Articles in Category: Upgrades and Migration

A photorealistic image of a crisp, clear Windows logo on its screen with the international 'no' symbol, a red circle with a diagonal line, overlaid on top of it.

How Do I Uninstall Windows?

After trying the latest version of Windows, you might find that it’s not your cup of tea. What then? Well, it’s not really an “uninstall”… it’s more of a replacement.

Even so, this computer can run Windows 10

How Do I Tell If My Computer Meets Windows 10 Minimum Requirements?

It would be good to know if your computer meets Windows 10 minimum requirements before installation. I have a recommendation on how to proceed.

Windows 10

Can I Copy Windows 10 System Files to Another Drive?

Copying, moving, and licensing Windows 10 isn’t nearly as simple as we might like.

64-bit OS

How Do I Upgrade Windows from 32-bit to 64-bit?

If you have a 64-bit capable machine, you may want to upgrade from 32-bit Windows to 64. Unfortunately, the upgrade, while quite possible, isn’t easy.

Windows Setup - Type of installation

How Do I Upgrade Windows When I Can’t Actually “Upgrade”?

Unfortunately an upgrade isn’t always an upgrade, sometimes it’s a complete replacement.

Go Back to Windows 7

Four Ways to Go Back to Windows 7 or 8 from Windows 10

Windows 10 is here. If, after trying it, you find yourself wanting to go back to Windows 7, there are a few approaches.

Time to Upgrade!

What’s the Best Way to Upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7?

A clean install is going to get you a cleaner operating system.

Insert Disc

Does my Windows upgrade disc require that I have the previous operating system installed?

What I’d do first is just try it. If that doesn’t work then we’ll have to dig a little deeper to find a solution for you.

Moving

How do I migrate to a new machine?

Moving to a new operating system is rarely “seamless”. But if you go about it step by step you’ll end up with a stable system that will last for years.

Copying Data

Can I Combine Two Drives into One?

You can put whatever you want on your new computer; it’s just a matter of transferring the data and organizing it!

I reinstalled Windows and lost a file on my desktop, what can I do?

When you reinstall an operating system it overwrites everything on your computer. If you didn’t backup a file, you are going to have a hard time finding it.

Photo Collection

Why did my pictures disappear?

Think of your computer’s hard drive as a temporary solution for any files. It’s not a matter of if things will disappear, but when. Regular readers can guess what I’m going to say next…

Tools

Can I Move an Installed Program from One Drive to Another?

The key is in understanding how a program is set up. If you had to run a setup wizard to install the program, then you will need to set it up again on a new drive.

64bit Operating System

Should I upgrade to a 64-bit operating system?

You may want to switch to 64-bit just for the speed that comes from being able to use all of the RAM on your computer. Ultimately, it comes down to what you use your machine for and your own time and resources.

Windows 98

How do I remove a failed Windows XP install?

Installing a new operating system wipes the old files out with no path for reconstruction. I’ll give you three options for moving forward.

Will it cause a problem if Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant warns me that a program is incompatible, but it works?

It’s hard to know what the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant is looking for when it gives an upgrade warning. It may be a serious problem, it may only be flagging incompatibility with other Windows 8 programs.

Back Up!

Do You Recommend a Transfer Cable for Transferring Files from My Old Computer to My New One?

Transferring information from an old computer to a new one is a problem we all face every so often. I’ll touch on a couple of approaches, and then describe what I do, and recommend.