Upgrading to Win7-What to back up

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 17 Jul 2014 1:38 pm

I am getting ready to upgrade my desktop from Windows Xp to Win7. I need to backup my C drive and am wondering what folders and files do I need to keep. I assume the Windows folder doesn't have to be saved. Most everything else on the C drive is data and some applications. I have all the program discs, so I can get by with just data folders.

So, is there anything else I should look out for?

By the way, it is a Dell Dimension 9100.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 17 Jul 2014 2:52 pm

User data is basically all that you need to backup. If you have the install discs for programs you want to install (that are Win 7 compatible) that is the only other thing.

Hold the phone!! I just looked at the Dell downloads and Dell ONLY supports XP on this model. There are no Vista or Win 7 drivers available.

If Windows does not install any drivers (or only partial) you are on the hook to try and look for drivers that will work for the hardware. If Windows does not install the generic, basic function, "HD Audio Codec" for the Sigmatel sound, you will have to install a sound card that is Vista/Win 7 compatible. I saw users on the Dell Forum and on the Windows 7 forum with this problem.

Memory may be another issue. If you don't have 4GB of RAM (the max that this will handle) you need that. You should ONLY install Win 7 32 bit. 64 bit OS is really for systems with more than 4GB of RAM and in fact the 64GB version requires more minimum RAM than the 32 bit OS does.

I know $$ are probably tight, but this model is not a good candidate for upgrading to Win 7, primarily because Dell does not have any drivers and only 4GB of RAM max. I know this is not what you want to hear, but the facts are the facts. I've seen others that claim old PC's "work great" but a clunky slow PC that won't run all the new software is not a PC that "works great".

Dave Potter · Post by **Dave Potter** » 17 Jul 2014 3:31 pm

Yep. That's the infamous Win7 "gotcha". It's a big step up in features and performance, but all that comes at a price in terms of hardware and software compatibility. Richard, did you run the free Microsoft Windows 7 compatibility utility to see what your system would require?

When I upgraded, I had to upgrade some of my hardware, and some of my favorite software simply doesn't run anymore. Ah, progress....

I'd do it all again, though. Trying to slug along with legacy hardware, software, and performance ain't for me.

Ken Lang · Post by **Ken Lang** » 17 Jul 2014 4:03 pm

I am now reading that Win 7 will stop being supported
in early 2015.

I was going to buy a used win 7 mach to replace my XP, but not with support stopping.

Ubunto is looking better and better.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 17 Jul 2014 4:12 pm

Yes. I have run it several times. The only hardware that flunked was the video card. I installed a new Win7 compatible card. The 64-bit report says:

I need to do a custom install and not an update, which is what I planned to do anyway.

Windows Aero Support: Your graphics adapter supports
the Windows Aero user interface.

CPU speed: 3ghz Your CPU meets the 1ghz minimum requirement.

3gb Ram: Your PC meets the 2gb minimum requirement.

395.8 gb free space available on C: Your hard disc meets the minimum of 20gb free space for 64 bit Windows 7.

Upgrading is not crucial for me. The only reason, besides lack of support for Xp, is that I want to run the current versions of my Adobe software, which won't run on a 32 bit system. But, even with that, my laptop is running 64 bit Win7, and I can use that. I have a 23" monitor and keyboard and mouse for it. I just have to move it from my bedroom to my desk to comfortably use it. Also, I have lessons for the Adobe stuff that I can run on the desktop while working on the laptop. By using both computers, I don't have to switch back and forth between the lessons and the program to work on the exercises. Even though the Windows advisor says my computer is OK, my fear of installing Win7 may be enough to keep me from upgrading.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 18 Jul 2014 2:36 am

There is nothing wrong with Windows 8, that the $4.95 "Start8" won't cure. With Start8, Windows 8 boots up to the desktop and looks and works just like Windows 7. And, if you want to play around with the Metro (icons) you can do that.

My recording studio is on Win 7 64 bit but my backup system is running Windows 8 (8.1.1) and All my recording software and hardware (including one old device that only has Vista drivers) work exactly like the Win 7 system. Back in January I had to send the Win 7's motherboard in for warranty repair. I used the Win 8 system while it was gone and "never missed a lick".

There's talk that Windows 9 will return the desktop.

Dave Potter · Post by **Dave Potter** » 18 Jul 2014 6:42 am

Ken Lang wrote:I am now reading that Win 7 will stop being supported in early 2015.... Ubunto is looking better and better.

This article explains that the Windows 7 "end of support" process is a little more complicated than that, and that the actual "end of support" date is now set for 2020.

Before you jump off the deep end with Ubuntu, you may want to research what you'd be getting into, especially if multimedia is a priority. It can't even natively play MP3 files, according to this article, and there are other less than stellar multimedia "features", such as extremely limited graphics capabilities. Linux driver availability is a well-known issue, as well.

I've always thought of Linux as the place where frustrated software developer wannabes went when they had some little gripe about Microsoft. Compared to Windows, it's somewhat "geeky", and saying it takes some tinkering to get it to work is probably putting it mildly.

