Windows XP to Vista to Windows 7 Upgrade

[allanc]

I have many clients who are running Windows XP and have sufficient RAM, CPU and hard disk space to run Windows 7.
Most of them, of course, will not have the media (or downloaded software) for the various application programs like MS Office, etc.
I am exploring my options for upgrading them to Windows 7.
I realize that popping a Windows 7 DVD in and upgrading in one pass is not possible.
However, how about upgrading to Vista and then Windows 7 sequentially?
I assume that we would not need to activate Vista.
Does this seem like a reasonable plan from a legal and technical viewpoint?

 

[nlinecomputers]

So you are going to sell them a copy of Vista and 7? That is the only legal way to do that. And frankly you'll have a kludge OS and the end of that route. You can't pull serial numbers and re-install their software?

 

[allanc]

So you are going to sell them a copy of Vista and 7? That is the only legal way to do that. And frankly you'll have a kludge OS and the end of that route. You can't pull serial numbers and re-install their software?

Yes, the serial numbers can be extracted.
Typically, they don't have the source media for the software.
This is especially true for per-installed applications.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Other than office which you can source install media from Technet, Digital River, etc what bloatware, preinstalled software would you even WANT on a PC after upgrading?

 

[allanc]

Other than office which you can source install media from Technet, Digital River, etc what bloatware, preinstalled software would you even WANT on a PC after upgrading?

On Dell computers, there are a number of Adobe (for example) commercial programs that can be pre-installed.

 

[nlinecomputers]

1. An old version of Adobe that shipped with an XP machine(ver 8 or 9) is a security risk and should be updated. Also 95% of the time most clients never use that and just need Adobe Reader and CutePDF.

2. And I do think you can still download old copies of Adobe. Most programs can be found on the internet to download. Long as you have the serial number you can do it.

 

[allanc]

1. An old version of Adobe that shipped with an XP machine(ver 8 or 9) is a security risk and should be updated. Also 95% of the time most clients never use that and just need Adobe Reader and CutePDF.

2. And I do think you can still download old copies of Adobe. Most programs can be found on the internet to download. Long as you have the serial number you can do it.

Adobe was the first company that I thought of.
They also used to (if not still) offer photo editing software.
Also, there used to be s/w from Intuit, etc.

Then there is the s/w that they purchased in the past 'x' years that I have to consider.
I know that I am being very generic in my statement when I say 'software' but we all know that there are many titles.
The companies may or may not be in business and even if they are - the older versions of their software may not be available.

I would also prefer to install a fresh Windows 7 but my clients might have a a significant amount of money invested in their current software, no source media and not be able to locate the version that they have licensed.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Adobe was the first company that I thought of.
They also used to (if not still) offer photo editing software.
Also, there used to be s/w from Intuit, etc.

Then there is the s/w that they purchased in the past 'x' years that I have to consider.
I know that I am being very generic in my statement when I say 'software' but we all know that there are many titles.
The companies may or may not be in business and even if they are - the older versions of their software may not be available.

I would also prefer to install a fresh Windows 7 but my clients might have a a significant amount of money invested in their current software, no source media and not be able to locate the version that they have licensed.

Then why upgrade at all? I'm not trying to harp on you but I keep seeing techs that say they HAVE to upgrade users to Windows 7 and yet the issues you mention are also part of the picture. Running old software on Windows 7 is still insecure. Updating Windows only gets ONE aspect of their system upto date. Any computer older then 3 years old shouldn't be upgraded. It should be replaced. And the amount of time and effort you would spend to bring such a client up though two upgrades you could spend on new equipment. Or you are working for free and letting cheap clients take advantage of you.

 

[allanc]

Then why upgrade at all? I'm not trying to harp on you but I keep seeing techs that say they HAVE to upgrade users to Windows 7 and yet the issues you mention are also part of the picture. Running old software on Windows 7 is still insecure. Updating Windows only gets ONE aspect of their system upto date. Any computer older then 3 years old shouldn't be upgraded. It should be replaced. And the amount of time and effort you would spend to bring such a client up though two upgrades you could spend on new equipment. Or you are working for free and letting cheap clients take advantage of you.

No, I do not intend to work for free.
I do not think that you are harping and enjoy the interaction
What I am trying to do is to be able to provide 2 or 3 estimates for my clients.
a.) New Windows 7 computer with new MS Office.
b.) In-place upgrade using PCMover (XP to Windows 7 directly).
c.) Format existing computer and install existing s/w and/or new versions as necessary.
At this time, I am trying to ballpark how much of a difference there will be in the total estimate.
Why do you think that all computers over three years old should be replaced?

 

[cypress]

Wouldn't Fabs Auto Backup be just as effective as PC Mover? I am asking on that because I have never used PC Mover.

Also could provide the type of Specifications that the XP machines have right now? I am assuming that even with that, you will get the Windows 7 Pro licenses.

 

[allanc]

Wouldn't Fabs Auto Backup be just as effective as PC Mover? I am asking on that because I have never used PC Mover.

Also could provide the type of Specifications that the XP machines have right now? I am assuming that even with that, you will get the Windows 7 Pro licenses.

PC Mover also moves applications.