Hey guys, thanks for checking us out. I want to share with you the 10 things
that you should know before upgrading to Windows 7. If you're buying a computer
brand new that comes with windows 7 that's great, but there are a couple
things you need to know with transferring your files over,
or is your printer compatible, before you even buy that.
The first one is compatibility of the drivers in your computer.
Now if you're upgrading, you need to
run the windows 7 upgrade advisor tool. You can either Google that
or go to this direct link, and that you'll see on the screen here.
Download and run this tool, and it's going to do a check on your system, and
let you know if the drivers are good and will work with windows 7 or they're not
currently up to date but you can download updates that will make it work,
or worst case scenario, it's not going to work at all, you need to update your
hardware, for that particular device, in order for it to work with the windows 7.
The second thing is a program compatibility. Now even though the Device Manager
checks programs with device drivers and so on, there's some programs
that you'll need to maybe look at, like Incredimail for example doesn't work
with windows 7 apparently. You'll need to download some other tool like, for email,
since there's no email program that comes with windows anymore either with
Windows 7, but there is the Live Mail which works, and that's fine at least
there's something available that you can download and use. So check out all your
software programs that you use. Make sure that they are compatible with windows 7.
#3 Backup your data! You should always be backing up things anyway.
So this is nothing new. But so many times I have people come to my shop with a
computer, and they want some work done, and they asked me can you back it up first.
Well they've never backed it up, but it prompts them to remember to start
backing up when they go back home, but chances are, they're probably still not doing it.
So, back up, back up, everything that you can find, everything you can think of,
before doing the upgrade, just in case. Especially if you're upgrading from
Windows 7 because it can't be an upgrade, it's is a fresh install.
Backing up your settings. Now we said back up your data, backup settings for
programs, like your email. You can export them if its Outlook Express,
but it won't import them. So you'll have to go in there and write
down what the settings are, make sure you have your password now, and that sort of thing.
Windows Easy Transfer. It's a program that comes with Windows 7
that helps you to easily transfer all your files and settings
from windows 7, or Vista to windows 7. Now it comes with Windows 7
but you'll have to download that program in XP or Vista, whatever you
currently have, to do the backup of your settings, and then run it again when
you're in Windows 7 to restore those settings. So again,
you can do a Google search for Windows Easy Transfer,
You'll find that, that you can download and run.
You can't upgrade from windows XP. So you're... if you're going from Vista you
can do a clean... or... you can do an upgrade which will keep all the settings and
data so nothing will be lost. If it's XP unfortunately you have to back up
everything and be prepared for a format and a fresh install.
If you're thinking about doing a dual boot with XP or Vista don't do it.
Unless you're very technically inclined, you can be finding a lot of hassle with
that. Setting it up and dealing with other work around issues that might come up.
Windows 7 looks amazing and a lot of people are saying it's amazing.
I use that for my main operating system and I'm using that as I'm doing this
video right now. So don't worry about the dual boot. I would say don't do it at all.
If you're concerned about XP applications that won't work in windows 7
and that's why you're considering doing the dual boot. Don't worry about it,
Windows 7 has features just like vista where it can run in compatibility mode for XP.
Also if you're getting the Pro edition or the Ultimate edition, there is
a feature where you can tell the program can run in XP mode, and that actually has
XP virtual machine, that runs in Windows 7 So it's like you're running XP within
Windows 7 to run that program on. Rather than just in XP compatibility mode,
it's actually running it within an XP virtual system,
that runs inside your windows 7.
Very cool. So you don't need to worry about that.
Just make sure you don't get the Home edition, or you're not going to have that feature.
Make sure all your disks are available before you get started.
It's so easy to get started installing Windows,
doing this and that, then you realize OH Crap!
there's another program I had, that I need to install and you got to fumble
around looking for that disk and then find out it's a download...
...videos, and that's something that you gotta think about ahead of time.
Otherwise you're going to be scrambling again looking for another alternative,
and you'll be stuck without making videos for a while.
Know which version of Windows 7 you want. Windows 7 apparently now they've made it
a lot easier with the versions. Not like Vista was just too many different
versions to choose from. Windows 7 you can see here on the screen, will have the
Home Edition and the Pro edition and the Ultimate, and you can see with the
Home Edition you're pretty much getting everything you need. If you want to have
some other special features you can go to the Pro Edition which gives you the
option if you're in a business to join a network domain, or to do the virtual XP
machine like I mentioned. Ultimate just gives you a few extra little things.
But unless you care about them, it really doesn't matter. Home Edition works
perfectly fine. Pro edition, gives you a little more, and if you're in business
you you're going to want to have Pro or Ultimate.
Why upgrade at all? XP was great! But it's 10 years old now! Vista was crap!
Some people use it and they find it's fine. But those people don't seem to use it as much.
Windows 7, while XP had its issues and got better with time, Vista was
horrible right out of the gate and almost everyone was complaining about it.
Windows 7 everyone's saying how great it is right out of the gate. So that has to
say something about Windows 7. The support has already been discontinued
for XP. It is over 10 years old now, but critical updates will be available until
the year 2014. Windows 7 is much faster than XP and Vista. People have put
Windows 7 on older machines and tested it and it works great! So Windows 7
looks like Microsoft's really got it good this time.
They've got a lot more features. Both just cool features, which you can see in
some of my other videos, and very useful features that you can do, whether it's
personal or business. But have a look and check out my other videos and you'll see
some of the other features available in Windows 7