Thread: Battery performance with Windows 7 & Upgrading from XP / Vista

Written by: Orion, final comment by masterweb

Intel: battery performance improvement with Windows 7 and how Upgrade to Windows 7 from Windows XP / Vista:

Battery performance improvement with Windows 7:

Intel has announced that the performance of notebook batteries is at least one hour longer with the new operating system Windows 7. The tests were performed comparing exactly the same hardware running older versions of Windows like Windows Vista or Windows XP.

Intel and Microsoft have shared forces and worked hard to improve the power consumption of the new Windows 7. The result is 20% savings comparing it to Windows Vista. The energy savings means one extra hour in worst case. Both companies went through an intensive exchange of technical information to find niches where energy could be saved.

Among many new features, Windows 7 has the ability of disabling idle hardware components, turning component off and on fast. Therefore, the users of Windows 7 will experience a more fluid performance. Both in the case of multi-media and of data crunching, users will see their applications running smoother.

Windows 7's daemon services are run only on demand. That means that not every potentially useful service is started with the operating system. Printer drivers, for example, are simply occasionally used, so they are kept turned off. If Windows 7 is idle, your notebook would be running almost no service, excluding the absolutely necessary to wake it up.

But Windows 7 doesn't have only a better standby modus. There are other means to save energy. Windows 7 has an improved caching. When accessing external sources like DVDs or HDDs that translated into less time reading the media, less spinning and better performance.

The unique and utterly new feature, however, it the Device Stage. It allows the user to change the power preferences of any connected device. It is a pity, however, that almost no device is compliant with this new standard, although manufacturers are eager to release new, compliant devices.

Sounds good but... how to upgrade from XP to Win 7 ?:

In order to perform a clean installation of Windows 7, you must format your Windows XP or install it on a different hard drive partition and keep Windows XP and Windows 7 in dual boot mode. Do not be disappointed if you do not know what I mean. This guide will help you to do this in a step-by-step manner. First, perform the Widows XP to Vista upgrade, and then the Windows Vista to Windows 7 upgrade. It is quite a lengthy process. However, there is a faster, more efficient route which you can take to upgrade.

Efficient, step-by-step guide to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7:

Prior to proceeding in the explanation of this step-by-step guide, please make arrangements for an external hard disk or USB flash drive. You can also use another computer of your network.

1. Download Windows 7 32-bit or 64-bit

2. Burn Windows 7 RC ISO on DVD or mount ISO as drive using ISO mounting tool

3. Use Windows Explorer and browse to the DVD drive on your computer, then select migsetup.exe in the Support/Migwiz directory.

Migsetup:

4. The Windows Easy Transfer window will open.

5. Select “next” and then choose your external hard disk or USB flash drive.

6. Click “this is my old computer“. Then, Windows Easy Transfer will scan your computer.

7. Once the scan has finished, you can customize your profile and share items to add and remove folders and files you want to include.

Customize Easy File Transfer Profile:

8. Select next and enter your password

9. Save it, and then locate your USB drive or the Network location for saving Windows Easy Transfer files.

10. Commence the Windows 7 Setup by browsing to the root folder of the DVD in Windows Explorer, and then double selecting setup.exe.

Windows 7 Setup:

11. Select “Custom” in order to perform an upgrade to your existing Windows installation.

Select Custom Windows 7 RC Installation:

(When you perform a custom installation of Windows 7, files that you used in Windows XP are stored in a “Windows.old folder“. This folder can be removed once installation has completed so you can have more space).

12. Chose the partition of Windows XP and then select “next” and proceed without further interaction.

13. Once your Windows 7 Installation has completed . You must boot into your Windows 7.

14. Select start and go in this order: All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>Windows Easy Transfer.

15. The Windows Easy Transfer window will open.

16. Chose your external hard disk or USB flash drive.

17. Select “this is my new computer“.

Restore Files Windows Easy Transfer:

18. Chose “Yes”, and open the file. Browse to the location where the Easy Transfer file was saved. Select that file, and then open it.

Windows Easy Transfer on Windows 7:

19. Chose to “transfer” in order 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.

Transfer Files to Windows 7:

20. Select “close” after Windows Easy Transfer has completed moving your files.

Congratulations! You’ve upgraded from Windows XP to Windows 7. You’ve kept all the files you’ve wanted, and did not have to spend as much time as everyone else by upgrading to Windows 7 through Vista!

Keep in mind:

1. Above guide will only help you in keeping Windows XP Profiles and Settings, therefore, you will need to reinstall all your programs in Windows 7. Some programs may not be compatible in Windows 7.

2. You may clean up all files of previous Windows installations using Disk cleanup

From Vista to Windows 7? :

According to your computer and your original copy of Windows Vista, you may utilize the Upgrade option during your Windows 7 installation process in order to upgrade to Windows 7 from your Windows Vista copy. Upgrading is the most convenient way to get Windows 7 on your computer, because it allows you to keep programs, files, and settings from your computer with Vista. On the flip side, your edition of Windows Vista may not be able to be upgraded to the version of Windows 7 which you wish to run. Therefore, you may set up Windows 7 by using the Custom Installation option instead. However, the Custom option does not save personal information or programs.

