10 Things about moving from XP to Windows

10 things you should know about moving from Windows XP to Windows 7 With Windows 7 a little over a month away, Friendly Computers thinks you should start preparing for the switch if you are using Windows XP. Read more below… If you skipped Windows Vista and stuck with Windows XP, chances are good that you are now seriously considering moving to Windows 7 after it’s released on October 22. If so, there is much for you to do. Not only should you begin planning for your operating system migration, but you should begin learning as much as you can about Windows 7. Here are 10 things you can do to get ready for the switch. 1: 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, you can 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 idenfying are 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. You can download the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor from the Microsoft Download Center. At the time of this writing, this tool is listed as being a Beta version. However, running it now will give you a good idea of what you will be facing as you prepare for your upgrade. If you’re planning a much bigger Windows XP to Windows 7 migration, you’ll want to investigate the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit. This free toolkit, which runs across the network without having to install software on client systems, will allow you to investigate systems and compile reports on hardware and device compatibility. 2: Understand the Custom Install If you’re running Windows XP on your computer and you want to use Windows 7 on that same computer, you’ll purchase an Upgrade license package of Windows 7. However, you won’t be able to perform an in-place upgrade. In other words, you won’t be able to upgrade to Windows 7 on top of XP and keep all your applications and settings “in place.” Instead, you’ll have to perform a Custom Install, which Microsoft describes as follows: A custom (clean) installation gives you the option to either completely replace your current operating system or install Windows on a specific drive or partition that you select. You can also perform a custom installation if your computer does not have an operating system, or if you want to set up a multiboot system on your computer. When you completely replace Windows XP, the installation procedure will not totally obliterate it. In fact, the installation procedure will create a folder on the hard disk called Windows.old and will place the Windows, Documents And Settings, and Program Files folders from your Windows XP installation in it. Your data files will be safe and accessible, but your applications will not be viable. (Even though the Custom Install saves your data in the Windows.old folder, you will want to have a separate backup on hand just in case!) Regardless of whether you choose to completely replace Windows XP or set up a multiboot system, you are going to have to back up and transfer all of your data, reinstall all of your applications, and reconfigure all of your settings. 3: Consider a setting up a multiboot configuration When pondering a Custom Install, you should consider setting up a multiboot configuration. That will place both Windows XP and Windows 7 at your disposal, which will be a big advantage as you begin migrating your settings, documents, and applications. More specifically, you can boot into Windows XP to check out how something is set up and then boot into Windows 7 to re-create the same configuration. Once you have everything in Windows 7 exactly the way you had it in Windows XP, you can remove the multiboot configuration set Windows 7 as the primary OS and then remove Windows XP. To be able to perform this type of switch, both XP and 7 must be installed on the same hard disk but on separate partitions. (If you install Windows 7 on a second hard disk, the boot partition will exist on the first hard disk, so you won’t be able to remove that drive once you’re ready to get rid of XP.) As a result, you’ll need to repartition your hard disk to make room for Windows 7. To repartition your hard disk without destroying data, you can take advantage of partition management software, such as Norton PartitionMagic 8.0, which retails for about $70, or Easeus Partition Manager Home Edition 4.0.1, which is available for free and earned a 4.5 star rating in a recent CNET editors’ review. 4: Plan your backup and restore strategy Before you move from one operating system to another, you’ll want to back up all your data — at least once and maybe twice, just in case. While it may sound like overkill, having an extra 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. 5: 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 #4). The new operating system will come with two copies of the Windows 7 Easy Transfer. One copy will be on the DVD and the other will be installed with the operating system. Before you install Windows 7, you will run Windows 7 Easy Transfer from the DVD and back up all your files and settings. Then, once you have Windows 7 installed, you’ll use it to move all your files and settings to the new operating system. You can learn more about the Windows 7 Easy Transfer by reading the article Step-by-Step: Windows 7 Upgrade and Migration on the Microsoft TechNet site. 6: Inventory your applications and gather your CDs 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 #1). 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. While the report generated by the Upgrade Advisor will be helpful as you create an inventory, it won’t be comprehensive. To create a detailed inventory, you can use something like the Belarc Advisor. For more details, see the article Gather detailed system information with Belarc Advisor. 7: Become familiar with the new UI The UI in Windows 7 is quite different from the UI in Windows 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. To help you get right to the good stuff, check out: The Windows 7 features section, where you’ll find a host of short videos and descriptions. The Windows 7 Help & How-to section, where you’ll find a whole slew of step-by-step articles that show you how get around in Windows 7. Be sure to check out the section on installing Windows. You’ll also find useful information on the Windows Training Portal on the Microsoft Learning site. Be sure to check out: The Windows 7 Learning Snacks, which are short, interactive presentations. Each Snack is delivered via animations and recorded demos using Microsoft Silverlight. The Microsoft Press sample chapters from upcoming Windows 7 books. Viewing the free chapters requires registration, but it is a short procedure. Once you’re registered, you can access sample chapters from Windows 7 Inside Out, Windows 7 Resource Kit, Windows 7 Step by Step, and Windows 7 for Developers. 8: Check for XP Mode support If you discover that some of the applications you’re currently running in Windows XP are not compatible with Windows 7 (see #1) or you just want to keep Windows XP accessible, don’t forget about Windows XP Mode. This virtual environment includes a free, fully licensed, ready-to-run copy of Windows XP with SP3 that runs under Windows Virtual PC in Windows 7. As you consider the Windows XP Mode, keep these things in mind: Windows XP Mode is available only in Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions. Your computer must support processor-based virtualization. You can learn more about Windows XP Mode from the following TechRepublic resoruces: Determine if your hardware can support Windows XP Mode in Windows 7 Hands on: Windows 7 XP Mode 10 reasons why Windows 7’s XP Mode is a big deal 9: Ask questions You aren’t the only one making the move from Windows XP to Windows 7, so ask questions and share information you pick up along the way. Of course, you can use the TechRepublic discussion forums. But you should cast a wider net. One good place to connect with Microsoft experts is the Getting Ready for Windows 7 section of the Microsoft Answers site. Another good place is in the Windows 7 forums in the Windows Client TechCenter on the Microsoft TechNet site. 10: Subscribe to the Windows Vista and Windows 7 Report TechRepublic’s free Windows Vista and Windows 7 Report newsletter, which is delivered every Friday, offers tips, news, and scuttlebutt on Windows 7. As we count down to October 22, the day that Windows 7 is to be released to the general public, we will be covering topics of interest to Windows XP users in more detail. You can sign up on the TechRepublic newsletters page. Source: http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/10things/?p=1000

