Six things you should know about Window 7......
If you skipped the move to Windows Vista and stuck with Windows XP, as most businesses have, you may have been contemplating the idea of looking at Windows 7 since it released in October. If so, Network Management Solutions is certainly positioned to assist you with the move. However, there are a few items we would suggest you look into before making the jump.
1. Is there a business need for making the move to Windows 7?
Microsoft has ended free support for Windows XP, but paid support still exists through Microsoft and the knowledgebase of information that has accumulated over the last seven years is good enough that most issues going forward can be dealt with. That said, unless you have a software vendor who has told you that they will no longer support their product on Windows XP after a certain date, there may not be a reason to make the move. We've always been believers in letting others be the "guinea pigs", if you will. Letting other companies find the glitches and problems with a new operating system usually is the best practice.
2. Check your hardware.
Windows 7 was designed to be lean in terms of hardware, so that it will be able to function satisfactorily on sub-powered netbooks. If you're running Windows XP on a computer manufactured within the last three or four years, chances are good that Windows 7 will run fine on your system. However, we can help you make sure that your hardware is compatible by running Microsoft's Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor.
The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor will perform a detailed scan of your entire system, checking hardware, programs, and peripheral devices. Once the scan is complete, the Upgrade Advisor will display a report telling you whether your system meets the hardware requirements and identifying any known compatibility issues with your programs and devices. If it finds problems, the Upgrade Advisor will provide suggestions you can use to better analyze your upgrade options to Windows 7.
3. Plan your backup and restore strategy.
Any time you make a major upgrade or migration, it's a good idea to backup all of your critical data not once, but twice. It may sound like overkill, but having a second backup will give you peace of mind.
If you're using a third-party backup program, you will need to check the manufacturer's Web site to see whether the program will be upgraded to work in Windows 7. If you aren't using a third-party backup program, you're probably using Windows XP's native Backup Utility. As you may have heard, the file format used for this tool isn't compatible with Windows Vista's Backup and Restore Center. To provide for that, Microsoft released a special version of the XP Backup Utility, called the Windows NT Backup - Restore Utility. It's designed specifically for restoring backups made on Windows XP to computers running Windows Vista. While I was unable to get official confirmation, it is a safe bet that this special version will work in Windows 7 or will be adapted to do so.
If you aren't willing to take that bet or you are not sure whether your third-party backup program will be upgraded to work in Windows 7, you can simply make copies of all your data files on CD/DVD or on an external hard disk.
4. Plan your data transfer strategy.
To move from one operating system to another, you'll probably want to use a transfer program that will scan your XP system, pull out all your data and settings, and then transfer them to Windows 7. Fortunately, the Windows 7 Easy Transfer utility can provide this service for you. However, before you perform this transfer operation, it will be in your best interest to have a separate back up copy of your data (see #3).
5. Inventory your applications and gather your CD's.
Since you won't be able to perform an in-place upgrade when you move from Windows XP to Windows 7, you'll have to reinstall all your applications that passed the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor compatibility tests (see #2). It will be helpful to have an inventory of all the installed applications so that you can track down all your CDs or compile a list of Web sites for those applications you downloaded.
6. Become familiar with the new User Interface.
The User Interface in Windows 7 is quite different from the one in XP, and it offers a lot of new features. As a result, you may encounter what I call "UI Shock." You'll know what you want to do, but you'll experience a momentary lapse of composure as you strive to adapt what you know about XP's UI to what you're seeing and experiencing in Windows 7.
To ease the level of UI shock, you'll want to become as familiar as possible with the features of the new Windows 7 UI. One starting point is Microsoft's Windows 7 page. While a lot of the content here is essentially marketing related, it will give you a good idea of what to look for when you actually move into the Windows 7 operating system.
Network Management Solutions has developed a full migration strategy that we would love to sit down and show you. Making a move of this magnitude can be overwhelming, but we have the background and experience to make it a smooth transition for you. Please call us at (209) 368-7700 or email us at sales@netmansolutions.net to schedule an appointment to determine whether the time is right for you to move to Windows 7.
