CIO — As Windows XP slowly dies off and Windows 7 gains more credibility for its security, networking and virtualization features, many businesses are preparing to make the transition as painless and affordable as possible.

Enterprises are not exactly stampeding to Windows 7 upgrades, but more Windows 7 plans are in motion for 2011. A recent Forrester survey of 800 IT decision-makers reveals that 75 percent of commercial PCs are still running Windows XP — yet 46 percent of firms plan to migrate to Windows 7 in the next 12 months, and 42 percent plan to do it in 12 months or more.

A major part of affordably migrating to Windows 7 is preparing business applications for the upgrade. Organizations are using application virtualization to simplify app management and reduce costs. But still, many have no process for preparing applications for a Windows 7 migration in any reliable way, according to a new white paper by application usage management company Flexera Software.

CIO — As Windows XP slowly dies off and Windows 7 gains more credibility for its security, networking and virtualization features, many businesses are preparing to make the transition as painless and affordable as possible.

Enterprises are not exactly stampeding to Windows 7 upgrades, but more Windows 7 plans are in motion for 2011. A recent Forrester survey of 800 IT decision-makers reveals that 75 percent of commercial PCs are still running Windows XP — yet 46 percent of firms plan to migrate to Windows 7 in the next 12 months, and 42 percent plan to do it in 12 months or more.

A major part of affordably migrating to Windows 7 is preparing business applications for the upgrade. Organizations are using application virtualization to simplify app management and reduce costs. But still, many have no process for preparing applications for a Windows 7 migration in any reliable way, according to a new white paper by application usage management company Flexera Software.

Most operating system migrations, despite the eventual business benefits, are taxing on an entire organization, according to the Flexera white paper, creating project delays, budget over-runs and longer hours for IT.

A big reason businesses are held hostage by technology transitions, according to Flexera, is that IT approaches them as point-in-time projects without thinking about the future.

[ For complete coverage on Microsoft's (MSFT) Windows 7 operating system -- including hands-on reviews, video tutorials and advice on enterprise rollouts -- see CIO.com's Windows 7 Bible. ]

The Flexera white paper stresses that application preparation should be a continuous process with investments made in packaging technology and virtualization. The process should be tested and automated as much as possible so that deployments are repeatable. It should not be a reactive procedure that is addressed only when it's time for an OS upgrade.

With applications in mind, here are six steps to a smoother Windows 7 migration.

1. Identify Which Apps Are Being Used and Which Are Not

Step one in any OS migration is to take stock of what applications are actually being used, rather than what is simply deployed. Some apps can slip through the cracks, such as ones installed locally by users that cannot be centrally monitored by IT.

The best means for analyzing application usage information is via systems management software such as Microsoft's SCCM (System Center Configuration Manager). Flexera's own software also does this.

2. Eliminate Redundant Applications to Cut Migration Costs

If you have application sprawl, then the sooner you deal with it, the better. Once you know which applications are being used and which aren't, you can assess which apps you should support and which you need to consolidate or kill off.