Upgrading to Windows 7
• Windows 7:  Supported Upgrade Paths
• Is my PC capable of running Windows 7:  Run Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor
• Can I upgrade from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version of Windows or a 64-bit version of Windows to a 32-bit version of Windows?

No. If you are currently running a 32-bit version of Windows, you can only perform an upgrade to another 32-bit version of Windows. Similarly, if you are running a 64-bit version of Windows, you can only perform an upgrade to another 64-bit version of Windows. Please click here for more details.

• If you want to move from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version of Windows or vice versa, you'll need to back up your files and then perform a Custom installation of the version of Windows you want to install. For more information, see Installing and reinstalling Windows 

• Upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7:  Upgrading a PC from Windows XP to Windows 7 requires a custom installation which doesn't preserve existing programs, files, or settings. This is also referred to as a clean installation. Please click here for more details.
• Upgrading from Windows Vista to Windows 7:  Use the Upgrade option during Windows 7 installation to upgrade from Windows Vista to a corresponding or higher edition of Windows 7.  Upgrading keeps existing files, settings, and programs from Windows Vista in place. Please click here for more details.
• Windows Easy Transfer:  Use Windows Easy transfer when upgrading Windows XP o Windows 7.   Windows Easy Transfer is a step-by-step guide for transferring files and settings from one computer running Windows to another. Please click here for more details.
• Windows Installation Problems: Frequently Asked Questions:  Answers to common questions about installing Windows.
• How to install Windows 7 on a Netbook PC. Please click here for more details.
• Where are customer files and folders after upgrading to Windows 7 from Windows XP or Windows Vista?
It depends on the way the customer upgraded their computer to Windows 7. Use the following table to determine where the customer files might be located: 
• Windows 7 Compatibility Center:  Use this extensive collection of compatibility information when upgrading to the Windows 7 operating system to verify compatibility of existing hardware and software. Please click here for more details.
• How to make older programs run in Windows 7. Please click here for more details.
Tip:  You can run the Program Compatibility troubleshooter by right-clicking a program's icon or shortcut and then clicking Troubleshoot compatibility.
• Customer Needs to Activate Windows:  How to assist a customer who has to activate Windows after upgrading. Please click here for more details.
• Activation Errors: Invalid Product Key / The Product Key you Typed is Already in Use. Please click here for more details.

Help and How To
• Where is the Quick Launch Tool Bar? 
 -The Quick Launch toolbar isn't included in Windows 7.  To open programs quickly, you can pin them to the taskbar. Please click here for more details.
-How to Pin a program to the Task Bar:  
• Internet Explorer and E-mail Links are not on  the Start menu
-In Windows 7 the pinned area at the top of the Start menu is empty by default. To open these and other programs quickly and easily, you can now pin them to the Start menu and to the taskbar. Please click here for more details.
-How to Pin a program to the Start menu:  
• Where did Windows Mail / Outlook Express go?   
• What happened to Windows Photo Gallery?
-Windows Photo Gallery isn’t included in Windows 7. To view and organize your digital pictures, you can download Windows Live Photo Gallery or use another photo program from another company.
-Download Windows Live Photo Gallery:  
• What happened to Windows Movie Maker?
-Windows Movie Maker is not included in Windows 7.  You can install a video editing program from another company or install the new version of Movie Maker—named Windows Live Movie Maker.
-Download Windows Live Movie Maker:  
• Windows Troubleshooters:  Troubleshooting in Control Panel contains several troubleshooting programs that can automatically fix some common problems with your computer. Please click here for more details.
• No Sound:  Run the new Audio Troubleshooter from the Control Panel Troubleshooters. Please click here for more details.
• Unable to Turn on Aero Glass:  Open the Aero troubleshooter from the Control Panel Troubleshooters. Please click here for more details.
• Unable to Print:  Open and Run the Printer Troubleshooter from the Control Panel Troubleshooters. Please click here for more details.
• Help with Hardware Compatibility Problems
• Help with Software Compatibility Problems
 

Networking
• Troubleshooting Network Connection Problems: Open and Run Network Troubleshooters. Please click here for more details.
• Home Group will not connect to existing PCs on my home network:  Home Group is only available between Windows 7 PCs. Please click here for more details.

System Performance and Maintenance
• How to Improve System Performance:
• How to Run the Performance Troubleshooter:
• What is ReadyBoost and how can it speed up my Computer:  ReadyBoost can speed up your computer by using storage space on most USB flash drives and flash memory cards. Please click here for more details.
• What is Action Center:  Action Center is a central place to view alerts and take actions that can help keep Windows running smoothly. Please click here for more details.
• Open and Run the System Maintenance Troubleshooter: Use the System Maintenance troubleshooter to automatically find and fix problems. Please click here for more details.
• How to Create a System Repair Disk:  To use Windows 7 system recovery options, you'll need a Windows installation disc or the recovery options provided by your computer manufacturer. If you don't have either of these, you can create a system repair disc. Please click here for more details.

Important to Note:  Windows XP Mode will only run on Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate or Enterprise editions.  Windows XP Mode requires a virtualization engine, such as Windows Virtual PC.

Windows XP Mode:  Almost all programs compatible with Windows Vista, and the majority of Windows XP programs, run well in Windows 7. If a program doesn’t, customers should first try the Program Compatibility troubleshooter. It can fix several problems and is included in all editions of Windows 7. For more information, see Open the Program Compatibility troubleshooter.

Tip:  You can run the Program Compatibility troubleshooter by right-clicking a program's icon or shortcut and then clicking troubleshoot compatibility.

If a program written for Windows XP doesn’t work properly in Windows 7, and changing compatibility settings on the program didn't help, Customers can run the program in Windows XP Mode. (only available on Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate or Enterprise editions)

How to confirm a Customer’s PC can run Windows XP Mode: Although PCs have been shipping with hardware virtualization for three years, hardware virtualization is not available in all PCs — so a customer’s PC may not have hardware virtualization.  Additionally, those PCs with hardware virtualization have it turned off by default, so you will need to verify the PC can perform hardware virtualization and that it is turned on in the BIOS before Windows XP mode can be used.

Windows Virtual PC:   Requires a CPU with the Intel® Virtualization Technology or AMD-V™ feature turned on. This feature must be enabled in the system BIOS. For details, visit the Configure BIOS page or check with your computer manufacturer.  
Install and use Windows XP Mode in Windows 7:  Help and How-to guidance for setting installing and configuring Windows XP mode on a PC running Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate or Enterprise editions. Please click here for more details.
Using Windows XP Mode How-to Video:  This video shows you how to use Windows XP Mode to run programs made for Windows XP in certain editions of Windows 7.  
Windows XP Mode and Virtual PC Download Page:  After a customer has verified their PC supports hardware virtualization and has enabled it on their Windows 7 PC, follow the steps from the following link to download both Windows Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode.
Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC frequently asked questions: