General question about installation of win7

[Tony Vella]

I have a vista computer which is 4 years old but still like new. I have
not used it since I bought this new laptop with win7 on it. I really
like my win7 a lot more than vista and I have been considering buying a
win7 software and installing it on my old vista - no upgrade, a
complete format to get rid of vista and a complete install of win7 from
scratch.

The people at the computer shop tell me this is terribly complicated and
that almost everyone who has tried it has ended up screwing up his
computer beyond salvage. They insist it would be better if I paid them
$150 and let them do it for me. Before doing that I wanted a second
(and third and fourth) opinion so here I am.

Thanks in advance for all opinions, advice, comments, warnings, etc.

 

[Leala]

I have a vista computer which is 4 years old but still like new. I have
not used it since I bought this new laptop with win7 on it. I really
like my win7 a lot more than vista and I have been considering buying a
win7 software and installing it on my old vista - no upgrade, a complete
format to get rid of vista and a complete install of win7 from scratch.

The people at the computer shop tell me this is terribly complicated and
that almost everyone who has tried it has ended up screwing up his
computer beyond salvage. They insist it would be better if I paid them
$150 and let them do it for me. Before doing that I wanted a second (and
third and fourth) opinion so here I am.

Thanks in advance for all opinions, advice, comments, warnings, etc.

Tell the computer shop to go suck a lemon. They're just trying to rip
you off.

 

[John Williamson]

I have a vista computer which is 4 years old but still like new. I have
not used it since I bought this new laptop with win7 on it. I really
like my win7 a lot more than vista and I have been considering buying a
win7 software and installing it on my old vista - no upgrade, a
complete format to get rid of vista and a complete install of win7 from
scratch.

The people at the computer shop tell me this is terribly complicated and
that almost everyone who has tried it has ended up screwing up his
computer beyond salvage. They insist it would be better if I paid them
$150 and let them do it for me. Before doing that I wanted a second
(and third and fourth) opinion so here I am.

Thanks in advance for all opinions, advice, comments, warnings, etc.

It depends on how much value you place on your time and how confident
you are. Backing up *all* your data, including the bits that aren't in
your Documents folder, finding the hardware drivers, installing Windows
7, installing all the drivers and updates, and then restoring all your
data and programs would probably take the computer over a day, of which
I'd need to spend an hour or two actually sitting next to it.

How much would you trust the shop to *properly* back up your system
before doing the work? I know I wouldn't trust our local shops at all.

After saying that, there are no real "Gotchas" when installing Windows 7
that aren't there when you install Vista. The worst that can happen in
my experience is that you lose any data you've not backed up, and may
have to go back to Vista, but screwing up a computer "beyond all
salvage" takes *real* talent. It's not even all that hard to transfer
all your settings over, either, so you can end up with Windows 7 working
(And looking, if that's your fancy) just as Vista did before. It may
even run faster than Vista did, too.

 

[Ed Cryer]

Tell the computer shop to go suck a lemon. They're just trying to rip
you off.

Seconded. It's a very well trodden path to install and replace.
Get your Win7 disk, boot from it, choose to format the C drive, install.

Don't have any qualms at all. Even if you feel ill at ease with it, and
nervousness makes you hesitant, bear in mind that you can do it again;
because you won't be afraid of losing anything, since that's one of the
objects being aimed at.

And if you have any little question at all about the procedure, just ask
here. There are lots of people who do that job many times a year.

Ed

 

[Dave \Crash\ Dummy]

I have a vista computer which is 4 years old but still like new. I
have not used it since I bought this new laptop with win7 on it. I
really like my win7 a lot more than vista and I have been considering
buying a win7 software and installing it on my old vista - no
upgrade, a complete format to get rid of vista and a complete
install of win7 from scratch.

The people at the computer shop tell me this is terribly complicated
and that almost everyone who has tried it has ended up screwing up
his computer beyond salvage. They insist it would be better if I paid
them $150 and let them do it for me. Before doing that I wanted a
second (and third and fourth) opinion so here I am.

Thanks in advance for all opinions, advice, comments, warnings, etc.

Stick the installation DVD in your optical drive, reboot, and follow the
simple directions for a clean install. Then find a new computer shop.

