Win 7 Install - Updated Please read 5th line
What happens when you install Win 7 depends on what you have.
I would always suggest a full backup before you do the install whether you have XP or Vista (see below).
If you have Vista and you get a Win 7 version that is the same as your Vista version everything should be OK, a different level does not seem to work.!!!! But it should simply replace Vista. Your programs, documents, etc. should all be OK.
If you have XP or you get a Win 7 version lower than the current Vista version, you must save your documents, pictures, etc. (see below). The install wipes everything. You would then have to reinstall your programs, which means you need your serial numbers.
There is a program called PcMover. It has a version that claims to copy your programs and registry entries and then put them back after Win 7 installs. From what I've read I think this will work on most common programs. if you have specialized programs, you better have the serial numbers.
Full backup:
A full backup generally means copying everything to an external device. Normally this is an external drive. Such drives are dirt cheap these days. You can get a 1TB (1000 GB) for just under $100. And other sizes cheaper than that. Most of these drives come with backup software. If you don't have backup software take a look at this free one.
view link
The review says it is very good.
XP
If you are upgrading from XP you will want to backup all your documents, pictures, etc.. You may want to do this separately from the full backup as it is easier to just put this stuff back. You can use an external drive as mentioned above or you can copy the stuff to DVDs (CDs are really too small). The external drive will be faster.
I would always suggest a full backup before you do the install whether you have XP or Vista (see below).
If you have Vista and you get a Win 7 version that is the same as your Vista version everything should be OK, a different level does not seem to work.!!!! But it should simply replace Vista. Your programs, documents, etc. should all be OK.
If you have XP or you get a Win 7 version lower than the current Vista version, you must save your documents, pictures, etc. (see below). The install wipes everything. You would then have to reinstall your programs, which means you need your serial numbers.
There is a program called PcMover. It has a version that claims to copy your programs and registry entries and then put them back after Win 7 installs. From what I've read I think this will work on most common programs. if you have specialized programs, you better have the serial numbers.
Full backup:
A full backup generally means copying everything to an external device. Normally this is an external drive. Such drives are dirt cheap these days. You can get a 1TB (1000 GB) for just under $100. And other sizes cheaper than that. Most of these drives come with backup software. If you don't have backup software take a look at this free one.
view link
The review says it is very good.
XP
If you are upgrading from XP you will want to backup all your documents, pictures, etc.. You may want to do this separately from the full backup as it is easier to just put this stuff back. You can use an external drive as mentioned above or you can copy the stuff to DVDs (CDs are really too small). The external drive will be faster.
