Windows XP to Windows 7 Migration Self-Study Guide

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With so much work going on for customers to get off Windows XP due to the coming "end of support" date for it (on 4/8/2014 per the Microsoft Product Support Lifecycle), it made sense to me to put out a quick self-study guide on the guidance from Microsoft related to this topic. This may not be of interest to everyone who is looking for guides related to our newest products, but given its critical nature I hope it can provide some needed guidance for those customers who are beginning to think about how to upgrade their client infrastructures.

For those of you wondering why I am not including Windows 8 in this guide, I have not done so because as of this writing our newest client operating system has not yet been released. In fact, the available guidance around an XP to Windows 8 upgrade is virtually nonexistent as of this writing, as this article from Computerworld magazine describes. Because of these reasons, I've decided to focus exclusively in this post on the XP to Windows 7 that so many customers are currently focused on. Hopefully it's useful for you.

Microsoft Virtual Academy

Deploying Windows 7
- Windows 7 Deployment Methods and Technologies
- Preparing the Environment for a Windows 7 Deployment
- Create a Windows 7 Image
- Update a Windows 7 Image
- Deploy a Windows 7 Image
- Migrate Computers to Windows 7
- Configure and Manage Application Compatibility
- Light Touch Installation using Windows Deployment Services (WDS)
- Deploy using System Center Configuration Manager
- Create and Manage Windows PE environment
- Manage Deployments with Microsoft Deployment Toolkit
- IE 9

Videos and Webcasts

Windows XP to Windows 7 Migration
- Intro
- Collect, Analyze, and Test
- Remediate Applications - Fix
- Remediate Applications - Virtualize
- Deploy Operating System
Windows XP Migration to Windows 7 RC using MDT Beta 1
- Part 1: The OS Install
- Part 2: How to Build It
Migrating from Windows XP to Windows 7 Beta with Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 Beta
Dual Boot Between Windows XP and Windows 7
Windows 7 XP Mode User Experience
Migration from Windows XP to Windows 7
Windows 7 Compatibility: Evaluation and Remediation
Windows 7 Deployment: Everything (well almost everything) you wanted to know about Application Compatibility but were afraid to ask
Using the Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.6
- Part 1 - Configuring The Application Toolkit 5.6
- Part 2 - Collecting Inventory and Compatibility Data
- Part 3 - Organizing Inventory by Assigning Categories and Priorities
- Part 4 - Creating a Custom Solution
- Part 5 - Exploring the Compatibility Administrator (32-bit)
- Part 6 - Installing a Custom Patch using SDBINST Tool
Get Set Go: Microsoft Windows XP to Windows 7 Migration in 3 Easy Steps
Windows XP to Windows 7: Local P2V Migration using MDT 2010 and SysInternals Disk2VHD
Thrive Live! Migrating Windows XP to Windows 7 Using Windows Easy Transfer and USMT
Automating Windows 7 Deployment
Windows Firestarter Events: Migrating Windows XP to Windows 7: Get it done!
IT Manager Webcast: Technical Talks with Tim Vander Kooi - Windows 7: Application Compatibility
TechNet Webcast: Talk TechNet with Keith Combs and Matt Hester - Episode 41: Windows 7 with Rhonda Layfield
User State Migration Tool (USMT) Videos
- How Do I: Transfer User Settings with the User State Migration Tool 4.0?
- Migrate WinXP to Win7 Using USMT (User State Migration Tool)
- Exploring the User State Migration Tool (USMT) 4.0
- A Geek's Guide to Windows User State Migration Tool 4.0
Microsoft Deployment Toolkit - Building Install Media for Windows 7
Advanced Deployment Scenarios using the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010
- Part 1 - Reviewing the Available Options in the Deployment Workbench
- Part 2 - Create and Explore the Configuration Database
- Part 3 - Configuring Role Methods in the Configuration Database
- Part 4 - Configuring Other Methods in the Configuration Database
- Part 5 - Configuring the Deployment Point to Use the Configuration Database
- Part 6 - Using Linked Deployment Points
- Part 7 - Custom Edit the Deployment Wizard to Add a New Page
Windows 7 Deployment
- Part 1 - Introduction to Deployment
- Part 2 - Deployment Tools
- Part 3 - MDT 2010 Deployment Process
- Part 4 - Step 1: Gather Required Software
- Part 5 - Step 2: Prepare the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 Environment
- Part 6 - Step 3: Create the Reference Computer
- Part 7 - Step 4: Deploy Windows 7 and Capture Reference Computer Image
- Part 8 - Step 5: Deploy Windows 7 to Target Computer
TechNet Simulcast: Automating Your Windows 7 Deployment with MDT 2010
Deploying Windows 7 with Windows Deployment Services
Basic Windows 7 Deployment
Bare Metal Installation of Windows 7
Windows XP to Windows 7 Using a USB Drive
- Part 1 - Creating a USB Deployment Share
- Part 2 - Adding Applications, OS and Packages
- Part 3 - Creating a Task Sequence
- Part 4 - Making the USB Drive Bootable
- Part 5 - Copying the MDT Files to USB Drive
Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit Demo:
- Simplify Windows 7 & Internet Explorer migrations with MAP
- Using MDT to Quickly and Efficiently Deploy Windows 7 Across Your Organization

