Go ahead and load Windows 7 right on top of your current installation, without formatting or deleting any partitions.
That will save your data to a folder called Windows.old, located in the C directory.
If you don't need your data saved, feel free to format that partition.
You should not need to order another Windows 7 to clean install. You should be able to clean install from the Win7 Upgrade which Dell sent you. Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version
Try booting from the Upgrade DVD: Boot from CD - How to Boot your Computer from a Bootable CD or DVD - Boot to CD
If it won't boot then try running it from Vista, but choose Custom install as shown in tutorial above.
Alvira has a much better detection rate than MSE. I'm not certain how well it works on W7 though.
http://www.av-comparatives.org/image...c_report25.pdf
A clean install is best.
If you have any UI changes from stock, back them up and use the transfer.
Transfer files and settings from another computer
Back up your data, remove all but the boot drive and keyboard, mouse, monitor. You will save time in the long run.
Transferring settings can import corruption from Vista. Best to go clean all the way.
If you are familar with your files, dragging them to external by folder is best. If not, drag the active User folder(s) over and you get everything, but I'd only copy back contents of each active folder to new folder in Win7.
Since importing settings is a corruption path, Easy Transfer is no better than dragging your files yourself and wastes a lot of space.
This is the one I should get right? Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - Operating Systems
And this can go right over Vista coerrect? Thanks.
It's not the one that I would get. The fact that it is System Builders mean that once installed, you can never install it on another machine, and upgrading the machine that you have, may cause it to become invalid.
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