Skip Vista and upgrade directly from XP to Windows 7 is probably the inevitable choice for most user system upgrades. In response to this situation, this article lists the common XP upgrade to Win 7 problem summary for the reader's reference:
1, can I upgrade directly from Windows XP to Windows 7?
Yes, no need to transit through Vista.
2. Can XP be upgraded in-place to Windows 7?
No. Only Vista users can choose “in-place upgrade”. Microsoft said that there are many changes in hardware support and driver mode, so it is not the best solution from XP "in-place upgrade" 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 for Windows 7 on the system?
The system requirements for Windows 7 are very similar to those of Vista. The official data given by Microsoft is as follows:
-1GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64 Bit (x64) processor
-1GB RAM (32 bit) or 2GB RAM (64 bit)
-16GB (32 bit) or 20GB (64 bit) available hard disk space
-with WDDM 1.0 or Higher versions of DirectX 9 graphics devices
but Microsoft's requirements are for reference only. Previously, the speed of running Vista with a computer with 1GB of memory was very slow. Although Windows 7 would be better, the effect is still unsatisfactory.
4, how do I know if my computer can run Windows 7?
can run Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. The software is currently in beta. Users can download and install at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/upgrade-advisor.aspx. This program can detect the hardware that is currently running XP and tell the user what needs to be improved.
5, Can I buy a cheaper Windows 7 upgrade, or spend less money to buy the full version?
You can buy a cheap upgrade, but you can't buy a cheap full version. For example, the Windows 7 Home Premium upgrade program has a suggested retail price of $120. The upgrade program first checks if the current Windows system version of the user is legal and is activated. Only verified systems can continue to install.
6, I installed XP Home Edition, I can choose which version of Windows 7?
You can upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium ($120), Professional Edition ($200). Of course, you can upgrade to the flagship version ($220) if you wish. It is wise to buy Home Premium and Professional Edition for $50 and $100 during the offer period from June 26th to July 11th. However, the event is currently out of date.
7, I am using XP Pro, which version of Windows 7 should I choose?
As with XP Home Edition, you can upgrade to Home Premium ($120), Professional Edition ($200) and Flagship Edition ($220).
8. How to upgrade?
You can only know the exact answer after Microsoft finally releases the Windows 7 upgrade CD, but Microsoft can help us back up and restore the settings through the Windows Easy Transfer tool built into the Windows 7 CD. data. The whole process is too long and will not be repeated here. If the user is interested, you can check the specific steps on the official Microsoft website.
9. What should I do before the upgrade?
We recommend that users first make an image of the existing system, in case they give up Windws 7 and switch to the original system. There are currently many free image creation software.
10, I heard that Windows 7 will be released as a DVD. I don't have a DVD drive on my computer, only a CD-ROM drive, what should I do?
Microsoft recommends that users rent, borrow or buy a DVD drive to install the system, or take their own machine to provide a related service. The company is upgrading. There are rumors that Microsoft may offer an upgraded version of Windows 7 via a 4GB USB stick. However, the news has not yet been confirmed. Users can purchase Windows 7 by downloading it through Microsoft's electronics store and then put it in a USB stick. There have been related introductions on the Internet.
11. Can I upgrade to 64-bit Windows 7?
If your processor is 64-bit. Whether it's a CD-ROM or a download, Windows 7 offers both 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems. If you are installing 32-bit Vista and want to upgrade to 64-bit Windows 7, you will have to reinstall the system.
Users can download and run the free SecurAble tool to see if their processor supports 64-bit systems. The program can also tell users whether they can use Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate Windows XP mode.
12. Can I run the software in the original system XP?
If you purchase Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate, you can. Both versions of the user can run the "Windows XP Mode" plugin, and then you can create an XP virtual environment based on a virtual PC running in Windows 7. However, the plugin is not included with 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 test their own processors with the free SecurAble.
At present, Windows 7 RC users can download the Beta XP mode from http://www.microsoft.com/DOWNLOADS/details.aspx?FamilyID=0e8fa9b3-c236-4b77-be26-173f032f5159&displaylang=en.
13, I don't want to pay more than $80 to Microsoft for an XP mode. What should I do if I upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium?
There are many options. First, users can wait until upgrading to Windows 7, then install and experiment with the software previously installed on XP. Some software may be run unobstructed.
If the program doesn't work, you can try running it in < compatibility mode". First right click on the shortcut of the program, select “Properties", then click “Compatibility" tab, then check “run this program in compatibility mode", and select “ from the drop down menu Windows XP”.
In addition, users can choose to run free virtualization software, such as Sun's VirtualBox, and set Windows XP as a "guest" system in a virtual environment. However, installing XP in a virtual machine requires authorization. This may be the biggest obstacle for users, because XP installed by many users cannot be transferred to other systems, including virtual systems. Moreover, if the user upgrades from XP to Windows 7, no matter how the user's XP is obtained, the activation key on the XP CD may be invalid. This is because during the upgrade process, the computer sends a request to cancel the key to the Microsoft server, invalidating the previous XP key and associating the user's computer with the new Windows 7 key.
14. If I don't like Windows 7, can I restore XP?
Of course, but users need to install it again, first format the system disk and replace Windows 7 with XP. Prior to this, users need to back up data files and record system settings. This time, the EasyTransfer Utility does not work, because the program does not apply to "downgrade" installation. And users need to reinstall all the applications.
The best way to do this is to mirror your existing system before installing Windows 7.