Ever since Microsoft launched Windows 7, there’s been a lot of discussion about the best way of installing the new operating system: the clean install...
Ever since Microsoft launched Windows 7, there’s been a lot of discussion about the best way of installing the new operating system: the clean install or the upgrade option. Short of buying a new computer with Windows 7 pre-installed, the upgrade may seem like the easiest choice, however, the clean install option proves to be the most efficient in terms of PC performance and responsiveness.
With a clean install, users have to save their files, wipe their hard disk, and install Windows 7 on an empty hard disk. Then they have to reinstall their programs, and set up everything the way they want it. With an upgrade, users have to insert the Windows 7 disc and let it automatically update their running Vista system, keeping all of their preexisting files and settings. However, if users are running Windows XP, they are out of luck since Microsoft does not allow the in-place upgrade to Windows 7.
The clean install option provides the smoothest transition to Windows 7. It prevents any old applications or settings from ruining your new Windows 7 installation. There is no doubt that the upgrade install is the most hassle-free solution since users just have to insert the Windows 7 disc and let it do all of the work. However, upgrading will actually leave junk on your PC, like orphaned Vista files and unnecessary applications, which aren’t of any use to Windows 7 and slow down your computer. By wiping the hard disk and starting fresh, users are able to rid their computer of all of the unnecessary files and data from the older operating system to optimize their Windows 7 performance.
When testing the difference in performance for Windows 7 between the upgrade and the clean install methods, TuneUp found that, with a clean install, Windows 7 takes only about half the time to boot up and performed 10–30 percent faster than Vista or the 7 upgrade. Specifically, these tests found that it took over two minutes to boot up a PC using the original Vista Home Premium system, 23 seconds less using an upgrade install of Windows 7, and 53 seconds less than using a clean install of Windows 7. That’s a thirty-second difference between the upgrade and clean install of Windows 7. So for those who get frustrated with slow response times, laggy applications, and long start-up times, this can make a huge difference.
It was clear in other tests as well that the clean install provides much faster response times. In shutting down your PC, the clean install performed nearly 20 percent faster than the upgrade install and almost 50 percent faster than Vista. When measuring application performance, the clean install took 27 percent less time when starting Outlook and 33 percent less time when opening Internet Explorer, compared to the upgrade. Additionally, when looking at processor performance, the Windows 7 upgrade took more than a minute longer than the clean install to compress an 11.09 GB file into a ZIP file. Based on these findings, the clean install certainly outperforms the upgrade when migrating to Microsoft’s latest operating system.
If, for some reason, the clean install is not an option, then, to make the upgrade process as smooth as possible, the computer should be fully optimized and cleaned up by removing any unnecessary programs, defragmenting the hard disk, and saving all data. Although an upgrade moves all the programs and files over, it’s always better to play it safe and backup any important files (mail, documents, music, etc.) to an external hard drive.
Microsoft published the “Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor” to help in the migration process. This tool inspects the computer’s hardware and software, and identifies what is going to work and what is not during the switch. For the things that aren’t going to work, it also offers some useful advice.
The first step is to check if the computer is capable of running Windows 7. If the Upgrade Advisor mentions a possible incompatibility, the hardware or software manufacturer’s Web site may have an updated driver or program patch that ensures Windows 7 compatibility. However, this situation is rare as nearly all of the hardware and software that worked with Windows Vista will work with Windows 7 since the underlying architecture did not significantly change.
So for those running Windows XP, all hope is not lost. Users of this operating system can use the Windows EasyTransfer assistant, which automatically moves any personal files, important settings in Windows and Office, browser favorites, and email to a DVD or an external hard disk. Then, once Windows 7 has been installed, all of the data loaded to the external device may be re-imported and used with the new operating system. However, all programs still need to be reinstalled, and EasyTransfer does not transfer any e-mail from Outlook Express. These settings would have to be backed up by hand.
The upgrade option of Windows 7 may sound like an easy time-saver; however, as the performance tests show, the clean install is an all-around better choice. It helps avoid transferring any mess or clutter from old operating systems and gives the computer a fresh start for increased performance and responsiveness. For more tips, check out http://blog.tune-up.com/.
