Microsoft is reminding users that support for Windows 2000 Server and Client and Windows XP SP2 will be ending July 13, 2010. For small business users, there are several resources available to help you move to a new client and server operating system.
There is a End-of-Support Solution Center to help with the planning of migration strategy from Windows 2000 or Windows XP to Windows 7, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2.
Client Migration
If you still have Windows 2000 as your main Operating System, remember that there is no supported migration path from Windows 2000 or Windows XP to Windows 7 using the User State Migration Tool (USMT). You must first upgrade to Windows XP and then migrate to Windows 7 with USMT 4.0 included with the Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK). To avoid all that technical jargon, simply install a fresh copy of Windows 7 and migrate your data. There will obviously be a need to upgrade to the latest version of the programs you have on the Windows 2000 environment. You can find more resources at the Windows 2000 End-of-Support Solution Center where they have key information to help guide you through the upgrade paths, migration tools, and toolkits you will need.
For those with Windows XP, here are some resources to help guide you:
- Windows XP to Windows 7 Migration Guide – This guide helps walk through the decisions you will make when migrating from a Windows XP environment to Windows 7 and to learn about the tools and resources available from Microsoft to help you each step along the way.
- Migrating from Windows XP to Windows 7 – Learn how to use the User State Migration Tool (USMT) to migrate user files and settings from Windows XP to Windows 7 using a default installation. (Screencast)
If you manage a network, you can use the following resources:
- Download the Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) for Windows 7 – The Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) for Windows 7 helps you to install, customize, and deploy the Microsoft Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 family of operating systems.
- User State Migration Tool - The User State Migration Tool (USMT) for Windows 7 is now part of the Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) and provides fast and flexible options to migrate user profiles and data from one operating system to another. Explore how the new Hard-Link Migration feature highlighted in his demonstration can dramatically reduce migration time for in-place operating system migration or computer refresh scenarios.(Screencast)
- Planning Windows Optimized Desktops and Windows 7 Projects with MAP – This demo will show you how to use technical guidance and automated tools to clarify infrastructure planning process and speed up asset discovery and hardware readiness assessment for Windows 7, App-V, and more. (Screencast)
- Migrating from Windows XP to Windows 7 – Guidance for IT pros – This 5 part blog series covers:
- The “One-Pager” for Moving from Windows XP to Windows 7 (Overview)
- Migrating User Files and Settings from Windows XP to Windows 7
- Application Management and Preparing for a Windows 7 Deployment
- Choosing and Image Strategy and Building Windows 7 System Images
- Automating the migration from Windows XP to Windows 7 End-to-End
You can also check out the Windows client and server support forums and the Deployment zone on Springboard where there are additional screencasts, walkthroughs, whitepapers, FAQ’s and a lot of help guides.
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