Upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7 is a 5-Step process.

Step 1: Make sure that your programs and devices will work with Windows 7 - To help find potential compatibility problems with your computer's hardware, devices, or programs that might affect installing Windows 7, download and run the free Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. It provides a report listing any issues that it finds and gives recommendations on what to do before you upgrade to improve your PC's compatibility with Windows 7.

Step 2: Moving files and settings, and gathering your program discs - Microsoft recommends using Windows Easy Transfer, a free download, to help you move your files and settings to another location before you install Windows 7. Then, you can use Windows Easy Transfer again to move your files and settings back to your PC after Windows installation is completed. If you don't use Windows Easy Transfer, you'll need to copy your files manually to an external location, such as CDs, DVDs, an external hard disk, or a USB flash drive before installing Windows 7, and then move them back after Windows installation is completed.

Step 3: Installing Windows 7

Step 4: Moving your files and settings back to your computer - After you've installed Windows 7, now you're ready to run Windows Easy Transfer again and move your files and settings back to your computer. Be sure you run Windows Easy Transfer before you reinstall your programs. That's because Windows Easy Transfer moves your files back to where your old programs will expect them to be when you reinstall them.

Step 5: Reinstall your programs and update drivers - After you've run Windows Easy Transfer and your files and settings are back on your computer, you can reinstall your programs and check for new or updated drivers. Windows Easy Transfer provides a report detailing the programs you used in Windows XP that you might want to reinstall. To reinstall your programs, you'll need to use the installation discs or setup files that you gathered earlier.

To properly upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7, follow the instructions contained in the link below.

Upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7