Making Headlines

With Windows 7 due out next week, Microsoft has a lot to be happy about.

According to some Fort Lauderdale computer repair experts that have given it some advance reviews, it's fast, not to mention easy on the eyes and has solved or at least largely remedied the issues that plagued its predecessor.

That being the operating system that must not be named, Vista.

But while Microsoft employees are jumping for joy, some consumers are confused and scared about the prospect of upgrading computers to Windows 7.

At the very least, the idea is causing a lot of apprehension.

The upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7 is particularly daunting because it requires first wiping the hard disk to perform a "custom" or "clean" install.

What this does is clear out the old operating system — as well as all of your programs, files and settings. To save personal files, XP users must back them up first, typically on an external hard disk, then transfer them back.

That alone is cause for concern for a great many people.

Moreover, programs will be lost altogether, so users will then have to go ahead and re-install these using their original CDs or installation files.

Finally, program updates accumulated over the years must also be re-installed.

If there's a silver lining to be found anywhere in this, it's that people upgrading to Windows 7 from Vista may find they have an easier time.

In some cases, you can upgrade to Windows 7 "in place," which effectively allows you to retain programs, files and settings exactly where they were.

Vista was such an epic fail that many Windows users still use XP, of course.

A program called PCmover Windows 7 Upgrade Assistant may be an option as far as saving programs are concerned, and won't be affected by Windows installation.

It eliminates the hassle of using an external hard disk or re-installing programs.

Continue reading in the Wall Street Journal ...