Windows 7 - It's a Wrap by Steve Gomberg, Business Development

We received very positive feedback from our Windows 7 event last week. So much so, that we are adding several more events to our calendar. One question that popped up was the cost of migration. So, as a wrap to our thread about Windows 7, let’s chat about the expenses involved in the migration. They come in two major groups- the actual software cost, and the time and money associated with the installation.
For companies that are currently using Vista the migration should be a simple and relatively quick process. Essentially, any computer that has the power to run Vista will run Windows 7 (W7). In fact, W7 has a slight performance advantage over Vista, and requires slightly less resources. The other big advantage is that if you are doing an upgrade to W7, Microsoft supports this move by allowing you to keep all of your applications and settings. (A couple of caveats – use the free Windows 7 Migration Advisor to identify any exceptions before you begin the migration. Also, any programs that run less than optimally in Vista will probably still have problems in W7.)
As a side note, a clean install is always better than an upgrade, but it is more costly in terms of time. This is particularly true if you are not sure where all your program disks and serial numbers are to be found. Plus you will want to make sure a current backup of all you data files is available before you start.
For those making the move from XP, your path is not as easy. Microsoft does not support the move directly from XP to W7. You can still buy the upgrade version of W7, but you will have to wipe your hard-drive, load the OS and then reload your application, data and settings. In large systems this can be a chore. It will involve much more than the forty five minutes it takes to do an upgrade migration from Vista to W7.

The real questions to ask are these:

1. Are the enhanced features worth the investment?

2. Does W7 run as well as the now mature XP?

3. Do I have everything I need to reload my applications?

4. Do I have a choice?

All of the above questions can be answered in the affirmative, except the last. The new and improved features are well worth the effort. The increased security is a real advantage. If you can answer the third question with a yes, then you should be ready to go. The fourth question is a little trickier. Microsoft has announced the end of life for XP as April 8th, 2014. After that date they will not support XP with updates and security patches or drivers for peripherals. Also keep in mind that retail sales of XP have already been halted, so as you acquire new hardware it will come with W7. Mixing OS’s is not a good thing in a multi-computer environment. It also cost more in support over time.
For these, and many other reasons, we believe you should begin to prepare for the migration. If you have any questions about the process, we suggest you ask your IT consultant.