10 things you need to do before migrating off windows xp

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© 2013 1 10 Things You Need To Do Before Migrating Off Windows XP Patrick Hurley, General Manager, Acronis

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In this SlideShare presentation, Acronis General Manager Patrick Hurley outlines the steps to take before migrating off Windows XP.

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Page 1: 10 Things You Need To Do Before Migrating Off Windows XP

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10 Things You Need To Do Before Migrating Off Windows

XP

Patrick Hurley, General Manager, Acronis

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The End of XP•On April 8, Microsoft ceased all user support and halted security updates for its hugely popular XP operating system

•After 12 years in operation, the end of XP will leave one-third of Microsoft users still operating on the system vulnerable to attacks by hackers, and at risk of losing their important data

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Risks and Warnings• Despite warnings, 36% of XP users are still planning to keep at least one of their devices running on XP. But failure to update is simply not an option.

• Small businesses, who could be running anywhere from tens to hundreds of machines on XP, will need to:‒ Install a newer operating system like Windows 7, 8.1, or‒ Swap over their systems entirely to a Microsoft competitor

like Apple or Google.

• For budget-strapped IT departments, this is a daunting task.

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Here are 10 things to do before migrating off Windows XP.

This list originally appeared in Forbes.

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Step 1: Plan and prepare for your migration

• Plan and test your moves in small doses so you:‒ Know what to expect‒ Don’t suffer from a mass

issue that causes downtime for your entire business

• Run an initial pilot migration of 1-2 machines‒ This will allow you to

polish the process for the rest of your inventory

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Step 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

• 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‒ 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

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Step 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

• 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‒ Lost revenue‒ And more

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Step 4: Use Disk-Imaging Technology for backup, not just file copy • Make sure that you use a

backup solution with disk imaging (like Acronis Backup)

• Disk imaging means 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

• This can leave employees unable to login to important business-critical applications like their email Exchange.

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Step 5: Back up everything • Some users may put documents even 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

• 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

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Step 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, like Acronis Backup, include

an Incremental option as well‒ If not, you can purchase a solution that has incremental

options for around $90-$100 per machine‒ It'll help you do the job in less than one hour!

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Step 7: Use Mass Deployment Tools for new OS

• If you manage more than 20 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 one hour, you can

update hundreds of machines

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Step 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.

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Step 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

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Step 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‒ On tapes‒ Anywhere

• …but do not delete them!

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