Articles and Documentation

Windows XP to Windows 7 Migration Guide
- Application Compatibility
- Desktop Virtualization
- Licensing and Volume Activation
- Networking
- Performance and Hardware Compatibility
- Security and Control
- Training and Certification
Application Compatibility
- Getting Started with Application Compatibility in a Windows Deployment
  - Understanding the Application Compatibility Problem
  - Gathering an Application Inventory
  - Analyzing Application Compatibility Data
  - Next Steps
  - Additional References
- Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) Version 5.6
  - Introduction to the Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) Version 5.6
  - Using the Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT)
  - Application Compatibility Toolkit Technical Reference
  - Customer Support and Documentation Resources
  - Troubleshooting ACT
  - Software and Hardware Requirements for ACT 5.6
- Addressing Application Compatibility when Migrating to Internet Explorer 8
  - Benefits of Internet Explorer 8
  - Understanding the Application Compatibility Challenge
  - Web Standards and Application Compatibility
  - Browser Changes from Internet Explorer 6 to Internet Explorer 8
  - Application Compatibility and Migration Process Overview
  - Inventory and Prioritization of Critical Web Sites and Add-ons
  - Testing Web Application and Add-on Compatibility
  - Migration Strategies and Solutions
  - Appendix 1: Benefits of Internet Explorer 8
  - Appendix 2: Tools for Debugging Web Applications and Add-ons
  - Appendix 3: Internet Explorer 6 to Internet Explorer 8 Browser Changes
- Managing Shims in an Enterprise
  - Understanding Shims
  - Deciding When to Use Shims as a Compatibility Mitigation
  - Custom Shim Database-Management Strategies
  - Custom Shim Database Deployment
  - Summary and Resources
Upgrade and Migration
- Windows 7 Upgrade Paths
- User State Migration Tool 4.0 User's Guide
  - Quick Start Checklist
  - Overview of USMT
  - Plan Your Migration
  - USMT Components
  - Using USMT
  - Troubleshooting
  - USMT 4.0 XML Reference
- Upgrade and Migration Guides
  - Windows 7 Upgrade and Migration Guide
  - Step-by-Step: Basic Windows Migrations using USMT for IT Professionals
  - Step-by-Step: Offline Migration with USMT 4.0
  - Migrating Files During a Remote Installation with USMT and Windows Deployment Services
  - Migration XML Files
- Windows XP to Windows 7 Hard-Link Migration of User Files and Settings
  - In-Box Tools for Migrating User Files and Settings
  - User State Migration Tool 4.0 Hard-Link Migration
  - Building a USB Drive to Store USMT 4.0 Files and Simple Commands
  - Installing Windows 7 on an Existing Windows XP Computer
Deskop Deployment
- Windows 7 Desktop Deployment Overview
  - Improved Application and Hardware Readiness
  - Enhanced Imaging and File Delivery
  - Streamlined Installation and File Migration
  - Conclusion
- Deploying Windows 7 from A to Z
  - Migrating User Files and Settings from Windows XP to Windows 7
  - Application Management and Preparing for a Windows 7 Deployment
  - Choosing and Image Strategy and Building Windows 7 System Images
  - Automating the Migration from Windows XP to Windows 7 End-to-End
- Windows 7 Deployment FAQ
- Windows Automated Installation Kit for Windows 7
  - Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK) User's Guide
  - Windows Automated Installation Kit Scenarios
  - Preinstallation Phases
  - Deployment Tools Technical Reference
  - Windows Automated Installation Kit for Windows 7 Readme
- Unattended Windows Setup Reference
  - Changes in Settings from Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008
  - Changes in Settings from Windows XP
  - Settings to Use for an Unattended Installation
  - Automate Windows Welcome
  - Best Practices
  - Configuration Passes
  - Language Packs
  - Components
  - Packages
  - About This User's Guide
- Windows Deployment Guides
  - Step-by-Step: Basic Windows Deployments for IT Professionals
  - Step-by-Step: Multilingual Image Creation
  - Sysprep and Windows Media DRM Workaround for Windows 7
  - Sysprep Provider Developer's Guide for Windows 7
  - Maintain Driver Configurations When Capturing a Windows Image
- Virtual Hard Disks in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2
  - What's New in Virtual Hard Disks
  - Getting Started with Virtual Hard Disks
  - Native VHD Boot: A Walkthrough of Common Scenarios
  - Frequently Asked Questions: Virtual Hard Disks

Virtual Labs

Windows 7 Virtual Labs

Useful Websites

Useful Blogs

Downloads

Scripts and Scripting Resources

Forums

Windows 7 IT Pro
- Miscellaneous
- Installation, Setup, and Deployment
- Networking
- Hardware Compatibility
- Application Compatibility
- Security
- Media
- Performance
- User Interface
- Virtual PC and XP Mode
- Optimized Desktop Deployment Proof of Concept
- Service Pack 1 RC for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2