To ensure that Picasa works properly following an upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7, you need to make sure that your Picasa application data has been transferred to the right place. By securing the application data, your Picasa albums will be successfully transferred and you can avoid having Picasa completely rescan your computer for photos.
As explained by Microsoft, there is no direct upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7. Custom installation is necessary, a process which doesn't keep any of your files, programs, or settings. Unless you reformat your hard drive during the upgrade process, Windows will back up your application data to a directory in Windows 7 called 'Windows.old'. The following steps will walk you through how to transfer your application data to the correction location:
- Install Windows 7 on your computer.
- Make sure your photos and videos have been restored to the same locations in which you had them saved in Windows XP.
- Show hidden files and folders in Windows 7.
- Navigate to the following folder: C:\Windows.OLD\Documents and Settings\Username\Local Settings\Application Data\Google.
- Copy (Ctrl-C) the two Picasa folders, 'Picasa 2' and 'Picasa2Albums'.
- 'Picasa2': This is your Picasa database. Including this ensures that your photos, edits, and name tags will display in Picasa without the need to rescan your computer.
- 'Picasa2Albums': This is a record of the custom albums you've created in Picasa. You must include this folder for your albums to make the transition to Windows 7.
- Paste (Ctrl-V) them into the 'Google' directory:: C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Google.
- Install the latest version of Picasa at http://picasa.google.com
For advanced users: If you plan to reformat your hard drive during the upgrade process, there will be no 'Windows.old' backup folder. This means that your Picasa application data will not be automatically transferred. If you'd like to migrate your Picasa data for this case, please customize the Windows Easy Transfer tool as described below.
As outlined by Microsoft, you can use the Windows Easy Transfer tool to migrate your data to an external drive before you upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7. This option allows you to install the Picasa data in the correct place in Windows 7, but you'll need to customize the process to make it happen.
- Before you start up the Windows Easy Transfer tool, adjust your settings so you can view hidden files and folders in Windows XP. The two Picasa folders are hidden by default.
- Start the Windows Easy Transfer tool. It will scan your computer to see what can be transferred.
- Once this scan is complete, click the Customize link below your user account.
- Click Advanced.
- Navigate to find the two Picasa folders: C:\documents and settings\username\local settings\application data\google
- Check the box next to the folders, 'Picasa 2' and 'Picasa2Albums'.
- Finish the Windows Easy Transfer process.
- Install Windows 7 on your computer.
- Restore your data from Windows Easy Transfer.
- Install the latest version of Picasa at http://picasa.google.com