Simple "Switch" from Vista to 7?

Hi.

I am very much needing to improve the performance of this PC.

Running Vista (Home) has been "a wash" (at best) for me - my 2 & 1/2 year experience has been as bad (or worse) than it was/is good.

My two major (main) issues (problems)/complaints are:

1. I have NEVER been able to get a printer to work on this machine (believe it, or not), and I have tried four different printers.

2. I am constantly (and increasingly, it seems) getting "Not Responding" lock-ups. This simply needs to stop.

I have attached my System specs for consideration here, as I would prefer not to run the "Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor". To the best of my knowledge/understanding I don't think I would have any problems going to WIN7?.

I really struggle with a lot of the (tech) terminology (abbreviations and such) and am asking for the simplest (and least expensive) way to move to Windows 7 on this PC.

Thanks in advance,
g...

PS ~ yes, I did erase some of my personal info on the screenshot.

 

Your computer will run windows 7 just fine. I am not sure what your asking. How to fix vista or How to best install windows 7?

If your wanting to move to windows 7 I suggest Getting a O.E.M version of it from new egg. I paid 135 dollars for windows 7 pro. Ultimate really not needed.

I would then erase or format your hard drive first. Then Install Windows 7. If your wanting to fix Vista Someone else will have to help you. Never used it. Windows 7 I have been using since it was beta. LOVE it. Will never go back to Xp.

You can go to newegg.com and search Windows 7 OEM. Not sure how much you can afford to spend. If 135 is to much. They have less expensive versions of windows 7. Just depends on what you want or need.

 

Shame about Vista as SP2 was very stable here on two machines, and still is on one. The other has moved on to 7, also very stable.

As regards four printers, that can't possibly be Vista. More like your USB is malfunctioning, and maybe the lockups are related.

 

Thanks - is my screenshot(s) "there" (displaying?) - because I am not seeing it on my screen/this page here ?!?

I don't think Vista is going to get 'fixed", period - much less with me and my PC.

Yes, this is what I'm thinking, and $135 seems to be a very good deal indeed (though not sure if I "need" or even want the "Pro" version - not sure what the advantages vs 'Home/Basic' are or would be?).

This sounds like an absolute nightmare to me...I suppose I would have to "save" (somehow?) everything on the machine?

What would I need to do, get an external Hard Drive for this?

Thank you very much again, and in advance...

 

This is VERY interesting...I never consider that...how would I know please?

 

Hi David, and thanks.

I really don't know if I'm up-to attempting this "risk" or not.

Granted, this machine would ABSOLUTELY need Vista purged from it (with as many numerous, persistent and ongoing problems as I've had), but I have things saved on this machine that I would really hate to lose. What is the standard method of going-about saving things, with an external hard drive?

I really don't mean to disparage Vista, it's simply that my personal experience has not been good, though I know some of that had to do with me learning a new system from 2000 & XP, both of which I was fairly used to.

Thanks again, and in advance...

 

Thank you and very well understood - NO 3rd-party "stuff" anytime soon...

 

Thanks again David.

The only two things I'm unsure of now is whether to stick with a "Basic" (7 Home "Premium") OS or go up to the "Pro" level, and, trying to decide if I am even up-to this task (able to accomplish it without having a heart attack or stroke!) in the first place.

My guess is that it will take me DAYS to do it once I have everything in place (the new OS, an external HD and/or blank CD/s/DVD's ...).

 

Home premium is the best choice, unless you are on a network (domain)...Then I'd choose pro/enterprise.

I chose ultimate, because, one, I wanted everything that the OS can provide to help those who may have issues. Two, cause I VPN to work quite a bit, to help fellow employees.

 

Thank you, and again I have to say; "very interesting"...

I was thinking "basic" ~ Home Premium), but I am on a small (2 desktops) network.

Is 7 Home Premium not quite up-to the task of networking as well as Pro/Enterprise?

So now I'm confused...

 

My two pennyworth - as the OP is rightly concerned about how not to lose anything important while moving over to Win 7, how about setting up Win 7 AS WELL AS Vista? OK, it would require a bit of repartitioning before installing W7, but there would be no risk at all of anything then being lost.

There is competent and easy-to-use free software available now to accomplish this, so the only real issue might be not having sufficient disk capacity. A Win 7 installation with some elbow room needs about 50GB.

When you install Win 7 when there is a Vista setup already in place, Win 7 automatically creates a boot menu for you so you can choose which system to boot.

 

Well this is very interesting indeed.

I have close to 200GB remaining (free) on this 250GB hard drive, so, this sounds as if it may be a viable option for me - thank you very much for this idea!

 

I'll come back with a few tips on how you could go about this, but busy right now

 

If you do go this way then shrink your current partition first by going into disk management and then create a new partition to load W7 on. You may not be able to shrink the full 200GB due to immovable files hibersys or restore but that won't matter if you can make a 100GB partion, right?

You really should think about an external HDD or backup to DVD as eventually you will want to go W7 completely! Thereby needing another complete reinstall of W7 to take over Vista's spot and your drivers/apps.

