Questions before upgrading to Windows 7

I've finally recieved my windows 7 disk from HP

But before I go and upgrade/install everything I have a few questions.

1. Am I able to do a clean install? Does the product key in the kit allow for me to do this?

2. How would I go about doing a clean install properly? (paranoid about mucking things up)

3. After doing a clean install, am I able to use the second disk to update the drivers, etc. or can I only use it when doing the upgrade option?

 

Could a mod add "to windows 7" at the end of the title please?

 

The way to guard against "mucking" things up is to make a backup of your system first. That way if anything goes horribly wrong, you can always revert back to where you are now.

Once you insert the disc you'll see the option for clean/custom and update install. If you want/need clean install then click that option. I can't tell you what happens next because I chose upgrade, but the disc will guide you through the procedure. It's pretty uneventful, but just time consuming.

As an added margin of safety, it's best if you have a wired internet connection. It took 4 hours to make my upgrade so don't think about going to far. You still have to remove/insert disc when prompted, and you'll also need to restart your computer a few times as well.

I hope I've alleviated any fear and that you feel a little more confident now?

 

Okay thanks. But if I do a clean install, am I still able to use the driver disk or is it better to download those from hp's site myself?

 

A clean install IMO takes way to much time. I'd go with an upgrade especially considering the age of your machine.

I'd go with the drivers from HP's website or the ones from Windows update.

 

The instructions it said to put in the hp upgrade manager disc and follow the on screen instructions. Does that prepare the upgrade or does it install a bunch of crap that will be on my computer after installing the windows disc?

Also, I read somewhere on the forums that someone said something like "I prefer a clean install. I don't all the crap from vista on windows 7 after the upgrade." Is that true?

 

I did a clean install from a Windows "upgrade" disc; the upgrade is supposed to get rid of any unnecessary files, but just to be sure my system was as clean as it could be.... Everything on your hard drive will be wiped in preparation for the clean installation. I went from Vista Home Premium to 7 Home Premium. I'm not sure if you got actual Microsoft discs, or doctored up OEM ones, but with MS discs, here's how it went for me:

Pop the disc in, select the clean install option. The only issue you may run into is that, once the installation has finished and you're asked to enter the license code, Windows may not accept it...easy enough to fix. If that happens, stick the installation disc back in, but this time select "upgrade." Let it do its thing, and this time, when prompted for the license code, it should take it.

Now let Windows search for drivers if it didn't do so on the first install (it'll find almost everything you need on its own). When that's done, you can search for specific drivers you might prefer. For example, I had to search for drivers specific to my video card, MS Mobile Memory Mouse 8000, and sound card. The defaults Windows found worked, but I knew there were better drivers out there for my hardware. Those were just a Google search away.

Then you have to install all your favorite software (iTunes, Picasa, MS Office, Spore, whatever).

That was it! I did this on my XPS M1330, but it should be the same path as anything else (though I did have to install Dell's "Media Direct" as well, but you won't have that problem). Oh, and it goes without saying that you should have BACKED UP any files (pics/videos/music/documents/saved games/IE favorites) on external media before any of this so you can transfer them to your new OS.

Oh, and BTW, you can't muck this up (AS LONG AS YOU BACK UP YOUR IMPORTANT FILES/DOCUMENTS, because nobody else has those but you). Worst case, if the install goes bad, you'd have to reinstall your original OS and try upgrading again...time-consuming, but not the end of the world.

 

I'm not familiar with HP's upgrade disks. Plain Jane upgrade disks give you the option of either an Upgrade or a Custom Install.

The stuff that comes with Vista will, during the upgrade, either be transfered to Windows 7 or uninstalled depending on the component. The upgrade advisor will explain in detail if you run it.

You don't have to wipe your disk to do a clean install. If you don't format your partition, Setup will move the old files into a separate folder and install a plain jane copy of Windows. Just like a clean install. Except your old files are moved into a folder called Windows.old.

This is my recommendation if you aren't sure you have everything backed up or you are just too lazy to back it all up (your's truly).

 

Yup; I just wanted c-l-e-a-n; Windows.old would've been chaff for me

 

But it is clean Windows.

:sigh: Some people.....

 

Yes, yes, don't get your panties in a wad. I agreed with what you said as far as that was concerned. I just didn't want a worthless folder (at least to me it would have been, so right off the bat, I would've had "junk"). Sorry if I wasn't clear about that and offended you.

:sigh: Some people......

 

I'm just disappointed at the practice in general. If you ever have the horror of working tech support or education in general you'll understand the feeling.

 

I can imagine

I truly am sorry I got a little snooty with a couple of comments in my last post; I didn't think your "some people" comment was very nice, and I let it get the better of me. Clearly, we have different thresholds for what "clean" should be...and that's all right!

 

No harm done.

You know what they say here, "No Blood, No Foul."

 

A few hints from someone who has been down this road.

1. Have a back up of your system before you try to install Win7.
2.Download the drivers from HP first. Depending on your notebook, not all will be available, & not all of the drivers provided by HP are 'up to date'.
3. Definately do a clean install. Use the disk to boot & install. I always format the C drive (advanced options), then install on it.
4. Install your drivers, programs & data.

What model notebook do you have? Depending on your hardware, you will get various advice regarding best drivers, but I have found that Windows update provides suitable drivers for Nvidia cards ect. Not all the drivers provided for Vista are optimal with Win 7.

 

Hp is notoriously slow and sluggish with it's updates. At first attempt I couldn't even connect with the site.

On the bright side, they do have a gorgeous new intuitive interface though (if it only worked as good as it looks) so at least their designers should get some credit.

 

I have the DV6-1253CA.

 

i bought my dv7 with vista on it a year ago. i installed windows 7 on it last night and this thing is running like butter!!!!!

 

And from someone else who's also been down this road.

No point formatting if you just click custom install. This cuts down on your time in moving all your old data from backups. Setup moves all your data into a folder called Windows.old.