I don't know how many times a customer comes in with an older windows xp computer and it is infected. They then want to know if the computer can be upgraded to at least windows 7 or 8 or 8.1 . Well the first thing to do is clean up the infections, because you may not be able to get into the system. The best course of action is to have a set of virus cleaning tools on a flash drive. I would recommend having, Combofix ( will not run on windows 8.1 ) , Free Malwarbytes, TDSSkiller , Eset Online Scanner Portable, Super Anti Spyware Portable, A-Squared Emergency Kit, Rogue Killer, Tweaking.com, Temp File Cleaner, Spybot 2.4 Portable, ADW Cleaner and Adware Removal Tool. These are all free off the internet and some can be gotten from Bleeping.com .
If you can boot to the safe mode with networking create a temp folder called virus cleaners and copy all these programs to it. You can then run each of these rebooting when necessary. Once you are all done see if the computer will boot to the normal mode. The next step would be to go to the system and determine what processor is installed and how much memory is in the system. There are a few factors that are important. First how old is the computer and second how big a hard drive is in the computer. I feel that if the computer is three years old or more then I would not install windows 8 or windows 8.1 due to the older system not handling it properly. More than likely there will be no software drivers for this operating system at the manufacturers website. As far as windows 7 goes if there are only windows 7 32bit drivers it can be done, but may run very slowly and not perform well.
So my advise at this point is to point out to the customer that going to the newer operating system with the older system would not be a wise choice. I would add up the various costs to upgrade the older system if possible and then compare it to a newer system. Inform the customer that only the data can be transferred to the newer operating system. All software, printers, cameras and other devices would have to be reinstalled. I do not recommend using a program to pull licensee keys and use copied or burned copies of the software due to this being illegal according to the oem license agreement. I have also seen 
where someone has volume license software and thinks they can install it on anybody's computer. The customer would have to purchase the software and they can install it on their computers. The data can be bulk copied over to the new system using a program such as unstoppable copier and then the data can be moved in to the proper locations. Data is usually Documents, Pictures, Music, Favorites, Email and 
Downloads. I have seen some technicians try and move one system to the other using the file and transfer wizard. I do not recommend this for two reasons. One the file and transfer wizard for windows xp was made for windows xp and not windows 7 or 8 or 8.1. The second reason is that this moves the application folders as well as others and I have seen many infections hide in these places. So effect you are just moving the infection from one system to the other. Besides I have seen too many times where the customer calls in and says this isn't working or I can't find something. Your better in the long run to do it fresh from the start and right the first time. Now you have happy customers that will come back and pass your business to other people. I believe we are here to help and satisfy the customer first and then satisfy the company.If you are looking for other books on computer viruses or repairing computers I have a link on the right of the posts to some of my other blogs that may help. Generally they are for either Amazon or Ebay. Both of them have many excellent books in a variety of categories that can help.
My Belief Is Honesty Is The Best Policy
Thank You For Reading and Happy Holidays !!!
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