Should I Upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7?

October 2, 2011 -- It is hard to believe that almost two years have passed since the official release of Windows 7. With more and more detail of Microsoft Windows 8 (or whatever its eventual name) now in the media on a daily basis (some of it speculation) should you now be waiting for Windows 8 rather than upgrading to Windows 7? The quick answer is clearly NO! Most businesses don't need to be buying into vaporware. Just as many businesses have held off upgrading to Windows 7 until Service Pack 1 was released, avoiding that move altogether until the next OS version is available and stable is just procrastination.

I actually spend quite a large part of my day supporting Windows XP, and (shock for some) also an occasional few clients with Windows 2000 and even DOS. My last solely DOS client migrated a Point-of-Sale system successfully to a primarily Windows XP environment this past summer with a couple Windows 7 computers thrown into the mix. Another client was moved successfully from a mixed Windows 2000 and XP environment to Windows 7. I still have a number of clients running old DOS applications very well under Windows XP and Windows 7 (32-bit).

It's all very well to say "Just buy new software", but for many small businesses the choice isn't always so easy. Yes, the typical Microsoft Office products will upgrade easily enough, although the upgrade cost often involves more than the cost of the software itself -- staff retraining cannot be ignored. The same goes for other proprietary or bespoke software used to run the business. Easier said than done. Some old Point-of-Sale (POS) systems essentially look after most of the business needs, and many small businesses look at the sizeable investment to upgrade hardware and software as a financial hurdle that the current economy may not support.

Back to question of upgrading. Certainly it can be said you got your money's worth if you are still running Windows XP (or earlier). That in itself is not reason to upgrade. However, these days few would argue that there aren't likely benefits to upgrading a 5-10 year old computer to something "new(er)". Certainly for most, there are definite benefits of upgrading to Windows 7: speed (a new computer helps that too); better support for new hardware; increasing user support; increased security, within a network and on the internet; ability to run new applications (or updated versions of the old ones); and a good list of new features.

News for Sep 11 - Sep 17, 2011

450 million copies of Windows 7 sold, consumer usage passes XP :: Betanews
Automatically Repair Internet Connection Problems In Windows :: Technize
Avoiding the 8 Common Mistakes of Windows 7 Migration :: Information Week
Can I change the default Windows 7’s start-up sound? :: Computeractive
Could Windows 7 become the new Windows XP? :: ZDNet
Defraggler: Better Defragmentation Software For Windows :: MakeUseOf
Download Automation Tools for Windows 7 :: Windows 7 News
Enable Sharing of the Administrative Share in Windows 7 or Vista :: WindowsNetworking
Experts: Microsoft leaves Windows 8 questions unanswered :: InfoWorld
Find Out Who Is Surfing On Your Wireless Network :: Ghacks
Getting down and dirty with Windows 7's Disk Defragmenter :: Cloudeight
HomeGroup Networking :: Need A Nerd
Just Show Me: How to customize the start menu in Windows 7 :: Tecca
Microsoft Exec: Time For Windows XP To Go :: Information Week
Microsoft patches 15 bugs, nukes more SSL certificates :: ITworld
Microsoft unveils a radically redesigned Windows 8 :: CNN Money
Open Windows 7 Explorer to Your Favorite Location :: Computerworld
The Last Days of Windows 7, Part 2 :: Windows 7 News
This is what Windows 8 looks like on (old) netbooks :: Liliputing
Tips on Deploying Windows 7 :: Windows 7 News
Using Windows 7 Advanced Search Operators :: Ghacks
What you need to know about Windows 8 app compatibility :: InfoWorld
Will Windows 7 Survive? :: Windows 7 News
Windows 7 Migration Challenges and Best Practices for Large Enterprise :: Information Week
Windows 7 migration driving desktop virtualization: Survey :: CIO
Windows 7 Usage Surpasses XP’s, Almost 450 Million Sold Copies :: Softpedia
Windows 8 Running on a USB – Windows To Go :: Softpedia
Windows 8: A visual tour of what we now know :: InfoWorld
Windows Easy Transfer :: Windows 7 Library
Windows XP has less than 1000 days of support left :: MyBroadband

