We highly recommend that you print this tutorial. Your PC will restart during the Windows 7 installation process, so having a printed copy will help you follow the steps if you're unable to return to this webpage
Introduction
To upgrade your PC from Windows XP to Windows 7, you'll need to select the Custom option during Windows 7 installation. A custom installation doesn't preserve your programs, files, or settings. It's sometimes called a "clean" installation for that reason.
A custom installation is more complex, and it can sometimes take a couple of hours to complete. We created this five-step tutorial to help guide you through the entire process each step of the way.
What you need
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An external hard disk. You'll need to move your files off of your PC before you install Windows 7. To make this easier, we recommend a free download called Windows Easy Transfer, which will require an external hard disk. They’re readily available at electronics and office supply stores, and they provide an easy way to add additional storage space to your computer.
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The original installation discs or setup files for the programs that you want to use with Windows 7. You’ll need to reinstall your programs by hand after installing Windows 7. When you run Windows Easy Transfer you will get a report that lists the programs that you are currently using with Windows XP.
32-bit or 64-bit: Which version of Windows 7 to install?
Both 32-bit and 64-bit installation discs are included in the Windows 7 package. 64-bit operating systems can handle large amounts of memory—typically 4 gigabytes (GB) of random access memory (RAM) or more—more efficiently than 32-bit operating systems. However, not all computers are 64-bit capable.
You'll probably need the 32-bit version, but to make sure right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
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If you don’t see "x64 Edition" listed, then you’re running the 32-bit version of Windows XP. Step 1 of this tutorial will show you how to run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, which can let you know if your comptuer is capable of running the 64-bit version of Windows 7.
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If "x64 Edition" is listed under System, you’re running the 64-bit version of Windows XP and can run the 64-bit version of Windows 7.
Steps
Step 1: Download and run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor
To help find potential compatibility problems with your computer's hardware, devices, or programs that might affect installing Windows 7, download and run the free Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. It provides a report listing any issues that it finds and gives recommendations on what to do before you upgrade to improve your PC's compatibility with Windows 7
Download and install Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor
Follow the steps below to download the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor.
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Go to the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor webpage.
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Click Download the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor.
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Click Download, and then save the installation file to your PC.
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Double-click the installation file saved to your PC.
Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor requires .NET Framework 2.0. If your computer doesn't have it installed, follow these steps. If you're not asked to install .NET 2.0, you can skip this and proceed to step 5.
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Click Yes.
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Click Next.
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If you agree to the license terms, click Install.
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Click Finish.
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If you agree to the license terms, click Install.
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Click Close.
If you see a pre-selected check box, clicking Close will run Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor.
Run Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor
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If Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor isn't already running, double-click the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor shortcut on your PC's desktop.
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In the security warning dialog box, click Yes.
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Click Start check. The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor will scan your PC's hardware, devices, and installed software. This might take a few minutes. When finished, it will provide you with a compatibility report that you can print or save for your reference.
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Read the report carefully, and make note of any issues that the Upgrade Advisor finds and what the recommended steps are to fix these issues.
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If you want to save the report and print or refer to it later, click Save Report, type a name in the File Name box, and then click Save.
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Click Close.
You can scan your PC more than once. We recommend running the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor again after taking any of the recommended steps or making any changes to your PC's hardware, devices, or installed software before upgrading to Windows 7. Be sure to save your updated report.
Step 2: Moving files and settings, and gathering your program discs
We recommend using Windows Easy Transfer, a free download, to help you move your files and settings to another location before you install Windows 7. Then, you can use Windows Easy Transfer again to move your files and settings back to your PC after Windows installation is completed.If you don't use Windows Easy Transfer, you'll need to copy your files manually to an external location, such as CDs, DVDs, an external hard disk, or a USB flash drive before installing Windows 7, and then move them back after Windows installation is completed.
Windows Easy Transfer creates a single file containing your files and settings. The file could be quite large depending on the amount of data you have, which is why we recommend using an external hard disk.
As you prepare to move your files off of your computer to an external storage device, remember the following:
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Windows Easy Transfer doesn't move your programs, only your files and settings. You'll need to reinstall your programs by hand after Windows 7 installation is complete. Windows Easy Transfer will provide you with a list of programs that you are currently using with Windows XP.
