1.

2.

3. Do a complete software inventory.

    a.) In the Control Panel, make a list of all installed software.

    b.) Open each application and determine the serial number (usually in the Help, About... menu).

4. Prepare to re-install the software.

    a.) From your list, determine which applications the customer needs re-installed.

    b.) For each of the installations that needs to be re-installed find the install CD(s) or download the install files.

    c.) For some applications (Adobe, etc.) you must 'Deactivate' the software before re-installing it.

5. Make a backup of the entire hard drive and test the backup OR an easier way to do this is to have the customer
    purchase a new hard drive and install the old hard drive as a secondary drive. I would leave it disconnected during
    the upgrade so that you are certain you are not overwriting it.

6. Now is a good time to clean the computer. Take the unit outside and blow all of the dust out of it! It is possible,
    although unlikely, that dust buildup can short (circuit) your motherboard. A clean computer is a happy computer.

7.

8. From the Windows CD partition the (new) primary drive into (4) partitions.

    a.) For a 160GB or larger drive, create the following partitions:
         30720 (WINXP), 40960 (VISTA), 51200 (WIN7), Remainder (DATA1)

         This prepares the system for Windows XP, Windows Vista AND Windows 7. Install the Operating Systems in
         this order!

    b.) If your in a hurry, format only the 30GB partition but do a full NTFS format.

9.

10.