Upgrading from Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 - any issues?
Marts
work properly any more.
It's a Dell so it comes with a system restore disc to restore it back to the
state when it was shipped.
No big deal doing it that way. However, I was thinking that maybe I should take
the opportunity to install Windows 7 on it.
Questions therefore are:
1. Should I repair the current install, which includes the apps and programs
that were installed by us first?
2. Or can I install Win7 over the existing install and hope that all apps are
overwritten with later versions (and to reinstall the buggered 3rd party ones
afterwards).
3. Complete format, install Win7 from scratch?
4. Which version of Win7 is the best to use for home/home networking use?
5. And why?
Regards Q3, If I go that way I'll purchase a 7200rpm drive of a more reasonable
capacity than the 160 gig 5,400rpm unit that's currently in it.
son of a bitch
AVG by any chance ?
You didn't mention how old or what type it is or what it's currently
running.
Being as vague as possible isn't going to get you much help.
Gettamulla Tupya
> My wife's laptop was hit by a virus recently. Quite a number of programs don't
> work properly any more.
>
> It's a Dell so it comes with a system restore disc to restore it back to the
> state when it was shipped.
>
> No big deal doing it that way. However, I was thinking that maybe I should take
> the opportunity to install Windows 7 on it.
>
> Questions therefore are:
>
> 1. Should I repair the current install, which includes the apps and programs
> that were installed by us first?
>
> 2. Or can I install Win7 over the existing install and hope that all apps are
> overwritten with later versions (and to reinstall the buggered 3rd party ones
> afterwards).
One thing to check. Does the Dell use special drivers? I have a Compaq laptop here that
won't run anything but a special version of Vista. I can't find the drivers to run
another O/S. Doesn't really matter, though. It runs well and is only used when
travelling.
> 3. Complete format, install Win7 from scratch?
Always do a clean install. Unless you need special drivers. If so, format it, install
the old O/S then upgrade to Win 7 over the top.
> 4. Which version of Win7 is the best to use for home/home networking use?
Windows Home Premium is the way to go.
> 5. And why?
It is cheaper than the Professional version and really has all most people need. Consider
the 64 bit version if the computer will handle it.
> Regards Q3, If I go that way I'll purchase a 7200rpm drive of a more reasonable
> capacity than the 160 gig 5,400rpm unit that's currently in it.
500 gig laptop drives are quite cheap now.
son of a bitch
A lot of those "Vista" drivers are actually XP drivers.
The only Vista bit is the Install Program Only.
So to install a XP you can just grab the INF files and all the other
files from the Vista Installed Version.
Rod Speed
> My wife's laptop was hit by a virus recently. Quite
> a number of programs don't work properly any more.
> It's a Dell so it comes with a system restore disc
> to restore it back to the state when it was shipped.
> No big deal doing it that way. However, I was thinking that
> maybe I should take the opportunity to install Windows 7 on it.
> Questions therefore are:
> 1. Should I repair the current install, which includes
> the apps and programs that were installed by us first?
Not clear what you mean there with respect to the Dell system restore you mention above.
The Dell system restore disk probably will get it back to a usable state
again, but that wont include what you have installed since you got it.
> 2. Or can I install Win7 over the existing install and
> hope that all apps are overwritten with later versions
That is unlikely to happen. Win7 doesnt install some stuff
at all, just continues with what comes with the prior install.
> (and to reinstall the buggered 3rd party ones afterwards).
> 3. Complete format, install Win7 from scratch?
Thats the safest approach with a virus infection.
> 4. Which version of Win7 is the best to use for home/home networking use?
There is no best. Premium is fine.
> 5. And why?
Basically because the extra cost of more than that isnt really warranted
except in some unusual situations. Corse it depends on where you are
getting your Win7 from, if you are getting the cheapest legal copy from
the US etc it may not be as simple as that.
> Regards Q3, If I go that way I'll purchase a 7200rpm drive of a more
> reasonable capacity than the 160 gig 5,400rpm unit that's currently in it.
You may not see much effect speed wise, particularly if its got plenty of physical ram.
Marts
> AVG by any chance ?
No, MacAfee. What was preinstalled. It's a Dell XPS laptop.
>
> You didn't mention how old or what type it is or what it's currently
> running.
Yes I did. It's in the subject header.
> Being as vague as possible isn't going to get you much help.
Not sure what info you require other than the machine runs Vista and I'm asking
about upgrading it to Win7.
Marts
> Not clear what you mean there with respect to the Dell system restore you mention above.
It's the CD that came with the machine. Has Windows Vista on it. Apparently,
when run it restores it to the state it was when it was shipped. I haven't
sighted the discs for a while so it may or may not have the Macafee install on
it.
> > 2. Or can I install Win7 over the existing install and
> > hope that all apps are overwritten with later versions
>
> That is unlikely to happen. Win7 doesnt install some stuff
> at all, just continues with what comes with the prior install.
That's what I meant. ie. the progs that allow you to view graphic files (jpg,
bmp, etc.), Notepad and all the "accessory" applications that comes with Windows
as standard.
Rod Speed
> Rod Speed wrote
>> Marts wrote:
>>> My wife's laptop was hit by a virus recently. Quite
>>> a number of programs don't work properly any more.
>>> It's a Dell so it comes with a system restore disc
>>> to restore it back to the state when it was shipped.
>>> No big deal doing it that way. However, I was thinking that
>>> maybe I should take the opportunity to install Windows 7 on it.
>>> Questions therefore are:
>>> 1. Should I repair the current install, which includes
>>> the apps and programs that were installed by us first?
>> Not clear what you mean there with respect to the Dell system restore you mention above.
> It's the CD that came with the machine. Has Windows Vista on it.
> Apparently, when run it restores it to the state it was when it was shipped.
Yes. What wasnt clear was the next bit, 'which includes
the apps and programs that were installed by us first?',
they will clearly be lost if you use that Dell system restore.
> I haven't sighted the discs for a while so it
> may or may not have the Macafee install on it.
Virtually all of those do have some antivirus installed.
Cant think of one that doesnt.
>>> 2. Or can I install Win7 over the existing install and
>>> hope that all apps are overwritten with later versions
>> That is unlikely to happen. Win7 doesnt install some stuff
>> at all, just continues with what comes with the prior install.
> That's what I meant. ie. the progs that allow you to view graphic
> files (jpg, bmp, etc.), Notepad and all the "accessory" applications
> that comes with Windows as standard.
Like I said, Win7 doesnt overwrite all of those with later versions.
In your situation you are generally better with a clean install of Win7,
but its best to be safe with a full image of the current install in case
there turns out to be a problem with a clean install driver wise etc.
Dell should be able to tell you if you can do a clean install of Win7 on that system.