Here are the default locations for user files in Windows 7.

Temp Directory
C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Temp>

Cookies
C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Cookies>

SendTo
C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo>

Start Menu
C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu>

Templates
C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Templates>

Desktop
C:\Users\username\Desktop>

My Documents
C:\Users\username\Documents>

Downloads
C:\Users\username\Downloads>

Favorites
C:\Users\username\Favorites>

My Music
C:\Users\username\Music>

My Pictures
C:\Users\username\Pictures>

My Videos
C:\Users\username\Videos>

In writing this series of articles about migrating from Windows XP to Windows 7, I have been slowly moving my production time from my old system to the new one (I use a KVM (keyboard, video, and mouse switch)). My old system had some issues and needed to be retired. But as fate would have it, my old system's time had started to run out.

In the middle of last week, I found the old system had lost its ability to recognize USB keyboards and mice. I had to take it off-line and set it up with a PS2 keyboard and mouse. The only item I had left to migrate was my PIM (Personal Information Manager). I use Microsoft Outlook as my PIM and have a Palm TX handheld and an LG Chocolate cell phone to synchronize to Outlook.

But this did allow using Windows Easy Transfer differently. I need to get some of my settings back in-place fast. I had read about pulling the settings from the old system to the new system when they are both on the same network, so I decided to give it a try. I started Windows Easy Transfer on my old computer from the DVD just like I had done before, but this time I choose A Network, and then followed the instructions (basically, starting Windows Easy Transfer on my new computer and entering a key). The Windows Easy Transfer key acts like a password to help protect files and settings when you transfer them over the network. I selected the settings I needed and started the process.

It worked beautifully! It did a great job of bringing in my application settings, especially Microsoft Outlook, as the custom toolbars came right back. But it did not bring it my e-mail addresses or data files. But I did expect at least that, so I had to put the databases in the right locations and set up my e-mail accounts manually.

Also, moving to the 64-bit platform, I knew I would run into driver issues, and sure enough, it did. This problem did not affect me but might be an issue to others who own a Palm handheld or smartphone and use HotSync. I have been using a Bluetooth connection to sync my Palm TX for years, but when I installed the Palm Desktop and HotSync to get the Microsoft Outlook conduits, it wanted a driver for the cable connection. Come to find out that there is no 64-bit USB driver for Palm handhelds and smartphones. Palm recommends using a Bluetooth connection to sync when running 64-bit versions of Windows.

With our installation of Windows 7 complete, it's time to move on to the applications and settings. We will use the Belarc Advisor report we printed earlier to ensure we do not forget any application as we reinstall them.

With the UAC (User Access Control) in Windows 7, it may be necessary to run some of the application installations as administrator. If when you insert the installation media into a removable drive (CD or DVD), and it does not automatically start, I would do the following:

1. Open Windows Explorer by right-clicking the Start menu, and then clicking Explore.
   
2. Browse to the CD/DVD drive on your computer and right-click setup.exe (as an example) in the root directory.
3. Select Run as Administrator.

You may have an older application that just doesn't run quite right after you install it on Windows 7. In that case, you may want to try running it in Compatibility Mode. The following video shows you how.

Now the applications are installed, we will need to start each one and allow them to create any special folders and files before restoring our settings. Now we are ready to go back to the Microsoft instructions:

Copy files to the destination computer

1. If you saved your files and settings in an Easy Transfer file on a removable media such as a UFD rather than on a network share, insert the removable media into the computer.
2. Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, click System Tools, and then click Windows Easy Transfer. The Windows Easy Transfer window opens.
3. Click Next.
4. Click An external hard disk or USB flash drive.
5. Click This is my new computer.
6. Click Yes, open the file.
7. Browse to the location where the Easy Transfer file was saved. Click the file name, and then click Open.
8. Click Transfer to transfer all files and settings. You can also determine which files should be migrated by selecting only the user profiles you want to transfer, or by clicking Customize.
9. Click Close after Windows Easy Transfer has completed moving your files.

Now that we have restored our files and settings using Windows Easy Transfer, we will need to verify they are there. There will be items (fonts, scripts, etc.) that you will have to access the drive image to restore. Any custom item, like backgrounds in the Windows/Web/Wallpaper directory in Windows XP, will also need to be restored.

Within the first few weeks of migrating to Windows 7, you will find yourself going back to the drive image to restore items. A missing font here, a file there. But within a month, you should have everything worked out. Within three months, you should be completely migrated to Windows 7 and be able to delete the drive image.

Now that we have performed the necessary procedures (drive imaging and software/hardware inventory and downloading drivers) I usually do before a clean install, it's time to get into the installation details. Remember to put your drivers on media that you can access after the installation is complete (CD, USB drive, or external drive). Network drives may not be accessible until you install the correct network card driver(s). Kind of a catch 22, sort of speak.

I went over to Microsoft's website and found an article on how to Upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7. From here, we will follow Microsoft's instructions, with a little change here and there.

The Upgrade option is not available in Windows 7 Setup when installing Windows 7 on a computer running Windows XP. However, you can use Windows Easy Transfer to migrate files and settings from Windows XP to Windows 7 on the same computer. To do this, you must first copy files to a removable media, such as an external hard drive or UFD, or to a network share. Next, you will install Windows 7 and then migrate your files back from the removable media onto your computer. When you are finished, you must install your software programs again, but your files and settings will have been copied from Windows XP.

