rboe
Reged: 03/16/02
Posts: 45325
Loc: Phx, AZ
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Any one upgrading from XP to Windows 7, let's hear how it went for you. I'm looking at upgrading one of my Windows boxes to see if it will run better under 7 (has 4GB of ram but XP applications, not keen on upgrading software - I'm too cheap  ).
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Ron
NS11GPS
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StarWars
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Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 13794
Loc: CyberSpace
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Hi Ron...
What you need Upgrading from Windows XP... 
Upgrading your PC from Windows XP to Windows 7 requires a custom installation which 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. For complete details on installation instructions after purchase, please go to www.windows.com / Help & How to section.
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.
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.
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rboe
Reged: 03/16/02
Posts: 45325
Loc: Phx, AZ
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Ya, I'm looking at Windows 7 Professional Upgrade at $199. Sounds steep for a lot of work.  I may skip it.
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Ron
NS11GPS
Pronto
16" dob
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StarWars
Postmaster
Reged: 11/26/03
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Ron
According to the Tiger Direct web site the $199 upgrade is for Vista not XP... 
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Sony Digital Media player..
MX 460 earbuds
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rboe
Reged: 03/16/02
Posts: 45325
Loc: Phx, AZ
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Amazon, Buy.com and others say otherwise.
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Ron
NS11GPS
Pronto
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markan
super member
Reged: 07/13/09
Posts: 126
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Quote:
Ya, I'm looking at Windows 7 Professional Upgrade at $199. Sounds steep for a lot of work. I may skip it.
I feel the same way. It's a bit of a chore reinstalling all my software. I tried Windows 7 RC1 when it was available. I don't dislike Vista, which puts me in a minority I guess. I think I'll wait a while.
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psonice
super member
Reged: 07/24/09
Posts: 159
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Paying a big chunk of money and spending a big chunk of time getting everything backed up, reinstalled and working again puts it firmly in the 'not worth the effort' category for me. I'm using XP, but only really for the stuff I can't run on OSX, so its not something I'd benefit from much anyway.
I'd say for a lot of people, the hassle and cost of changing from XP isn't really worth it so it'll be more of a "when I get a new computer" upgrade (especially as you can pick up a new machine for not much more than the cost of a win 7 license..) For those with vista, it's a much more appealing upgrade as it should be a fairly easy upgrade, and vista isn't exactly widely loved (yeah, some people get on with it, but I've met a load of people who are basically stuck with it and hate it).
To be honest, the main thing I'm looking forward to with win7 is 64bit.. 3.3gb of memory is really annoying when you've got more in there
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NeoDinian
Experienced Postmaster
Reged: 10/05/05
Posts: 12717
Loc: Rockford Illinois
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Quote:
Ron
According to the Tiger Direct web site the $199 upgrade is for Vista not XP...
Straight from Microsoft:
Quote:
Decide to buy an Upgrade or Full product
All editions of Windows XP and Windows Vista qualify you to upgrade. So, if you’re running either on your PC today, buy a package labeled “Upgrade”.
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Neo... (Jeff)
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10" LX200-GPS/SMT UHTC "Draco"
 Rockford, Il.
NeoDinian's Eye on the Sky!
Coming soon:
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rboe
Reged: 03/16/02
Posts: 45325
Loc: Phx, AZ
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The main reason I'd upgrade is to take advantage of some of my hardware that XP can't (4GB of ram and a quad core). If I get a new MacBook I think I could put it off a couple years.
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Ron
NS11GPS
Pronto
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Greg K.
Reged: 12/11/03
Posts: 11505
Loc: Clifton Park, NY
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I plan to get a netbook soon and it'll likely have Windows 7. I might get an Windows 7 upgrade for my Macbook's VMWare Fusion. I also have a Vista laptop but it's getting some video problems so I think it's probably on its last legs. Probably not worth bothering with.
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StarWars
Postmaster
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 13794
Loc: CyberSpace
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Did you see the taskbar on Windows 7 it looks and functions just like the Apple O.S. X taskbar..  I hope Jobs pulls the plug on this game... 
Windows 7 looks just like O.S. X ... Might as well get a Mac and avoid all the nonsense like Antivirus, Firewalls, Malware/Spyware scanners..
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Sony Digital Media player..
MX 460 earbuds
Celestron 2x Barlow Lens
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StarWars
Postmaster
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 13794
Loc: CyberSpace
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Apparently there is a upgrade from Win XP to Windows 7 called Microsoft Windows Anytime Upgrade.. DVD
XP to Windows 7 Home $79.99
XP to Windows 7 Pro $89.99
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Sony Digital Media player..
MX 460 earbuds
Celestron 2x Barlow Lens
Orion Collimation Eyepiece
Rigel Quick Finder
Assorted Bino's
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Greg K.
Reged: 12/11/03
Posts: 11505
Loc: Clifton Park, NY
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Actually the "Anytime upgrades" are to upgrade from lesser versions of Win7 to higher levels, such as from Basic to Premium or Premium to Ultimate.
The best deal for those who have multiple PCs seems to be the family pack, which is 3 licenses of Home Premium for $149. I think I would need two of those if I upgraded everything.
