Upgrading XP laptop to Win7

[Muse]

I bought this Lenovo Thinkpad T60 laptop new in late 2006. It's still running the original OS install, Windows XP Professional 32 bit, and of course has the COA. It has a recovery partition from which I can clean install XP 32 bit.

I'm thinking of going to 32 bit Windows 7. It will run 64 bit but I have a couple of apps that I would like to still be able to run that won't run on 64 bit OS's. Besides that I don't know that the machine will run more than the 3GB that's in it (probably will run 4GB), so 64 bit I figure is no big deal.

Reasons: There's an application I'd like to run (Windows App for Desktop), and I'd like to install an SSD (already have) and most people say that Windows 7 is a much better idea on an SSD.

How can I cheaply, legally and easily upgrade to Windows 7 32 bit? I see a lot of different offerings at Ebay at widely varying prices, but don't know what will work, what won't and what's problematical or legal and hassle free. Thanks for guidance.

 

[corkyg]

I have my T60 upgraded to Win 7 Ultimate, x86. Not a problem at all because I first went from XP Pro to Vista. Then Vista a year later to 7. No hiccups or stumbles. I can't address costs because I got all my OS's from MS TechNet. From XP now, you have to do a clean install. Makes sure you have all your Lenovo T60 drivers handy.

 

[ViRGE]

How can I cheaply, legally and easily upgrade to Windows 7 32 bit? I see a lot of different offerings at Ebay at widely varying prices, but don't know what will work, what won't and what's problematical or legal and hassle free. Thanks for guidance.

Use Windows Easy Transfer to backup your documents and settings, wipe the hard drive, and install Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit OEM.

Microsoft no longer sells copies of Windows 7 Upgrade edition to distributors, and anyone who's selling it for cheap to consumers is selling an illegitimate copy. So it makes the decision easy (though the installation, not so much).

 

[Muse]

Use Windows Easy Transfer to backup your documents and settings, wipe the hard drive, and install Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit OEM.

Microsoft no longer sells copies of Windows 7 Upgrade edition to distributors, and anyone who's selling it for cheap to consumers is selling an illegitimate copy. So it makes the decision easy (though the installation, not so much).

Thank you. I'm wondering if Professional is the better idea, it supports "Run XP programs in Windows XP Mode." Seems possible although my experience trying this on my Lenovo T61 running Windows 7 64bit Ultimate has not been positive. I guess there's no way to know if my programs are going to run OK until I install. However, I can do some posting and see if people who use my programs have had success on OS.whatever.

 

[Chiefcrowe]

If I were you I'd definitely go with Pro just in case you need XP mode or any other features that it has.

 

[Muse]

If I were you I'd definitely go with Pro just in case you need XP mode or any other features that it has.

Microsoft is saying:

Important

After April 8, 2014, technical support for Windows XP and Windows XP Mode will no longer be available, including updates that help protect your PC. This means that if you continue to use Windows XP or use Windows XP Mode on a Windows 7 PC after support ends, your PC might become more vulnerable to security risks and viruses. Therefore, to keep your Windows 7 PC secure after April 8, 2014, we recommend that you only use Windows XP Mode if your PC is disconnected from the Internet. Learn more about Windows XP end of support.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/windows-xp-mode

If that's what I think it is, even if they weren't going to stop supporting it I don't think I'd want that feature. I think XP Mode is the emulation of XP after a download. I have it on my Win7 64bit Ultimate laptop and it's more trouble than it's worth because I can alternatively run whatever it is I need on one of my XP machines. The other features of Pro I don't know I'd use, except maybe backup to a network drive, but I haven't been doing that anyway.

This would be my first Home Edition, though. Amazon's selling it for a little less than Newegg and the shipping's free.

Edit: I stumbled upon this, which looks "like a much better deal" than the Amazon one (caught it in a review of it there):

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 Full 32/64 Bit x32 & x64 Version CD/COA NEW at Ebay

 

[ViRGE]

Thank you. I'm wondering if Professional is the better idea, it supports "Run XP programs in Windows XP Mode." Seems possible although my experience trying this on my Lenovo T61 running Windows 7 64bit Ultimate has not been positive. I guess there's no way to know if my programs are going to run OK until I install. However, I can do some posting and see if people who use my programs have had success on OS.whatever.