All I'm saying is don't make yourself more work than is needed and hard drives fail sooner or later so do get an external or save to media.

EDIT: As to the printers not functioning, Vista has almost all the drivers that W7 has so I doubt that's the issue. Solve that first by going back to a factory reset of Vista and trying the printers then. You don't want to spend money for W7 if your hardware is bad in the first place.

 

Home Premium will work for a small home network; just enable file and/or printer sharing and give all computers the same WORKGROUP name and you're all set. A reference: Get to Know Windows 7's Home-Networking Features

 

The thing I would want to stress here is not to rush anything. We want a plan and to work our way through it methodically. You've lived with your problem-ridden Vista for a long time so a few more days won't hurt.

First, as augie says, we need to back up what you have now just in case there is a malfunction during the repartitioning. For this you can use DVDs, probably requiring 3 or 4, though if you can afford it an external drive would be much better. We also need a good backup program, and although Vista has one built in I would recommend you download and install Macrium Reflect. Once you have that installed in Vista your first step is to create a rescue CD from the Macrium menu system and check that you can boot with it. Assuming that is OK you can then reboot and proceed via the menus to create an image of your C drive and direct it to your DVDs or external drive.

That's as far as we need to go just at the moment. We can move on once you have your backup image tucked safely away.

 

Very good - thank you again.

I'll need to dig-deep to see if I can swing (purchase) an external hard-drive. My guess is that I can't touch one for under $50 (?), which is really about the extent of my budget on this (not including the $100+ for the upgrade to 7).

I may have to opt for CD's, though if I could somehow justify the purchase of an external HD for uses other than this transition to WIN7, I just might go-ahead and do that ......OH, and what "size" would I need? At least a 250Gig to match my current HD, correct?

 

Wow how did I overlook this (I was on the phone, talking whilst reading these posts - that's how .

By this you mean to wipe the HD clean, and start new, from scratch? I would still need to back everything up externally, correct?

Thanks, and in advance...

 

Yes, you shouldn't have that much to back up unless you rip CD's/DVD's to your hard drive.

As Halo mentioned above, let's start fresh with a factory reset of Vista, load your printer drivers/software if needed and start printing. Let us know the results and then we move on. We have to eliminate the variables first, that's why we need a fresh install. Just do what Halo said.

BTW, is this a wireless printer(s) or going though other machine or was it with a direct cable hookup?.

 

@grc123 - you have come to a fork in the road now and will need to choose which way you want to go. augie/halo are suggesting you backup your personal stuff and then use your recovery disk to go back to factory state. This might well cure Vista of it's previous problems, and if there are hardware issues it would throw those up too. It's an option, but as you don't seem too sure about what you need to save it does carry the risk of you permanently losing something important.

To obviate that risk I have been advocating you leave Vista as it is and create a new partition in which Win 7 can be installed in dual boot, and to use Macrium Reflect to create a permanent restorable image of Vista as it is at present in case there are any problems in carrying out this reorganisation.

An external drive is a must really for regular backups, so I'd say bust a gut to get one.

 

Yes...fork in the road...lions & tigers & bears - oh my! :-D

I think I need to laugh here to keep from crying.

I don't know which way to go. Each method seems as good as the other, to me.

As to "saving", there's really not much that I'd call "critical" on this PC...perhaps a few photos, some music that I've purchased, and I'd like to keep some of the documents that I have...

I believe I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 180-190GB (of "250") of space still free on this hard drive, so it occurs to me that I don't have all that much to save/back-up (?).

I suppose now I'm in a bit of a "confused-contemplation/consideration mode", I reckon......

~UPDATE/EDIT: Appears I have 197/222GB "free" - attached~

 

If you don't have a lot to save then I'd go along with halo/augie and advise you to get a clean slate. Not knowing what you'd got by way of personal stuff and licensed software I thought the failsafe route of a dual boot the better option, but not now.

Never know, you might even find Vista OK second time around and invest the Win 7 dollars in an external drive

 

How about a simple upgrade ? Wouldnt that save vista and all to windows old?? ed

 

From what I've read this has often been problematic - and very time consuming (I've read it has taken some users anywhere from 4 to 20+ hours!).

Thanks just the same for the suggestion though...

 

Ok...I suppose I am up to this, but am going to need someone(s) with patience...this scares the living hell outta me.

Where do I start? I mean, do I need "CD's" or "DVD's", please?

How many will I need (I think someone mentioned '4 or 5'?) and what about the capacity, how many MB or GB will these disks need to be please (I actually would like to try to save my Firefox Bookmarks, and I probably have close to 1000 of them, believe it or not. Certainly in the many hundreds).

And what about quality, do I need some great brand or something (perhaps not if I only plan to store on them for such a short while?)?

And is it CD or DVD "R" that I need - or do I need "RW", or "C-RW" or what please?

Thanks in advance...

 

Unfortunately I will be out of town (away from this PC) for the next 30-36 hours (until the afternoon/evening of 01JUL10, EST) and will not be able to pick-up on this thread then - thanks in advance......

 

Thanks. Now...

