How to Upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7

Upgrading from Vista is relatively simply. The steps to upgrade XP are more complicated. You can easily move your program data to the new installation, but programs and their settings are a different matter.

Some quick ideas:

1. Get a new hard drive first. This may sound a bit radical, but it has a number of advantages. You start with a clean slate, your content is guaranteed to be preserved on your old drive, you get a drive with less mileage on it and you can choose a faster, larger drive.
2. Run backups before anything. Things happen. It’s best to try to backup what you can before making any changes. A large, external drive is the best option for this. If you haven’t got one, then Tip #1 above is even more critical.
3. Know your applications. You’ll need to reinstall every application (except for the ones that are bundles with Windows 7). If you’re missing key discs or your software is outdated, you may need to resolve this issue first. Again, with Tip #1 is helpful here – if you forget an app, you can go back to the old drive in an emergency.
4. Check your hardware. Not every device has a Windows 7 driver. In general, native support for devices has been excellent, but it’s worth checking.
5. Run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. This tool is useful if you have concerns about whether your PC is suited for the upgrade. The results aren’t perfect, but they are insightful.

Still with the idea? Microsoft has a good walkthrough on how to get Windows 7 installed. Make sure that you document the steps that will require your PC to be unable to access the web (print out the steps if needed).

See the Microsoft tutorial.