Installing Windows 7

[Guy]

I'm going to be installing windows 7 in a few days. A few questions

 

1) What is the best way to wipe my existing hard drive?

2) Is it best to partition my existing hard drive in to 1 for OS only and the other for programs/documents? if so is there a way to move the 'program files' and 'documents and settings' folders to the other partition?

3) What needs drivers? [spoiler="specs]ASUS EAH4830 graphics card.

Intel Core2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz

3.25GB of RAM

MSI P43T-C51 Motherboard

I have a disc for drivers for my graphics card, what about the motherboard?

4) Could I copy installed programs from the XP installation to the 7 installation? IE. Microsoft flight simulator? Or would I have to reinstall? (transfering them using another HDD which I won't wipe.)

 

 

Thats about it for now, I'm sure i'll have some other questions soon.

Thanks in advance :)

[Orpheus]

I can answer #1 for you at least. If you're going for a nuclear wipe, that is, just nuking it clean so nothing remains, then look no further than this:

 

http://www.dban.org/news.html

 

Darik's Boot and Nuke, although you will need a USB or burnable CD for this.

 

As for #2, not sure what you're aiming for, but it's a bit more complicated than it needs to be.

 

#3, I think the graphics card needs the driver obviously, the others won't need a driver to function.

 

#4, You can't just copy the programs over to the new OS, you'll break registry keys, and by proxy, the program itself. You'll have to reinstall it.

[Guy]

I can answer #1 for you at least. If you're going for a nuclear wipe, that is, just nuking it clean so nothing remains, then look no further than this:

 

http://www.dban.org/news.html

 

Darik's Boot and Nuke, although you will need a USB or burnable CD for this.

 

As for #2, not sure what you're aiming for, but it's a bit more complicated than it needs to be.

 

#3, I think the graphics card needs the driver obviously, the others won't need a driver to function.

 

#4, You can't just copy the programs over to the new OS, you'll break registry keys, and by proxy, the program itself. You'll have to reinstall it.

Thanks. I guess it was never going to be easy changing OS's.

[Jernlov]

#1 - You don't even need to DBAN. You can use the Windows utility and it will work fine.

#2 - Doesn't really matter. I find it easier just to keep it all in C:\, but you can definitely specify another drive/partition for programs; i.e., when you install something, use something like D:\Programs\* instead of the default. Actually partitioning the drive will require something such as GParted, which is simple to use. Be sure to defragment before you attempt to resize/create.

#3 - Graphics card; drivers on the CD will be outdated so download the ones from ATi's site or let Windows Update find them. Windows Update will also find drivers for other things if it's necessary.

#4 - Generally not a good idea. It's always best to reinstall; you can usually create a backup of your settings for things like browsers, IRC, and so on.

[Guy]

#1 - You don't even need to DBAN. You can use the Windows utility and it will work fine.

#2 - Doesn't really matter. I find it easier just to keep it all in C:\, but you can definitely specify another drive/partition for programs; i.e., when you install something, use something like D:\Programs\* instead of the default. Actually partitioning the drive will require something such as GParted, which is simple to use. Be sure to defragment before you attempt to resize/create.

#3 - Graphics card; drivers on the CD will be outdated so download the ones from ATi's site or let Windows Update find them. Windows Update will also find drivers for other things if it's necessary.

#4 - Generally not a good idea. It's always best to reinstall; you can usually create a backup of your settings for things like browsers, IRC, and so on.

I would upgrade, but I'm not sure that it's possible when transferring from 32 to 64 bit. If so, could you link me to the utility?

 

Thanks all

[Sbrideau]

Actually partitioning the drive will require something such as GParted, which is simple to use. Be sure to defragment before you attempt to resize/create.

 

You don't need GParted, there's a utility that comes with Windows.

[Sudn_Death]

I would upgrade, but I'm not sure that it's possible when transferring from 32 to 64 bit. If so, could you link me to the utility?