 

[Nil]

I have a vista computer which is 4 years old but still like new.
I have not used it since I bought this new laptop with win7 on it.
I really like my win7 a lot more than vista and I have been
considering buying a win7 software and installing it on my old
vista - no upgrade, a complete format to get rid of vista and a
complete install of win7 from scratch.

The people at the computer shop tell me this is terribly
complicated and that almost everyone who has tried it has ended up
screwing up his computer beyond salvage. They insist it would be
better if I paid them $150 and let them do it for me. Before
doing that I wanted a second (and third and fourth) opinion so
here I am.

Do a little research and then decide. Make a list of all the major
components of the computer, the motherboard, video adapter, sound card,
etc. Check the manufacturer's web sites to see if they have specific
drivers available for Windows 7. If they do, you should be able to
install Windows 7 with little or no problem. If they mention only Vista
drivers, you may still be able to do it, but be prepared to jump
through some hoops. If they have only XP or earlier drivers, it might
still be made to work, but depending on your level of expertise, you
may not want to risk the time, money and potential aggravation to
upgrade.

 

[choro]

Do a little research and then decide. Make a list of all the major
components of the computer, the motherboard, video adapter, sound card,
etc. Check the manufacturer's web sites to see if they have specific
drivers available for Windows 7. If they do, you should be able to
install Windows 7 with little or no problem. If they mention only Vista
drivers, you may still be able to do it, but be prepared to jump
through some hoops. If they have only XP or earlier drivers, it might
still be made to work, but depending on your level of expertise, you
may not want to risk the time, money and potential aggravation to
upgrade.

I understand that some laptop manufacturers can and do supply (for a
fee) Windows 7 installation disks for their Vista machines. Surely it
would be best to look into this first. If lucky, then all his problems
are solved in one go because all the Windows 7 drivers etc for the old
Vista laptop will be there. Naturally the optical disks supplied by the
manufacturer will be model and even serial number specific. So have this
info ready to hand when getting in touch with the laptop manufacturer.
-- choro

 

[Wolf K]

I have a vista computer which is 4 years old but still like new. I have
not used it since I bought this new laptop with win7 on it. I really
like my win7 a lot more than vista and I have been considering buying a
win7 software and installing it on my old vista - no upgrade, a complete
format to get rid of vista and a complete install of win7 from scratch.

The people at the computer shop tell me this is terribly complicated and
that almost everyone who has tried it has ended up screwing up his
computer beyond salvage. They insist it would be better if I paid them
$150 and let them do it for me. Before doing that I wanted a second (and
third and fourth) opinion so here I am.

Thanks in advance for all opinions, advice, comments, warnings, etc.

It's very easy to install Win7. But first, use Vista to back up any
must-keep data on the old machine (or even print hardcopies of the
really precious stuff). DVDs are cheap.

Second, buy your Win7 install disk. You probably have 32-bit Vista on
your old machine, so I'd recommend Home Premium 32-bit.

3rd, boot the old machine, and go into Setup (F2, or F8 are the usual
keys for this). The dig around until you find "boot order" or similar.
Change the first one to CD-ROM. On some machine you will find the actual
CD/DVD drive names, if so, make sure you use it as the first boot option.

4th, insert the W7 DVD, power down and reboot. The installation screen
for Win 7 should appear. It will almost immediately tell you it found a
prior version of Windows, and will ask whether you want to keep it. I
can't recall the actual wording, but it will be clear enough. Decide
whether you want Win7 to use the whole hard drive, or whether you want
to create at least one extra partition. (I recommend that you do so, use
it for your data). Either way, reformatting the disk can take a long time.

Then just follow the prompts on the screen.

FWIW, I had two hard disks on this machine when I bought W7, I installed
it on the second disk, first creating additional partitions.
Installation went without a hitch.

HTH
Wolf K.

 

[Wolf K]

Do a little research and then decide. Make a list of all the major
components of the computer, the motherboard, video adapter, sound card,
etc. Check the manufacturer's web sites to see if they have specific
drivers available for Windows 7. If they do, you should be able to
install Windows 7 with little or no problem.[snip]

Good advice, but Win 7 will find rivers for your peripherals. I couldn't
find a driver for a nearly 10-year-old laser printer, everything else
worked after Win7 had "found new hardware" and done its magic. It's
really a very versatile and forgiving OS.

