Switching to Microsoft Windows 7 : the painless way to upgrade from Windows XP or Vista

Cover......Page 1
Table of Contents......Page 5
Acknowledgments......Page 12
Reader Services......Page 13
Introduction......Page 14
 Which Version of Windows 7?......Page 20
  Windows 7 Home Premium......Page 21
  Windows 7 Enterprise and Windows 7 Ultimate......Page 22
  Windows Compatibility List......Page 23
  Hardware Checklist......Page 24
 More Than the Minimum......Page 25
  Memory......Page 26
  Disk Space......Page 28
  Graphics Support......Page 29
  DVD Drive......Page 30
  Internet Access......Page 31
 Finding Out What You Have......Page 32
  Backing Up Under Windows Vista......Page 34
  Backing Up Under Windows XP......Page 35
 Running Windows Update......Page 36
 Evaluating Applications for Upgrading or Cross-Grading......Page 38
 A Word About Data Files......Page 40
 Applying Application Standards to Older Operating Systems......Page 41
 Migrating Applications......Page 42
 Dealing with Applications Versus Data......Page 43
 Cross-Grading Applications......Page 44
3 Migrating from XP to Windows 7......Page 46
 Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor......Page 47
 Migrating Applications from Windows XP to Windows 7......Page 50
  How to Do a Custom (Clean) Installation......Page 55
  Installing Applications......Page 59
  Reloading Application and User Profiles......Page 60
  Resolving Application Upgrades and Cross-Grades......Page 61
  What You Need to Have on Hand......Page 62
 Installing Windows 7......Page 63
  How to Perform a Custom (Clean) Installation......Page 66
  How to Perform an Upgrade Installation......Page 67
  Finishing the Installation......Page 69
 Choosing the Right Migration Package......Page 74
 General Considerations......Page 76
 Migrating Data on a Single Computer......Page 77
  Task 2: Create and Store Your Application Archive......Page 79
  Task 3: Install Windows 7 and Antivirus Software......Page 87
  Task 5: Use Migration Software to Install Your Application/Data Archive......Page 88
 Migrating Applications and Data to a New Windows 7 Computer......Page 90
  Task 1: Premigration Setup for Network Connect......Page 92
  Task 2: Install the Migration Software......Page 94
  Task 4: Use the Migration Software to Perform Your Migration......Page 95
 Using PC Mover to Upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7......Page 100
  Disposing of Your Hardware......Page 102
 What’s on the Desktop......Page 104
  Clock Gadget......Page 105
  View Headlines Gadget......Page 106
  Recycle Bin......Page 107
  Taskbar......Page 108
  Aero Snap Screen......Page 109
  Invisible Windows......Page 110
  Changing Taskbar Properties......Page 111
  Changing Start Menu Properties......Page 112
  Changing Toolbar Properties......Page 113
 Windows 7 Search Tools......Page 114
 Changes to the Control Panel......Page 117
  Device Management......Page 118
  Devices and Printers......Page 119
  Power Management......Page 120
  Virtual Hard Disks......Page 121
  Gadgets......Page 122
  Recovery......Page 124
  Troubleshooting......Page 125
  Workspaces Center......Page 126
  Location and Other Sensors......Page 127
  Biometrics......Page 128
  Networking......Page 129
  HomeGroups......Page 130
  Direct Access......Page 132
  Security (Windows Action Center)......Page 133
  BitLocker......Page 134
  Windows Media Center......Page 135
  Play To......Page 137
  Streaming Media......Page 138
  Windows Live......Page 139
  User Interface Enhancements......Page 140
  New Features in Internet Explorer 8......Page 142
  Visual Search......Page 143
  Using Internet Explorer’s Instant Search......Page 144
  Web Slices......Page 145
 Windows Live......Page 148
  Bing......Page 150
  Windows Live Messenger......Page 151
  Windows Live Mail......Page 154
  Windows Live Photo Gallery......Page 156
  Windows Live Writer......Page 157
  Windows Live Toolbar......Page 158
  Live Movie Maker......Page 159
  SkyDrive......Page 161
  Office Live Add-In......Page 163
  Windows Media Player......Page 166
 Internet Explorer 8......Page 169
  Web Slices......Page 170
  InPrivate Filtering......Page 171
 New Security Features in Windows 7......Page 174
  The Action Center......Page 175
  BitLocker To Go......Page 178
  Direct Access......Page 179
  SkyDrive......Page 180
 New Security Features in Internet Explorer 8......Page 181
  SmartScreen......Page 182
  A Word about File Sharing......Page 184
 Setting Up Your Connection......Page 186
  Setting Up Your Home Network......Page 187
 Connecting a Printer or Other Device......Page 198
  Adding a Device Not Shown......Page 199
 Your HomeGroup......Page 200
 Libraries and Public Folders......Page 202
  Creating a New Library......Page 203
 Network and Sharing Options......Page 204
 Using the Windows Media Player......Page 205
 Windows 7 and Domains......Page 206
10 Windows 7 Wireless Networking......Page 208
 Setting Up a Wireless Network......Page 209
 Viewing and Connecting to Available Wireless Networks......Page 211
 How Do I Know if a Wireless Network Is Secure?......Page 212
 What Makes a Home or Work Network Safe to Connect To?......Page 213
 How Windows Firewall Affects Network Locations......Page 214
 Some Wi-Fi Limitations......Page 215
 Choosing a Network Location......Page 216
  To Change a Network Location......Page 217
 Connecting to the Internet......Page 218
11 Virtualization......Page 220
 Advantages of Virtualization and VHDs......Page 221
  Example 1: Garage-Based Manufacturer......Page 223
  Example 3: Multiple Home Users Under the Same Roof......Page 224
  Virtual Hard Disks......Page 225
 Native Hard Disk Support in Windows 7......Page 226
  Creating a VHD......Page 227
 Dependent VHDs......Page 229
 Creating VHDs from Within Windows 7......Page 230
 Mounting VHDs......Page 231
 Windows XP Mode......Page 232
  Virtual Windows XP Menus......Page 236
 Windows 7 and Existing Virtualization Environments......Page 237
  Sun xVM VirtualBox......Page 238
  VMWare......Page 241
 Moving to a Virtualized Environment......Page 243
 C......Page 244
 F......Page 245
 M......Page 246
 R-S......Page 247
 V......Page 248
 X-Y-Z......Page 249