First time clean installing, Vista -> 7, any tips?

**Kais** · 2010-07-01 18:28

I've been putting this off for a long time, and I'm not the most tech savy. Anyone know a good guide to get started? I have two big hdd's so that should make things easier right?

**Balthasar** · 2010-07-01 21:18

Originally Posted by Kais

I have two big hdd's so that should make things easier right?

If you're saying that for data backup reasons, then it is unnecessary. When you do a clean install from Vista to 7, it saves all the data from your old partition in a folder called "Windows.old", in the new Windows 7 partition. Just make sure you don't manually reformat the HDD beforehand.

**Kais** · 2010-07-01 22:42

Is there any advantage to reformatting over the windows old folder?

**Princemercury** · 2010-07-06 08:23

No, you will lose your old data. Back it up before you install and just do a fresh install. Upgrades are a thing of the past.

**Kais** · 2010-07-12 23:32

Alright, I'm trying to get this done tonight. Scared but oh well

FIRST: I have a shit ton of music/pictures/etc I don't want destroyed. Can't I just ctrl+x and v onto the other HDD or should I use the windows backup feature? (friend backed up and reformatted on my old computer, eventually couldn't delete the 50gb backup folder and I've been weary ever since)

SECOND: How does getting my old programs onto 7 work? Am I going to have to go through each instillation disc 1-by-1 (I admit, some are iso's)?

THIRD: The option to clear the HDD is included in installing 7 or should I erase everything beforehand and then just pop in the instillation disc during boot up?

**OWS_Tonx** · 2010-07-12 23:36

I don't know if there's many other ways, but:
1) Back up everything you want to keep.
2) Put in disc.
3) Boot from disc.
4) Run setup (There is an option during set up to delete all old partitions).
5) Start getting your drivers back (Look them up, they do go in a certain order. Reboot every time it asks you to.)
6) Software (Adobe Flashplayer, Java, etc.)
7) Drop your old data you saved back onto machine.

**sruon** · 2010-07-12 23:36

The issue with upgrade is not so much about formatting HDD itself, it is that it fucks up your registry(among other things) royally which decreases your performance over a clean install.

You don't necessarily have to format it, in fact all you'd need is a real defragment after a clean installation (O&O defrag, not the Windows POS) but that being said, it's always better to have a fresh start.

Yes you can CTRL+V/X them to another HDD
Yes you're going to have to reinstall everything.
I'm not sure, normally it should but I reinstalled 7 2 days ago and it wasn't offered.

**Kais** · 2010-07-12 23:45

Also, how would I get my steam games back? Install it again, log on, and dl the games?

**OWS_Tonx** · 2010-07-12 23:47

I havn't used Steam in a long. If they had that option then yes. If not, call their support line and sort it out.

**sruon** · 2010-07-12 23:48

Yeah, exactly. You should probably save the folder that have all the big files though, suck to reinstall them all.

C:/Program Files/Steam/ save the folder steamapps, reinstall Steam, and just copy paste it back, relog and everything should work 100%

**Kais** · 2010-07-12 23:51

Gotcha, thanks broshots!

**OWS_Tonx** · 2010-07-12 23:56

Np. Goodluck, it's pretty simple. I've slicked like a million and one machines, so if you have any other questions or difficulties feel free to PM.

**Kais** · 2010-07-13 18:40

Alright so installed, everything seems well. I didn't get an option to clear the HDD before installing 7, but I just deleted the windows.old folder after so all is good.

Originally Posted by sruon

You don't necessarily have to format it, in fact all you'd need is a real defragment after a clean installation (O&O defrag, not the Windows POS) but that being said, it's always better to have a fresh start.

About defrag though, I was going to use defraggler, is that fine?

**sruon** · 2010-07-13 18:53

No idea, anything that isn't Windows defragger should be fine :<

**Kais** · 2010-07-13 18:54

Defraggler it is, thanks again guys ♥

**Kais** · 2010-07-14 18:05

Hmm, the install went fine and dandy, however I can't seem to install updates.
I hid KB971033, and everything seems to be going fine until I reboot/shutdown. My screen gets frozen during the update screen:
"Configuring Windows Updates
15% complete
Do not turn off your computer"

Were there other updates I should be hiding?

**Balthasar** · 2010-07-14 20:25

Wait, are we talking genuine or non-genuine?

**Kais** · 2010-07-14 20:30

non genuine

**Gethsemane** · 2010-07-14 20:46

Bookmark it.

Windows 7 Repository. Probably everything you need to know and you don't want to know, all in one handy thread.

And for becoming a Windows 7 user a complimentary video and introduction:

[Youtube]NCfVFxRsKQc[/Youtube]

Windows 7. Fuck Cookies. We have bombs!

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