System Backup Question

I am now running a Dell PC with XP Pro SP3 and have a Seagate external hard drive backing everything up. When my Dell bites the dust, I guess I'd be getting a system with Windows 7. Can what I have on my external drive be used in setting up the new system?

 

Hi
you need to use windows easy transfer to use any files/programs which can be found here...-->
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/features/windows-easy-transfer.aspx

I hope this helps!!
iain.t :major

 

I'm backing up an image to the external drive. I guess this data is only usable if I stay with XP, correct? What I'm concerned with is my current pc's (XP) hard drive abruptly dying and having to go thru the hassle of getting a new system (windows 7 or whatever is available at that point) to where I have the old at this point and to do so with a minimal amount of work.

From what you are saying, if I back up individual files on my external hard drive I will be able to transfer them to the new system regardless of the operating system. Is this correct?

 

What imaging program are you using? If it's something like Acronis you should be able to install your imaging program in Win 7, plug in the Seagate and recover any files you want. However this won't really help with configuring Win 7 and setting up your software. That can only be done from installation files on CD or wherever.

 

An option that may possibly help with the teething pains of a new operating system would be to install a virtual player (ex. VMPlayer) on your new system and image the XP set up to the player while in the Win7 system. Then as you set up your new OS to your preferences, transfer files as needed. You can work in XP as long as needed.
I have not done this but seems a reasonable option. I have used Ubuntu in Vista via VMPlayer.

 

Alright, I'll give you my opinion with simple language and a few explanations.

First of all, an IMAGE backup of your hard drive will restore the entire hard drive's contents, including the Windows XP that is installed. If your backup program supports loading the image and restoring individual files FROM the image, that's different.

However, the easiest and best thing to do is to put all of your personal data (pictures, videos, documents, spreadsheets, etc.) as they are (i.e. copy and paste them) to an external media, such as your external hard drive if it has the space, or burned onto DVDs (as data), or on thumbdrives/flashcards/etc. Those (files) are the ONLY things you will be able to take with you from Windows XP to Windows 7.

Installed programs on Windows XP will NOT work in Windows 7 using their current installation, as Windows 7 installs programs quite a bit differently than Windows XP. Windows 7 uses a different folder and data system to track program settings and etc. So, you will need to freshly install every program you want to use on Windows 7 whenever you go to the new operating system.

Also remember that not all programs that work with Windows XP work with Windows 7. Most all of them do, but there's always an exception. Keep in mind as well that any program you activated over the internet could require contacting the program's customer service in order to re-activate it on a different machine.

 

Thanks for all the help, guys. I think I get the picture now.