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Posts Tagged Upgrade

Hassle free upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7

Oct 12

Posted by Admin in Operating System, Windows 7, Windows XP | No Comments


While the Windows XP users were left wandering by Microsoft through their product upgrade path for Windows 7, luckily there are others outside who understand the plight of end users. Microsoft has clearly stated that Windows XP users will not be able to upgrade to Windows 7 and will have to reinstall all their existing applications to work on Windows 7.

Laplink has a multi-purpose data and application movement tool that can make your transition to Windows 7 extremely easy. It’s simple steps do not require technical assistance and an average home pc user can follow the on screen prompts to backup and transition all applications to Windows 7. The tool basically allows you to select the applications that you wish to migrate and creates a small backup for these. After upgrading to Windows 7, you need to run the utility again and boom you are done. This tool supports all major application that a home/office user may have on their machines. This tool can also be used if you are planning to buy a new PC and were wondering how data and applications will be migrated. PC Mover can move data/applications across a network, Laplink USB cable, WET (Windows Easy Transfer) cable or any other removable media that can be used on both the PCs. What’s more, it also maintains user information and access control information. You can find detailed information on this tool on Laplink website.

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Tags: 7, application, backup, data, Microsoft, transfer, Upgrade, windows, XP

Upgrade to Windows 7 from Windows Vista gets stuck at 62%: Solution

Sep 3

Posted by Admin in Operating System, Troubleshooting, Windows 7 | No Comments


If you have attempted or are planning to upgrade to Windows 7 from Windows Vista, you may encounter an issue during the upgrade process. The upgrade may get stuck at 62% with no error messages. It will stay at 62% for a very long time.

If you encounter this situation, follow the steps below:

  1. Restart the computer. This step will roll back the upgrade and you will be able to boot into Windows Vista installation.
  2. Once on the Windows Vista desktop screen, Click on “Start” and Right Click on “Computer”
  3. On the pop-up menu, click on “Properties” and then click on “Advanced System Settings”
  4. On this System Settings screen, click on “Environment Variables” button

Vista System Properties

5. On the next screen, click on “New” button under “System Variables”

6. On the new window, you will see options to enter Variable Name and Variable Value. In these boxes, type the following information:

  1. Variable Name: MIG_UPGRADE_IGNORE_PLUGINS
  2. Variable Value: IphlpsvcMigPlugin.dll

Now click on “OK” and return to the desktop screen.

 

Now restart the upgrade process. This time it should go ahead with the installation process.

If you still face this issue, please leave a comment or submit the details using the “Request Solution” tab on this page.

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Tags: 62%, Microsoft, Setup, Stuck, Upgrade, Vista, Windows 7

Are you ready for Windows 7?

Aug 12

Posted by Admin in Windows 7 | No Comments


It would be a simple question to answer if you are considering only Minimum system Requirements.

But you have ensure more comprehensive check of your system to ensure hassle free transition to Windows 7.

Following are few things you need to take care off before attempting upgrade/installation of Windows 7.

There are tools and scan utilities available which if you download and run on your machine will provide you with all the required information related to conflicting software, Drives etc.

Below are few tools which you can try:

1. Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor:

This tool generates a report which details out known compatibility issues. It will also give suggestions on how to take care of compatibility issues.

2. PC Pit Stop Utility:

This site will prompt for installation of an ActiveX control. Install this ActiveX and you will get a comprehensive scan result of your PC wrt Windows 7 readiness.

 

Cheers!!!

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Tags: check, compatibility, Compatibility check, compatibility issues, compatible, hardware, minimum, readiness, requirements, system, Upgrade, Window 7, Windows 7

Can I upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7?

Aug 12

Posted by Admin in Windows 7, Windows XP | No Comments


Yes!!!!! You can.

But here is the catch, Microsoft has not provided option to directly upgrade to Windows 7 from Windows XP. There are various options of getting Windows 7 on the computer, but almost all of them would result in you losing your data and your programs.

There is but one way by which you can atleast preserve your data.

Even though, Upgrade is not an option in the setup if we are running it on Windows XP, however we can migrate files and settings from old installation to new one. In order to accomplish this you will have to use Windows easy transfer. You will basically have to transfer the data using this utility to a removable media and then transfer it back once the installation is done. You will however lose all the installed programs and will have to install them back!!!!.

 Following is the summary of the activites involved:

  • Move your files/data using Windows Easy Transfer onto an external media (External HDD, Flash Drive).
  • Install Windows 7 (Remember to choose Custom Installation – Upgrade).
  • Move the files/data back on the computer using Windows Easy Transfer.

Now, this seems elementary, but this might not be a smooth sail throughout.

Ensure that your computer meet the minimum system requirements for Windows 7 and also run a compatibility check.

In order to get a step by step details of the upgrade process, visit following link:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd446674%28WS.10%29.aspx

Also, you will find Screen Shots of the installation steps at BlogsDNA:

http://www.blogsdna.com/3217/step-by-step-guide-to-upgrade-windows-xp-to-windows-7.htm

 

Microsoft has also released video of how data migration can be simplified through User State Migration Tool (USMT) version 4.0. Click here to watch the video. (You will have to install Microsoft SilverLight for this)

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Tags: howto, Microsoft, Upgrade, USMT, Window 7, Windows 7, Windows XP, XP

Minimum System Requirements – Windows 7

Aug 12

Posted by Admin in Windows 7 | No Comments


Good News!!! If you are running Microsoft Windows Vista on your PC already, you do not have to pay heavily for a hardware upgrade if you intend to install Microsoft Windows 7.

Below is the comparision of Minimum system requirement for Windows Vista & Windows 7:

Windows 7:

  • 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
  • 1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
  • 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
  • DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

Windows Vista – Home Premium / Business / Ultimate:

  • 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
  • 1 GB of system memory
  • 40 GB hard drive with at least 15 GB of available space
  • Support for DirectX 9 graphics with:
    • WDDM Driver
    • 128 MB of graphics memory (minimum)
    • Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware
    • 32 bits per pixel

 

Additional requirements to use certain features:

For some Windows Media Center functionality a TV tuner and additional hardware may be required

Windows Touch and Tablet PCs require specific hardware

DVD/CD authoring requires a compatible optical drive

BitLocker requires Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2

BitLocker To Go requires a USB flash drive

Windows XP Mode requires an additional 1 GB of RAM, an additional 15 GB of available hard disk space, and a processor capable of hardware virtualization with Intel VT or AMD-V turned on.

 

For more information, visit following links:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/get/system-requirements.aspx

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-7-System-Requirements-110635.shtml

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Tags: hardware, Microsoft, required, system, Upgrade, Windows 7

Windows XP to Windows 7: Upgrade Woes

Aug 12

Posted by Admin in Windows 7 | No Comments

Microsoft has announced that its most widely used Operating System, Windows XP, will not be a valid upgrade path for upgrading to Windows7. As of June 2009, over 60% of global Deskop / Laptop PC users are using a version of Windows XP, leave alone the countless large and small businesses which are still using Windows XP.

If a Windows XP user wants to install Windows 7, he/she will either have to do a clean installation (Which means all data has to be backed up and restored along with all existing applications) or create a dual boot between Windows XP and Windows 7. Microsoft has also mentioned that some applications that used to run with Windows XP may not have native support in Windows 7. They have provided a “Windows XP Virtualization” in Windows 7 that will have to be used in such a case.
With this, Microsoft has seemingly ignored millions of users who did not upgrade to Windows Vista due to its bad reviews. I think Microsoft should provide an upgrade path in the retail release slated for October 22, 2009.
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Tags: Microsoft, Upgrade, Window 7, Windows 7, XP