Creative Destruction.
A term I learned this year in Economics. It means that a new technology or method takes over, and destroys the old method. Great for consumers, as it usually means lower prices and more supply. Also good for the company using the new technology. However, it is terrible for the company that made the old product.
A good example of this is typewriters and computers. Computers were an awesome and great new invention that soon replaced the typewriter. This was great for consumers, companies, the world. However, it put the Typewriter companies out of business.
The point is that change will happen, regardless of who it hurts, especially if it is for the benefit of everyone. You can try to hold back change by bailing out the typewriter companies, giving them money to stay in business, but it just holds back the inevitable.
Now, I am not saying that changing to Windows 7 is irresistible, I am trying to say that change can be difficult, but if you embrace it, you cam both flourish.
Now, XP was (is) a great OS, and will continue to be for many people. But Windows 7 IS NOT WINDOWS XP. If you DON'T like Seven, GO BACK to XP and stop complaining about how different it is. Give Seven two weeks of your time, try it out. If you still don't like it, we will help you put XP back on. If you like it, then great.
STOP complaining about differences and put in some EFFORT in learning something new for once. Dive in, take a chance, there will not always be someone there to hold your hand in the dark. But you don't always need it.
In this case, there is a hand to lead you, and that is us and the internet. There are great tutorials out there, great programs. If you look, I am sure you will find something.
Make the Windows 7 Taskbar Work More Like Windows XP or Vista :: the How-To Geek
Make Win 7 look/act like 2k/XP? - windows-7
You could spend hours complaining and trying to find a way to save and bring back the archaic and old. Or you could embrace the change, and you might find that it is for the better.
~Lordbob