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Astro-Tech AT111EDT f/7 - Celestron CGEM
NexStar 11 GPS
Orion SkyView Pro 8EQ (w/ Autostar mod)
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jrford
member
Reged: 08/25/05
Posts: 80
Loc: Birmingham, MI
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We have few extra peecee's at the office and i thought i give it a try. Just to see what 'happens' i took one of our unused HP dx2000 with 2gb, Celeron 3.0ghz on a ATI Radeon Xpress 200 with on-board video, and did the Win7Home 32-bit upgrade. The upgrade advisor didn't like the Video which is to be expected, and thus said no Aero support.
Install ran fine, i didn't have a stop watch but it was about 30min or so. Only problem is that its running Std VGA, being on board video with an xtra PCIx2 slot open, i would want to upgrade the Video card if i would keep it. Interface in the 30 seconds i looked at it, looks a lot like office 2007. Not a big fan of it, but aw well. Might try the Win7Pro next.
little update on some times:
Boot time ~1min, shutdown 20seconds, Excel'07 start 5sec.
Video looks like it will support 1280,
Edited by jrford (10/23/09 03:21 PM)
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StarWars
Postmaster
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 13794
Loc: CyberSpace
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Quote:
Actually the "Anytime upgrades" are to upgrade from lesser versions of Win7 to higher levels, such as from Basic to Premium or Premium to Ultimate.
The best deal for those who have multiple PCs seems to be the family pack, which is 3 licenses of Home Premium for $149. I think I would need two of those if I upgraded everything.
According to the Tiger Direct web site...
Windows 7 Upgrade System Requirements
To be eligible for this offer, you need to be running a genuine copy of the Windows XP or Windows Vista operating systems.
1GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor.
1GB RAM (32-bit) or 2GB RAM (64-bit)
DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver.
Apparertly this upgrade will work with Vista, XP and Windows 7 ... 
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Sony Digital Media player..
MX 460 earbuds
Celestron 2x Barlow Lens
Orion Collimation Eyepiece
Rigel Quick Finder
Assorted Bino's
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SkyArcher
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 3446
Loc: 9545' in Colorado
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I have three XP computers including a CAD workstation at work and I probably will not be upgrading to Windows 7 anytime soon. If my systems are working well as it is, then I'm not going to mess with it. The only reason to upgrade to Windows 7 would be if I upgraded another software like AutoCad and they require Windows 7.
Now, does Windows 7 bypass the 4 gig RAM limit?
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Sir Skyler Archibald.....
An 8" Deep Space Hunter
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ccs_hello
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/03/04
Posts: 3298
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For 4GB or more RAM, 64bit OS (in Windows) Vista or Win7 will be able to take advantage of it. 32bit version only recognized 3.2GB RAM. The rest is not used.
Clear Skies!
ccs_hello
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ccs_hello
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/03/04
Posts: 3298
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Many have XP (or Vista) running with many accumulated software and data in the current harddisk. Win 7 upgrade for the Win XP case will wipe the disk clean. If you use this opportunity to get a larger (but now cheaper) hard disk, there is a way to help you to do a "windows 7 upgrade clean install" linky here. After you have a brand new machine available, try to find a way (e.g., put your old hard disk back as a secondary hard disk) to move your old data/programs over to the new Win7.
P.S.
A trick if your old desktop PC does not have SATA hard disk interface:
1) SATA hard disk is much cheaper than IDE per Gigabyte capacity
2) either use a PCI SATA adapter (about $15) to extend your desktop PC, or
3) use a IDE-SATA converter module (about $10) (one side is IDE to your old desktop PC, while the other side is SATA to your new SATA hard disk
P.S.2:
Another advantage is that if you want to go back to XP for whatever reason, the original hard disk is still there and not wiped clean.
Clear Skies!
ccs_hello
Edited by ccs_hello (10/24/09 09:15 PM)
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Jimmy2K63
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 04/26/09
Posts: 1188
Loc: Kentucky
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Ahh yes the fun begins. Incompatible software, non-existent drivers, etc. Processor hog and more.
We'll get some new machines soon that will have Win7 on them and I'll play with it then and see how it loads and functions with other software, but upgrading for the sake of upgrading is not something I really want to do right now.
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http://astronomyguy63.blogspot.com/
LXD75 SN6-UHTC
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NeoDinian
Experienced Postmaster
Reged: 10/05/05
Posts: 12717
Loc: Rockford Illinois
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Quote:
Quote:
Actually the "Anytime upgrades" are to upgrade from lesser versions of Win7 to higher levels, such as from Basic to Premium or Premium to Ultimate.
The best deal for those who have multiple PCs seems to be the family pack, which is 3 licenses of Home Premium for $149. I think I would need two of those if I upgraded everything.
According to the Tiger Direct web site...
Windows 7 Upgrade System Requirements
To be eligible for this offer, you need to be running a genuine copy of the Windows XP or Windows Vista operating systems.
1GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor.
1GB RAM (32-bit) or 2GB RAM (64-bit)
DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver.
Apparertly this upgrade will work with Vista, XP and Windows 7 ...
I'd believe Microsoft before I believe anyone else... According the Microsoft's own site, the "Anytime" upgrades are to upgrade from one version of Win7 to another Win7... This is why the cost is MUCH less.
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Neo... (Jeff)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
10" LX200-GPS/SMT UHTC "Draco"
Rockford, Il.
NeoDinian's Eye on the Sky!
Coming soon:
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