 

Thanks all

 

No, if you are going to install 64bit then that is a bad idea, even if you stuck with 32bit it's a bad idea because the programs may not work. Installing 64 bit doubles the chance of of them not working as they may not even have 64 bit drivers..

 

Out of interest why are you installing 64bit windows, although now days most programs & components have 64bit drivers/versions it is just easier to stick with 32bit if you don't need to upgrade.

 

32bit can read upto 4GB of RAM, the only reason I use 64bit at all is because I have 6GB's of RAM.

[obfuscator]

I would upgrade, but I'm not sure that it's possible when transferring from 32 to 64 bit. If so, could you link me to the utility?

 

Thanks all

 

No, if you are going to install 64bit then that is a bad idea, even if you stuck with 32bit it's a bad idea because the programs may not work. Installing 64 bit doubles the chance of of them not working as they may not even have 64 bit drivers..

 

Out of interest why are you installing 64bit windows, although now days most programs & components have 64bit drivers/versions it is just easier to stick with 32bit if you don't need to upgrade.

 

32bit can read upto 4GB of RAM, the only reason I use 64bit at all is because I have 6GB's of RAM.

3gb. Not 4.

[Sbrideau]

I would upgrade, but I'm not sure that it's possible when transferring from 32 to 64 bit. If so, could you link me to the utility?

 

Thanks all

 

No, if you are going to install 64bit then that is a bad idea, even if you stuck with 32bit it's a bad idea because the programs may not work. Installing 64 bit doubles the chance of of them not working as they may not even have 64 bit drivers..

 

Out of interest why are you installing 64bit windows, although now days most programs & components have 64bit drivers/versions it is just easier to stick with 32bit if you don't need to upgrade.

 

32bit can read upto 4GB of RAM, the only reason I use 64bit at all is because I have 6GB's of RAM.

3gb. Not 4.

Plus 64bit versions of Windows runs 32bit applications without problems, except for XP, which the 64bit version was only for businesses and didn't have that way of supporting 32bit application.

 

All you need to do first is to check with the upgrade advisor, it should tell you, if I'm not wrong, as I've never used one of those lol.

[Jernlov]

Actually partitioning the drive will require something such as GParted, which is simple to use. Be sure to defragment before you attempt to resize/create.

 

You don't need GParted, there's a utility that comes with Windows.

That's kind of awkward but hey, it's not too bad. Only used it to format and assign new HDDs though.

[Guest User]

.

[Guy]

I would upgrade, but I'm not sure that it's possible when transferring from 32 to 64 bit. If so, could you link me to the utility?

 

Thanks all

 

No, if you are going to install 64bit then that is a bad idea, even if you stuck with 32bit it's a bad idea because the programs may not work. Installing 64 bit doubles the chance of of them not working as they may not even have 64 bit drivers..

 

Out of interest why are you installing 64bit windows, although now days most programs & components have 64bit drivers/versions it is just easier to stick with 32bit if you don't need to upgrade.

 

32bit can read upto 4GB of RAM, the only reason I use 64bit at all is because I have 6GB's of RAM.

I have 4 GB ram and might upgrade

[Sudn_Death]

I would upgrade, but I'm not sure that it's possible when transferring from 32 to 64 bit. If so, could you link me to the utility?

 

Thanks all

 

No, if you are going to install 64bit then that is a bad idea, even if you stuck with 32bit it's a bad idea because the programs may not work. Installing 64 bit doubles the chance of of them not working as they may not even have 64 bit drivers..

 

Out of interest why are you installing 64bit windows, although now days most programs & components have 64bit drivers/versions it is just easier to stick with 32bit if you don't need to upgrade.

 

32bit can read upto 4GB of RAM, the only reason I use 64bit at all is because I have 6GB's of RAM.

3gb. Not 4.

 

No it is 4GB's of RAM, Vista had some trouble reading more than 3.6GB's but windows 7 makes better use of Ram. :rolleyes:

 

 

Yeah Guydabest if you plan on getting more then I understand, good luck.

