Windows 7 -> Windows 8: Transition Simplified

Question

  My assumption is that many of the people on this website are viewing it from a computer running Windows 7. I can also safely assume that many of you have upgraded from Vista or XP to Windows 7 and remember the tedious process of program and file migration. Re-running countless installation discs to get your programs (which may rely on data that's not immediately included in the install location), re-downloading clients (for messengers for example), which are compatible with the new OS (especially with XP to Windows 7), re-configuring folders, the list goes on.

  Although it's not a major problem, it's a bit of a set-back if you're on a set timeline and it makes OS updating a bit of a bothersome process. This brings us to a common question among people today, "What if?" What if we could migrate some programs, files and folders to the new OS while for others, we could update the programs for compatibility, *all during the installation process? Although not a necessity (because of the almighty windows.old), how would it hurt, and how would it help? I honestly can't see it hurting anything too drastically. Maybe require a bit more work on the developers' part. But how would it help? It would save countless of PCs countless of hours transferring files, and folders, and programs, etc.

  That's from a home user point of view. What about someone using their PC for business? Windows 8 knows how to understand programs made for older versions of Windows. Migrate all of the programs necessary for their business to the new installation and then what? Go right back to work like nothing ever happened.

  What about drivers? Who's to say this couldn't apply to drivers as well? I'm sure Windows Update knows a thing or two about drivers, as my touch-pad scrolls and I haven't installed a driver since the update (Intel integrated graphics drivers worked like magic after the installation as well, although real graphics may not have).

  This is just a thought in my mind. I know I'd love to see it implemented (many others likely would as well), but even if it isn't, I'd like to be heard and I'd like to discuss it with other people who would be affected by the matter.

* - Not speaking in terms of while the CD is in and the OS installation is in action, but more in the immediate, post-state after Windows is installed

Answer 1

Actually, there could be some problems with updating programs during the installation process. For example, depending on what kind of update to a program or driver needs to be installed, it could prevent the Windows upgrade from working properly.

Are you familiar with the Upgrade install, which installs a new Windows version while keeping old files, some old settings, and old programs? This does not involve "the tedious process of file migration."

Besides, older programs should be updated before the OS upgrade, though they can be updated after the upgrade if necessary. Updating them during the installation, however, could be a recipe for disaster. Many programs rely on components that might be affected by a Windows upgrade, and trying to update the program and the OS at the same time could cause problems. Microsoft already has an Upgrade Advisor designed to check program compatibilty.

Imagine installing Windows. The PC reboots. It displays a screen, telling you that it's updating your programs. Then:

"Error. One or more programs installed on your PC could not be updated. Installation aborted."

$200 down the drain if you don't know exactly what you're doing or where to turn off the update option.

Are you talking about upgrade installations or buying a new PC? I assume you're talking about Windows installation, as buying a new PC is a completely differnet scenario altogether.

Answer 2

  It really all depends on how it's handled. There are many of ways it could be done. Have it so you choose what you want during the installation at a certain point, and everything's stored safely, and whatever you choose to be rid of is removed. Then after the OS installation, you can choose to initialize the installation of the programs and drivers once connected to the internet.

  I had to remain general on my primary statements of the process to allow different interpretations as it can make things easier. But basically, anything that would work and migrate/update the programs/files/folders/drivers, is what I was intending to get to. But I do see where it could have been worded better with the "during installation" part of what I said.

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I'm James, age 17 and I AM a PC. 95-98-XP-Vista-XP-7

Answer 3

I just saw the update you added to the original post...

You think that this updating process should happen after the upgrade. Here's my question - how is that any different from what we have now? The most the installer could do would be to point the user to a website to download an update - and this is something that most people who buy Windows by itself would know how to do without any extra software. If you really wanted to impelment your idea of the installer actually updating the programs themselves, we are nowhere near the point where this would be possible. Users run many programs on their computers, and apart from a few big-name third-party programs, Microsoft probably would not know that they existed. While it might be possible for the installer to install the latest updates to Firefox, could the same be said of a program from a smaller vendor that only a small percentage of Windows users have? In my opinion, it would be best to just use a "check compatibilty" option like the one on the Windows XP CD. The Upgrade Advisor would check program compatbility, and it could tell the user if a program needed to be updated.

A Windows installer could cause tons of problems if it, for example, tries to apply an update that isn't quite right.

How would an installer update prevent this scenario of updating programs and using CD's? Are you referring to a clean install, which this would require? An upgrade installation is already designed to prevent this.

Answer 4

  With the programs that it would update, I'm not talking every program that you decide you'd wish to transfer. With that, I'm talking more programs that are made by Microsoft or other companies which Microsoft has a partnership with. As for smaller vendors' programs as you mentioned, an update may not be necessary for it to be compatible with Windows 8. The main thing I was thinking about when it came to that was the Windows Live Messenger update with Windows 7 from Windows XP. It's by Microsoft and if internet connectivity is active, then it wouldn't seem for it to be a drastic dilemma for it to fetch the compatible installer from the server and install it. I know I've got many of programs from small vendors and with transferring them from XP to Windows 7, I had no problems with them running normally because of the compatibility mode. And with products from Adobe, I'm sure that Adobe wouldn't have too many issues with throwing a file transfer location Microsoft's way for people to update their software if they provided an update for it. This could be true with other programs/companies, but you wouldn't really know too surely unless it were looked into more.

  With the installer updating programs that were installed from a CD, (don't quote me on this one because I have limited understanding of computers and English) Windows should have at least a couple of clues as to what changes were done during the installation of a program (to the registry, remote file locations, etc.) and maybe slide them over to the new installation once it's been complete. Just a theory of mine.

  And as for the "check compatibility" statement you made, I have absolutely no disagreements on that.

....

 

Did I just help with making Windows 8 awesome or something?!


Do I get a commercial?! Holy shit! That would be awesome...

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I'm James, age 17 and I AM a PC. 95-98-XP-Vista-XP-7