Sunday, August 9, 2009

Windows 7 RTM 64-bit install on a DELL XPS 1330

I opted to install the final RTM on my XPS 1330 as a new install.  Moving from 32-bit to 64-bit does not allow for a direct upgrade.

My primary worry was my Virtual Machine running in Windows 7 RC….but i didn’t think to resume them and take them out of hibernation (my only mistake in my upgrade).

So…if you are making the move to the new RTM, make sure you log into any hibernated Virtual PC’s and shut them down.

Steps I took:

  1. Backup really important stuff…cause you never knowimage
  2. Made a DVD from the Win7 ISO.  I had to do a install from a DVD as it did not let me do an install from Disk because i was going from 32 to 64
  3. Rebooted the XPS 1330 and booted with the Win7 64Bit DVD
  4. During the Win 7 install, it asks you what partition to install too.  It took the opportunity to clean up my Dell Factory shipped Partitions.
  5. Install went from 11:12pm to 12:20am.  At that point i joined my WiFi Network and ran Windows Update.
  6. Installed Microsoft Security Essentials (64-bit) – Virus protection is important :)
  7. Downloaded the latest Windows 7 nVidia drivers nVidia here: http://www.nvidia.com/object/geforce_notebook_win7_x64_186.03_whql.html
  8. Installed Office 2007 Enterprise, Project, Visio, Sharepoint Designer, Windows Live Suite.
  9. Setup my Fingerprint to log into my new fresh Windows 7 Ultimate!

From this base installation, i then added my development support…

  1. Installed Virtual PC from Here http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx
  2. Tested my Virtual PC’s…they failed due to the hibernation issue mentioned earlier.  After it deleted the hibernation files, they booted perfectly.  Virtual PCs include:  Windows Server 2008 with MOSS 2007/Visual Studio 2008/SQL Server 2008, Windows XP
  3. Installed Windows 7 RTM 32-bit client as a Virtual PC
  4. Installed Office 2010 on the Win7 Virtual PC
  5. Tested integration…works like a charm.

Other software that i installed that worked were:

  • DVDFab 6 – to copy DVD’s – a great way to keep our DVD library disks away from the kids and have them all on Media Center
  • iTunes with QuickTime – iPhone still syncs
  • VirtualCloneCD – virtual DVD’s (ISO’s) still mount
  • Skype
  • Reconnected my bluetooth devices – iPhone (for tethering), MS Presenter Mouse 8000 (for great presentations).

Next for the upgrade

  • Toshiba M200 Tablet PC
  • HP tx1000 Notebook
  • HP Pavilion Slimline s3330f Desktop (our media center)

If there is anyone interested in the results of those upgrades, let me know.