Windows 7 is the new operating system from Microsoft that was already released its final version. Here's a quick overview why people like this operating system.

Before the final version was released in the market, Microsoft posted a beta version (an incomplete version of an application but still useable and almost all features has it) for download. Anyone can test and evaluate the product for free. Most of the users comment said, that it was fast and more stable OS compared to Windows Vista. Its system is more stable and faster including the sleep and standby than Windows XP, more compatibility for old hardware's; meaning it has better way of gathering required drivers. I'm actually now using the Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC).

Are you worried of installing Windows 7 into your system? You might want to consider hardware compatibility first before you think about upgrading. Windows 7 was developed to be much more compatible with older hardware that is still running under Windows XP, so that IT's and tech enthusiasts aren't going to get some trouble deploying Windows 7 into their machine. Windows 7 has this new feature that can automatically download compatible drivers from the internet for existing hardware that are present in your machine. That means you should have an internet connectivity to install it completely.

What about system requirements? Windows 7's system requirements: your computer should at least have 1GHz of processor, 1GB of main memory, 16GB of free hard drive space, graphics card that supports DirectX9 with at least 128MB of memory(for Windows Aero interface). When you're upgrading your system running originally under Windows XP you should at least reach these hardware requirements.

Now, let's proceed to our upgrading. The truth is, you can't upgrade Windows XP and retain your old Windows applications because Windows 7 won't just allow you to do a quick upgrade. But when you click the upgrade from installation menu, you are force to remove everything, except of course, you're entire folders including your documents and then put this into your hard drive and name it as "Windows.old", allowing the new Windows system to be installed freely. It's like a fresh new copy of Windows, keeping your old files and system into a safe place. So are you still worried about upgrading to Windows 7?

So, why keep the old files of Windows system? Most users who upgrade wants to retain their system applications, files and folders, even user account to its original settings(that is why it's called an upgrade, right?). However, with this type of installation, Windows 7 have just replaced everything (so it's not an upgrade?). Now here comes the "Windows.old" folder to the rescue. If you try to browse this folder located here: Start menu > Computer > Local Disk (C:)>Windows.old, you'll find a bunch of folders that are kept preserve. This folders can be use to restore your original settings. Here's how:

1. Download and install the Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) for Windows 7 about 1.7GB. It took me about 2 hrs to download. I use Internet Download Manager (IDM); it's not a freeware and yet a good download manager.

Windows AIK is a tool from Microsoft designed to assist deployment of Windows. Also check User Migration Tool for Windows 7 at Microsoft download Center.

2. After installing, locate the folder "C: Program Files/Windows AIKTools/Tools/USMT/" Click on USMT folder and you should find AMD64 and x86, this means, it supports both system architecture.

3. Now open a notepad and then copy or type-in these strings:

If exist D:USMT*.* xcopy D:USMT*.* /e /v /y C:WindowsUSMT

If exist E:USMT*.* xcopy E:USMT*.* /e /v /y C:WindowsUSMT

If exist F:USMT*.* xcopy F:USMT*.* /e /v /y C:WindowsUSMT

If exist G:USMT*.* xcopy G:USMT*.* /e /v /y C:WindowsUSMT

If exist H:USMT*.* xcopy H:USMT*.* /e /v /y C:WindowsUSMT

If exist I:USMT*.* xcopy I:USMT*.* /e /v /y C:WindowsUSMT

If exist J:USMT*.* xcopy J:USMT*.* /e /v /y C:WindowsUSMT

If exist K:USMT*.* xcopy K:USMT*.* /e /v /y C:WindowsUSMT

Cd c:windowsusmtx86

scanstate.exe c:store /v:13 /o /c /hardlink /nocompress /efs:hardlink /i:MigApp.xml /i:MigDocs.xml

/offlineWinDir:c:windows.oldwindows

loadstate.exe c:store /v:13 /c /lac /lae /i:migapp.xml /i:migdocs.xml /sf /hardlink /nocompress

:EOF

4. After typing-in, save the file with a *.bat extension example: "migrateWinXP.bat" into the USMT folder.

Note: save the file including the quote (")

5. After saving the file, it becomes a batch file, you will notice the icon changes its apperance. Right-mouse-click on that file and choose "Run as administrator".

6. After doing this, you'll notice some changes in your desktop icons. All of your settings from your Windows XP will go back from its original state.

I am not responsible for any loss or damage of data while doing this procedure. Make sure you back-up all your files before attempting to do this. Have fun upgrading!

Please feel free to post comments.