Apple lovers will love this, but likely not be able to endure reading the entire post (it’s way too long). After a half dozen failed attempts (beginning on the day Windows 7 was released last October) and subsequent multiple malware attacks that left my Dell XPS M1330 running worse than ever, I finally bit the bullet and did the “custom” install of Windows 7, essentially wiping out all my old programs.
The process took about two days and I have yet to load my printer drivers. But it worked, and so far there are no problems.
Although the Apple iPad is getting all the hype this week, I am truly content after years of Vista Misery, finally to have a fast, clean and fun PC operating again. I can retire my way-too-tiny Acer netbook to the closet as my backup system should the Dell fail me again. And, even though I still want an Apple, I can delay that pricey purchase until 2010 models are released after the iPad hysteria wears thin.
Preparation
First I did a CD backup of my iTunes library (why Apple allows only backing to obsolete CDs is odd). It probably wasn’t necessary, as I can sync back from my iPod Touch, but I did it anyway. Then I deactivated my iTunes account.
Previously I copied all my data files to two remote hard drives. As I don’t store data in the annoying “My Documents” folder, I did not use the Windows utility for this, but could have.
Then I checked to see that I could replace all the software that I was about to zap. Dell, thankfully had sent DVDs of Office 2007. I located DVDs of the remaining few Microsoft products that I still use.
I logged onto my Adobe customer account and confirmed that I could download Photoshop and Lightroom, and then copied the registration keys into a text document. As Photoshop is an upgrade, I found the original software with its key, as I knew I’d be prompted for it.
For all other software that I purchased online, I located the email that contained the activation or registration keys and copied those into a text file. My big concerns were Photomatix and the Topaz Labs Photoshop bundle.
I uninstalled a few larger programs just to make certain I have enough disk space, as the custom Windows 7 option would creates a massive windows.old folder. As a last touch, I defragmented my hard drive. Oh, I also dug out the encryption key for my wireless router.
I never figured out how to move the massive .pst Outlook file, so I deleted most old email and forwarded the important stuff to my Gmail account. I did the same with my contacts.
Installation
Based on reading multiple forums and websites, I knew there were two options to do a custom install. As remnants of the malware prevented me from reformatting my hard drive, I opted for the Microsoft approved method, which would create that windows.old folder, for which I had absolutely no use, except for reference purposes before removing it.
I did know that I had to reboot my laptop and run the setup program to boot from the DVD drive only. That worked.
The installation, although slow, ran without a hitch.
Yet each time a reboot occurred I held my breath, fully expecting the installation to abort for no discernable reason, as it did a half dozen times before when I attempted the less destructive upgrade option. To my relief and later delight, it worked. After I typed in the license key, I had Windows 7 up and running!
Recovery I
After playing around with the new features (bells & whistles) I took a long lunch break and pumped a little iron, as I knew the bulk of the real work remained.
As with anything Microsoft, I knew I best first update Windows 7. I located my wireless connection and when prompted, typed in my lengthy encryption key. First snag – no luck it would not give me access to the internet.
I ran the Windows Network Diagnostics. Surprisingly it actually gave me some useful information: an IRQ conflict with another device. I shut down my Acer Netbook and to my surprise, after attempting to reconnect to the wireless router, I had the internet! I’ll never know or care what the real problem was as now both the Dell and the Acer work together with the router.
Driver Problems. Oddly I opened Solitaire and it prompted that a graphics accelerator was not working properly, so I knew I had to download a new driver. And I had no sound – a very common problem after a Windows Upgrade.
I googled both of these issues and found no real fix for my specific problem. Then I went to Dell support and logged onto my account which maintains a record of my XPS hardware configuration and recommended driver updates.
I selected Windows 7 as my operating system and was surprised to see no new driver for the display or sound system. I searched in the Dell forums finding one solution was to simply reload the Vista Drivers. Having no other options, I downloaded the NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS Display adaptor and Sigma Tel High Definition Audio CODEC. Then simply double-clicked the exe file and the drivers loaded with no problem. After a restart I had sound and a working graphics card! So far, so good!
Next I activated Windows 7, which worked without a hitch. Then I download Windows Security Essentials to make certain I had a firewall and virus protection. Finally I did a Windows 7 update and it downloaded a few hundred megabytes of updates.
After a restart, I played a bit more and customized a few setting to my liking and took a big sigh of relief. After years of annoyance with Vista and months of frustrations with attempted upgrades, I had a clean, fast and fun machine again.
Recovery II
Office 2007. Now I had to make my fun little laptop usable again. First Task – get Office loaded. It worked flawlessly as it should. After I keyed in my license, I immediately activated it and then updated the entire suite. No problems.
Email accounts. Outlook 2007 is a tad better at this. If you have your email address and password for POP/SMTP accounts Outlook will attempt to find the correct incoming and outgoing servers and port addresses. It worked with my (soon to be history) ReadHosting accounts, but I had to manually input the data into my new BlueHost account. It’s always good to keep the name and port number of the servers, as they are not always standard.
Missing Browsers. Of course the only browser I had was Explorer. No matter, I bounced around to familiar sites and set my home page to My Yahoo just to confirm everything was working. It was, and there was a noticeable improvement in speed. Next I downloaded Firefox, Chrome and Safari. All worked fine and all seemed cleaner and faster with Windows 7.
Adobe Products. Adobe has the best online stores out there. All you need is your registered email address and password and you have access to all your purchases and license keys, and the ability to download your products as needed. Again, if you purchased and upgrade online, you will need the original registration key from the product that you upgrade from. I downloaded Photoshop, Lightroom, Acrobat and Elements in less than a half hour and had them all up and running effortlessly.
Photomatix and Topaz Labs Photoshop Bundle. Photomatix is the leading HDR Software and Topaz provides really cool plugins for Photoshop. It’s a good idea to keep all your product registration keys in one place, with your user name and passwords, if required.
iTunes and QuickTime. After a fast download I was able to activate my account without effort. In retrospect it was a waste of time making the CD backups as when I synched my iPod Touch it would have done the same without all the misery of moving data from too many CDs. Shame on Apple for not have a better method. I’m not a QuickTime fan and only use it when nothing else works, or if in iTunes (like I have a choice).
There are probably a dozen more programs that I need to load, but will do so as needed. Frankly, I am not a Windows geek. Yet had I not had a certain level of experience (much of it based on past Windows misery), there is no way in hell I would have been able to pull this off. Shame on Microsoft.
At Peace At Last!
I am so happy to have a fast clean and working PC again. I can now delay a pricey Apple MacBook purchase until new 2010 models are released. I’ll give Microsoft a last reprieve as Windows 7 is up and running and new enough to be mildly entertaining. But I will likely never buy a new PC again.
I am intrigued by the new iPad, but will only buy the cheapest wireless version with the smallest storage. With full color, I think it will be a Kindle killer and a good home and travel based browser where Wi-Fi is available.
I’m not giving up my iPod Touch at this time. And I am stuck with my Blackberry Tour until the contract expires in a year or so. I really don’t like the tiny keyboard and screen but it works great for email and voice about anywhere in the world.
Life would be so simple if there were one device that did it all. Don’t hold your breath!
Now it is back to WordPress. I have to migrate this site and composites-by-design to BlueHost (which will make them much faster). I still have major design and content improvements to do. And I have to launch carbonboy.us which will become a secure website to showcase and sell these alleged cool carbon fiber products that I am (a bit too slowly) developing.
It will be a busy spring – yet one major headache is now past. I am happy!