Considering that your computer is currently running Windows Vista, and it meets the system requirements for Windows 7, I advise you to install the free Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor from www.microsoft.com. It really assists you in finding possible problems regarding your computer’s devices, programs, or hardware which may disrupt the Windows 7 installation, and also provides advice as to how you can fix those problems.

The Upgrade feature works with an upgrade version and a full copy of Windows 7. If you cannot utilize the Upgrade option to upgrade to the version of Windows 7 that you wish to, you may use custom option, however Custom options do not transfer settings, programs, or files.


Select types of Windows Operating Systems cannot be upgraded with the installation disc you' are trying to upgrade with. You cannot upgrade from a 32-bit version of a Windows Operating System to a 64-bit OS or from a higher edition of Windows, such as Windows Vista Ultimate, to a lower version, such as Windows 7 Home Premium. If this is your situation, you will require the usage of the Custom option during the upgrade.

As stated earlier, again, the Custom option does not preserve your personal information. You will need to back up your programs, setting, and file manually prior to the installation of Windows 7, and then restore them all after your installation is completed. Also, you will also want to reinstall your programs using the original installation discs or files.

If you are currently using a 32-bit edition of Windows Vista, it is only possible for you to upgrade, from it, to a 32-bit edition of Windows 7. Also, if you are using a 64-bit edition of Windows Vista, you may only upgrade to a 64-bit edition of Windows 7. Alternatively, you will require the usage of the Custom option to install Windows 7.
Both the 32-bit and 64-bit installation discs are packed into the Windows 7 package. 64-bit operating systems can manage a lot of RAM—typically 4 gigabytes (GB) more easily than 32-bit operating systems. Nevertheless, not all computers are 64-bit capable.
To find out which Windows 7 installation disc you may use:

1) Open Performance Information and Tools by going to your system’s Control Panel, and selecting System and Maintenance, and then selecting Performance Information and Tools.

2) Click View, and then print details.

3) Under System, you may view the operating system you are using at this moment next to the System version, and, next to 64-bit capable, whether or not you may run a 64-bit version of Windows.

If your computer is already running a 64-bit version of Windows, you won't see the 64-bit capable listing. When you upgrade to Windows 7 from Windows Vista, you will keep your settings, programs, and files.




The options for Windows 7 installation

Prior to the Installation:

Confirm whether your computer is running either Service Pack 1 or Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista.
Make sure your computer is connected to the Internet so you may get updates during the installation process. You can still install Windows 7 if you are not connected to the Internet.
Update your anti-virus programs, run them, and then turn them off. After the Windows 7 installation/upgrade, turn them back on. If your anti-virus programs do not work with Windows 7, contact the company which
Select either the 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7 installation disc, depending on whether you want to install a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows 7. If your computer is currently running a 64-bit version of Windows Vista, you can use the 64-bit installation disc.
Find your 25-character Windows product key. You can find it on the installation disc holder inside the Windows package—or in a confirmation e‑mail if you purchased and downloaded Windows 7 online.
If you use a fingerprint reader or other biometric device to log on to your computer, make sure you write down your password before upgrading. You must log on by typing your user name and password the first time that you use Windows after upgrading.

Email Programs:

Some programs, for example, Windows Mail and Windows Outlook Express are no longer supported in Windows 7. If you utilized Windows Mail or Outlook Express as your primary email program, you’ll need to install a new email program to read your messages or to send and receive email after the Windows 7 installation.

Upgrading Instructions:

Turn on your PC.
After your computer is on:
If you purchased and downloaded Windows 7 online, open the installation file.
If you have a Windows 7 installation disc, insert the disc into your computer. Setup starts automatically. If it does not, click the Start button, click Computer, double-click your DVD drive to open the Windows 7 installation disc, and then double-click setup.exe.
On the Install Windows page, click Install now.
On the Get important updates for installation page, we recommend getting the latest updates to help ensure a successful installation, and to help protect your computer against security threats. You computer will need to be connected to the Internet during Windows 7 installation to get these updates.
On the Please read the license terms page, if you accept the license terms, click I accept the license terms and then click Next.
On the Which type of installation do you want? page, click Upgrade.
You might see a compatibility report.
Continue to follow the instructions to finish installing Windows 7.

Make sure you update your drivers, where applicable! Drivers are software that lets computers communicate with different kinds of devices or hardware. If a computer did not have drivers, the hardware you connect your computer with will not run normally. Usually, drivers come with Windows Operating Systems, or you can get them by running Windows Update to check for them. To do so, click the Start button, click All Programs, and then click Windows Update

Yay :) .

Thanks for the information. I aleady have the lisence and wonder if all software I use works with Windows7...

If you have Vista, it should all work. However, I can't guarantee that for XP. :(

Originally Posted by Orion

If you have Vista, it should all work. However, I can't guarantee that for XP. :(

so all Vista software works with Windows 7?