Copy files using Windows Easy Transfer

1. Insert the Windows 7 DVD while running Windows XP. If the Windows 7 installation window opens automatically, close it.
2. Open Windows Explorer by right-clicking the Start menu, and then clicking Explore.
3. Browse to the DVD drive on your computer and click migsetup.exe in the Support\Migwiz directory. The Windows Easy Transfer window opens.
4. Click Next.
5. Select An external hard disk or USB flash drive.
6. Click This is my old computer. Windows Easy Transfer scans the computer.
7. Click Next. You can also determine which files should be migrated by selecting only the user profiles you want to transfer, or by clicking Customize.
8. Enter a password to protect your Easy Transfer file, or leave the box blank, and then click Save.
9. Browse to the external location on the network or to the removable media where you want to save your Easy Transfer file, and then click Save.
10. Click Next. Windows Easy Transfer displays the file name and location of the Easy Transfer file you just created.

It's at this point I am going to change the way I install Windows 7. Instead of starting Windows 7 setup by browsing to the root folder of the DVD in Windows Explorer and then double-clicking setup.exe (in-place), I am going to restart the computer and start the installation at boot (clean) and delete the partition that Windows XP is installed on. The following video shows the differences between the two types of installations (clean vs. in-place).

Note: This video was captured at 2048x768 (using dual monitors)

Since I am going from a 32-bit operating system to a 64-bit operating system, an in-place installation is impossible. I have to delete the partition that Windows XP is installed on to get that. Once I restart my computer and boot up on the Windows 7 DVD (64-bit version), I get a few standard setup dialog boxes. Then I am asked where I want to install Windows 7. I select Advanced Options. This gives me the option of deleting the partition where Windows XP is installed.

I select Delete, then click Next, and the installation continues, restarting a couple of times during the process. Remember that once the installation of the operating system is complete, that's when the drivers will need to be installed.

*** Note: The chipset driver is the first driver to be installed and will require a reboot when complete.***

Once the computer restarts, continue to install the rest of the drivers (audio, video, network, etc.), starting with on-board devices (built-in to the motherboard). Then go to the drivers for any expansion cards (they're connected directly into the motherboard inside the computer), and then comes the Plug and Play (PnP) devices (they connect directly to the outside of the computer). Devices like keyboard, mouse, printer, etc. would be PnP devices.

Next, we start installing our applications and settings.

It's time to find out what type of hardware and software we have installed. We also want to collect any software licenses too. I have found two very useful programs.

Note: This video was captured at 2048x768 (using dual monitors)

The first is Belarc Advisor. Here is an excerpt from their web site:

"The Belarc Advisor builds a detailed profile of your installed software and hardware, missing Microsoft hotfixes, anti-virus status, CIS (Center for Internet Security) benchmarks, and displays the results in your Web browser. All of your PC profile information is kept private on your PC and is not sent to any web server."

Once you have downloaded, installed, and ran the program, the results will open up in a web browser. Print a copy, then select File, then Save As and select a network drive or removable media (external drive, USB drive, etc.). This report should have all of the information we need, but a more detailed report should be generated. So let's go to the next program.

The second program I use is the built-in Microsoft System Information.

To start Microsoft System Information, use either of the following methods:

• Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and click System Information.
• Click Start, click Run, type msinfo32.exe in the Open box, and then click OK.

Once System Information opens and generates a report, select File, then Save, and select a network drive or removable media (external drive, USB drive, etc.). This file has an enormous amount of detailed information about your current hardware and software. Cross-check the hardware listed in both reports and note any items not listed on the Belarc report. Here is a list of the System Information categories and subcategories that contain the hardware-specific information:

System Summary

The System Summary category provides a general profile of your computer. Make a note of the following subcategories:

• The version of Windows
• OEM System Information (manufacturer, model, and type)
• The type of central processing unit (CPU)
• The amount of memory and system resources
• BIOS version
• Boot device (if multiple devices are present on the computer)

Components

The Components category displays information about your Windows XP system configuration.

Multimedia
Lists sound card and game controller information.

Multimedia - Audio
Lists the audio codecs that are loaded.

Multimedia - Video
Lists the video codecs that are loaded.

Multimedia - CD-ROM
Lists the drive letter and model of your CD-ROM drive. If a data CD-ROM is in the drive, System Information also performs a data transfer test.

Multimedia - Sound Device
Lists the name and manufacturer of your sound device(s). This also lists the status, I/O port, IRQ, DMA channel, and the drivers used for your sound device(s).

Display
Lists video card and monitor information.

Infrared
Lists Infrared device information.

Input
Lists keyboard and mouse information.

Miscellaneous
Lists information about any miscellaneous components.

Modems
Lists modem information.

Network
Lists network adapter, client, and protocol information.

Ports
Lists serial and parallel port information.

Storage
Lists information about hard disks, floppy drives, removable media, and controllers. Each drive is presented with information including drive letter, total size, free space, file system, compression status, drive type, and volume letter.

Printing
Lists installed printers and printer drivers.

USB
Lists Universal Serial Bus (USB) controllers and drivers that are installed.

Now that we have a list of hardware components, we need to get the correct drivers for our new operating system. Since Windows 7 is new, we may not be able to get them for all of the hardware. If that is the case, we'll download the Windows Vista drivers. They should work most of the time. Here is a general list of drivers you will need:

• Audio
• Video
• Chipset
• Network Adapter (wired and wireless)
• Printer
• Scanner
• Game Controller
• Mouse
• Keyboard

After you have the drivers downloaded, save them to a network drive or removable media (external drive, USB drive, etc.). Better yet, burn them to a cd.

Now we are ready to deploy our operating system. Next, we will look at the two different ways of upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7.