uMBP - Bootcamp XP upgrading to 7

[bigvb@hotmail.c]

So i have a 60GB NTFS partition on my macbook pro with Windows XP installed on it.

I mainly want to increase the size of the partition, i reckon i need 80-90GB total for windows.

I figured i may as well upgrade to 7 while doing this, now i am aware i cant directly upgrade to 7 from XP, so what are my options regarding installing windows 7 and backing up my entire XP OS and then adding it to 7. Will it be as good as OSX and time-machine, where the computer (after a restore from hard-drive) is exactly how it was the day you backed it up.

I have lots of windows applications and pieces of software i have bought that id like to be able to continue to use without having to contact software provider begging for new serial code/buying again.

Cheers for taking the time to read this:

Cliff note
-i want to upgrade bootcamp partiition from XP to 7
-how i do it (DL and burn disk image??)
-backing up XP OS, how?? can i fully restore my XP OS in 7??

 

[JhamCT]

I figured i may as well upgrade to 7 while doing this, now i am aware i cant directly upgrade to 7 from XP, so what are my options regarding installing windows 7 and backing up my entire XP OS and then adding it to 7. Will it be as good as OSX and time-machine, where the computer (after a restore from hard-drive) is exactly how it was the day you backed it up.

You can't 'add' XP to Win7, let alone add any backed up OS into an existing install. You can back up files, and add those files into the new Windows install.

I have lots of windows applications and pieces of software i have bought that id like to be able to continue to use without having to contact software provider begging for new serial code/buying again.

That's simply not possible, chap. Sorry. You will have to reload all your apps. Some of them may not be compatible with Win7, also.

i want to upgrade bootcamp partiition from XP to 7
-how i do it (DL and burn disk image??)
-backing up XP OS, how?? can i fully restore my XP OS in 7??

You can't do this. You can backup your XP partition using WinClone (free), and restore it, but you can't restore XP into anything other than itself again.

If you want, you can use Winclone to make a copy of the XP partition (saved onto the mac partition), and then use CarbonCopyCloner or Timemachine to backup the whole mac partition. This would be your full disaster recovery backup - in one partition. If you had to restore, you can restore to one new partition or hard drive, then use the BootCamp Assistant to create a new partition, and then WinClone to restore the XP image to the new Boot Camp Partition.

Hope this helps.

 

[maflynn]

I think you're confusing some of the terms in your request.

when you say backup/restore xp over win7. Do you mean all of your data (keeping the win7 os?) If that's the case your option is to select the upgrade option for windows7 instead of reformatting (or repartitioning the drive).

Personally when dealing with windows, I always felt that reformatting and installing the OS from scratch was the safest. This did mean I had to reinstall all of my apps again. As you noted about serial numbers be sure you have them all before starting. It also may be safe to deactivate any activated software as well.

I would back up your data (other then apps and the OS) such as documents, files and other data objects you want to keep. I'd google for a good window's backup application. Since I use a Mac and don't use windows I cannot recommend one.

 

[Bill Gates]

when you say backup/restore xp over win7. Do you mean all of your data (keeping the win7 os?) If that's the case your option is to select the upgrade option for windows7 instead of reformatting (or repartitioning the drive).

Windows 7 does not support upgrading from Windows XP.

 

[bigvb@hotmail.c]

Windows 7 does not support upgrading from Windows XP.

thank you for the reply Bill

 

[JhamCT]

... select the upgrade option for windows7 instead of reformatting (or repartitioning the drive).

Microsoft has assumed we'll all be migrating from Vista to Win 7, and didn't provide support for an XP-to-Win7 upgrade. It's a fresh install, no upgrade path.

http://www.techspot.com/news/35606-lack-of-xp-to-windows-7-upgrade-path-causing-grief.html

You're right, though, the upgrade option has always been discouraged because of the potential issues. Who wants any remnants of that old, fat registry anyways?