The Members Forum

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
The Member's Forum -> Computer Operating System News and Help -> Can you upgrade an old XP PC to Windows 7? Should you?
Post Info TOPIC: Can you upgrade an old XP PC to Windows 7? Should you?
barney


Administrator / Manager

Status: Offline
Posts: 2499
Date:
Can you upgrade an old XP PC to Windows 7? Should you?
Permalink   



How old is too old? I had a chance to think about this question twice over the weekend. Once while pondering my fifty-somethingth birthday (as of today, I am the same age as Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons combined), and the other while deciding whether to upgrade my friend Lisa’s four-year-old Sony notebook to Windows 7.

The birthday will happen whether I want it or not. But as for that Sony? That took a little more thought. It would have been a no-brainer had this been a two-year-old PC that Lisa had downgraded to XP to avoid the tribulations of Vista. But this machine, once a triumph of Sony hardware engineering, could easily be deemed ready to retire.

After careful consideration, I finally decided to go ahead with the upgrade, taking careful notes and snapping lots of screen shots along the way. The XP-to-7 odyssey was an interesting one, with surprising results and several lessons I can share with anyone contemplating a similar adventure. Along the way I also tried out a new edition of Laplink’s PCmover software, which is specifically designed to ease this sort of migration. I found some surprises there as well.


Can you upgrade an old XP PC to Windows 7? Should you?

__________________

http://www.mycomputerplayground.com
http://www.digitaldrama.net
http://www.thisrules.net
Vindicated


Administrator / Manager

Status: Offline
Posts: 2410
Date:
Permalink   

There's some really good information buried in that blog, Barney!!
Thanks for sharing it!!!
(Gotta get with NewEgg for an external hard drive to facilitate the installation of Windows 7.)



__________________

Vindicated th_Worm.gif
NicKnayme


Manager

Status: Offline
Posts: 1130
Date:
Permalink   

Beetle, if you have an extra drive you can buy an adapter for both PATA and SATA drives for about $15.
When I get a chance I will find a link. I got mine from Meritline. (it includes the power brick)

Alan

-- Edited by NicKnayme on Thursday 1st of October 2009 01:38:49 PM

__________________

Where's the money, Lebowski?toilet gif
NicKnayme


Manager

Status: Offline
Posts: 1130
Date:
Permalink   

I have an external drive but this also comes in handy!

http://www.meritline.com/usb-to-sata-ide-cables-adapter-191---p-34964.aspx

(and it's cheap if you have a spare drive)

Alan

__________________

Where's the money, Lebowski?toilet gif
Vindicated


Administrator / Manager

Status: Offline
Posts: 2410
Date:
Permalink   

Thanks Alan!
The largest hard drive in my 'engineering stock' is less than 10Gb so I'm thinking I'll just get a new USB External HD.
Appreciate the information!!



__________________

Vindicated th_Worm.gif
Vindicated


Administrator / Manager

Status: Offline
Posts: 2410
Date:
Permalink   

Ordered this hard drive this morning.
Should have it 'in-hand' in 2 or 3 days.



__________________

Vindicated th_Worm.gif
NicKnayme


Manager

Status: Offline
Posts: 1130
Date:
Permalink   

Beetle, here is an intuitive open-source piece of software you may find interesting.
(I have not used it yet,but reviews are good)

"Not only is FreeFileSync possibly the top freeware folder/file sync'ing
tool it can also mirror files from one drive to another, without copying
'free space' along with it which is what prevents programs such as Drive
Image XML from mirroring data from a larger drive to a smaller one.

FFS will clone a drive without losing any data and /only/ mirror the
data (not free spaces also) by using the option button (gear icon to the
left of the Synchronize button) and selecting 'mirror.'"

http://sourceforge.net/projects/freefilesync/

Alan

__________________

Where's the money, Lebowski?toilet gif
Vindicated


Administrator / Manager

Status: Offline
Posts: 2410
Date:
Permalink   

Thanks Alan!!
Have downloaded it & will be checking it out.
Sounds like it will be useful in rebuilding after format & clean installation of Windows 7.
Appreciate the tip!!!



__________________

Vindicated th_Worm.gif
NicKnayme


Manager

Status: Offline
Posts: 1130
Date:
Permalink   

NicKnayme wrote:

I have an external drive but this also comes in handy!

http://www.meritline.com/usb-to-sata-ide-cables-adapter-191---p-34964.aspx

(and it's cheap if you have a spare drive)

Alan


What I neglected to say...you can also use this adapter for an external DVD/CD writer.

 



__________________

Where's the money, Lebowski?toilet gif
Vindicated


Administrator / Manager

Status: Offline
Posts: 2410
Date:
Permalink   

Just ordered the adapter from Meritline-- (couldn't beat it at NewEgg!)
It should get here before October 22nd.
Thanks for the link & recommendation, Alan!!



__________________

Vindicated th_Worm.gif
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
The Member's Forum -> Computer Operating System News and Help -> Can you upgrade an old XP PC to Windows 7? Should you?
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse 		Powered by ActiveBoard