I Dislike Laptops

OK, I know everyone has one or wants one. I just think they are more of a hassle than not. They fall, they over heat, their jacks fall off easy…shall I continue. Plus you over pay for the parts that come in them.

Sure you have portability…have that latte (that will spill on the keyboard) at starbucks. But what else do you have?

Ok, here is one…college classes….I guess it makes it a little easier to take notes.

Ok, I am obviously overworked when it comes to these broken laptops. Maybe a even a little bitter.

I do always suggest a PC over a laptop whenever possible. You get a lot more bang for your buck. You can still pick XP over Vista and build it your way.

That being said:
Dont be suckered by a cheap price tag at walmart for a acer laptop. Remember you get what you pay for. Research and ask questions before you buy your next laptop and if all else fails, you can always ask me.

What to Buy? PC, Laptop, Mac?

Yes, I am a woman and yes, I work on computers for a living. This doesn’t mean that I don’t get confused with all the fancy and flashy gimmicks out there. I mean, it’s just a computer right? I know walking into a Best Buy can either suck you in or repel you. I get sucked in. I want all the big screens and loud surround sound systems and fancy computers. I can get mesmerized by the lights and sounds. So to save myself from myself, I do a lot of research. I know what I want before I go in there. OK, first, Desktop PC, Laptop, or MAC? I am a lover of the desktop. You can get a lot more bang for your buck when comparing a desktop to a laptop. Granted, you can’t carry around a desktop but if you need 1 solid computer, I would always have a desktop. It is cheaper to build a desktop and the parts inside are faster, come with larger hard drives, and a lot more bells and whistles than a laptop. Laptops are great for mobility. There are 2 types, a notebook or a netbook. A notebook is just what you think a laptop should be, bigger screen size, larger hard drives, dvd-rw drives…a miniature desktop. A netbook…is just what that sounds like…mobile internet. They have small screens, not much of a hard drive and generally no dvd/cd reader. It is made for internet access and not for data storage. You can not run a cd or dvd. Now, Macs…Great computer, now integrates well with PC programs and acts more like a PC. What Macs are known for is for their creative side…great for images, music, art…etc. They run efficiently and made differently than PC. Macs are very expensive and I recommend that if you are budget conscious and do not do a lot of creative things that you do on your computer, stick with a PC. A little unknown fact is that Macs do get viruses too and they do break down. Things to look for in any new computer: Brand Name (yes, there are some duds out there), Speed (the ability to access your programs and documents quickly) and Storage (how much can I put on this thing). Brand – Cheaper is NOT better. There are economy packages all over the place. They are put together poorly and have cheaper parts. It is not uncommon to have your newish computer die exactly one day over the warrantee. I promise I see it a lot. This doesn’t mean that you have spend a lot either, but please don’t be fooled by pricing and all the “extras”. In the end, the extras are all you will have. Now speed. There are 2 things I want you to look for: Processor speed/type and RAM. Yes, bigger here is better. Processor speed is measured in Ghz…again; all you need to know is the larger the number, the faster the computer is going to be. If the computer says Dual Core…this means it is has 2 processors in one. Each “core” is going to run at the speed of the Ghz…so 2 is better than one. Also, there are two major players in the computer world when it comes to processors. Everyone has heard of Intel but only a few recognize AMD. AMD is just as good as Intel. Plus they are generally a little cheaper than Intel. AMD is a fine choice. RAM- all you need to know is more is better. Generally anything new is going to have at least 1 GB (gigabyte) of