Upgrade, Custom or Clean install for Win 7?

Ok...I'm getting ready to put in Windows 7 an upgrade from Windows Vista HP/SP2

I received my Win 7 upgrade disk for free when I bought a new Dell back in September (2009) that was pre-loaded with Vista. I had several months to work with Vista and I'm now ready to upgrade.

I did not install or download a lot of apps or drivers-that was intentional- as I knew I'd upgrade down the road...which is very soon LOL

I'm doing some backups and will put that on my external HD.

I have some questions that's been floating around my head:

1) Product Key: I have the PK for Windows 7 on the Disc Cover...I use that when they ask for it? or the PK from my Computer? Where can I find my computer's PK? And I'd like to activate my OS "now"

2) Upgrade, Custom or Clean? there's a LOT of confusion about this, and I'm hearing that a lot of people prefer to do a "clean" install over an upgrade. Here's what I want: I want Window 7 to overwrite Vista, but get rid of the old stuff, including Window updates for Vista. The impression I get from the clean install, is that you wipe out everything, including the OS...that doesn't make sense to me, if Windows 7 wants verification that the current OS is there in order to upgrade to. Correct me if this is not the case.

3) Uninstall-- programs, applications? Or does Windows 7 takes care of that issue?

4)x64, x86-- I'm totally clueless with this.... someone dumb it down for me?

5) UAC: need to know if there's a way to turn that off as I'm the primary user of my computer when I upgrade to Win 7

Here's the info on my computer and OS:
Computer: Dell Inspiron 537S, 4GB Ram, Pentium Dual Core, 64-Bit
OS: Vista Home Premium, SP2

Upgrade Discs: 1) Windows 7 Home Premium, 64-Bit
2) Upgrade Assistant

TIA for suggestions/advice! :)

tw33k said:

1) Use the product key on the Widows 7 disc. You can enter this during installation and check the box for automatic activation.
2) Clean install IS custom install. To use your upgrade disc to custom install follow the steps here...Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version
3) This will happen when you custom install
4) x64 is 64 bit. x86 is 32 bit. You want x64 but it depends what version of Windows 7 is actually on your disc
5) You can turn UAC off once you have Windows up and running.

1) automatic activation occurs when it's with clean install or upgrade, nothing's been said about custom install: Activate Windows 7 Online will I need to do a manual activation?

When you boot the Win7 DVD, it scans the HD to see Vista and passes a flag which allows use of the Upgrade version key. This is the case even if you then proceed to use Custom>Drive Options to Delete partition(s), Create New One(s) and Format before install.

Just use the installer to do your repartitioning/formatting and you will be good to go with Activation. If not use one of the workarounds given in Tw33k's post.

gregrocker said:

When you boot the Win7 DVD, it scans the HD to see Vista and passes a flag which allows use of the Upgrade version key. This is the case even if you then proceed to use Custom>Drive Options to Delete partition(s), Create New One(s) and Format before install.

Just use the installer to do your repartitioning/formatting and you will be good to go with Activation. If not use one of the workarounds given in Tw33k's post.

Ok...although I've done an upgrade from ME to XP on my own, I never understood the partitioning and formatting.... I just simply change the OS to one drive: the C drive. And most of my files are formatted to the NTFS format.

ken9122 said:

"1) automatic activation occurs when it's with clean install or upgrade, nothing's been said about custom install: Activate Windows 7 Online will I need to do a manual activation?"

You have 30 days to activate what ever method you use. And you will be using 64 bit, a good thing, since you have Vista 64 bit already installed.

Ken

even with automatic activation, do you have to wait 3 days to use the computer? that's how I read it! LOL

punkinbee59 said:

gregrocker said:

When you boot the Win7 DVD, it scans the HD to see Vista and passes a flag which allows use of the Upgrade version key. This is the case even if you then proceed to use Custom>Drive Options to Delete partition(s), Create New One(s) and Format before install.

Just use the installer to do your repartitioning/formatting and you will be good to go with Activation. If not use one of the workarounds given in Tw33k's post.

Ok...although I've done an upgrade from ME to XP on my own, I never understood the partitioning and formatting.... I just simply change the OS to one drive: the C drive. And most of my files are formatted to the NTFS format.

Some users like to wipe the slate cleaner, so they delete the partition, create a new one there and format it.

I was trying to assure you that even if you use those tools, the flag is still passed to allow Upgrade version key.

You don't have to even format if you don't want, just select and install to the target partition.