How To Upgrade XP To Windows 7 (Steps With Screenshots)

As you all know Windows 7 RTM has been released to MSDN, & TechNet subscribers few hours back. Many of the Windows 7 RC, Vista, and good old XP users are planning to move to the latest Windows OS.

Although upgrading from Vista to Windows 7 is very simple, the same can’t be said about XP. In fact, there is no working upgrade option available in Windows 7 setup while installing Windows 7 on computer running XP. In other words, Windows XP to Windows 7 in-place upgrade is not supported.

But you need not to worry as there is a simple way to upgrade from XP to Windows 7. Microsft Technet posted this info few months back. In this method, you will be able to migrate all your files and settings from Windows XP to Windows 7 on the same computer. Just follow the given procedure to make it happen:

STEP 1

1. Insert Windows 7 DVD in the DVD drive (close auto play windows if you see) and navigate to the following directory:

DVD Drive:\support\migwiz

2. Double-click on migsetup.exe to begin the Windows Easy Transfer process. Note that you need to have installed Service Pack 3 (SP3) to transfer files and settings using Windows Easy Transfer.

3. Click Next and select the transfer method from the available three options:

       # An Easy Transfer cable

       # A network

       # An external hard disk or USB flash drive

4. As you are on XP computer, select “This is my old computer” in the next screen.

5. Wait for few seconds to minutes as Windows Easy Transfer scans your computer.

6. Again click Next button. Select the files that you want to migrate from XP to Windows

by clicking Customize button.

7. In the next step, you will be asked to enter a password to protest your Easy Transfer file. It’s not necessary, but it’s better to play safe always.

8. Click Save. Browse to your USB flash drive or external hard drive to save Easy Transfer file. Click Next.

9. Windows Easy Transfer will save the file to the location and will display the file name and location info once the process is finished.

STEP 2

1. Go back to the root of Windows 7 DVD, and click on setup.exe to start the Windows 7 installation process.

2. In the following window, select any of the option from the available two options:

# Go online to ge4t the latest updates for installation (recommended)

# Do not get the latest updates for installation

3. Accept the license agreement and click Next.

4. Next select “Custom” installation and select the drive in which you would like to install Windows 7. Since you want to upgrade from XP to Windows 7, select the partition where your current XP installation is located.

5. Finish the simple Windows 7 installation process.

STEP 3

1. In the newly installed Windows 7, go to Start > All programs > Accessories > System Tools > Windows Easy Transfer.

2. Click next and select the external drive or USB drive where you have saved the Windows Easy Transfer file in the above step.

3. Click “This is my new computer” and click “Yes” to open the file.

4. Browse to the Windows Easy Transfer File location where the file was saved in the above step and click Open.

5. Click Transfer to begin transferring all your XP settings and files to Windows 7.

6. Close the Windows Easy Transfer wizard.

Note: During Windows 7 installation process, a Windows.old directory gets created to keep all the XP related files under one directory, which might claim enough amount of disk space. To reclaim the disk space or to delete the Windows.old directory that contains your old XP operating system files just run the Disk Cleanup wizard. Select Previous Windows installation (s) and click ok to delete Windows.old directory.

Thanks TechNet again for this cool info.