If you want to move your email, it can be a bit difficult to do so because you must first determine where your email is stored on your computer. This website can help you determine the location of your files if you use Windows Live Mail or Mail. This website can help you determine the location of your files if you use Thunderbird. This website and this one contain general information about finding where your email folders are located on your hard drive. Outlook 2013 stores email in many different locations depending on the operating system. Outlook 2010 uses these locations for storing email. Outlook 2007 uses these locations for storing email.
Before you move your data and programs to your new computer, you should check whether your existing software and hardware is compatible with Windows 7.
PCMover is a program that can help you move your files and programs from your old computer to your new one.
A USB easy transfer cable will allow you to connect your old computer to your new one directly via a cable, which will make moving files much easier.
Windows Easy Transfer is one of the primary methods for moving your files from your old computer to your new one. Microsoft offers a nice video that provides an overview of the process. Detailed directions for using Windows Easy transfer are also available.
If you wish to purchase an external hard drive to move your files, I recommend that you consider one made by Western Digital. Amazon sells a Western Digital My Book hard drive that is reasonably priced.
If you are not going to purchase a new computer, but rather just wish to upgrade your old computer to Windows 7, you might wish to read this article by Walter Mossberg who writes for the Wall Street Journal.
One way to upgrade your old computer to Windows 7 is via a custom upgrade. I recommend that you use this website and this one which can help you with a custom upgrade.
Another method of upgrading to Windows 7 is an in-place upgrade. The two websites to look at for this type of upgrade are this one and this one by Microsoft.
Before you attempt an upgrade to Windows 7, you should first determine whether your computer is capable of running Windows 7 by using this Microsoft website.
If you wish to upgrade to Windows 8 or Win 8.1 use Microsoft's Upgrade Assistant to determine compatibility. You can also look at additional information that describes the process to upgrade to Win 8. This site will allow you to manually check whether your software and hardware is compatible with Windows 8.1
If you have a Windows 7 computer you can upgrade directly to Win 8.1.
PCmover (mentioned above) sells a less expensive program if you are upgrading your existing computer to Windows 7.