RAM. The more you can afford the faster and efficient your computer will be. Storage- this will be determined by the amount of GBs stated on the hard drive. Again more is better. The larger the number the more pictures, music, files and documents you can store. Also, you can have a ton of programs stored. Most machines out on the market come with at least 250 GBs…use this as a guideline. I also want to take the opportunity to talk about Microsoft Vista. There are not many choices on PCs/Laptops for your operating systems. Big stores and computer outlets are only going to have Vista. There is another operating system coming out in fall to replace Vista. So far, reviews have been good. Vista has a lot of bugs and you may want to consider staying with XP. Generally, you can get XP from companies that custom build machines. Custom built machines are more reliable and you get what you pay for and no “freeware” or trial packages that clogs up your machine. So remember, cheaper is not always better, the bigger the number the bigger the bang…and don’t be fooled by flashy lights and a fancy gimmick. -Tara Belzer owns Friendly Computers in Charlotte NC. She has her own blog on www.tarabelzerfriendlycomputers.wordpress.com and talks about computer issues in an open forum. She enjoys helping people understand computers and make them feel more comfortable with them. Visit Tara’s Website at” www.friendlycomputers.com/charlotte

MAC vs PC- Yes the holidays are here

SO, which is it? Mac, PC? They both are out there this season. You see the commercials, each slamming the other. Vista, Tiger, Linux, Unix….Ugghhh the task can be daunting. Which will you pick and why? Come on and join the conversation here. Let everyone know what you like and why. Sell it!

You Can Clean Your own PC!

Did you know that Microsoft Windows gives you the functionality to “clean” up your computer? Most clients that we see never use the free tools that come with the computer. This can save you repair costs and keep your PC in great running order for a lot longer.

Simple to follow…start with these steps….

Click on the start button (located bottom left corner of screen)>go to all programs>go to accessories>system tools>disk clean up…click on that(it may ask which drive…generally defaults to the C: which is correct)…it will take a minute or so to sort through files. A new pop up box will appear and place a check next to the items that need to be cleaned up…and click ok…and wait.

Generally speaking, anytime you clean up or update or install…you should reboot…so reboot after it is done.

Also speaking of things to do. Please make sure you are updating your windows for vital updates. This will also protect you from security issues as well as maintaining your system.

Another thing PC users need to do is scan your system for viruses…using your anti-virus software at least once a week. If you are the type to open up all your email, download music, spend a ton of time on you tube…please do this once a week. Besides viruses and trojans, spyware and adware runs amuck on the internet.

Finally defragment you computer. DEFRAGMENT???? What is that? In simple terms, it is a process in which we organize the files on your hard drive. It makes it easier to use our software by this organization. It takes out fragment files and compacts information in its proper place. This also helps in freeing up more room on your hard drive.

You need to follow the same directions stated at the beginning…Start Button>all programs>accessories>system tools> then go to Disk Defragment then hit analyze. My guess is if this is your first time doing this….you will be recommendedto defrag…so hit defrag and let it go. First timers…this could be a long process so, I recommend to do this before you go to sleep and let it run overnight. Please reboot after it is done.

Simple ideas to keep your system running better and for longer. Share thoughts and/or experiences if you like. Like I keep saying, this is not a one-way conversation!

Tara

Friendly Computers Charlotte NC

www.friendlycomputers.com/charlotte