Before Upgrading

• 1). Download and install the Windows Vista or Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. The Upgrade Advisor will inform you of any potential hardware issues that you may encounter when upgrading and will tell you if you can upgrade to a 64-bit operating system.
  
  
• 2). Compare the features of each operating system upgrade. The Ultimate editions have the most number of features, but you may need them. Buy according to your needs.
  
  
• 3). Purchase your Windows Vista or Windows 7 upgrade disk.
  
  
• 4). Download drivers for your hardware devices that are compatible with the version of Windows you chose. Store the drivers to an external storage device or medium.
  
  
• 5). Upgrade any hardware to devices that are compatible with your upgraded version of Windows.
  
  
• 6). Download or acquire software that is compatible with your upgraded version of Windows.
  
  
• 7). Download, install, and run Windows Easy Transfer to copy all of your personal files and settings, if your desired upgrade option requires that you perform a "Custom install." Save your backups to an external storage device. Do not save on your internal hard drive.
  
  

Upgrading Your Windows Operating System

• 1). Boot up your computer. Update your antivirus software, then disable it.
  
  
• 2). Insert the upgrade disk at the Windows XP desktop.
  
  
• 3). Click "Install Now."
  
  
• 4). Allow Windows to "Get important updates for installation." Read and accept the license terms, then click "Next."
  
  
• 5). Choose either "Upgrade" (if you're upgrading to a compatible version of Windows Vista) or "Custom Install" (if you're upgrading to a version of Windows 7 or an incompatible version of Windows Vista).
  
  
• 6). Select your current Windows XP hard drive partition. Click "Next."
  
  
• 7). Click "OK."
  
  
• 8). Following the on-screen prompts, including allowing the Windows installation to restart the computer.