Migrating from Windows XP 32-bit to Windows 7 64-bit

[Yousuf Khan]

Got an existing PC that is 64-bit compatible, but I've been running
32-bit XP on it for ages. Now it's getting time to leave the XP behind.
Didn't bother with Vista, like most people. I'm going to be going to Win
7 Ultimate 64-bit. Now, I'm aware that there isn't any official
migration path between XP and Win7, and especially not between 32-bit
and 64-bit.

What I need to know is if I install Win7 to the same partition as XP,
will it overwrite XP, or will it install to a different directory? Or do
I need to install to a different disk or partition? I'm asking if it's
possible to dual-boot between them?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Got an existing PC that is 64-bit compatible, but I've been running
32-bit XP on it for ages. Now it's getting time to leave the XP
behind. Didn't bother with Vista, like most people. I'm going to be
going to Win 7 Ultimate 64-bit. Now, I'm aware that there isn't any
official migration path between XP and Win7, and especially not
between 32-bit and 64-bit.

What I need to know is if I install Win7 to the same partition as
XP, will it overwrite XP, or will it install to a different
directory? Or do I need to install to a different disk or
partition? I'm asking if it's possible to dual-boot between them?

Last Question:
Yes.

 

[Daave]

Got an existing PC that is 64-bit compatible, but I've been running
32-bit XP on it for ages. Now it's getting time to leave the XP
behind. Didn't bother with Vista, like most people. I'm going to be
going to Win 7 Ultimate 64-bit. Now, I'm aware that there isn't any
official migration path between XP and Win7, and especially not
between 32-bit and 64-bit.

What I need to know is if I install Win7 to the same partition as XP,
will it overwrite XP, or will it install to a different directory?

If you were to install Windows 7 to the same partition, I would imagine
this could be very problematic!

Or do I need to install to a different disk or partition?

That is the normal and recommended course of action.

I'm asking if it's possible to dual-boot between them?

Absolutely.

 

[Canuck57]

Got an existing PC that is 64-bit compatible, but I've been running
32-bit XP on it for ages. Now it's getting time to leave the XP behind.
Didn't bother with Vista, like most people. I'm going to be going to Win
7 Ultimate 64-bit. Now, I'm aware that there isn't any official
migration path between XP and Win7, and especially not between 32-bit
and 64-bit.

What I need to know is if I install Win7 to the same partition as XP,
will it overwrite XP, or will it install to a different directory? Or do
I need to install to a different disk or partition? I'm asking if it's
possible to dual-boot between them?

Does not really mater, but I suspect it will overwrite.

I say it does not mater as if doing any upgrade, make darn sure your
data is well backed up first. Back it up to another PC or to DVD or to
a USB drive or whatever, just be sure you do a good data backup before
you load the new OS. And test that you can read it too.

These groups are littered with "I upgraded and my data is gone, how do I
get it back?" requests. Just shows they are neophites.

 

[relic]

Got an existing PC that is 64-bit compatible, but I've been running 32-bit
XP on it for ages. Now it's getting time to leave the XP behind. Didn't
bother with Vista, like most people. I'm going to be going to Win 7
Ultimate 64-bit. Now, I'm aware that there isn't any official migration
path between XP and Win7, and especially not between 32-bit and 64-bit.

What I need to know is if I install Win7 to the same partition as XP, will
it overwrite XP, or will it install to a different directory? Or do I need
to install to a different disk or partition? I'm asking if it's possible
to dual-boot between them?

Windows 7 included a card titled: "Upgrading from Windows XP?"

Did you read it?

If you don't have it...
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/help/upgrading-from-windows-xp-to-windows-7

 

[Doum]

Last Question:
Yes.

You must install to a different disk or partition.

 

[Doum]

Yousuf Khan wrote:

If you were to install Windows 7 to the same partition, I would imagine
this could be very problematic!


That is the normal and recommended course of action.

<snip>

This is normal and recommended for dual-boot only, not for "upgrade".

 

[Yousuf Khan]

Windows 7 included a card titled: "Upgrading from Windows XP?"

Did you read it?

How could I? I purchased a license over Technet. Didn't get any physical
media.

If you don't have it...
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/help/upgrading-from-windows-xp-to-windows-7

This one I did see, but it's way too generic, I need more specific info.

