade your version (from Vista, you’d be able to keep your installed applications and files), select Upgrade. If you want a clean install on top of your installation (XP), select Custom (Advanced).
9. If you selected Custom, you will be prompted to select the drive partition on which you will be installing Windows 7. Select the partition. You might be warned that the partition contains a Windows installation. Just click OK.
10. A dialog box will launch showing you the upgrade status.
11. Just follow any prompts that the process might launch but it should be straightforward from hereon out. Your computer will be restarted and Windows 7 will load.
And here’s the big bonus. You can install do a clean install of Windows 7 using your upgrade license. This concerns Step 7.
The process requires users to install but not activate Windows 7 with the accompanying product key. After the installation is completed, users must make a minor change to the Windows registry, use the Windows “rearm” command, then reboot.
“When Windows 7 reboots, run the Activate Windows utility, type in your product key and activate Windows,” (Paul) Thurrott said. “Voila!”
But then again, you might encounter this upgrade SNAFU.
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