An in place upgrade to Windows 7 keeps all settings functional

In-place Upgrade

An in-place upgrade is the only upgrade option Microsoft allows during the Interactive Setup wizard. There are two different upgrade methods users and administrators talk of when referring to upgrading to Windows 7. A migration to Windows 7 refers to any process that involves moving from an older version of Windows to Windows 7.

Preparation and Planning for an In-place Upgrade

An in-place upgrade has a large advantage over the other deployment methods because it promises to keep all applications, user data, and settings installed and functional after the upgrade without further interaction. However, it is strongly recommended that a full backup is performed before performing this upgrade.

Additionally, although Microsoft attests that any hardware and applications that functioned correctly on Windows Vista should function correctly on Windows 7, it is recommended to ensure this by running the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor tool. The planning and preparation phases should be completed for the in-place upgrade to ensure it is successful:

Select a Windows 7 edition that is compatible to perform an in-place upgrade.
Ensure that all software and hardware is compatible with Windows 7.
Back up the user's data and settings and/or perform a full system backup to be safe.
Determine the upgrade system scenario that will be used.
Select an in-place upgrade install method.
Obtain a Windows 7 upgrade version of the chosen edition.
Obtain all Windows 7 device/hardware drivers prior to install.

Perform a Full Backup of Windows Vista

It is strongly recommended to do a full backup of the current Windows Vista system before upgrading. Although the track record of the process is good, you do not want to be the one who loses data or even worse, loses someone else's data.

Because this will be an in-place upgrade, it is recommended that you back up to another internal hard drive, external hard drive, flash drive, or removable media such as CDs and/or DVDs. A network backup is also advised to put the data in another location. The main point is to move the data from the hard drive that will be upgraded.

Check Compatibility

Ensuring the software and hardware currently installed on the system is compatible is crucial to ensuring this install method is successful. The easiest way of checking compatibility is by running the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. There are multiple checks for compatibility during the upgrade process. The best and most preferred method is to run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor before placing the Windows 7 media into the machine. This may be done by downloading the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor online.

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