Parallels targets XP mainstream with Windows 7 upgrade tool

Stephen Withers
Saturday, 22 May 2010 12:45

Business IT - Technology

A new product from virtualisation specialist Parallels promises to take the pain out of upgrading to Windows 7.

Parallels Desktop Upgrade to Windows 7 is a somewhat clumsy name for software that's aimed at making life easier. It addresses two of the main problems that arise when upgrading a PC to Windows 7.

Firstly, Microsoft has not provided an upgrade process for those moving from Windows XP to Windows 7 - the official route is to do a clean install. While there's something to be said for starting afresh with a completely clean system, having to reinstall all of the programs and readjust all of the settings can be a time-consuming process.

Secondly, the two lower-end versions of Windows 7 lack the ability to run incompatible XP programs in a virtualised environment.

Parallels Desktop Upgrade to Windows 7 "makes it truly super-simple to upgrade to Windows 7," Jack Zubarev, president of Parallels' service provider division, told iTWire.

Windows 7 is now moving into the mainstream, whereas earlier upgraders where mainly technically oriented people. A survey found that around 80% of XP users expected compatibility problems when upgrading to Windows 7, and a similar number wanted a product that would ease the transition.

Hence Parallels Desktop Upgrade to Windows 7. It performs an automated, in-place upgrade, Zubarev said, moving programs, documents and settings to the new operating system. The wizard-based process gives the option of migrating all programs to the new OS, or only those selected by the user.

What else does the product do? Please read on.