Last week, I upgraded one of my home computers to Windows 7. The upgrade went quite smoothly. The computer was running Windows Vista Home Premium, so I didn’t have to do any major work. (I’m not sure who at Microsoft chooses the desktop backgrounds, but some of them are somewhat disturbing. There’s nothing bad about them; they’re just highly unusual.)

For users who are running an older version of the operating system, such as XP, a clean installation is required. Clean installations require you to do a complete backup of your data before you perform any upgrades. Once the upgrade is complete, you can transfer your files back to the upgraded computer.

Drivers Aplenty

Not every hardware manufacturer released drivers for Windows 7 ahead of the product launch, and a few manufacturers have released lists of products that will (or will not) be supported under Windows 7. HP hasn’t yet released any printer drivers and says that its older printer products will have “limited” support. Generally, HP printers that don’t already have a Vista driver aren’t likely to get a driver that’s Windows 7-compatible, leaving even popular older models out in the rain.

For some users, that will mean upgrading the printer. There are several low-cost printers on the market today, including some nice multi-function and mono laser printers. Driver availability aside, often the cost of refurbishing older printers (with a new photo drum and toner cartridge) will exceed the cost of buying a new printer.

Manufacturers are much more likely to provide driver support for newer printers, too. There’s at least an even chance that you’ll find something that works just as well as what you’ve got for less money than you think, so if your old printer isn’t supported, do the research on replacing it with a newer model. Before you buy, however, verify with the manufacturer that a Windows 7-compatible driver will be available for the printer you select.

For the most part, the feedback on the migration to Windows 7 has been pretty good. No migration is without problems, but the volume of complaints from users is noticeably lower than it was when Vista first appeared on the market. In general, consumers are happy with the product and are finding that the most common drivers they need are readily available. That’s a big leap forward for most Windows users. If you’re still planning to stick with XP, you’ll be able to order new computers with a downgrade license for the next few months. After that, you’re likely to be on your own.

Photo Credit: Barron Fujimoto, via Flickr