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Back up files to prepare for Windows 7
Techno Buddy
Techno Buddy
If Windows 7 lives up to advance billing, it'll do everything but wash your dishes at night.
Based on my own tests of early versions of the new Windows and on what I have read, it is faster, does a better job using memory, is less prone to crashes and offers some new features. Here's a link that will go into far more detail about what it has to offer: tinyurl.com/lolvb2.
Now, despite all those virtues, you'd be smart to wait a bit before buying and installing it. It's just common sense to let the dust settle for a month or so. That way, if - despite all the testing and raves - there are some ugly bugs, you'll avoid them. Besides, in the early days of a new release, it's very hard to get technical support. Lines are jammed, and tech support folks still are a bit inexperienced themselves.
But, if you use a Windows machine, you almost certainly will install it sooner or later. And there are some things you should know that will make the experience easier, as well as give you the best shot at having a program that runs with no problems.
We'll start our preparation work for Windows 7 by doing something I've nagged you about before. You need to make sure you have a working backup of all the data on your machine. And don't just back up. Test that backup by trying to restore a few files. If you can manage two separate backup copies of your precious data, so much the better.
Here's why that backup is so important. I strongly suggest you do what is called a "clean" install of Windows 7. Unlike an overinstall, this kind of installation wipes out everything on your hard disk. All your family photos go away, so do your documents, tax records, everything. You'll also be forced to reinstall all your programs - more about that in a minute - after the clean install of Windows 7.
Users of Windows XP and earlier won't have any option other than a clean install. However, Vista users can do an overinstall. That keeps all your data, all your programs.
It seems like a no-brainer to do that if you're running Vista. But it's the wrong choice. A clean install is best for you, too.
Here's why. Bits and pieces of the older version of Windows remain behind in an over-install. That can create problems down the road that could leave you with a computer with more bugs than a rotten log. So, despite the ease of an over-install, you should go to the extra trouble of a clean installation.
If you want to read about some of the troubles you could face with an over-install, you can check out this site: tinyurl.com/5hc89g.
Look, I know this is a lot of trouble. And sometimes choices with computing are sort of gray - there's no one clear way to go. But today's choice isn't gray at all. It's the right way.
If you may have more questions about the installation process, I'm including a Web site that will take you through it step-by-step: tinyurl.com/y8ug48t.
Check out the Web sites I've included and follow my tips, and the installation process won't be too much trouble. Think of it this way: Go to a little trouble now or face the chance of huge trouble later.
tecbud@bellsouth.net Bill Husted writes for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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