1. Is there a business need for making the move to Windows 7?
Microsoft has ended free support for Windows XP, but paid support still exists through Microsoft and the knowledgebase of information that has accumulated over the last seven years is good enough that most issues going forward can be dealt with. That said, unless you have a software vendor who has told you that they will no longer support their product on Windows XP after a certain date, there may not be a reason to make the move. We've always been believers in letting others be the "guinea pigs", if you will. Letting other companies find the glitches and problems with a new operating system usually is the best practice.
2. Check your hardware.
Windows 7 was designed to be lean in terms of hardware, so that it will be able to function satisfactorily on sub-powered netbooks. If you're running Windows XP on a computer manufactured within the last three or four years, chances are good that Windows 7 will run fine on your system. However, we can help you make sure that your hardware is compatible by running Microsoft's Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor.
The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor will perform a detailed scan of your entire system, checking hardware, programs, and peripheral devices. Once the scan is complete, the Upgrade Advisor will display a report telling you whether your system meets the hardware requirements and identifying any known compatibility issues with your programs and devices. If it finds problems, the Upgrade Advisor will provide suggestions you can use to better analyze your upgrade options to Windows 7.
3. Plan your backup and restore strategy.
Any time you make a major upgrade or migration, it's a good idea to backup all of your critical data not once, but twice. It may sound like overkill, but having a second backup will give you peace of mind.
If you're using a third-party backup program, you will need to check the manufacturer's Web site to see whether the program will be upgraded to work in Windows 7. If you aren't using a third-party backup program, you're probably using Windows XP's native Backup Utility. As you may have heard, the file format used for this tool isn't compatible with Windows Vista's Backup and Restore Center. To provide for that, Microsoft released a special version of the XP Backup Utility, called the Windows NT Backup - Restore Utility. It's designed specifically for restoring backups made on Windows XP to computers running Windows Vista. While I was unable to get official confirmation, it is a safe bet that this special version will work in Windows 7 or will be adapted to do so.
If you aren't willing to take that bet or you are not sure whether your third-party backup program will be upgraded to work in Windows 7, you can simply make copies of all your data files on CD/DVD or on an external hard disk.
4. Plan your data transfer strategy.
To move from one operating system to another, you'll probably want to use a transfer program that will scan your XP system, pull out all your data and settings, and then transfer them to Windows 7. Fortunately, the Windows 7 Easy Transfer utility can provide this service for you. However, before you perform this transfer operation, it will be in your best interest to have a separate back up copy of your data (see #3).
5. Inventory your applications and gather your CD's.
Since you won't be able to perform an in-place upgrade when you move from Windows XP to Windows 7, you'll have to reinstall all your applications that passed the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor compatibility tests (see #2). It will be helpful to have an inventory of all the installed applications so that you can track down all your CDs or compile a list of Web sites for those applications you downloaded.
6. Become familiar with the new User Interface.
The User Interface in Windows 7 is quite different from the one in XP, and it offers a lot of new features. As a result, you may encounter what I call "UI Shock." You'll know what you want to do, but you'll experience a momentary lapse of composure as you strive to adapt what you know about XP's UI to what you're seeing and experiencing in Windows 7.
To ease the level of UI shock, you'll want to become as familiar as possible with the features of the new Windows 7 UI. One starting point is Microsoft's Windows 7 page. While a lot of the content here is essentially marketing related, it will give you a good idea of what to look for when you actually move into the Windows 7 operating system.
Network Management Solutions has developed a full migration strategy that we would love to sit down and show you. Making a move of this magnitude can be overwhelming, but we have the background and experience to make it a smooth transition for you. Please call us at (209) 368-7700 or email us at sales@netmansolutions.net to schedule an appointment to determine whether the time is right for you to move to Windows 7.
