Windows 7: is it better to just upgrade from Vista to Windows 7?

Personally, I don't upgrade anything. I always start with a clean slate and I always feel that I have better results because of it. Just take the time ahead of time to backup your data, copy your browser favorites and go for it. People are often surprised how much quicker their computers run after a clean installation.

hmm, okay. after all, I'm trying to make my final decision before october comes around (I don't want to take the time to try and install the RC due to the fact I don't understand dual booting and I don't have a blank DVD sitting around). and how do you back-up data? put it on a DVD? make a system restore (which vista does automatically now and then)? sorry about all the questions, I'm a noob at installing operating systems and stuff (like I said before, I've never done it, and this year I'll be starting my freshman year of high school; sorry about so many parentheses :P).

thats certainly enough HD space. Clean install means just that. No importing, re-installing all the apps, settings, etc. a PITA to sure but the best way by far to install. It makes so much difference that I do a clean install every 4 months.

Ken

what, exactly, do you mean by "no importing"? no importing what? and another thing, if you have to use a blank DVD to reinstall everything, how are you supposed to put it in when you have the windows 7 install disk in the drive? or do you do all that when it's already installed? and how do you move files (or burn) to a DVD from vista? if you want, you could give me some links to some threads in the tutorials section on all this if you're getting tired of explaining. I can't find anything....

Personally, I prefer to copy the data to an external hard drive. They are very inexpensive these days. I'd suggest a western digital passport drive as it's a 2.5 notebook drive that you can connect via USB and it power itself from the USB port. Then just drag and drop over the stuff that you want to make sure is backed up. It's a good insurance plan for those valuable things like pictures and so forth that you simply cannot replace.

hmmm, okay (guess that means i need to put more stuff on ebay lol). so, can you actually just do a clean install without moving everything? or what? ive been watching youtube videos on how to do all this stuff and it looks like you could do a clean install and keep everything...although, that doesn't make sense because it's a clean install. im confused!

also, i bought the windows 7 upgrade disk for $50. can I do a clean install with that disk? in microsoft's product description, they said you could, but microsoft has it's ways of wheeling and dealing. so, what do you guys have to say to that?

Yes, you can use the upgrade disk and do a clean install. You will just have to provide the previous OS disc during the process.

When you do a clean install, you do just that. You typically format the partition and load from scratch. Which pretty much means that all of your data files are wiped out.

Now, what I often do is break my hard drive into at least 2 partitions. My OS of course lives on the C drive and I often put data, downloads, music, videos and everything else on the D drive. Therefore, during the OS install, I just overwrite the data on C and leave D totally intact. But even though I do this, I always make sure to have a backup/secondary copy on an external hard drive...just in case something bad happens and my D drive gets wiped out.

Ok lets look at this another way clean=formated partition nothing left.
Upgrade means old OS (vista) is imported into windows with your setting and preference.

With a clean install you dont move files or burn files from vista they are thrown away. GONE. here is a link to the tutorial section look under whatever letter you want but you should start learning this stuff.

So now you have it? either upgrade vista to win 7, or just install win 7 and delete the vista files.
Ken

so, what you are saying is that, in order to do a clean install with a windows 7 upgrade disk, i have to reinstall vista? oh crap...im in for it now, my vista came preinstalled, and im not going to spend $150 just to go out and buy it again then install a totally new OS! if that's the case, then im upgrading.