Yousuf Khan

 

[Peter Foldes]

If you purchased from Technet then you did not download the ISO media. Why not?

 

[Yousuf Khan]

If you were to install Windows 7 to the same partition, I would imagine
this could be very problematic!


That is the normal and recommended course of action.

In the past, I've seen where when you are reinstalling Windows XP, you
are given the choice of overwriting the previous XP or keeping it. If
you chose to keep it, then you'd end up with two separate Windows
directories, one would be the original "c:\windows" and the new one
would be something like "c:\windows.1". Both versions of XP are
operational, and you can just choose which one to boot into via
boot.ini. Is this sort of installation not possible with Win7?

Absolutely.

But not from the same partition?

Yousuf Khan

 

[Yousuf Khan]

Does not really mater, but I suspect it will overwrite.

I say it does not mater as if doing any upgrade, make darn sure your
data is well backed up first. Back it up to another PC or to DVD or to
a USB drive or whatever, just be sure you do a good data backup before
you load the new OS. And test that you can read it too.

That's a little problematic, as I got 800GB in that particular
partition. Difficult to backup to DVD's or USB thumb drives. Even a USB
hard drive would be slow.

These groups are littered with "I upgraded and my data is gone, how do I
get it back?" requests. Just shows they are neophites.

Exactly why I am asking here.

Yousuf Khan

 

[Canuck57]

That's a little problematic, as I got 800GB in that particular
partition. Difficult to backup to DVD's or USB thumb drives. Even a USB
hard drive would be slow.


Exactly why I am asking here.

Yousuf Khan

Then buy a external 1TB drive. If the data is worth anything to you, it
is worth backing up anyways. MS-Windows nor the hard drives are that
reliable.

Or take an old PC and retrofit it with big drives. Use the network to
copy it over. I copy 2 TB each week this way. Takes hours but worth
the effort. I too am well past DVDs, and I use Linux Samba, works
great. But just use XP or whatever came with it.

Or just buy a new system, seriously. Saves all the driver messing
around and turn the existing system into a backup system once you have
the new one going.

 

[Char Jackson]

Then buy a external 1TB drive. If the data is worth anything to you, it
is worth backing up anyways. MS-Windows nor the hard drives are that
reliable.

Or take an old PC and retrofit it with big drives. Use the network to
copy it over. I copy 2 TB each week this way. Takes hours but worth
the effort. I too am well past DVDs, and I use Linux Samba, works
great. But just use XP or whatever came with it.

Or just buy a new system, seriously. Saves all the driver messing
around and turn the existing system into a backup system once you have
the new one going.

Or add a partition to the existing drive and move the data to the new
partition. You may have to start with a small partition and expand it
a few times until it's big enough to hold all of your data.

 

[Daave]

In the past, I've seen where when you are reinstalling Windows XP, you
are given the choice of overwriting the previous XP or keeping it. If
you chose to keep it, then you'd end up with two separate Windows
directories, one would be the original "c:\windows" and the new one
would be something like "c:\windows.1". Both versions of XP are
operational, and you can just choose which one to boot into via
boot.ini.

This is considered a Parallel Install and is only recommended in rare
situations (and should be used only as a temporary stopgap measure). I
would avoid a Parallel Install at all costs!

Is this sort of installation not possible with Win7?

I don't know and I don't care. Even if it were possible, it would be a
confusing mess.

But not from the same partition?

Correct. If you are interested in configuring a dual boot, you need to
use different partitions.

Do you want to configure a dual boot? Or do you merely want to "migrate"
(which is what is in the Subject line)?

 

[relic]

How could I? I purchased a license over Technet. Didn't get any physical
media.


This one I did see, but it's way too generic, I need more specific info.

If that's too generic, I'd suggest you take you system to a PC Shop and let
them do it.

 

[Yousuf Khan]

Correct. If you are interested in configuring a dual boot, you need to
use different partitions.

Do you want to configure a dual boot? Or do you merely want to "migrate"
(which is what is in the Subject line)?

Well, I want to really migrate, but I want to have XP around temporarily
as it was, so I can properly migrate things over.

Yousuf Khan

 

[Yousuf Khan]

If you purchased from Technet then you did not download the ISO media.
Why not?

That I did, but that's not physical media (until you burn it). The
previous responder said that a card came with the disks that explains
all of this. I obviously did not get that card, since that was not part
of the download.

