10 Things to Do Before Migrating off Windows XP.docx

1. Plan and prepare for your migration - Don’t rush into just installing the latest Windows OS on all
machines right away. Plan and test your moves in small doses so you know what to expect and don’t
suffer from a mass issue that causes downtime for your entire business. Plan an initial pilot migration of 12 machines, which will allow you to polish the process for the rest of your inventory.
2. Choose your migration path - If your employees already use recently purchased computers that just
happen to run an older Microsoft operating system, keep the machines themselves and just replace
Windows. Buy the new software, and install it on these computers. But, if your machines have been
around for over five years, it pays to replace them with newer computers that can more easily run the
advanced operating systems. New operating systems on old machines can slow things down significantly,
limiting employee productivity. At some point, the newest version of Windows will also be replaced, and
your company will be faced with another migration. Plan ahead so you have machines that can run more
advanced systems.
3. Back Up your Windows XP - Before you’re ready to install a new operating system you’ll need to back
up all the information on Windows XP. Migrating without first backing up all of your files and your system
as a whole will make your entire business vulnerable to data loss. Because this isn’t a simple XP update,
but rather a clean install of a new system, the install process will wipe out many folders containing
important files or data. Anything from financial data to sensitive company information could be lost and
impossible to recover, resulting in decreased productivity and lost revenue.
4. Use Disk-Imaging Technology for backup, not just file copy - Windows is a complex operating
system, with data that lives outside of files. Think passwords, preferences, everything that exists on your
computer in applications or system preferences without being specifically saved into a folder. Make sure
that you use a backup solution with disk imaging -- meaning that it simultaneously backs up your entire
system, while also backing up individual files. If you opt for just a file backup solution, you will be unable
to restore systems or applications on the new operating system, leaving employees unable to login to
important business-critical applications like their email Exchange.
5. Back up everything - A lot of users will put documents into the Recycle Bin or create temporary
folders to store files. Even these forgotten folders should be backed up. You never know what your
employees have put inside that your company may need later. Also, don’t forget about hidden partitions.
These partitions, found on Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and IBM machines allow a user to restore their computer
back to how it was when it was first purchased, without using a CD or DVD. It’s an extremely important
partition to back up and transfer over to your new machine.
6. Back up at the last possible moment – just before or right after final shutdown - Your employees
are constantly creating and editing existing documents and projects. If you back up their systems a day
before migration, you will lose an entire days worth of data. Make the last backup at the last possible
moment before migration. If time and resources don’t allow you to do so, use an incremental backup
solution to save the most recent data created on your system. A lot of full backup solutions include an
Incremental option as well. If not, you can purchase a solution that has incremental options for around
$90-$100. It'll help you do the job in less than one hour.
7. Use Mass Deployment Tools for new OS - If you manage more than 50 machines, do not install
Windows one-by-one. You’ll waste valuable time. Each individual install will take at least an hour and with
multiple (sometimes hundreds!) of machines, that means weeks of install work. Get it all done at once by
using mass deployment tools to save time and effort. These tools can be purchased for around $25 per
machine, and used overnight or over a weekend as to not inhibit employee productivity. In as little as four
hours, you can update hundreds of machines.
8. Convert your Disk-Image Backup of Windows XP to a virtual machine - Free tools like VMware
Player or VirtualBox can help you to run your old Windows XP in a virtual environment. The disk imaging
backup software you use to backup systems before migration should be able to help you convert those
stored backups to the virtual machine (VM) format. This is a great way to look back at a virtual copy of
your old operating system, making it easy to find files, check settings and applications, or dig up old serial
keys. This is especially important for Application License Keys, which are available on the user interface
of the program, but not in a standard file. When your OS is ready to be upgraded and you reinstall the
application, you won’t have the key that allows you to use it. This is a big problem for any business
running simple applications like Word or PowerPoint.
9. Use the recovery tools that offer most flexibility - There are multiple ways of restoring data from
backups once you’re ready to move your data onto the new operating system. Choose the tool that gives
most flexibility in this process, offering searchable catalogs, ways to search in Windows Explorer, and
more. Using a solution that offers multiple ways for you to find data, makes the transition much smoother
so your team can stay on top of deadlines. If you use a solution that only offers one method, it will take
longer to find files and applications, and be harder to get teams quickly back on track.
10. Archive the backups afterwards - Just because you’ve switched over to the new operating system,
it doesn’t mean you no longer need those backups of your data. You may need to use them again when a
new Windows update takes place. Store all of the backups on an external hard drive, in the cloud, or even
on tapes – but do not delete them.
Many business owners feel that their IT is so far behind that they don’t even know where to start this
migration process. Remember that whether you are migrating 5 machines or 500, the process should
remain relatively the same. Follow these steps and you can ensure a smooth, (relatively) painless
migration process that helps to avoid data loss and makes sure your system and data aren’t exposed to
unpatched security threats.