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#11
For the moment uninstall both the antivirus and firewall.
An in-place upgrade keeps all your applications and data (mostly) intact. This method of upgrade is sadly problem-manic. A Clean upgrade does not keep anything of the old OS instead you need to reinstall your applications.
Afraid if you do not have a recovery disc for your computer you won't be able to Vista. However, you do not need to go back to Vista to reinstall Windows 7. You can launch "setup.exe" on the Windows 7 DVD from your current installation, then you will get a choice for an Upgrade or Custom. You want to pick Custom.
Of course before you do that you want to backup your data.
You do not need to reinstall or roll back to Vista to clean reinstall Windows 7.
Get the cleanest possible install: Boot the DVD, select Custom install, use Drive Options to format over the Vista before install.
The Win7 DVD will scan the drive at bootup to see an OS and allow you to insert Upgrade Key.
Keep your ethernet plugged in and also choose "Connect to internet during install" to get the latest drivers and Updates during install.
Afterwards you will get other new drivers from Windows Updates. Any drivers missing in Device Manager can be found along with favorite apps on the Support Downloads webpage for your computer model.
would it be so hard for Microsoft to include some basic directions with these upgrade discs it sure would help people out.
Do you have Office to reinstall? You will not have Works that comes with the computer.
Adobe reader/flash are at their website; Java runtime and free ofc suite is at Java.
If you have favorite apps that came with the computer (webcam, hot keys, etc), check the Support Downloads page for your model computer on the manufacturer's website to see what apps they have to download.
Any drivers which are not in installer (almost all are) or come in on Windows Updates shortly after install, can also be found there.