 

-

Sprideau, I thought he was talking about a XP game though? and it's just generally well known that 64 bit can every so often run into a few driver problems, I have used 64 for a long time and don't get too many but there have been problems in the past, especially if you are using less heard of programs sometimes the 32 bit versions wont even pass the install. but yeah it is Quite Rare.

[Doomster]

Are you using "upgrade" media?

 

If so, then do not wipe first, while XP cannot be directly upgraded, it needs to validate first, otherwise you'll end up having to use one of the workarounds for clean install using upgrade media.

 

Depending on how old the Graphics card disk is, it may be better to download a more recent driver from ASUS, or the latest Catalyst from ATI.

 

Also worth checking out the site for the motherboard - http://eu.msi.com/index.php?func=downloaddetail&type=driver&maincat_no=1&prod_no=1839

For the Realtek Sound driver, I'd stick with the maker, for branding and maybe particular features in the settings panel, but for the ethernet, I'd be inclined to look for very latest at Realtek, same for the Intel and JMB ones, though the site4 is actually pretty well up to date.

 

Some motherbaord support downloads can be disgracefully outdated compared to the drivers for their components, and usually any customization is purely cosmetic.

[Big_Stingman]

I would upgrade, but I'm not sure that it's possible when transferring from 32 to 64 bit. If so, could you link me to the utility?

 

Thanks all

 

No, if you are going to install 64bit then that is a bad idea, even if you stuck with 32bit it's a bad idea because the programs may not work. Installing 64 bit doubles the chance of of them not working as they may not even have 64 bit drivers..

 

Out of interest why are you installing 64bit windows, although now days most programs & components have 64bit drivers/versions it is just easier to stick with 32bit if you don't need to upgrade.

 

32bit can read upto 4GB of RAM, the only reason I use 64bit at all is because I have 6GB's of RAM.

3gb. Not 4.

 

No it is 4GB's of RAM, Vista had some trouble reading more than 3.6GB's but windows 7 makes better use of Ram. :rolleyes:

 

 

Yeah Guydabest if you plan on getting more then I understand, good luck.

 

-

Sprideau, I thought he was talking about a XP game though? and it's just generally well known that 64 bit can every so often run into a few driver problems, I have used 64 for a long time and don't get too many but there have been problems in the past, especially if you are using less heard of programs sometimes the 32 bit versions wont even pass the install. but yeah it is Quite Rare.

 

It used to be less then 4GB, I guess Microsoft must have changed/updated it. And I thought Vista had problems going above 3.2GB, not 3.6. But I'm not sure.

[Sinkhan]

I'm going to be installing windows 7 in a few days. A few questions

 

1) What is the best way to wipe my existing hard drive?

2) Is it best to partition my existing hard drive in to 1 for OS only and the other for programs/documents? if so is there a way to move the 'program files' and 'documents and settings' folders to the other partition?

3) What needs drivers? [spoiler="specs]ASUS EAH4830 graphics card.

Intel Core2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz

3.25GB of RAM

MSI P43T-C51 Motherboard

I have a disc for drivers for my graphics card, what about the motherboard?

4) Could I copy installed programs from the XP installation to the 7 installation? IE. Microsoft flight simulator? Or would I have to reinstall? (transfering them using another HDD which I won't wipe.)

 

1. I was under the impression that if you just did a clean install, the Windows installer will do a format of your drive anyway. Unless you have really sensitive files left over that you want to get rid of, this should be sufficient.

 

2. Some people argue that this is better for isolating problems that later arise and other reasons, but I find that it's just easier to install on one partition.

 

3. Just the video card on that list. However, your motherboard might have integrated things like a network adapter and a sound card that will probably also need drivers.

 

4. That's going to be a very bad idea. There are usually some files that you can transfer like save files and there are some programs that work by themselves, but reinstalling and then transferring any save files is the safest way. Installing a program typically also means adding registry key values to your system, which simply copying folders does not do.