News for Sep 04 - Sep 10, 2011

10 Windows 7 Power Tips for IT Pros :: Migration Expert Zone
A Patch Tuesday preview :: CSO
Add shutdown button to Windows 7 taskbar :: Itworld
Degunking Makes Your Computer Run Faster :: Windows 7 News
Disable error reporting in Windows 7 :: ITworld
Disable Pictures Library Search in Windows 7 :: PCTips3000
Fix Failed Windows 7 SP1 Update Installations via System Center Essentials :: Softpedia
Get Special Folders Location and Size in Windows 7 with 5FSize :: Techdows
How to Automate the Disk Checking Utility in Windows 7 :: Ghacks
How To Cancel Drag And Drop Operations In Windows :: Ghacks
How to change or edit Windows 7 System Information :: Windows Club
How to configure Windows Explorer in Windows 7 :: PC Advisor
How to create shortcuts for Windows 7 settings :: CNET
How to find system up-time on Windows 7 :: CNET
How To Get Support for Windows 7 Activation Issues :: Notebooks
How to make the Most of the Sticky Notes Feature in Windows 7 :: VikiTech
How to Migrate to a Solid-State Drive Without Reinstalling Windows :: Lifehacker
How to speed up Windows 7 installs :: ITworld
How to Tweak Windows' AutoPlay Settings :: PC Advisor
Improve PC Security by Changing the RDP Port :: Ghacks
Internet Explorer 6 biggest block to Windows 7 :: IT News
Limit Windows 7 Recycle Bin size :: ITworld
Make Windows 7 GodMode easier to manage :: CNET
New Windows 7 Release, Windows Thin PC (WinTPC) App Usage Restrictions :: Softpedia
Open Windows 7 Explorer to Your Favorite Location :: PC World
Parallels Desktop 7 Helps Windows and OS X Co-Exist :: CIO Today
Running System Restore in Windows 7 from your Windows Disk :: Ghacks
Six major Windows 8 features for small business :: InfoWorld
Speed Up Windows Start-Up By Disabling Unused Network Adapters :: Ghacks
Update for Windows 7 SP1, Vista SP2, XP SP3 Revokes DigiNotar Root Certificates :: Softpedia
WeatherBar, Weather Report In Windows 7's Taskbar :: Ghacks
Windows 7 : Essential Time Saving Shortcuts :: Download
Windows 7 Backup Destination Types :: Windows 7 Library
Windows 7 Slowly But Surely Closing In On XP :: Windows 7 News
Windows 7 SP1 and Office 2010 SP1 Patches Coming, None Critical :: Softpedia
Windows 7 Tip: Renaming Multiple Files the Quick Way :: Windows 7 Hacker
Windows 8 vs. Windows 7 – Boot Performance Comparison :: Softpedia
Windows Media Center Launched by 6% of Windows 7 Users Globally in July :: Softpedia

News for Saturday, September 03, 2011

Delete Restore Point in Windows 7 :: PCTips3000
How To Auto Hide, Remove Or Restore Windows 7 Command Bar :: WML Cloud
Prohibiting Write Access to USB devices :: Windows 7 Library
Quick Access Bar, Get Fast Access To Folders In Windows :: Ghacks
Set Program Access And Computer Defaults In Windows 7 :: Ghacks
Turn Off Aero Shake in Windows 7 :: PCTips3000

News for Friday, September 02, 2011

How to Add Apps to Explorer Favorites List in Windows 7 :: Ghacks
How to Create a Restore Point in Windows 7 :: TheAppTimes
How to Set Up A VPN Connection in Windows 7 :: It's my life
How to Use Event Viewer to Find Your PC’s Boot Time :: How-To Geek
TrueCrypt 7.1 Encryption Software Released :: Ghacks
Windows 8 vs. Windows 7 – Moving Forward vs. Returning to Roots :: Softpedia

News for Thursday, September 01, 2011

1 in 5 Windows 7 Users Worldwide Are Running IE9 :: Softpedia
9 Handy Utilities for Optimizing Your Desktop and Display :: PC Advisor
How to Speed Up Your Internet Connection with OpenDNS or Google Public DNS :: Notebooks
IE9 share tops 20% on Windows 7 even as IE usage slips overall :: GeekWire
Increase Windows 7 Performance in 4 Easy Steps :: Ghacks
Just Ahead of First Windows 8 Event, Windows 7 Breaks 30% Worldwide Usage :: Softpedia
Make Windows 7 Library Management Easier Using Librarian – Part I :: Help Desk Geek
Windows 7 SP1 Fix Available for USB Audio Devices That Stop Playing :: Softpedia

News for Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Download Opera 11.51 Final :: Softpedia
Download Top 4 Free Productivity Utilities for Windows 7 :: Zahipoint
Enable Full Context Menu in Windows 7 When Multiple Files Are Selected :: Softpedia
Fragmentation within the NTFS filesystem :: ZDNet UK
How Can I Get Back the Windows 7 Classic Start Menu? :: Caripanduan
How to Get Better Performance from Windows 7 :: Easy Driver Pro
How to Install Windows 7 without Losing Previous Data :: It's a Gadget
How to Repair a Faulty Windows Installation Without Reformatting :: Maximum PC
Operating System Install Check List :: Tech in Style
PCmover Named Best Migration Software :: TMC Net
Using RoboCopy :: Windows 7 News