The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Does upgrading cause you to reinstall programs?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by rosy6271, Jan 10, 2010.

  1. rosy6271

    rosy6271 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    36
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I have a free upgrade from Acer to Windows 7. My question is: If I install the upgrade, will it "over write" all of my programs and files and folders (pics and music and such and PSP files). Meaning, will I have to reinstall everything ?
     
    rosy6271, Jan 10, 2010
    #1
  2. Amnesiac

    Amnesiac 404

    Reputations:
    1,312
    Messages:
    3,433
    Likes Received:
    20
    Trophy Points:
    106
    If you upgrade from Vista to 7, then you shouldn't have to, but I would back up important files and data just in case something goes wrong.

    The only thing you will need to reinstall is drivers.
     
    Amnesiac, Jan 10, 2010
    #2
  3. lbohn

    lbohn Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    320
    Messages:
    235
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    You can do an in-place upgrade from Vista to 7, keeping all your compatible programs and all your data files, so long as you upgrade from x86 to x86 or from x64 to x64. You cannot do an in-place upgrade when going from x86 to x64 (or vice versa).

    --L.
     
    lbohn, Jan 10, 2010
    #3
  4. rosy6271

    rosy6271 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    36
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Hi,

    I don't quite understand what you mean. I am upgrading from x32 I believe.
     
    rosy6271, Jan 10, 2010
    #4
  5. Amnesiac

    Amnesiac 404

    Reputations:
    1,312
    Messages:
    3,433
    Likes Received:
    20
    Trophy Points:
    106
    Well, your current OS is 32 bit I assume (x32/x86).

    If you have a 32 bit OS, you CAN NOT upgrade to a 64 bit OS. You will need to do a clean install for that.
     
    Amnesiac, Jan 10, 2010
    #5
  6. wave

    wave Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    813
    Messages:
    2,563
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Rosy6271,

    you have 4gb of ram (according to sig.) so you should consider Windows 7 64bit.

    Also most likely you have Vista 32 bit currently. Vista notebooks were rarely shipped with 64bit and since you used to have 3gb ram it is pretty much sure that you have 32bit.

    Do you have a 64bit windows 7 upgrade dvd? I am not sure if all upgrade dvds come with both 32bit and 64bit.

    To have the very maximum of performance you should use 64bit. But you need to do a clean install and reinstall all programs again. If you do not want this then install 32bit. In everyday use you will not notice much if any difference in performance.
     
    wave, Jan 11, 2010
    #6
  7. TANWare

    TANWare Just This Side of Senile, I think. Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    2,548
    Messages:
    9,585
    Likes Received:
    4,997
    Trophy Points:
    431
    The upgrade disk'd from the manufacturer as usually for the original installed version of Vista either 32 bit or 64 bit. Decide now though whether you need the 64 bit path. The reason being if reinstall is a tough decision now it will just get that much rougher down the line..........
     
    TANWare, Jan 11, 2010
    #7
  8. Baka

    Baka (・ω・)

    Reputations:
    2,228
    Messages:
    2,111
    Likes Received:
    20
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Well if you're upgrading, I do recommend the 64-bit version. Compatibility isn't much of an issue lately since most of the programs now are compatible with 64-bit.

    Your old programs will be stored inside a windows.old folder for you to use and can be deleted anytime when you reinstalled them into your new program files folder. At least that's what happened to my upgrade o_O
     
    Baka, Jan 11, 2010
    #8