I have a Dell Insiporn 531 with a Windows Vista 32-bit operating system. Before upgrading, I backup all my important files on an external hard drive. I have attempted to install this upgrade 2 times already. On the first install, it told me to uninstall my anti-virus program. I thought turning it off and disabling it will do the trick, but nope, it wants me to uninstall it (stubborn Windows 7). So after 5 hours of installing, my computer froze on the last step at 62%. On the second try, I installed the upgrade overnight, only to wake up to see that Vista is still there. I got this message saying Windows 7 failed to install. It say to download this program to see if your computer is compatible. I remember I already did this before pre-ordering this software for $49. So I checked it again and my computer is compatible, just that some of my software may not work. So over 10 hours wasted trying to install this program. Maybe a 3rd time will do the trick?
I can’t really rate this item, but I heard Windows 7 is better, but I’m still having installation problems, so I give it 3 stars. So I’m searching solutions online and going to try to upgrade Windows a 3rd time.
(For you those who are wondering if I have the correct cd in, I do have the correct one in that says 32-bit).
*Edit Nov 1, 2009* After reading up in Microsoft forums and finding no solutions that worked, I decided to do a clean install, which turned out to be a nightmare! First, it saves all your current Windows files in one folder called Windows Old. Near the end of the installation, the computer rebooted and it gets to the pretty windows 7 logo and then an error shows up that there was some sort of error and the installation need to be restarted after the computer reboots. So I click “ok” only to find the same error again! I’m like oh crap! So I’m stuck in this loop and knew I had to somehow boot from the DVD drive. So immediately after the computer restarts, I push F12 to get the boot menu. What you will see is the normal initial setup screen. Here you can do a clean install all over again and this time it should work after a couple reboots.
Once Windows 7 is loaded, you will see the initial setup screen such as entering user name and password. It will ask for product key. After all that, you will see an empty desktop and a slightly different taskbar. First thing I notice is that I’m immediately connected to the internet. With Windows Vista, I had to wait a couple minutes to be able to have access to the internet. As for all those windows arranging tricks (like sliding window to top to make it large), I really have no use for them. You can read all the new features in your Windows 7 short version handbook. So I tried to access the Windows Old folder and you will see a pop up that you need admininstrative privileage to access “Click ok to continue”. Depending on the speed of your computer, it make take a few minutes to get into this folder. After that, I manage to transfer my old documents and pictures and stuff. Oh yeah, you may want to activate your windows product by right clicking on “Computer” in the start menu and selecting properties. Scroll to the bottom and you will see that your Windows is not activated. Just click to activate it.
Anyway, the taskbar is strange to me and it will take me awhile to adjust to it. There’s now an “A Drive Floppy Disk” on my computer for some strange reason. Floppy disk? Where on earth did that come from? There’s no such device on my computer and yet, it shows it there. There’s no external hard drives or any USB devices plug-in other than my keyboard and my mouse. Now I’m trying to figure out how to fix this.
Other than that, it starts up pretty fast. And now comes to hideous task of installing and downloading all the programs I use every day. I will still stick to my rating of 3 stars because of all the failed attempts to upgrade and the scary part of doing the clean install.
*Edit November 29, 2009* After a month of using Windows 7, I must say this is way much better than Windows Vista. Its faster to load, easier to use, and it has a new feature called the library where you can access all your related files in one window. For example, if you have pictures in different folders, you can view all your pictures in one window. You know how similar windows are grouped together in the task bar (such as having multiple Internet Explorer windows open) from Windows XP or Windows Vista In Windows 7, instead of using words, it uses the icons to group your windows. All you got to do is just move your mouse over the icon and see which windows are open. So there’s less clutter on your task bar. If you right click on the icon, you can access frequently used files or websites you go to. Another neat feature I like is that your desktop background can change image every few minutes (or how often you like it to change).