His AMD 5600+ is a 64bit CPU.Your hardware is 32 bit, so you won't get the memory advantage from Win7 x64
Memory Limits for Windows Releases (Windows)
linnemeyerhere and King Arthur give some good advice - the XP mode might be something you'd be interestedin (it might also be a crutch)
Home Prem or Pro x32 retail version - it might be a cost basis decision.
edit: Derek makes a good point on the retail version......
You might want to download the Win 7 upgrade advisor from here: Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor - Download - Microsoft Windows
I personally think you should stick with Home Premium. Professional is really aimed toward those in a corporate environment that need the capability to join a domain. XP Mode is a nice feature but even though I have it installed on several computers, I've never encountered a program that required XP Mode to run. That doesn't mean that they don't exist but, in my experience, they're pretty rare. If you go with Home Premium and later find you do have a need for XP Mode then you can install the free VirtualBox and create a VM running XP. The drawback is that you will need to supply the copy of XP.
Here are some suggestions when you come to Windows 7 land.
1. Get a 128GB SSD for the OS. That will really speed up your system. Here are some examples: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...=-1&isNodeId=1 I would buy the Kingston for $63. I have always bought the cheapest SSD and now I have seven, LOL.
2. Keep your XP license and run it in virtual - e.g. VMware Player. Here is how that works - the example is with Windows 8.1 but it would be the same with XP. Windows 7 and 8 side by side - YouTube
3. Get a Windows 7 64bit OEM license. Best milage for the money.
4. Don't know how many external drives you have. Here is a good buy: Seagate Expansion 1TB USB 3.0 Black Portable Hard Drive STBX1000101 - Newegg.com
5. A USB3 PCI card is also not a big deal and very useful.
More like impossible now. I wouldn't even look since most of the few retail versions out there are counterfeits or are horribly overpriced. It wouldn't hurt to get a second copy, just in case you decide to replace the entire computer or get a second one a year or two from now.
Unless each HDD is run as a separate computer, all you need is one OS to access all three HDDs.
Before you buy anything, go to this site and download the upgrade advisor to make sure your present computer is compatible with Win 7. You may be able to run only 32bit (otherwise, 64bit is highly recommended). You should have a bare minimum of 4GB of RAM (anything less will drive you nuts) although 8GB will be much better. You would have to check with the manufacturer of your computer to see how much RAM it will support.
Quote