Windows 7: Getting windows 7 - need advice.

Hi all - I will be buying Windows 7 for the holidays. I need advice as to which version to get. All I do is play games and surf the internet (LOL). I currently have Windows XP. I am tight on money so Ultimate is out of the question . So I was looking at Home Premium.. Should I get the upgrade version or the full version.

You shouldn't have any issues with home Premium. It's the version that is sold on most computers in retail chains. If you quality for the upgrade version, i would go with that and save your money.

The upgrade version means I can only install it on previous windows OS's correct? Does the HP upgrade version have the same features as home premium? And finally - why is it cheaper than the normal HP?

Home Premium is definitely the way to go for your applications. The upgrade version is OK provided you have a valid product key of XP on your system. You can even make a clean install with the upgrade version. Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

Another alternative at about the same price is an OEM version. But an OEM version you cannot move from system to system - it has to stay where you first installed it. Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - Operating Systems

Your best bet is the Upgrade Home Premium. You qualify for the upgrade because you have XP on your PC now. You must do a Clean Install, you can not do an upgrade from XP. Read the tutorial that WHS gave you above about a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version -- The Upgrade disk is exactly the same as the Full Retail disk. Microsoft just gives you a price break since you have already purchased XP. If you have any questions on installation, we will help. == One more thing. Don't buy one on Ebay. Do it at a regular store or a reputable online store.

By clean install you mean I can't get the files from XP and drag them over from windows.old? I thought that w/ Windows 7 you could do that.

Just save your files on an external disk or stick from where you can restore them. The real upgrade (and windows.old) is a mess - will ultimately give you nothing but problems.

You qualify for Upgrade version with that XP you now have.

Here in the States we have Home Premium which has everything most users need for around $119 for Upgrade version, best price.

Right now the Home Premium Upgrade 3-pack is on sale for $125 which means you could share its 3 licenses with family members you trust for less than $42 apiece which is an unbelievably good deal.

I had no problems dragging some music files, bookmarks and photos over after I installed Windows 7 RC beta over my vista.

If you think that is the right thing to do, go right ahead.