Microsoft says it plans to offer more frequent
updates for these programs.
As with Windows Vista, there are several versions of
Windows 7. Each is a little different.
If you’re upgrading from Windows XP, you’ll need to
do a clean install of Windows 7. You’ll have to
reinstall your programs. Your data will be wiped off the
hard drive. So, back it up.
If you have a Vista machine, you can do an in-place
upgrade. You won’t need to reinstall your programs, and
your data shouldn’t be affected. However, there are some
caveats.
First, if you switch from 32- to 64-bit or vice
versa, a clean install is needed. Also, you must select
a corresponding or better version of Windows 7.
Otherwise, a clean install is required.
Whether you need a clean install or not, play it
safe. Back up your data before installing Windows 7.
