NEW INSTALL

I recently bought a new laptop with windows xp pro, Im being sent a copy of
windows vista home premium. when I reveive it do I just pop it in an go??
what happens to all the info and preferences and accounts and subscriptions
that are all currently customized to my likings and all the work of down
loading purchased programs. do I need to re- install every thing? or do I
copy every thing to discks and re-instal after I install vista? Please sent
help, its taken me months to get this new computer turning the way I want it
to. will it be all for nought?

ESTIMATOR18 wrote:
> I recently bought a new laptop with windows xp pro, Im being sent a copy of
> windows vista home premium. when I reveive it do I just pop it in an go??
> what happens to all the info and preferences and accounts and subscriptions
> that are all currently customized to my likings and all the work of down
> loading purchased programs. do I need to re- install every thing? or do I
> copy every thing to discks and re-instal after I install vista? Please sent
> help, its taken me months to get this new computer turning the way I want it
> to. will it be all for nought?

When you get the upgrade DVD, put it in the drive and follow the wizard.
All your settings and programs should be retained, HOWEVER it would be
foolish to not back up your data first because Stuff Happens.

MVP John Barnett -
http://vistasupport.mvps.org/upgradi...dows_vista.htm


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

When you receive your Vista Home Premium DVD, just place it in the DVD drive.
Once it's loading you need to decide if you are going upgrade over XP or
clean install Vista. Either way, Vista offers the same type of File and
Settings Transfer wizard that Windows XP offered. There are some differences,
I just don't what as I haven't had the chance to install Vista just yet. Once
you have backed-up all your settings, go ahead and install Vista. If you do
not want to reinstall applications and such, then just do an upgrade install.

One note of caution though, if you've been having issues (errors,
applications not working properly, etc.) chances are that Vista will not
resolve those issues and in all probablity make it even more difficult to
determine the cause. I would suggest that if you do have any issues in
Windows XP that you resolve them first, then upgrade to Vista.

"ESTIMATOR18" wrote:

> I recently bought a new laptop with windows xp pro, Im being sent a copy of
> windows vista home premium. when I reveive it do I just pop it in an go??
> what happens to all the info and preferences and accounts and subscriptions
> that are all currently customized to my likings and all the work of down
> loading purchased programs. do I need to re- install every thing? or do I
> copy every thing to discks and re-instal after I install vista? Please sent
> help, its taken me months to get this new computer turning the way I want it
> to. will it be all for nought?

"ESTIMATOR18" <> wrote
>I recently bought a new laptop with windows xp pro, Im being sent a copy of
> windows vista home premium. when I reveive it do I just pop it in an go??
> what happens to all the info and preferences and accounts and
> subscriptions
> that are all currently customized to my likings and all the work of down
> loading purchased programs. do I need to re- install every thing? or do I
> copy every thing to discks and re-instal after I install vista? Please
> sent
> help, its taken me months to get this new computer turning the way I want
> it
> to. will it be all for nought?

You need to prepare for the upgrade. Run the upgrade advisor to see what
problems it flags and uninstall any software it indicates could be a
problem. You should uninstall all AV programs, anti-malware programs, 3rd
party firewalls, any partitioning tools and any other system level
utilities, all CD/DVD burning apps like Nero or Roxio, Sonic DLA, and any
other software that uses drivers.

Research all the hardware on the hardware manufacturer's web site to make
sure there are Vista compatible drivers available. Research all the
software on the software author's web site to see if it is compatible with
Vista.

To be safe run Windows Easy Transfer (WET) on the XP installation and save
the data and settings to an external USB connected hard drive. Also get
drive imaging software such as Acronis True Image Home version 10 to image
the XP installation to the external hard drive. ATI 10 can also be used in
Vista.

Then do the upgrade. If things go well you can delete the WET data stored
on the external drive. Keep the XP image in case it's needed at some point
latter.

If the upgrade doesn't work you can restore the XP image and do a clean
install of Vista, then use WET to bring in data and settings and reinstall
all apps from their original media.

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]