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I understand that Microsoft is giving computer mfgs Win7 OS's free so that Vista computers can be upgraded.

Article I read is http://www.komando.com/tips/index.aspx?id=6905

My questions is will you have to wipe out your Vista system to install Win7 so that you would have to re-install all programs, etc?

If that's the case the average user wouldn't know what to do, eyh?

From what I'm reading you can upgrade from Vista w/o re-installing everything but XP has to be a clean install.

What say you?

thewolfe wrote:From what I'm reading you can upgrade from Vista w/o re-installing everything but XP has to be a clean install.

What say you?

Correct. Vista is a straight upgrade (maintains programs etc. if you choose not to repartition/format etc.)

XP => 7 = Documents and Settings, Program Files and Windows Folder being added to a folder called Windows.old and a new OS is installed in its place without your programs/user account etc. You can access your old files in the Windows.old folder then delete it when you are done. (If you choose not to format/partition etc.)

Does the \"windows old\" contain just windows stuff and not created users data and programs?

It might just be me, but I have never found migration software to do a very good job. Whenever I upgrade an OS now, I reformat and do a clean install, the work is usually worth it.

Pre prep is the key.

But that’s just me.

thewolfe wrote:Does the "windows old" contain just windows stuff and not created users data and programs?

It contains everything under the "Users" (or "Documents and Settings" if you install over XP as I did) directory, and the "Program Files" directory. "Windows" is outright replaced; all other directories (which are probably user-created) are basically left untouched.

So, yes, it probably will contain your data and programs.