Though you mentioned "DVD'S", I actually picked-up some "CD's"... a 5 pk of HP (brand) "CD-RW" - will that work? I believe they each hold 700MB of Data (80 minutes of Music). There is also a "12x" on the package.

Am I ok for now, or might I need more please? And I am downloading Macrium Reflect as I type...

 

Ok - thanks ... so I'll have to get DVD's - any particular specs on them I need to have? And again, a pack of 5 should do?

I've installed, and am walking through, Macrium Reflect right now...

 

Ya, DVD's can hold 6 CD's worth of stuff. As to + or - DVDs, whatever your burner supports. Do keep those CD-RW's as you can do incremental back-ups on those and re-use them.

 

Ok...not a clue really as to what I am doing with Macrium Reflect (?).

Is this what/where I am needing the DVD's for, please? Otherwise, I am not sure how to proceed from this point --> (attached)...

 

You should click the button next to CD/DVD burner.

 

You are getting ahead of yourself. As I said, you first need to create the Macrium Rescue CD and test that you can boot your computer with it. Have you done that yet?

 

Following the directions ("Tutorial") on their site, it says to first select "Browse", which is what I did. I then captured that in a screenshot as I wasn't sure exactly what to do next...

I think PuppyWunder58 had the answer I was seeking in my last post (I think?) - does this mean to select; "Create a backup image of an entire disk or selected partition(s)", please?

 

If you don't want to take my advice that's up to you. I have asked you to get DVDs, you get CDs. I have asked you FIRST to create the rescue CD and TimW has repeated the question. You have ignored this entirely.

WITHOUT THE RESCUE CD YOU CANNOT RESTORE YOUR COMPUTER IF IT WON'T BOOT.

But I will now leave you to it as you know best it seems.

 

grc123,

Follow Earthlings advice and create your Boot/Rescue disk first.

 

Good God, why on earth (Earthling) are you upset?? I'm the one with the screwed-up computer.

Hello?? Earth to Earthling (??) - who said I was 'not taking your advice'?? This (quoted) is what I recall (from earlier in this thread) when I was at the store ~~>

How can I make a rescue "CD" (yes, you said "CD" - twice, above) if I don't understand how to do it? And then, when I inquire, you say I'm 'not taking your advice'??

Part of my problem here is that several people have replied to this thread, and I was left standing in the store trying to remember it all (I know, I know [now], I should have printed the thread and taken it with me), however, I actually picked-up the CD's rather inadvertently...as an aside, while at the store for other things.

I have ignored NOTHING "entirely". If I don't understand - then I don't understand - and I've said this - at least four times now. :confused :confused confused

 

Maybe this guide is a little easier to follow,

http://www.tucows.com/article/2267

Print it out so can follow it step by step.

 

Thank you Pw58, however ... I have an actual tutorial from Macrium Reflect, and I had a question with it right-off the bat (almost immediately) - that is exactly the reason I have always come to MG's...for "actual", interactive assistance.

Now that the other person seems to have quit, in some sort of mis-guided huff, well, I am asking, again, if anyone here is able to assist, advise, or otherwise help me figure-things-out here ... please?

 

If you re-read post #20 it does, as far as I can see answer every one of your questions - what to image (C drive), where to store the image (DVD drive), and what medium to store it on - DVDs. It's also implicit that you need a CD for the Rescue CD.

You just aren't studying what has been given, but if you have other questions I haven't addressed then I will try to.

 

Thank you. Granted, my study skills are not solid. I've just recently been classified as "disabled" (actually dealing with several medical/health issues), whilst at the same time "helping" to run a small, "old" (dieing) family farm here. Additionally, we are experiencing a (hopefully short-lived) heat-wave here on the U.S. east coast - which always tends to throw me into a bit of a tail-spin. All simply matters of fact.

Now, I'm "guessing" that any new, package of five DVD's will suffice? Matters not whether standard (basic) or "W" or "RW", correct? Sorry I don't understand much of some of this. And yes, my next step is to create the rescue CD, though I will necessarily be out of town for two days (beginning in 24 hours) to pick-up my eight year-old child, for a visit of several more days.

Things have been hectic, and I don't see them letting-up for about a week, though I wish to attempt to do this wipe/repartition in my down-time/interim if at all possible.

Thanks again, and in advance,

g...

 

Any writable DVDs should do the job, though I would repeat the earlier advice - if there is any way you can squeeze in an external drive then that is far preferable, both short and long term. However if it has to be DVDs then I'd go for RW, simply because you can then re-use them later. A five pack should be ample, though if you would like to post the used size of your C drive we can be more certain about that.

 

Just wanted to put this thread to rest (unofficially) - didn't want to leave it hanging...

Things got worse rapidly with my Vista/machine (Virus, I suppose)...and suddenly I had a (long-distance) Friend offer to send me an external hard drive, and to help me through the back-up/reformat/reinstall of Vista...

That was sort of what I really needed anyway, personal (phone) contact, because I knew I'd have frequent questions throughout the process.

We ended-up getting it done in one day, rather than what would have been (due to my slowness) a "several days" process, minimum, here.

Thanks to everyone who helped, I really do greatly appreciate it!