How do will it take to install Windows 7 upgrade on laptop?

Question

I am getting a new laptop soon and it will include a free Windows 7 upgrade. Should I refrain from downloading a lot of programs on my new laptop till I install? How long will the install take -- and will I need to backup my data before I start installation?

Answer 1

you will have to do a fresh install when windows 7 comes out, I use comcast so I save all my email on the server and I back up my data regualrly.... any new files i save i save them directly to a flash driver, in case you have a sam's club in your area, they sell a 16 gb flash for 29 dollars :)



So like I said back up your data as you go along

Not sure how long it will take.... but best of luck to you

Answer 2

Yes, you probably can. The only problem that you might come across is the lack of drivers for Windows 7. The best thing to do is check the manufacturers' websites (Acer and Toshiba) and see if there are drivers for Windows 7 available for the models you have at home. This is not very difficult to do. However, it is better if you have some experience with it. Installing the Operating System itself is quite easy. But making everything else work is another thing. Besides, there are still a lot of programs that won't run on Windows 7, due to its compatibility issues and you may have a problem with that too. If I were you, I'd just stick to Vista for now and wait for another good few months to get Windows 7 working 100%. These issues are usually resolved within months, as Microsoft gets the feedback from the users and can work with the bugs. Overall, Windows 7 is much better than Vista, specially on the performance side. But as Vista has been there for quite a while now, the compatibility issues are minor. In the other hand, buying two licenses of Windows 7 now (if you are going to buy it) is quite foolish. Too expensive and the prices are going down. I understand your frustration with Windows Vista (which is definitely NOT good for laptops in any way) but you might be a bit more irritated with Windows 7. If you use only the day-to-day programs (such as Office, Corel Dray, MSN and others), you should go for it. But if you have any different or specific software (such as engineering, graphic design, video games, etc), you might not be able to use them on Windows 7. Good luck

Answer 3

The ideal is to do a fresh install with the upgrade discs you'll get.



That would mean don't put too much on the laptop in the meantime unless you have to since you'll just need to back it up before installing later.



Fresh installs will tend to go faster than upgrades.



Depending on your system the install could be done as quickly as 15-20 minutes, but you should probably allow about 30. Yes, backup your data before install.



You can do an upgrade install if you want and it's supposed to transfer over your files, settings, and programs, but you can potentially run into problems down the line, and depending on what you have on the laptop to be upgraded, it could take hours.

Answer 4

You can upgrade from Vista to Win7 without losing anything actually with the DVD they'll send. I got a early Windows 7 RTM build. 7600.16385.



But I do recommend a fresh install to save any compatibility or registry errors...



But, if you have alot of stuff on it already, or have alot of things you don't want to have to reinstall, just choose "upgrade" in the disk menu when you stick in the disk WHILE your PC is on and logged in to Vista.



Or if you have an external hard drive...then just put it on it, do a fresh install and your good :]



even if you don't you can do the partition trick where you make a partition, install Windows 7 on it, then move everything over from Vista when booted into Windows 7, then once your done, remove the Vista partition, and resize the Windows 7 one to have the full drive like how Vista did before :]

Answer 5

I am not sure about how long but I would wait to put a lot of stuff on the laptop to install windows 7. I am really excited to get windows 7 I brought my on the internet and I can not wait till 10/23/09. I hope that you love your windows 7 because I will.

Answer 6

Hello,

you can do an upgrade from Vista which will save your settings and programs.



A clean install takes about 35 min. as Microsoft has removed the email program as well as other programs to streamline/optimize the OS.

They are recommending using their "Live" programs now.



However I /and Microsoft (at there pre release road show) recommend the best way is a clean install.



I suggest investing in a USB flash drive, the 4 gig ones are selling for as low as $10. these days here in Canada.

Use it to save and install programs from.

I save any downloads in there original downloaded fore.

To make them easier to find when I download them I save the to a folder with another folder with the name of the program as the file name.



When I downloaded the Windows 7 RC I saved it to

F (my USB drive)/Downloads/Win7.



I burn programs I want to keep long term to a CD as most computer have a CD player that will boot from the CD.



Windows 7 is great I have been using it since it's first BETA.

I like it so much I started a Yahoo win7 group



I'm running Windows7 Ultimate thanks to MS Traveling road show.



Mike the mod @ vista_ & Win7

http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/vista_/

http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/Win7/

Answer 7

Presuming it is a new laptop (hardware wise - fast processor, hard drive and video) then it should not take more then 2 hours. However, if your laptop is slow, performance wise a documented horror story was as long as 24 hours.



Check out this link for a table of upgrade times:

http://www.neowin.net/news/software/09/09/12/windows-7-can-take-up-to-21-hours-to-upgrade



And always back up your files regardless of what you are planning on doing; because it will be too late to say that you should have even though you did not have to.

Answer 8

Hello,



The Windows 7 upgrade should be easy to do, especially on a new laptop offering the upgrade package. Definitely back up your programs, but otherwise your upgrade should be pretty easy. Learn more about what to expect with the Windows upgrade here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Installing-and-reinstalling-Windows.



Tara

Windows Outreach Team

Answer 9

it will cost you 40 minutes to an hour

obviously you must backup your data