Prepare carefully before installing new software

In a recent Good Boot I mentioned Microsoft offers Web sites for hardware/software compatibility, software/device downloads and a Windows Upgrade Advisor. All available to help you prepare for a Windows 7 installation.

In this Good Boot I want to be more specific about the preparation you should consider to insure your software is Windows 7 compatible. Particularly if you’ll be upgrading from XP to Windows 7.

I suggest you expeditiously begin a hunt for your stash of program CD’s and backup the programs you’ve downloaded to an external hard drive or jump drive. There’s nothing more frustrating than discovering during a program reinstallation exercise you’re missing an installation CD, a proof of upgrade CD or one of your downloaded programs.

I misspeak. Not having all your program registration numbers handy or discovering after you’ve reformatted your hard drive you forgot to deactivate a program that requires you to do so before it can be re activated on a new computer “IS” as frustrating.

Note: If you plan on upgrading to Windows 7 on your current computer, it’s best to reformat your hard drive and perform a clean Windows 7 install.

Although you might want to take advantage of Microsoft’s Windows 7 software compatibility Web site, I want to make you aware of an additional and in my opinion a quicker way to determine software compatibility. Particularly if you’re an XPer.

Go to www.revouninstaller.com and download Revo’s “free” uninstaller. Besides being an excellent deep clean uninstall program it has an extraordinary feature - the ability to obtain information on any installed program.

When Revo opens it presents all your installed programs. By right clicking on any one of the programs, Revo will:
* Initiate a Google search for a program’s parent company.
* Open a program’s Update Link.
* Open a Program’s About Link.

I suggest because Revo provides a one stop, in your face list of all your installed programs and a convenient way to access their Web sites, your chances of obtaining a program’s most current Windows 7 compatibility status, if there’s a free download to make it compatible or if you must purchase an upgrade is superior to even Microsoft’s Web site.

And you know I have to nag you.

Please consider having a qualified technician set up your new computer or upgrade you current computer. Believe me, knowing your new or current computer is tweaked to do all it can do is worth a few dollars.

Here’s wishing you a Good Boot.