Clean Install of Windows 7

[ohheckyeah]

I'm thinking of upgrading my laptop's Vista to Windows 7. Is doing a clean install complicated or can someone point me to directions that are easy to understand?

Thanks.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

1. I just upgraded a computer to Windows 7 doing a clean install

It was the easiest upgrade I've ever done. I put the CD into the computer and followed the directions on-screen. As long as your laptop is a well-known brand, then Windows 7 will have drivers for it, and the install will go smooth.

[ohheckyeah]

2. that's it?

Heck, even I can do that. Thanks. I have a Dell laptop.

Did you have any compatibility issues with programs?

[ohheckyeah]

3. I guess I should also ask if you

like Windows 7 and is it more stable than Vista for real?

[EvolveOrConvolve]

4. I've absolutely loved Windows 7

Honestly, I think it's the best OS that Microsoft has ever put out. I have it running on a 6 year old computer with only 1 GB of memory and an old processor, and it runs like a dream. Vista was so slow on it that it was virtually useless.

The installation is definitely easy - if your laptop is a dell then you'll have no problems at all. You can Google it to make sure, but I seriously doubt you'll run into issues. If you do, post back here and I'll help you out.

[ohheckyeah]

5. Thank you very much.

The Vista on the laptop hangs up on start up frequently and it drives me crazy. I've done everything I know to do as has Dell. I think I'll go out and buy Windows 7 tomorrow.

I have to say that I like Windows XP that I have on my desktop...I've never had an issue with XP so if Windows 7 is even better then I will be a happy camper. I HATE VISTA.

If I have any problems I will come back and ask for help. Thanks again!

[Jersey Devil]

11. Windows 7 is what Vista was supposed to be

It works great. Not a single BSD since I installed it months ago. Very quick and reliable.

[Occulus]

6. A clean Win7 install is almost pathetically easy.

And it JUST WORKS. It's the easiest install of any OS I've ever used, period.

I think you can get to the part where the software is installing from the disc in something like five minutes or so. It's just ridiculous.

Fire and forget. Just don't be gone too long after you walk away, because it'll be ready to use in a shockingly short period of time.

For all people bag on Micro$oft (including yours truly), they really nailed it with this one.

[MiniMe]

7. Agree, I love it so far.

[ohheckyeah]

8. That's great.

I got the Windows 7 Home Premium today and wanted to ask if I should uninstall all of the programs on the computer before I install the Windows 7?

I have photoshop, office etc.

[Occulus]

9. You may not have to.

Pop the 7 disc into the drive and read the available options very carefully. There should be an "upgrade" option. This should allow you to keep all your files and folders. I say "should" because I just downgraded a PC from 7 Evaluation (Ultimate) to 7 Home Edition, and it wouldn't let me seamlessly keep everything, but since you are already using Vi$ta, I believe it will let you since it's technically an upgrade.

If it doesn't, you'll have to exit the installer and back up everything you want to keep. You may want to do that in any case.

[ohheckyeah]

10. I saw somewhere on the Internet that a person ended up

with Vista and Windows 7 on the computer. I don't want that, I just want Windows 7. How do I avoid having both?

[Occulus]

12. It will ask you if you want to keep the existing OS.

I think that's the option they chose, and I do believe it installs it as a dual boot setup if you do so. The system will let you know what it's going to do in any case.

In the end, if you're unsure, it's probably a better option to just back up everything you want to keep to CD or another hard drive and boot the Windows 7 setup from the CD you bought. You may need to go into your BIOS ("Press DELETE to enter SETUP" or some such when you first boot your PC, before the OS boots) and set it to boot from the CD first to do that. Installing 7 from within Vi$ta is just the "easy way out".

[ohheckyeah]

13. There's really not a lot on that computer to worry about keeping.

I can reinstall programs and everything I need to keep is saved to an external or my desktop computer.

Thanks.

[ohheckyeah]

14. Ok, cool.

I don't have much on that computer to worry about keeping. I use my desktop computer most of the time but the laptop is handy when I lose power (I can plug my modem and router into a little generator thing we have) or when I want to use the computer and watch the big screen t.v. in the downstairs den. It's not really my workhorse. Everything on the laptop is on my desktop and/or my external hard drive and once I set up the network I can just move stuff straight from either of those two.