The news about Windows 8, the new Windows operating system, is that it will hit the market later this year. But an amazing amount of businesses have not yet launched Windows 7 on their machines. About 70 percent of businesses are still running Windows XP, which was released way back in August 2001. Many companies, though, are now considering upgrading to Windows 7. This makes sense: Microsoft won’t offer formal support for XP as of April of 2014. Businesses, then, who want support from Microsoft, must upgrade at the very least to Windows 7 by that date. But before businesses make the move to the Windows 7 operating system, they will have to take some steps to make certain that their computers are ready for the change.
Analyze hardware and compatibility
To begin this process, the first thing an organization must do, is analyze the hardware on the machines to be sure they can run Window’s 7. Also, the applications that are currently installed on the machines may not be compatible with Windows 7. There are ways that an IT department or MSP can find this out.
What OS images to deploy
The next step to take before deploying a new OS is to figure out what applications you’ll need on your computers and the order they must be installed in. Should you install all of the current applications at the same time as the OS? Should you take time to evaluate which applications are essential to what departments and only install the necessary ones after installing the OS? The second option is probably the best, as it allows users to then install whatever programs they believe will be useful later and it quickens the deployment process.
Choosing the right image deployment tool
Once a company has settled on a deployment approach, they must choose which tool they’ll use to create, manage, and deploy the Windows 7 image. There are lots of tools that can assist with this including Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2012 and System Center Configuration Manager 2007 or 2012.
In the end, upgrading your company’s operating system needs to be done every few years. When it’s time to do it, it must be planned for and executed well by individuals who have taken all of these things into account. Making certain you have a good plan will help the conversion go smoothly and with less stress.
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