Muse has already covered the downside to XP Mode. It's a straight-up Windows emulator, so security updates for XP Mode go at the same time as updates for XP proper go. That said if your software doesn't run on Windows 7, it is a viable solution to the problem (just strip XP Mode of its network access).

Edit: I stumbled upon this, which looks "like a much better deal" than the Amazon one (caught it in a review of it there):

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 Full 32/64 Bit x32 & x64 Version CD/COA NEW at Ebay

For the love of Pete, people. Stop trying to buy Windows off of eBay! It's always fake/illegal.

 

[Muse]

For the love of Pete, people. Stop trying to buy Windows off of eBay! It's always fake/illegal.

OK, I'll take your word for it. I'm buying either at Amazon or Newegg. Thanks.

 

[Muse]

OK, I'll take your word for it. I'm buying either at Amazon or Newegg. Thanks.

On second thought, Virge, I have to think this looks completely legitimate. Have a look yourself:

http://givingworks.ebay.com/charity-auctions/charity/6th-man-foundation-project-contact/1992/

 

[ViRGE]

On second thought, Virge, I have to think this looks completely legitimate. Have a look yourself:

http://givingworks.ebay.com/charity-auctions/charity/6th-man-foundation-project-contact/1992/

Don't take the risk. Buy it from Newegg or another trusted retailer (if it's Amazon, make sure it's Amazon proper).

 

[Muse]

Don't take the risk. Buy it from Newegg or another trusted retailer (if it's Amazon, make sure it's Amazon proper).

The Amazon offering is through Circuit City, I'd think that reliable.

The feedbacks at http://www.ebay.com/itm/Microsoft-Windows-7-Home-Premium-SP1-Full-32-64-Bit-x32-x64-Version-CD-COA-NEW-/141135208854?pt=US_Operating_Systems_Software&hash=item20dc506196 (and there are a great many of them) for that $84.90 priced 32/64 bit Windows 7 Home Premium at ebay, profits to that charity, are uniformly positive. Bill Gates is a renowned philanthropist, maybe he donated them.

 

[VirtualLarry]

On second thought, Virge, I have to think this looks completely legitimate. Have a look yourself:

http://givingworks.ebay.com/charity-auctions/charity/6th-man-foundation-project-contact/1992/

Known charity scam. There was a big FW thread about it. Don't fall for it.

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/arcmessageview.php?catid=18&threadid=1291675

 

[Muse]

Known charity scam. There was a big FW thread about it. Don't fall for it.

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/arcmessageview.php?catid=18&threadid=1291675

Thank you VirtualLarry. A quote from that thread at FW:

Wow, just wow. And to think, eBay is actually PROMOTING this scam, on their daily deals site. What more proof do you need that eBay is complicit in selling/promoting fraudulent goods.

I'm not that hard up that I am willing to participate in this shady stuff, and although I could maybe get away with it I figure my license would not be strictly legal in the least. I think I'll buy off Amazon, the party delivering being Circuit City (according to the listing). That, I figure, is legit.

The charity association with the ebay listing is evidently extremely doubtful. It's a scam. They are selling legit software that's packaged for refurbishers and claiming to benefit a charity 100%, but the thread makes it clear that their association with the charities (which have no affiliation), is fraudulent.

 

[postmortemIA]

Be careful if it has Core Duo and not Core 2 Duo... First one is 32 bit only CPU. I see that you want 32-bit Windows anyway.

 

[ViRGE]

The Amazon offering is through Circuit City, I'd think that reliable.

Okay. You win that one. Circuit City is Tiger Direct's sub-brand, so that would be a legitimate retailer.

 

[Muse]

Be careful if it has Core Duo and not Core 2 Duo... First one is 32 bit only CPU. I see that you want 32-bit Windows anyway.

It is actually Core 2 Duo (T5500), could run 64bit, but I have a couple of programs that won't run in 64bit that I use some, also the machine has just 3GB RAM. I suppose it could accept 4GB, but don't know that the benefit of 64bit would be worth not being able to run those apps.

Okay. You win that one. Circuit City is Tiger Direct's sub-brand, so that would be a legitimate retailer.

Thank you... I just ordered.