Windows 7 Ultimate from Windows Vista Home Premium

[minesapint]

I'd like to upgrade my Windows installation to Windows 7 Ultimate via an W7 Upgrade disc. I need to install W7 as an "upgrade" rather than a "custom" installation as I'd like to keep my existing files and folders and as I understand, the upgrade disc will allow me to do this.

What I'd like to know is how worthwhile is the upgrade? I'm installing it at home. Is there a big difference/improvement between Vista and W7?

Thanks.

[ChuckFickens]

Windows7 is far superior to Vista (In fact I'd rather have XP than Vista!) but that said Vista does pretty much work now and is pretty stable, so if it does what you need why upgrade? it may even stop some things working.

[minesapint]

Thanks ChuckFickens. We've just bought a HP Touchscreen 300 PC for our teenage son that uses Windows 7 Home Premium and having heard that Windows 7 is supposed to be easier to use and more stable than Vista, I thought it might be worthwhile upgrading our other PC to the new OS.

One of the things that's bothered me about Vista is the UAC and I understand it's kept under better control in Wimdows 7 - I've never fancied the idea of tampering with the UAC settings in Vista.

I feel sometimes that people are portraying W7 and Vista in the same way that XP was compared to ME as far as development was concerned, which I think is a little unfair having used the versions myself. As you say, Vista is pretty stable. All the same the cost of the upgrade here:

http://www.software4s...ndows_7-software.aspx

is minimal, so it might well be worth a try seeing we're eligible for the offer.

[minesapint]

Better link:

http://www.software4s..._Upgrade-details.aspx

[ChuckFickens]

it's a minimal cost, but are you eligible for that upgrade, it's for students only? you also have to be a little careful that all the hardware you currently use will work in windows 7. you can check for problems here

http://www.microsoft..../upgrade-advisor.aspx

As I said, I would never normally recommend upgrading just for the sake of it, if it all works as it is and it does everything you want it to then leave well alone is my normal line.

That said, if you really do want to upgrade and the MS adviser says all will be OK then make sure you back everything important up before upgrading just in case it all goes wrong.

[minesapint]

Yes, I am eligible as I have two children left at home one of which is in a further education college and the other in comprehensive school.

I ran the ugrade advisor a few days ago and it only came up with three problems. It told me there were issues with the Sibelius 6 software on the PC, a Trend AV product and the drivers for my HP Printer. The drivers I need for Windows 7 are on the HP website and I can apparently download them following the upgrade.The Sibelius software is also on my daughter's computer running Vista so it's no problem. The Trend AV is an online scanner and is unimportant.

I'll back up my files beforehand - CNET advise a free program called Macrium Reflect which I've downloaded and I'll use to create am image of the Vista drive on another empty drive on the PC ( I have two 500GB drives on the machine).

Thanks again Chuck.