Skipping vista and upgrading directly from XP to Windows 7 may be an inevitable choice for most user system upgrades. For this scenario, this article lists the common XP upgrades to win 7 issue rollup for readers ' reference:
1. Can I upgrade directly from Windows XP to Windows 7?
OK, no need to go through Vista Transit.
2. Can XP be upgraded in place (In-place) to Windows 7?
No. Only Vista users can choose "in-place upgrades." Microsoft says there are many changes in hardware support and driver mode, so it is not the best solution to upgrade from XP to Windows 7. Microsoft recommends that users first back up the data and then reinstall the system and all other applications.
3. What are the requirements of Windows 7 for the system?
Windows 7 system requirements are very similar to Vista, and the official data from Microsoft are as follows:
-1ghz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processors
-1GB RAM (32-bit) or 2GB RAM (64-bit)
-16GB (32-bit) or 20GB (64-bit) free hard disk space
-DirectX 9 Graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or later
But Microsoft's request is for reference only. Previously, the computer with 1GB memory running Vista is very slow, although Windows 7 will be better, but the effect is still not satisfactory.
4. How do I know if my computer can run Windows 7?
You can run Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor (Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor). The software is currently a beta version. Users can download the installation to http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/upgrade-advisor.aspx. The program detects and tells the user what needs to be improved for the hardware that is currently running XP.
5. Can I buy a cheaper windows 7 upgrade or spend less money on a full version?
You can buy a cheap upgrade, but you can't buy a cheap, full version. For example, the recommended retail price for the Windows 7 Home Advanced Edition upgrade is USD 120. The upgrade first detects whether the user's current version of the Windows system is legitimate and is activated. Only authenticated systems can continue to install.
6, I installed the XP Home version, I can choose which version of Windows 7?
You can upgrade to Windows 7 's Home Premium Edition (USD 120), Professional Edition (USD 200). Of course, you can also upgrade to the flagship (USD 220) if you wish. It is advisable to purchase the premium and Professional edition of the family at $50 and 100 USD at the discount period from June 26 to July 11. However, the activity has now expired.
7, I now use XP Professional Edition, should choose which version of Windows 7?
As with the XP Home Edition, you can upgrade to the Home Premium (USD 120), Professional (USD 200) and flagship (USD 220).
8, how to upgrade?
Until Microsoft finally releases the Windows 7 upgrade CD to know the exact answer, Microsoft can help us back up and restore settings and data with Windows Easy Transfer tools built into Windows 7 CDs. The whole process is too long to repeat here. If the user is interested in the Microsoft official website to see the specific steps.
9. What preparations should be made before the upgrade?
We recommend that the user first make a mirror image of the existing system, in case of abandoning Windws 7 in the future and switching to the original system. There are many free image-making software at present.
10, I heard that Windows 7 will be sold as a DVD. I do not have a DVD drive on my Computer, only one CD-ROM drive, how should I handle it?
Microsoft advises users to rent, borrow or buy a DVD drive to install the system, or to take their own machines to a company that provides related services to upgrade. There are rumours that Microsoft may be offering Windows 7 upgrades via 4GB USB drive. But the message is still unconfirmed. Users can buy windows 7 via the Microsoft Electronics store and put it on a USB drive. At present, the Internet has been related to the introduction.
11. Can I upgrade to 64-bit Windows 7?
If you have a 64-bit processor, you can. Windows 7 provides both 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems, whether it's a CD-ROM version or a downloadable version. If you are installing 32-bit vista now and want to upgrade to 64-bit Windows 7, you will have to reload the system.
Users can download and run a free securable tool to see if their processors support 64-bit systems. The program can also tell users if they can use Windows 7 Professional and flagship Windows XP mode.
12, I can run the original system XP software?
If you purchased a Windows 7 Professional or flagship version, you can. These two versions of users can run the Windows XP mode plug-in and then create an XP virtual environment based on Virtual PC running in Windows 7. However, the plugin is not attached to the CD, and users need to download it themselves.
XP mode comes with a fully licensed version of Windows XP SP3, so users do not need additional authorization. However, this mode requires the user's processor to support virtualization technology. Users can detect their own processors through free securable.
Currently, the Windows 7 RC version of the user can already be from http://www.microsoft.com/DOWNLOADS/details.aspx? familyid=0e8fa9b3-c236-4b77-be26-173f032f5159&displaylang=en Download the beta version of XP mode.
13, I do not want to just for an XP model to pay 80 more dollars to Microsoft, if I upgrade to the Windows 7 Home Advanced Edition should be how to operate?
There are a number of options. First, users can wait until they upgrade to Windows 7 and then install and test software that was previously installed on XP. Some software may be able to run without obstacles.
If the program is not running, you can try running in compatibility mode. Right-click the program's shortcut, select Properties, click the Compatibility tab, and then check "Run this program in compatibility Mode" and choose Windows XP from the Drop-down menu.
In addition, users can choose to run free virtualization software, such as Sun VirtualBox, and set Windows XP to the guest (guest) system in the virtual environment. However, to install XP within a virtual machine requires authorization. This may be the biggest hurdle for users, as many users have installed XP that cannot be transferred to other systems, including virtual systems. Also, if a user upgrades from XP to Windows 7, the activation key on the XP CD will fail regardless of how the user's XP was obtained. This is because during the upgrade process, the computer sends a request to the Microsoft server to cancel the key, which invalidates the previous XP key and associates the user's computer with the new Windows 7 key.
14. If I don't like Windows 7, can I restore XP?
Sure, but the user needs to have a new installation again, first format the system disk and replace Windows 7 with XP. Prior to this, the user needs to back up the data file and record the system settings. This time, Easytransfer utility is useless because the program does not apply to degraded installations. And the user needs to reinstall all the applications.
The best way to do this is to mirror the existing system before you install Windows 7.