How To Upgrade From Windows Vista To Windows 7

If you're currently running Vista and want to upgrade to Windows 7, an in-place upgrade can be an easier option than a clean install. Here we will have a look a the steps to have before the upgrade and walk through the actual process of the upgrade.

Annotation: For this article we are upgrading Vista Home Premium 32-bit to Windows vii Dwelling Premium 32-bit

Before the Upgrade

Before starting the upgrade procedure there are a few things y'all need to exercise. The first thing you will want to brand certain is that you're continued to the Internet and running Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 or college. If you don't accept at least SP1 y'all will get an mistake and accept to go dorsum and install information technology.

Upgrade Advisor

Also you'll want to run Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor which nosotros previously covered. Make sure all of the hardware that you normally run is connected to the computer before running it so everything is checked. If your machine is already running Vista, chances are information technology's going to run Windows 7 without a problem.

upgrade adv

Compatibility Heart

Go to Windows vii Compatibility Eye to find out what hardware and software Windows vii currently supports. You lot can easily search or scan for your hardware to see if information technology'due south Windows seven uniform. If you have an older software version or hardware driver, they point you to the manufacturer'south website so you tin can upgrade to the right version for Windows 7.

The site also allows you to scan or search for software that is officially supported.

Fill-in Information

Fill-in all of your almost important files, folders, and other data. Even though you'll still have all of your files after the upgrade, something could get wrong during the process and you could lose everything. Hopefully you take complete backups of your data already. If not, here are some backup solutions that we've previously covered.

Free Backup Utilities

GFI Backup Habitation Edition

Internet

Make sure you are continued to the Cyberspace then updates can be downloaded and installed during the upgrade process.

Begin Upgrade

When you popular in the Windows 7 disc, it's going to give you the following options. If you already ran Upgrade Counselor, just ignore Bank check compatibility online because all it volition do it signal yous to Upgrade Advisor anyway.

Later on you click Install now you will see the following message.

Remember before starting the procedure that you're continued to the Internet because during this pace you lot'll want to get the latest updates for the install.

Wait while the latest upgrades are found.

Hold to the software license terms.

At the type of installation screen, select Upgrade and not Custom. Custom would be used if yous're doing a make clean install.

The upgrade process begins…

There will be about iii or 4 reboots while the process completes.

Afterward each reboot you lot should come across different tasks on the list showing they have completed.

The last footstep volition be Transferring Files, settings, and programs.

Afterward the final reboot yous will see the message that setup is checking video performance.

Type in your upgrade product primal…

Then select if you lot desire to turn on automatic updates.

Set upwards your time zone, time and appointment.

Select where your reckoner is located, which in our example is on a Abode Network.

The desktop will exist configured and you tin start using Windows 7 with all of your files and most settings intact. Not everything volition exist exactly how information technology was in Vista, so permit yourself time to go through and make the appropriate tweaks.

Of course there will be differences such as no Windows Mail, Messenger, Photograph Gallery…etc. Make sure to download Microsoft Live Essentials to become your favorite MS apps back.

Brand sure to run Windows Update right away later on the upgrade to brand sure everything is current.

Determination

If you lot're lucky plenty to take a version of Vista that allows an in-place upgrade, the procedure is relatively simple. The corporeality of time it takes will vary betwixt systems. The system we used had an AMD Athlon dual-cadre processor and 2GB of RAM and it took about 45 minutes to complete the upgrade. Yours will probably take a lot longer though depending on the size of the hard bulldoze and amount of data. The files and settings don't transfer over exactly how you had them before but it'due south just a matter of tweaking them a chip. Overall an in-place upgrade is a relatively simple and effective procedure.

Windows Upgrade Advisor

Windows Compatibility Center

Windows 7 Upgrade Considerations Nautical chart