Dave Potter · Post by **Dave Potter** » 18 Jul 2014 7:09 am

Richard Sinkler wrote:Even though the Windows advisor says my computer is OK, my fear of installing Win7 may be enough to keep me from upgrading.

I agree. The "advisor" uses minimum specs to qualify potential systems, and I'd bet the marketing department had some influence on what "minimums" were used, to maximize sales of the product. If my system were anywhere close to the "minimums", I'd expect some upgrading would be in store.

If your current system is doing the job, upgrading may not be worthwhile. OTOH, nothing lasts forever, and upgrading really isn't a question of if, but when. The hardware will give up at some point. When it happens, legacy hardware and software probably won't be around for sale anymore.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 18 Jul 2014 9:40 am

Dave, I will probably stay with Windows Xp on the desktop. My main concern is when a company updates their software, it will no longer run on Xp. I am already getting warnings that the software will no longer support Xp, and no updates will be available. Just one I can think of, is my Garmin GPS. Of course, I can always move the software to my laptop, but I really don't want to make the laptop my main computer. If I am not taking it somewhere that I need a computer, I just leave it in my bedroom as a Faux TV. I use it mostly for Netflix, Amazon instant video, and DVD's. If I want to use it in the bedroom, in place of the desktop, I have to move it to my desk in my "computer area" (actually, the dining area that I don't use because it is just me here, and I can eat at my desk or coffee table), as in the bedroom, the only place to put it would be on a nightstand. I've tried that, and with my back injuries, I don't last 15 minutes because there is nowhere to put your legs, and the hunching over just about kills me.

Jack, I'm not sure where Win8 came into this, but I have no intention of upgrading either of my computers to Win8 any time soon. And my desktop would probably not work with it. I have a few friends that have Win8, and they really hate it. I'm actually not all that keen on Win7. Maybe a year or so ago, I bit the bullet and bought a copy of Win7. I have just been too leery about upgrading. It would be nice to use it and not feel like I threw my money away.

Linux isn't even going to be considered. I would have to buy software that runs on Linux, unless Linux is capable of running software for Windows. When I was in programming school, we used Unix and everything was command line driven. Does Linux have a GUI, or is it still command line driven?

One thing I was thinking about doing, was to get another hard drive, and install Win 7 on that and use it as my C drive. That would give me the following options.

1. If Win7 doesn't work well, I can always just put the old drive back in and everything should just go back to the way it is now.

2. I wouldn't have to worry about backing up stuff and maybe deleting something I want during formatting my existing drive. I could just copy over the folders/files from the old drive. I don't keep much data, or even program files on my C drive, so It really doesn't have to be a large drive. Too many times I had the hard drive die and I lost stuff. And, now I would have a spare drive in case the new one, or my 2nd internal drive dies on me. Although, I do backup all drives in my desktop (2 hard drives) and the drives on the laptop (including the external drive) to a 2tb external drive hooked to my laptop regularly.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 18 Jul 2014 11:31 am

I use several Adobe programs. As you probably know, the current versions, i.e. Photoshop CC, is only 64 bit OS compatible. I have been studying Adobe Edge Animate and Edge Reflow. They are only available in 64 bit OS's. It would be more convenient to use my desktop if possible. Having to bring the laptop, monitor, mouse, and keyboard to my desk is a little bit of a pain. Hard drives are cheap these days, so I think I will try the new hard drive method. I have 3gb RAM, but can go up to 4GB if necessary. The new video card should be good enough. The rest of the onboard stuff passed the test.

Dave Potter · Post by **Dave Potter** » 18 Jul 2014 12:54 pm

Richard Sinkler wrote:I use several Adobe programs. As you probably know, the current versions, i.e. Photoshop CC, is only 64 bit OS compatible. I have been studying Adobe Edge Animate and Edge Reflow. They are only available in 64 bit OS's. It would be more convenient to use my desktop if possible. Having to bring the laptop, monitor, mouse, and keyboard to my desk is a little bit of a pain.

Photoshop's a hobby for me - I'm still back on CS5, and that's more than enough for what I do. I focus more on video editing, and use Sony Vegas Pro 13. Also do recording/audio editing with Adobe Audition 3.0.

Regarding using both the laptop and the PC to do the Adobe lessons, you might consider just running another monitor, using one of these USB/DVI adapters. I'm using 2 of them to get a total of 3 monitors simultaneously, through a powered USB hub. They work well for me on my Win7 64-bit machine. Published specs say they work on XP. This doesn't resolve the Win7/64bit conundrum, obviously. Just another data point.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 18 Jul 2014 2:02 pm

As far as the lessons go, I can watch them on the desktop as it is now. I will use the laptop, and the 23" monitor I have for it, to use the actual programs. This is probably the best route to take.

Another reason I wanted to upgrade to Win7, is all the talk about the computer being vulnerable to attacks because Microsoft doesn't plug the holes that hackers find. I don't want to stop connecting to the internet with my desktop.