Win7 on XP

[Aru]

I need to install 64bit win7 on my 32bit winXP PC.
Problems:

1. Is it true I need to do a clean install, that is, it will format my hard drive? Is there no way not to lose everything? I have too much data to preserve and not enough space on my 200GB external HD, which is already mostly filled. It's long and boring to reorganize and transfer everything.

2. I have home network with another PC and a laptop with winXP 32bit. Will there be problem reestablishing the network with win7 system? I can't install 7 on those computers, laptop is too weak and it's unnecessary and the other computer is my main work PC with all sorts of programs I need for work and everything is too fragile and important to touch. I connect to the internet via router and wireless network and I suppose there shouldn't be so much problem with that at least.

3. But what is really important and worries me is file sharing. I use some programs I work with from the other PC via file sharing. Any experience with file sharing between XP and 7?

I would never switch, but 32bit system is becoming useless and is a waste of my PC's capabilities. I want to play some games that need 64bit.

[Jaketh]

1.Yes you need to do a clean install, there is no upgrade path from XP to 7
2.You should not have any issues networking your computer with windows 7, networks generally dont care what OS your PC is running.
3.You wont be able to use windows 7 homegroup feature with another windows xp computer but you can still do file sharing.

[Aru]

1.Yes you need to do a clean install, there is no upgrade path from XP to 7
2.You should not have any issues networking your computer with windows 7, networks generally dont care what OS your PC is running.
3.You wont be able to use windows 7 homegroup feature with another windows xp computer but you can still do file sharing.

1. Crap, so I have to do tedious work of storing, restoring, redownloading and reinstalling everything I have and find all the CD's with drivers and papers/saved e-mails with license keys and stuff. I hate it already.

2. Great. I format/replace computer every two years or so and I forget every time how to reestablish wireless connection and home network. Last thing I need is more problems with that.

3. All I need is to have file sharing access to the other PC's hard drive (so that it's listed among my disc drives in 'my computer' and I can access it). It's important I can do that. Stupid program I use for work can be networked only that way.

Thanks for help.

[Jaketh]

1.Yeah thats always the fun part of a clean install is driver hunting, luckily Windows Update on Windows 7 is fantastic about finding the correct drivers for most of everything on your computer, so you shouldn't spend much time driver hunting.
2.The method of how you connect is slightly different but other then that its simple.
3.Once you setup the Windows 7 to allow file sharing and you have shared folders set in windows XP you should be able to file share between the two computers.

[Bolkonsky]

Follow this tutorial:
http://windows.microsoft.com/is-IS/w...p-to-windows-7

[Condottiere 40K]

At best, find a colleague who has a spare HDD to dump your data files. At worst, buy a new HDD, prices have dropped slightly. You can compromise by buying a second hand one to either dump the data, or install the 64bit OS, and whatever game you're favouring at the moment (assuming you're going the SSD route or buying a small HDD).

Not that I would advocate this, you could partition your existing HDD, format the new partition appropriate to the new OS, and continue on from there.