Windows 7 full installation not upgrade

[augustin]

Hi, I am about to install Windows 7, I have XP at the moment.
I have transfered all my important files, photos, music etc to a portable hard disc, but I do not know what to do about my email accounts.
Do I just leave them on XP, and re-install them when I have installed my new operating system, and when I do will all my addresses and saved emails still be there.
If not how do I transfer the data to the new system. I have flash drives, but can't figure out how I copy my email accounts on to them.
Sorry to be so dumb, but I just don't understand this part of the procedure at all. any help will be very much appreciated.
I am doing a Custom install, not upgrading.
Thanks augustin

[BurrWalnut]

Which mail client are you using with XP, i.e. Outlook, Outlook Express or something else?

[augustin]

Hi, I am using Yahoo and Google , 4 accounts on Yahoo, all forwarded to Googlemail.

[BurrWalnut]

I don’t use Gmail but this seems to fit the bill http://www.freeemailtutorials.com/wi...ailAccount.htm

[augustin]

Hi, Thanks for the information, which fits the bill, I can go ahead now without worrying about losing any data.
Thanks again, I always find help on this forum, everyone seems willing to share their knowledge with the less experienced.

[mart]

I don't think you need to do anything regarding e-mail accounts. Google and Yahoo are webmail accessed via the browser (as opposed to POP mail where Outlook Express, Thunderbird etc are used). If you have an Internet connection and the bowser working, you'll be able to access your e-mail accounts straight away regardless of the OS being used,

[mart]

Further thought on the above. You will need to have made a note of all the passwords for your e-mail accounts ..and general bookmarks too while you're at it. Just thought this should be mentioned.

[augustin]

Thanks for this further info. I am still plucking up courage to start the installation. Does Windows 7 Easy transfer work with a full installation from XP, or only with an upgrade ?, once I start this there is no going back, so I must be sure what I am doing will not loose all my data etc.

[mart]

I didn't use the backup offered by the Windows 7 installation disk. I more or less did what you have. I backed up all of my files, passwords, program key numbers (important because you'll need to reinstall programs) forum login details and bookmarks. With that done, it should be OK to take the plunge.

Do you happen to have a disk imaging program such as Acronis or Paragon installed? If so, you could make an image of your current installation so that if Windows 7 doesn't run well for you, it would be possible to use the disk image to easily restore the XP installation. A disk image of your working XP system is the ultimate insurance against things going wrong.

My Windows 7 installation wasn't satisfactory in a couple of ways. Not the fault of Windows 7 but more the fact the computer is aged and I need a better one. So, I decided to revert to XP for the time being using a disk image. It took about 15 minutes to get XP and all programs/settings up and running again.

I'll try Windows 7 again when Father Christmas brings me a new computer.

[augustin]

I do not know about program key numbers, where do I find them ?, also I don't have Paragon, but if it is possible to stop me being so afraid of messing up , I will certainly install it, where do I find either of these programs?
My computer is 3 years old HP Pavilion, I have run the compatibility test and everything seems to be OK for the installation, but I am still dithering.