Windows XP to Windows 7

Hi Adz9,

Before upgrading the system to Windows 7, please ensure that your system meets the minimal hardware requirements. The minimum hardware requirements for Windows 7 are listed below:

• 1 GHz processor.
• 1 GB RAM for 32-bit Operating System/ 2 GB RAM for 64-bit Operating System.
• 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit).
• DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

For more information on the hardware requirements for Windows 7, please refer to the following link:

http://bit.ly/O5PWye

You may also download the free Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. It scans your PC for potential issues with your hardware, devices, and installed programs, and recommends what to do before you upgrade.

You may download and install the Windows 7 Upgrade advisor from the link below:

http://bit.ly/NMbMbJ

Once you have checked and ensured that the system is capable of supporting Windows 7, you can use the Windows 7 disc to format the hard drive (Remove Windows XP) and then install Windows 7.  Windows XP disc is not required.

Note: Changing the operating system might cause compatibility issue with the system. Changing the operating system is not recommended and is not supported by Dell.

Yes, Windows 7 will give you the option to delete all partitions and let Windows 7 create the partitions that it needs.  

Run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to see if there is any software or hardware that you might have trouble with running Windows 7:

windows.microsoft.com/.../upgrade-advisor

Thanks mate will give it a go.:emotion-1:

Thanks for the replies, I do meet most of the requirements - 2.80Ghz processor, 1GB DDR2 RAM and I have 32-bit but do not have 16GB free.

I have also ran the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor and all seems fine.

So just to confirm if I run the Windows 7 CD, it will remove everything off the PC so it should have more than 16GB free and will be able to install a fresh copy of Windows 7 with no signs of previous data or files from the XP system?

Thanks.

Yes, you will have more than 16GB free once you delete the existing partitions to do a clean install of Windows 7 and all previous files will be erased.  When the Windows 7 install asks where you want to install to, click on Disk Options, and Delete any existing partitions, then click Next.

See my wiki A Clean Install of Windows 7.

For drivers Vista 32 bit ones are available which will work with Windows 7 32 bit. The upgrade advisor will tell you if the 64 bit version is compatible.

I tried to, but it says there is not enough memory to install on C: drive which I want to install on, it wont let me go through to the next step of deleting it without have the required memory

I though you were just going to delete the partitions anyway?

Hi guys I attempted to install Windows 7 today and have a bit of a dilemma regarding memory, should I just format my hard drive to clean up as much memory as possible as I have ran disk defrag, disk cleanup etc?

I can't think of a disk that wouldn't have that.  Try this part then:

"If that doesn't work, then you can boot to your Windows 7 DVD, click Repair Your Computer (instead of Install Now), Command Prompt, type in "diskpart", then type in select disk 0, then clean.  Now try the install again."

Then, I would try downloading it again and creating a new USB or DVD.

Alternatively, you can boot to a utility like GParted that can delete partitions.

Also, I'm sure you realize that the link above will give you a 30-day trial of Windows 7, at which time you will need to acivate with a purchased Windows 7 license ... right?  Just checking.

If you correctly prepared a Windows 7 installation USB, it will have the same functionality as a DVD.  If you don't have Repair Your Computer either, then where did you get the Windows 7 media?  Because it is not complete.

Make sure you are doing a Custom (Advanced) install and not an Upgrade.  You should be able to delete the existing partitions before hitting Next to start the install.

"When the Windows 7 install asks where you want to install to, click on Drive Options":

"and delete any partitions":

If that doesn't work, then you can boot to your Windows 7 DVD, click Repair Your Computer (instead of Install Now), Command Prompt, type in "diskpart", then type in select disk 0, then clean.  Now try the install again.

http://www .mydigitallife.info/windows-7-iso-x86-and-x64-official-direct-download-links-ultimate-professional-and-home-premium/

Sorry I didn't add before I am not using a CD it's from a memory stick .iso file so I can't run Repair Your Computer