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Don't use the File and Settings Transfer Wizard in Windows XP to move your files. It isn't compatible with Windows 7, and if you use it, you won't be able to restore your files in Windows 7. Use Windows Easy Transfer instead.
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Windows Easy Transfer can't transfer files from a 64-bit version of Windows to a 32-bit version of Windows. If you're running a 64-bit version of Windows XP, but you plan to install a 32-bit version of Windows 7, you'll need to copy your files manually to an external location before installing Windows 7, and then move them back after Windows installation is completed.
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Windows Easy Transfer moves your music and video files, but doesn't migrate the licenses for content protected by digital rights management (DRM). This means that you'll need to re-obtain rights to DRM‑protected files from the online store that provided them after you finish installing Windows 7 and restoring these files to your computer. For more information, see Step 4: Moving your files and settings back to your computer.
Warning
Some stores don't restore rights to their DRM‑protected files. For details about store policies, refer to your store's customer support or Help information. If your music or video was obtained from a store that's no longer in business, you won't be able to restore your rights to that content.
You’ll also need Windows XP Service Pack 2 or higher. If you're not sure of what you have, click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties. Under System, if you see "Service Pack 2" or "Service Pack 3," you can use Windows Easy Transfer. If you're not running Service Pack 2 or 3, go to the Windows XP service pack page on the Microsoft website to update your PC.
Download and install Windows Easy Transfer
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Download Windows Easy Transfer from the Windows website. If you're running a 32-bit version of Windows XP, under For Windows XP, click Download 32-bit. If you're running a 64-bit version of Windows XP, click Download 64-bit.
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On the Microsoft Download Center webpage, click Download, and then click Run.
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In the Security Warning dialog box, click Run.
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In the Software Update Installation Wizard, click Next.
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If you agree to the license terms, select I Agree, and then click Next.
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After installation is complete, click Finish.
Open and run Windows Easy Transfer to save your files and settings
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Make sure your external hard disk or other storage device is connected to your computer.
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Click Start, click All Programs, and then click Windows Easy Transfer for Windows 7.
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Click Next.
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Select An external hard disk or USB flash drive.
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Click This is my old computer, and then wait while Windows Easy Transfer scans the computer.
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Clear the check boxes next to any user accounts that you don't want to transfer data from, and then click Next.
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Enter and retype a password, and then write it down and keep it in a safe place; or leave the boxes blank, and then click Save.
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Browse to the external hard disk or other storage device where you want to save your Easy Transfer file, and then click Save.
Warning
You must save the Easy Transfer file to your external hard disk or other storage device, and not to the default location My Computer. If you don't save the Easy Transfer file to your external hard disk, the file you just created will be deleted during the custom installation of Windows 7.
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Windows Easy Transfer will begin saving your files and settings. Do not use your computer during this time.
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When you see the message These files and settings have been saved for your transfer, click Next.
Windows Easy Transfer displays the file name and location of the Easy Transfer file you just created. Write down the file name and location so you can easily find it when you’re ready to transfer files to Windows 7.
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Click Next, and then click Close.
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Ensure that the file is saved to your external hard disk or storage device, and then disconnect the device from your computer.
Gather your program discs and setup files
It’s important to remember that the Custom installation option doesn’t preserve any of your programs, so you’ll need to reinstall the programs that you want to use in Windows 7.
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Make sure you have the installation discs for the programs you want to keep using in Windows 7.
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You might have downloaded some programs from the Internet. If you still have the installation files on your computer (often called setup.exe, install.exe, or similar), copy those setup files to your external hard disk as well. If you don’t have the installation files, you’ll need to download them again after Windows 7 installation is complete.
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If you're running a 64-bit version of Windows and plan to install a 32-bit version of Windows 7, programs that were designed to run only on a 64-bit operating system might not work. Check the software manufacturer's website for more information, or go to the Windows 7 Compatibility Center. You can search the Compatibility Center for product names or browse many different categories of hardware and software tested to be compatible with both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 7.
source : www.microsoft.com
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