HTH
Wolf K.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

I understand that some laptop manufacturers can and do supply (for a fee)
Windows 7 installation disks for their Vista machines. Surely it would be
best to look into this first. If lucky, then all his problems are solved in
one go because all the Windows 7 drivers etc for the old Vista laptop will be
there. Naturally the optical disks supplied by the manufacturer will be model
and even serial number specific. So have this info ready to hand when getting
in touch with the laptop manufacturer.
-- choro

But his computer is a desktop.

Although what you say might apply to it also.

 

[FD]

The computer shop does not have your interests in mind. They have you
paying $150 for something you can do in a couple of hours in mind.

Windows 7 home premium is selling in Canada in the range of 99 to 115
dollars plus tax/

Charging 30-40 dollars for installing and setting up the computer is
not an exhorbitant
fee. I presume the 150 dollar includes and OEM version of Windows 7
Home premium.


FD

 

[Tony Vella]

Windows 7 home premium is selling in Canada in the range of 99 to 115
dollars plus tax/

Charging 30-40 dollars for installing and setting up the computer is not
an exhorbitant
fee. I presume the 150 dollar includes and OEM version of Windows 7 Home
premium.


FD

NO! The $150 is the charge for doing it. I would have to buy my own
software which here in Ottawa is selling for $120.

 

[Bob I]

My suggestion is unless you are changing "bitness", backup your data and
"upgrade" the Vista installation. I've done both and upgrading saves a
buttload of reconfiguring. On the other hand if you really want to
reinstall and reconfigure all the apps you have, just ignore me.

 

[Char Jackson]

NO! The $150 is the charge for doing it. I would have to buy my own
software which here in Ottawa is selling for $120.

Consider this another vote to either find another shop or do it
yourself. It's not difficult and help is available here or on the
Internet in general.

 

[Six Underground]

Win 7 will find rivers for your peripherals.

Rivers of beer flowing through a delightful, garden glade.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Rivers of beer flowing through a delightful, garden glade.

I admit it took me several seconds to figure out the typo in WolfK's
post

The beer idea sounds good, though - better than figuring out the typo.

 

[XS11E]

I have a vista computer which is 4 years old but still like new.
I have not used it since I bought this new laptop with win7 on it.
I really like my win7 a lot more than vista and I have been
considering buying a win7 software and installing it on my old
vista - no upgrade, a complete format to get rid of vista and a
complete install of win7 from scratch.

Nothing to it but... is your PC a HP or ??? You might find an upgrade
on their website so look there first. If it's a HP you'll probably
find drivers for Win7 as well.

The people at the computer shop tell me this is terribly
complicated and that almost everyone who has tried it has ended up
screwing up his computer beyond salvage. They insist it would be
better if I paid them $150 and let them do it for me.

I see a HUGE problem with you doing it yourself, the computer shop
won't make $50! ;-)

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

Rivers of beer flowing through a delightful, garden glade.

Yes, that typo threw me for a moment ...

but seriously: are you just saying that 7 has lots of drivers built into
it, which I'm sure that it has, or that it will go onto the 'net and
find any it needs, which obviously requires an already-set-up 'net
connection (or you to be able to set one up when it prompts)?

 

[Rob]

Do a little research and then decide. Make a list of all the major
components of the computer, the motherboard, video adapter, sound card,
etc. Check the manufacturer's web sites to see if they have specific
drivers available for Windows 7. If they do, you should be able to
install Windows 7 with little or no problem. If they mention only Vista
drivers, you may still be able to do it, but be prepared to jump
through some hoops. If they have only XP or earlier drivers, it might
still be made to work, but depending on your level of expertise, you
may not want to risk the time, money and potential aggravation to
upgrade.

This.

Tony, if you let us know the make and model of the motherboard,
we will be able to tell you if it will be an easy or not-so-easy
installation.

 

[Wolf K]

Rivers of beer flowing through a delightful, garden glade.

And clusters of foam ballooning on the breeze...

Wolf K.