If I upgrade to Windows 7........?

May be I missed something, but my question is: I have error 80070424 show up everytime I try to update my system. I have not been able to update since August 09 . If I install Windows 7 Upgrade, will the system be like new? Sounds like some people are saying that their systems upgrade and others are saying that their systems are being clean installed. Which version should I buy for a clean install? I have an HP Pavillion dv7-1273cl laptop, which has intel core2duo T6400 2 GHz, 4 GB memory, 64-bit Windows Vista SP1. Can't even update to SP2 with manual install. If I get a Windows 7 Full, will the fancy buttons on the computer, i.e. touch sensitive volume controls, work since is not an HP version of the system?

As you have a legal copy of Vista you have the right to buy the upgrade version of whatever version of 7 you fancy. You will still be able to do a clean install and I and most people would suggest you should.

To answer the latter part of your question/post, if you upgrade, the buttons on your laptop should work fine as long as all the proper drivers are installed. Windows 7 is very good at handling this automatically.

Also, a clean install is always better than an in-place upgrade.

Well, I can't tell you what to do, but I bought Windows 7 Home Premium. It came with both 32 bit and 64 bit versions. I installed the 32 bit version. When I started the CD, I chose "Custom Install" which was apparently the same as a clean install.

You may wish to use the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor.

This may be of with error:

http://www.sevenforums.com/windows-update/1347-windows-update-error-80070424-windows-update.html

Thanks all for the input. I will then get Win7 and do a custom install. I suppose that I should connect the laptop through LAN rather than Wi-Fi until the system is up and running. BTW I know HP has a Win7 upgrade program for which my laptop qualifies, but I no longer have the receipt so I can't do it.