Upgrade Windows Vista to W7?

Reba

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My elderly neighbor lady has a PC that's only 2.5 years old. It runs Windows Vista. I would like her to upgrade to Windows 7. Are there any pitfalls in doing that? Would it be better to wait until she buys a new computer in a couple years?

What's the story on Vista support from MS? Is it extinct, or still functioning? I can still get some MS updates for her computer on-line but some don't download.
 
Wirelessly posted (droid)

Yes, there are compatibility issues with older software. You have to run some programs as administator as vista. Also, the software interface is different enough to require learning curve time. Just depends on how comfortable the user is with both change and administrative tasks.
 
Wirelessly posted (droid)

Yes, there are compatibility issues with older software. You have to run some programs as administator as vista. Also, the software interface is different enough to require learning curve time. Just depends on how comfortable the user is with both change and administrative tasks.
I think she can learn the user changes since she has very limited uses for the PC. Any set up, maintenance, or modifications will have to be done by me. :)

That being said, I'm still trying to get her to give up the AOL. :giggle:
 
Do it, W7 is much better, easier to use too. cleaner and its that much better that just about everyone who upgraded from vista to w7 were glad they did.

its feel is closer to the legendary xp, but its still quite different, just easier to get hang of than vista.

.. good luck getting them off AOL...

only thing you got to know how to do, before you do the upgrade is back up, everything, that is their favourite, email addys, mails, and passwords/files, in folders, everything else you can get it new/reset
 
I don't think she's willing to spend that much.

Actually, Windows 7 OEM software is cheaper than the retail version.

And... supposedly the upgraded Windows 7 runs into series of problems whose solution may require re-installation of Windows operating system. It means you will have to re-install Windows Vista first and then do Windows 7 upgrade over again. It is a waste of time and money. It is something that I learned hard about 15 years ago or so. No more Windows upgrade for me. :nono:
 
Actually, Windows 7 OEM software is cheaper than the retail version.

And... supposedly the upgraded Windows 7 runs into series of problems whose solution may require re-installation of Windows operating system. It means you will have to re-install Windows Vista first and then do Windows 7 upgrade over again. It is a waste of time and money. It is something that I learned hard about 15 years ago or so. No more Windows upgrade for me. :nono:

After all that, I think we'll wait until she wants to buy a new computer.
 
Actually, Windows 7 OEM software is cheaper than the retail version.

And... supposedly the upgraded Windows 7 runs into series of problems whose solution may require re-installation of Windows operating system. It means you will have to re-install Windows Vista first and then do Windows 7 upgrade over again. It is a waste of time and money. It is something that I learned hard about 15 years ago or so. No more Windows upgrade for me. :nono:

True but full-install will format HDD first then install. It's take a lot time to work for back up a file.


Yeah, I like full-install over upgrade for less bugs and less headache.
 
My elderly neighbor lady has a PC that's only 2.5 years old. It runs Windows Vista. I would like her to upgrade to Windows 7. Are there any pitfalls in doing that? Would it be better to wait until she buys a new computer in a couple years?
It would be better to wait until she decides to chuck it into garbage and sticks with her iPad :lol:

What's the story on Vista support from MS? Is it extinct, or still functioning? I can still get some MS updates for her computer on-line but some don't download.
extinct. Vista and ME are 2 worst software ever made but they released it just to throw a bone to stave off hungry angry bears because they repeatedly delayed their release several times.

Vista is an incomplete version of Windows 7.
ME is an incomplete version of Windows XP.

Both XP and 7 were good and "cutting edge" at its time.

What you should consider is getting her to try MacBook Air. If she loves it but didn't want to spend much... get used or open-box MacBook Air from amazon or wherever. You stated that she uses iPad so I'm assuming that she can use iPad proficiently. With that - she'll be able to use apple laptop with ease because coming soon in fall, Apple will release a major update that will make all apple systems similar with each other - iOS style (aka iPhone/iPad style)
 
Jiro is right on the money there, Vista are Window 7's what windows ME were for XP. Actually ME was a bloated out version of Win98 and it failed, it was sluggish and always breaking down. Vista actually operates on Windows NT, its works more like a network core, rather than as a traditional OS for desktops...
 
After all that, I think we'll wait until she wants to buy a new computer.

You will not have to wait because the Windows 7 OEM software can be installed on the computer clean and put Vista into OLD WIN directory or something like that.
 
You will not have to wait because the Windows 7 OEM software can be installed on the computer clean and put Vista into OLD WIN directory or something like that.
Money-wise I think she'll want to wait.
 
Windows 8 was announced and there's coverage of it, check that out ifb she wants new.

Vista with all recent sp updates will function similary as w7, they're both on the same nt build (6.0 vs 6.1)

But yeah, before it was a release disaster.
 
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