You may be fielding an increasing number of questions from clients about whether they should migrate to Windows 7. The following TechRepublic resources can help make the Windows 7 migration as smooth as possible.

10 questions to consider when planning a Windows 7 upgrade

Whether you’re anxious to upgrade to Windows 7 or you just want to know what to expect if and when you do, there are lots of factors to keep in mind. Deb Shinder addresses some of the biggest concerns, from hardware requirements to driver compatibility to upgrade paths.

Plan and execute a smooth Windows 7 upgrade with the help of this flowchart

A successful Windows 7 migration begins with careful planning and decision making. Rick Vanover built a flowchart to guide you through each step.

10 things you should know about moving from Windows XP to Windows 7

Jumping from Windows XP to Windows 7 will require some specialized knowledge. Greg Shultz offers advice specifically for those taking this route.

Create a Windows XP and 7 dual-boot system staged for an easy migration
Greg Shultz shows you how to resize your existing Windows XP partition and then install Windows 7 in a dual-boot configuration on the same hard disk.
Expand the number of Windows 7 installs with bootable VHDs

Microsoft has made available several techniques that you can use to create a bootable Windows 7 VHDs that run like a dual boot setup.

The Windows Ecosystem Readiness Program ensures compatibility for Windows 7
Microsoft has put a great deal of effort into making sure that Windows 7 is compatible with new and existing hardware and software.
Determine if your hardware can support Windows XP Mode in Windows 7

Greg Shultz helps you cut through all the hype surrounding the hardware requirements for running Windows XP Mode in Windows 7 by describing the procedures he went through to determine if hardware would support Windows XP Mode.

For additional TechRepublic resources about Windows 7, check out our Windows 7 Launch and Windows 7 pages.

What are your clients’ migration plans?

In February 2009, TechRepublic blogger Susan Harkins asked IT Consultant readers if most of their clients will skip Windows Vista on their way to Windows 7 and whether they’re recommending clients skip the Windows Vista upgrade and wait for Windows 7. The majority of readers responded Yes to both questions.

Then, in June 2009, TechRepublic Senior Editor Mark Kaelin polled TechRepublic members about whether they plan to drop Windows XP. As he says, IT pros made it clear that they aren’t interested in migrating away from Windows XP.

In the discussion thread for Susan’s column, TechRepublic members putt1ck, microface, mikifinaz1, and others note that this is a good time to break away from Windows altogether and recommend alternatives, such as Ubuntu.

From these examples alone, you can get a sense of the various ways clients may be thinking about the launch of Windows 7. If you think that clients would benefit from migrating to Windows 7 but they’re hesitant to make the move, Deb Shinder’s column Make a business case for Windows 7 is a good resource. On the other hand, some clients may push for you to migrate their systems to Windows 7 regardless of whether you think it’s a good idea. If you find yourself in that situation, read Chip Camden’s words of wisdom about what to say when clients pursue change for the wrong reasons.

So, what are your clients’ migration plans? Are clients asking you a lot of questions about Windows 7? Is the Windows 7 launch leading to more work for your consultancy, as Erik Eckel predicted in his column, What Windows 7 means to IT consultants?

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