Windows XP to Windows 7

[Quinn06]

Hello,

One of our clients is replacing 10 of their XP machines with new Windows 7 workstations. They use Active Directory, and i was wondering what the quickest and recommended way to deploy these Windows 7 workstations and transfer all of there programs and stuff from the old computers.


Thanks

 

[johnrobert]

There is no upgrade path from XP to Win 7 unless you go via Vista which I would not recommend

 

[Markverhyden]

Replacing machines? Very easy. You can run Windows Easy Transfer (basically a special roll of USMT) tool. If they do not have a lot of domain stuff it should work fine. If I remember correctly you want to already have all applications installed on the new machine. I seem to remember that it brought over all of the domain stuff just fine.

Here is a video covering using USMT. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVbpht9hsb4

Edit: just to clarify, programs are not brought over with USMT/WET. They always have to be re-installed if there is not upgrade in place vector.

 

[CompConfig]

To move xp data files and almost all programs to a new Windows 7 machine use pc mover from laplink. I am a partner with them and I have my client buy the licence at full price and I buy between 10 or 25 licences at a time at a discount. It will even move mall over and if the xp machine is dead you can transfer over using just the xp hard drive.

It does not work with certain apps that have very tight user licences like QuickBooks, that software must be re-installed but it works with 90% of apps. The business version will even work with domain accounts.

 

[bertie40]

I've had a few instances where UMST has failed, so I'd advise a backup just in case.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Usually very easy when they are properly setup on a server.

Install applications on the new workstations...should be easy and standard.

What do they have for e-mail?

My usual steps...after building new computer, joined the domain, logging in and rebooting twice, adding domain users group to local admin group, and log in as the new user.

Now on the old computer, copy of any "stuff" you need....to the users userprofile folder on the server. I often make a folder inside of there called "transfer".

Now I'll copy stuff up there...like their desktop, their favorites, their download/pictures/music if necessary. Usually I already have their Documents folder redirected so once the new computer redirects it (via GPO)..or just manually redirect it, that's all set.

Use the Transfer folder to move over other local stuff they may need. If they're old school simple and do POP mail, can use that for the PST shuffle.

I prefer installing programs clean. I don't like using "ez transfer programs"..they can bring over garbage. Plus new operating system, usually 64x bit now, better to have latest client install of the program and install it properly and clean. And cherry pick just the data you need to move over.

 

[scott00049]

I do it almost exactly the way StoneCat explains. The one small difference is that on our domain every user has a documents folder. That way they can access docs wherever they log into the domain. So i just stick everything into that folder instead of creating a 'transfer' folder.

Everything else is pretty much same as StoneCat. Very easy this way.

-Scott

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

We're about the same...I put the transfer folder next to documents.
\\server\userfolders\username\transfer
next to
\\server\userfolders\username\documents.
so both transfer and documents are in \\server\userfolders\username
and if they sync pics and music, those are in there too.

The new structure ala user Libraries post Vista.
Makes it easier for me to clean up later from the server side, instead of hunting through some users very bloated Documents folder.

 

[ohio_grad_06]

If you want to be slick, on a server create a share, inside put each user a folder. After you set up their pc, then go to their user folder on c drive, right click their documents folder, then look for the location setting. Open a new window and open the network folder you created for that user. Copy and paste that location into the location box for their documents folder. Tell the user anything they want to be backed up, put it in their documents folder since that would be located on the server.

Concerning the server, backup backup backup. If you want a cheap solution you can get buffalo external drives with 2 drives built in and raid 1 & 0 capability for redundancy. If you want to go better hook up with an online service and sync the files as well.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

If you want to be slick, on a server create a share, inside put each user a folder. After you set up their pc, then go to their user folder on c drive, right click their documents folder, then look for the location setting. Open a new window and open the network folder you created for that user. Copy and paste that location into the location box for their documents folder. Tell the user anything they want to be backed up, put it in their documents folder since that would be located on the server.

I do that from the server side.
In ADUC, each user accounts properties, I create the share in there which applies the correct permissions to those folders (thus keeping other users out).

And via GPO, (it's built in)...do the folder redirection.

 

[HankArnold]

Consider building and imaging

I would avoid "upgrading" at all costs. It just perpetuates problems and going from XP to Vista to W7 is a road guranteed to give you an ulcer.

I would set up a standard image with windows 7 and use it to quickly roll out W7 . I've used the technique described here to do exactly that. It works very well for small rollouts.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee523217(v=ws.10).aspx

 

[ohio_grad_06]

Hm, haven't played with that on GPO. I know to do the permissions, like give everyone permission to the root, then lock down to where only that user and admins have rights to each individual folder.