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Mac vs. PC debate but...

Deciphering Windows 7 Upgrades: The Official Chart

by Walter S. Mossberg
Posted on August 4, 2009 at 8:09 PM PT

Over the past two weeks, in my Personal Technology columns, here and here, I’ve explained some of the challenges and limitations that will be involved in upgrading an existing Windows XP or Windows Vista PC to the forthcoming Windows 7 operating system, due out October 22. Several readers asked me to publish a chart showing which current versions of Windows could be easily upgraded to which planned versions of Windows 7, and which couldn’t. So I asked Microsoft (MSFT) to supply such a chart we could publish, and the company graciously did so. It is reproduced below, unaltered. You can click on it to make it larger.



Common consumer versions of XP and Vista are listed down the side, and the three (out of a total of six) planned versions of Windows 7 likeliest to be used by average consumers on existing PCs are listed across the top.

Note that ONLY those combinations that intersect in a green box saying “In-Place Upgrade” can be upgraded in a simple way that, in Microsoft’s words, “Keeps your files, settings, and programs intact from your current version of Windows.”

All of the others, denoted by blue boxes, will require what Microsoft calls a “Custom Install,” also known as a “clean install”–a procedure Microsoft doesn’t even refer to as an “upgrade.” For most average, nontechie consumers whose PCs have a single hard disk, that will require a tedious, painful process with the following steps: Temporarily relocating your personal files to an external drive or other computer, wiping your hard drive clean, then installing Windows 7, then moving your personal files back, then re-installing all of your programs from their original disks or download files, then reinstalling all of their updates and patches that may have been issued since the original installation files were released.

Microsoft will provide a free “Easy Transfer” program to assist in this process, but this software won’t transfer your programs, only your personal files and settings.

Mac upgrade chart:

And MS can't figure out why I'm not computer savvy. :(
If you'll excuse me, I have to change the points and condenser in my car.

I almost forgot,,,,HURRICANE PARTY at hobies. :cheers:

darph nader wrote:I almost forgot,,,,HURRICANE PARTY at hobies. :cheers:

Yeah baby!! It now looks like Felicia will weaken to either a tropical storm or depression. The Big Island is still in it's sights though.

Would it be possible/more economical to get a computer with Win7 installed? I assume that's going to be a year or two down the rode. I'd need a custom install, and I don't really care about what I'd have to do to do it myself. I'd rather wait until I can't use this computer anymore, then buy a new one.

Cute graphic, Hobie.

Yeah, I've been watching Felicia on TWC, and since she absorbed what was left of Enrique, they were calling her a "maneater". I've seen a few storms that started on one side of Mexico with one name, say a male name, cross Mexico and become another storm with a diffeent name, usually of the opposite gender. I wonder how many of these "gender-bender" storms" they've had? They don't list them like that in weather.com or in the world almanacs. Last year I thought it would be neat if Hurricane Marco formed in the Gulf of Mexico, and crossed Mexico to the Pacific in time to become Hurricane Polo. "Marco! Polo!" Can you imagine a weathercaster saying that? :D:

hobie16 wrote:Yeah baby!! It now looks like Felicia will weaken to either a tropical storm or depression. The Big Island is still in it's sights though.

So the Party's still on???????
WOOHOOOO! :D:

felinefan wrote:Would it be possible/more economical to get a computer with Win7 installed? I assume that's going to be a year or two down the rode. I'd need a custom install, and I don't really care about what I'd have to do to do it myself. I'd rather wait until I can't use this computer anymore, then buy a new one.

It appears it will be safer to by a machine with the OS installed rather then go through the pain of an upgrade. Win 7 should be released this year so MS can pump up their earnings.

Why do you need a custom install? Do you have specialized apps?

DisneyMom wrote:So the Party's still on???????
WOOHOOOO! :D:

The party starts at 5:30 Monday. It's a Mexican potluck with karaoke. :chef:

The latest from the Central Pacific Hurricane Center has Felicia weakening to either a tropical storm or depression. It should hit the Big Island Monday morning. It looks like we'll get a lot of rain as flash flood warnings are up for Monday and Tuesday.

My wife was in Wal-Mart this afternoon. It took 30 minutes to check out because of everyone stocking up.

The scattered green and red blob south of the islands is a low. There's a chance it'll suck the storm south.

Keep us updated, Hobie.