Any microsoft experts out there.

Windows7 upgrade problem has me stumped.

Here's the only safe way to upgrade Windows:

Copy important files to an external device.

Format hard drive.

Install fresh new copy of next Windows.

(Even if it's an upgrade. It should just ask you for the previous versions CD or DVD to verify the upgrade price during the install.)

Re-install all your device drivers and hope they exist for the new Windows.

Re-install any additional software you use and hope it works with the new version of Windows.

Here's the only safe way to upgrade Windows:

Copy important files to an external device.

Format hard drive.

Install fresh new copy of next Windows.

(Even if it's an upgrade. It should just ask you for the previous version's CD or DVD to verify the upgrade price during the install.)

Re-install all your device drivers and hope they exist for the new Windows.

Re-install any additional software you use and hope it works with the new version of Windows.

oops

Ditto, clean install. Of course, that may be an issue if you have a system where they installed the older Windows setup onto your hard drive and never gave you the actual CD, which is required for the upgrade.

^ double post because thats how many times its going to take to get a Windows update corect...

rinse and repeat?

I agree with the clean install, but my laptop holds a pretty extensive .NET development environment (vista), and wiping it isn't a real option.

I only have one partition, but I get:

To upgrade Windows, the Users, Program Files, and Windows directories need to be on the same partition. Upgrading when these directories are not on the same partition is not supported. Moving these directories so that they are on the same partition is also not supported. You can choose to install a new copy of Windows 7 Home Premium instead, but this is different from an upgrade, and does not keep your files, settings, and programs. You’ll need to reinstall any programs using the original installation discs or files. To save your files before installing Windows, back them up to an external location such as a CD, DVD, or external hard drive. To install a new copy of Windows 7 Home Premium, click the Back button in the upper left-hand corner, and select “Custom (advanced)”.

The other option is to move to Linux.

"Upgrading when these directories are not on the same partition is not supported."

Is it part of a network? Try disconnecting from the network first, then upgrade.

Just make sure the install destination is the same directory. If you only have one partition, then it is most likely C:\

Not on a network, one partition.

Somewhere in a dark basement Mr. Bill Gates is counting phat stacks of money.

use xp pro.

wait about two years for windows7 to be tested. if it's still around and ONLY mac users are complaining, then "consider" it.

nine

put some water on it...

User the User Transfer tool.....will save a number of user settings, files, etc.

I'm not sure what's wrong then. It seems to be acting like you've got more than 1 partition.

Understanding that you want to save your User files and information the above posts are right. The best thing is to invest in an external harddrive and backup everything. Then do a fresh install and copy everything back over when you're done. There's plenty of online help on how to backup files when upgrading. Make sure you download all the latest drivers you need for the OS you're going to install.

As for waiting before installing Windows 7, I think it's actually just a much needed refinement of Windows Vista than an actual upgrade. They changed the name because of all the negative publicity around Vista.

I've been running it on 2 machines and it's really a huge improvement from XP and Vista.

If the software you have installed is critical I would not upgrade in place. A slight speed improvement with Win7 needs to be balanced against a clean installation and reinstalling your critical applications.

If you decide to upgrade in place I suggest you save an image of your current installation. If the upgrade fails just restore the image.

Here is another way to upgrade windows:

1. Throw computer in trash

2. Buy a Mac

^

Friggen aristocrat.

xp pro is the best o/s microsoft has been able to come up with.

i know- doesn't say much- yadda yadda... but it works for me.

nine