Windows 7: Upgrade from Wounded Vista

I have Vista Home Premium 64 on my machine and I'm pretty sure it has problems. Most applications work fine, but I have installation problems from time to time. I want to do a custom installation of Windows 7 and I am wondering if the problems with Vista could affect the upgrade.

Of course they can unless you do a clean install.

Clean Install Windows 7

Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

A clean install means I have to reinstall all my applications, etc., right? I thought a custom install would save things in an "old" folder and I could move the applications over. Is that still possible?

You're talking about an in-place upgrade, and yes it is still possible to do that, but given your problems, it's very possible you'd still have the same problems in 7.

Seems like my only viable option then is to do a clean install from the upgrade disc.

Your programs you have to reinstall anyhow. There is no way around that. All you can do with the windows.old folder is to recover your files - maybe. It is a lot more prudent if you copy your files to a safe place yourself. An in place upgrade can be a real mess, believe me. Reinstalling your programs will be a minor task as to compared the fixes for the upgrade.