Regardless, if the card was the same as that video, it's too generic. I
need to know what gets saved and what gets erased, and what becomes
inaccessible after upgrade, etc.

Yousuf Khan

 

[Daave]

Well, I want to really migrate, but I want to have XP around
temporarily as it was, so I can properly migrate things over.

If you do indeed want to migrate, you need to copy all your data to a
safe location and make sure you have all the installation media for all
your programs (you may need new installation media since you are moving
to a new OS *and* different architecture (64-bit). Then I would wipe the
hard drive and perform a Clean Install of Windows 7. It's not like you
are going to have a partition for programs. I hope by "things" you mean
data!

If you do have a partition for data only, you may certainly keep that
and just wipe the partition that contains XP and the programs installed
on it (if that is your current setup). Then format that partition and
install 7 on it and then later the programs.

If you want to configure a dual boot and keep that indefinitely, then
you may create a new partition for Windows 7.

 

[ng_reader]

Timely message.

I just installed Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit on an older XP-Home machine.
The old windows directory was saved under windows old and the data stayed on
the data portion of the HD.

But here is my twist. That Win7 CD is for a different computer, and I want
to "roll-back" to XP Home. Well, perhaps I ought explain what happened.

The machine became corrupted by a virus, went into continuous reboot mode,
and would not work in any way shape or form. After trying Kaspersky and
BartPE to get a functioning machine and getting nowhere, I loaded the Win7
DVD.

Everything works like normal. The PCI Wireless card didn't, I had to go to
Wal-Mart for a $35 USB wireless device, but - like I said. You'll be fine.

My problem is that I have about 20 days left to "activate" Win 7 which I
don't plan on doing. I'm going to roll back to XP.

But, while the machine allows me to boot into either my old OS (XP), Windows
7, or Windows 7 safe mode (or command line or something Windows 7ish), I
can't get into the XP directory without a password!

Anyone have any good suggestions for getting past that Admin Password to
reinstall XP? I tried the password that was on XP and that wasn't it....

So, Yousuf (Cat Stevens - is this you?), it will all work. However I have
another problem on my hand.

And yeah it is odd that Windows 32 bit is sitting there right next to
Windows 64 bit. And everything is "pretty" accessible.

 

[Yousuf Khan]

Timely message.

I just installed Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit on an older XP-Home machine.
The old windows directory was saved under windows old and the data stayed on
the data portion of the HD.

Okay, that's good, that's the kind of thing I wanted to know. So the
Windows directory got saved, what about the "program files" directory,
and the "documents and settings" directory? Did they also get backed up?

Also did you have to install from within Windows, or did you have to
boot from CD and install?

But here is my twist. That Win7 CD is for a different computer, and I want
to "roll-back" to XP Home. Well, perhaps I ought explain what happened.

The machine became corrupted by a virus, went into continuous reboot mode,
and would not work in any way shape or form. After trying Kaspersky and
BartPE to get a functioning machine and getting nowhere, I loaded the Win7
DVD.

So I assume it got infected under XP rather than Win7?

Anyone have any good suggestions for getting past that Admin Password to
reinstall XP? I tried the password that was on XP and that wasn't it....

Here's the Microsoft official method:

How to log on to your Windows XP-based computer if you forget your
password or if your password expires
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/321305

Here's a bunch of others, most seem to be password crackers:

win xp admin password reset - Google Search
http://www.google.ca/search?q=win+x...s=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

So, Yousuf (Cat Stevens - is this you?), it will all work. However I have
another problem on my hand.

No, actually I may be dating myself here, but I've been Yousuf longer
than he's been Yousuf. He's been around on Earth bit longer overall, but
not as Yousuf.

And yeah it is odd that Windows 32 bit is sitting there right next to
Windows 64 bit. And everything is "pretty" accessible.

I'd like to make the migration even simpler by using this utility:

Upgrade XP to Windows 7, hassle-free — Zinstall
http://www.zinstall.com/

I've been carrying out an email conversation with them, and I asked them
whether I should be making a dual-boot out of this thing, and they said
specifically, "no, install it over top of the existing XP". So this may
explain how they do it. It doesn't matter, I've managed to make a clone
of my boot disk onto an external eSATA disk now, and I can conceivably
go either way now, installing it overtop or dual-booting, both options
are now available to me.

Yousuf Khan