If you prepare to upgrade your computer operating system from Windows XP to Windows 7; then there would be a lot of problems you should pay attention to. Not only you should plan to shift the operating systems, but you should know about Windows 7 as much as possible. The following are 10 advises for the windows XP update users.

1: Check the Configuration

If your windows XP computer is purchased during the past 3 or 4 years, then you can run the windows 7 systems. Of course, you’d better use Microsoft's Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor software to test the compatibility of the computer.

Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor can check the computer's processor, memory, storage and graphics capabilities to determine the known compatibility issues, and check the installation of the software and equipment to provide guidance on how to solve these problems.

If you plan to upgrade Windows XP to 7, you also need to download the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit. It can be run through the network, and the users do not need to install the client. Microsoft Assessment and allocation tools can solve the compatibility and preparatory as well as the issues relate to hardware.

2: Custom Installation

Windows XP users can not upgrade to Windows 7 directly. Microsoft only provides the so called "custom install" upgrade for XP users. XP users must delete all the files on the hard drive before upgrading the current computer operating system to 7. The hard disk cleaning process can be done manually by the users or automatically during the installation process. Microsoft recommends the XP users:

"Custom installation gives you such a choice: Clear all the current operating system, or install the windows in other disk. If your computer has not installed the operating system, or you plan to install multiple operating systems, you can also self- custom installation."

3: Install Dual System

You can choose to install dual system (Windows XP and Windows 7) taking the custom installation into account. That would be very convenient to shift data, settings and programs. Specifically, you can first check the Windows XP system settings, and then Windows 7 to re-setup program. When Windows 7 and Windows XP set the same, you can remove Windows XP, and then set the Windows 7 as the main operating system.

4: Backup

You should backup the whole data before the shift. If you are using a third-party backup program, you should check whether the program is compatible with Windows 7. If not, you may use the backup tool that comes with Windows XP. Since the file formats of the XP backup tool are not compatible with Windows Vista's Backup and Restore Center, Microsoft released Windows NT backup and recovery tool, which is compatible with Windows Vista, and therefore compatible with Windows 7.

If you do not trust these tools, you can also burn all the data to CDs or copy them to other hard disks. And there is one thing that you should pay attention to is that some games in the computer can not be copied directly as other common data, which are protected by the manufactures. In such cases, the game copy software is indispensible and helpful for the game transformation. What’s more, if you copy such games to another CD, you’ll don’t need to worry about the original games CD cracked or lost. If anything bad happens, the backup one is at hand.

5: Data Shift

Microsoft also provides an upgrade tool as Windows Easy Transfer. The tool can transfer the documentation, system configuration, data and software settings for the XP users.

However, the users have to reinstall the software when upgrading to the new system. Meanwhile, the system files such as the custom fonts and drivers and so on can not be transferred through this tool. So it is necessary to download drivers if the new system cannot be run in good condition.

6: Program Lists

Since Windows XP can not be upgraded to Windows 7 directly, you need to re-install the application programs. Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor can provide you with a detailed list of the installed programs (XP), and will provide the download sites for these programs.

7: Familiar with the New User Interface

The interface of Windows 7 is very different from that of Windows XP. In order to use the new Windows 7 features, you should know the all-new user interface. You can first visit the official website for Microsoft's Windows 7 details.

Here are the key parts you need to know:

Enter the (Windows 7) function page, and watch the video provided by Microsoft; then go into the Help and How-to page, Microsoft Windows 7 will explain the relevant features in details.

8: Check the XP Mode Support

If you find some of the Windows XP programs can not compatible with Windows 7, or you want to continue using Windows XP program, you can use the Windows 7 in XP mode. XP mode includes a free license of Windows XP SP3 system, which can be a virtual platform for Windows 7 to run on Windows Virtual PC.

The following two points should be paid attention when using XP mode:

* Only Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate edition allocated with XP mode;

* Computer processor should support virtualization technology.

9. Ask Questions

You're not the only user to upgrade Windows XP to 7, so you can consult the other XP users. And the pages of Microsoft selected plans have provided with the relevant answers to the questions.

10: Subscribe to Windows Vista and Windows 7 Report

Some websites regularly publish Windows Vista and Windows 7 technical reports, the users who have interests can subscribe to these services.