Easiest way to XP > Win7 upgrade?

Greetings

I googled quite a bit of info (obviously) but i am wondering what is the easiest way to do the upgrade. My parents are using WinXp, they are nowhere near power users and got all their info spread horribly all over the hdd. Gathering and reorganizing everything in case i want to format>install would take days if possible at all due to various things they dont remember but may occasionally need later ><.

Are we "owned"? or is there some easy way to upgrade?
So far i am leaning towards upgrading hardware and leaving the hdd with xp since it just looks like incredible pain to upgrade to win7 without making someone unhappy. But XP is so glitchy... I mean i am using win7 as my 2nd os sometimes and its flawless compared to my XP experience.

Please advice.

 

format C:

no I'm kidding. When you install win7, the installer will ask you if you want to keep your files. It will put them in a folder named "windows.old" (I think). Inside that folder you will have your old program files, documents etc.

 

Will it put there all my hdd files? what about mails? specific options for applications?

 

As far as I remember, if you wish to actually upgrade the OS you need to first upgrade from XP to Vista, then Vista to Win7.

XP to Win7 "upgrade" is full install with old files stuffed in one folder.

 

I see... well thx for information. I dont have vista though =/

 

You could use Windows Easy Transfer which will backup the appropriate files and settings to migrate from XP to Windows 7, it will also tell you about any compatibility issues that may arise during the migration process. It won't however transfer software applications over (mainly due to potential compatibility issues) so you will need to reinstall those again once you installed Windows 7.

Microsoft have written a good guide about it in which you can read from here.

 

You really need to do a clean install for better operating performance.
I upgraded my Vaio to 7 Pro and My Toshiba to 7 home a few weeks ago with clean installs.
You will need windows easy transfer for XP. You will still need to reinstall third party programs and things like office software and have there keys available. The program will record files folders settings media music etc. If any of it is not compatible with Windows 7, it will not transfer. This program is already built into Windows 7.
Specific drivers for this computer should be download and put on storage media prior to the clean install also. The complication of doing this depends on who produced it. On my Vaio I had to download every driver and use a specific order of instillation. On my Toshiba there was a driver installer. All I had to do was download the program and run it. When you put 7 on your computer generic drivers will download onto it so most things will function properly prior to manufacture specific driver instillation.
Have you downloaded the Windows 7 upgrade advisor. and have you gone to the manufactures site to see what drivers they offer for Windows 7 upgrade. Use the 7 upgrade advisor on the XP computer to see if it will handle it. I recommend putting the 64bit version on it if you are able to.
Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor - Download - Microsoft Windows

Download Details - Microsoft Download Center - Windows Easy Transfer for Windows XP

 

I would back-up your files to an external HDD, then perform a clean install of Windows 7, formatting the hard drive.

 

Agreed. Get all of the data off the HDD and onto an external. Then clean install 7. You can then pull data from the external drive as is necessary w/o worrying if something was left behind.

 

That would be fine to do with my own computer, but i dont live with my parents. Its really hard to explain to someone rather new to computers that they can find something they left on their desktop in f:/Documents/Username/Whatever else/.../.../Desktop/.

Also office — it took me a while to set up page parameters in word so something they print look exactly like they want it. I just think of amount of work i need to redo and its hours Thx for that Easy transfer though, i ll give it a try.

i am just lazy after upgrading my mac for 5-7 years without any re-installs or disk clean ups whatsoever.

 

I believe that easy transfer will transfer the office program settings to the new computer. It will not transfer the software or key though. You will still need the setup disk and the key.

 

I think Staples and/or Office Depot offer a service that they will backup all your files and upgrade your laptops to a newer OS.

Just an option

 

3 hours wasted
Part 0 of upgrade failed — it turns out that if you put old disk with win XP into new PC you get perma BSOD on boot. Updating drivers, Repairing install, fixing registry, fixing disk permissions etc etc everything that google suggests basically doesnt work.

So clean install into new drive with putting first one as slave seems to be the way. Plus replacing user folders.

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