Vista to 7 and Gost

[Ral3l3it]

Quick question trying to figure out if I am going to need to start over or not. If I gost my machine from vista ultimate and then do a fresh install to windows 7 pro not an upgrade can I gost the image from windows vista?

[Jamesrt2004]

no. cos it would have saved the vista installation :S

[SoulsCollective]

I'm not entirely sure if you're asking the question you think you're asking.

If you use Norton Ghost to make an image of your current system, and you install another OS, and then try and restore that old image, you'll get back your original OS. The new OS you installed will be wiped and overwritten. That's how OS imaging works.

If you're instead looking for a way to keep all your installed programs and settings etc, then you need to do an in-place upgrade - this will do what I think you're looking to do. As you have Vista installed, an in-place upgrade is possible (even using a retail copy of Win7), the sole restriction being that you can't in-place upgrade from 32-bit to 64-bit - so if your Vista install is 32-bit and you want to upgrade to 64-bit Win7 (which you really should, there is no reason these days to stick with 32-bit), you're going to need to do a fresh install and reinstall all your apps by hand.

[Lu(ky]

Just backup your data then do a CLEAN install of W7 Pro then re-store your data.

[zanzabar]

never do an install that moves programs or settings automatically always back up your data (appdata if u want to restore programs) then clean install windows, install your programs and then restore the appdata.

never transfer an installed program

[Lukee]

So if I mostly just have games, then I really don't need to back up any data, correct? I think the only thing that I may want to backup are some documents.

[zanzabar]

well u would want save games and media/documents that are on the windows drive. and if u have steam back up the steam files with the steam backup tool since the games are portable to other steam installs (or copy the game folders in steam, dont do this for non steam games)

[kevikev]

I know the best practice is to do a clean install and reinstall but the best practice isn't always the most convenient ;)

What's the best practice for maintaining all the customizations and preferences you have for various applications?

[zanzabar]

C:\Users\(user)\AppData

then find the folder for the program (most are in the roaming folder), then just replace the folder in the same spot affter u install the program, its quick and easy. once u do it a few times its second nature.