[quote name='Vekou']I am using Vista Home Premium, 64-bit. From what I gather I would not be able to upgrade to Windows 7 Professional without doing a clean install, so I'll have to go with Windows 7 Home Premium if I want this to go as easy and problem-free as possible. Is this correct?[/QUOTE]
You will have to do a clean install
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/help/upgrading-from-windows-vista-to-windows-7
Step 1: Which version of Windows 7 can I upgrade to?
The table below describes which editions of Windows Vista can be upgraded to Windows 7. Remember that if you can't use the Upgrade option to upgrade to the edition of Windows 7 that you want to use, you can still use the Custom installation option.
The Upgrade option works with either an upgrade copy or the full product copy of Windows 7. This is described on the front of the Windows 7 retail box or on an online sales receipt.
32-bit or 64-bit: Which version of Windows 7 to install?
If you're running a 32-bit version of Windows Vista, you can only upgrade to a 32-bit version of Windows 7. Similarly, if you are running a 64-bit version of Windows Vista, you can only upgrade to a 64-bit version of Windows 7. Otherwise, you'll need to use the Custom option to install Windows 7.
Both 32-bit and 64-bit installation discs are included in the Windows 7 package. 64-bit operating systems can handle large amounts of memory—typically 4 gigabytes (GB) of random access memory (RAM) or more—more efficiently than 32-bit operating systems. However, not all computers are 64-bit capable.
To find out which Windows 7 installation disc you can use, do the following:
- Open Performance Information and Tools by clicking the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Performance Information and Tools.
- Click View and print details.
- Under System, you can see what type of operating system you're currently running next to System type, and, next to 64-bit capable, whether you can run a 64-bit version of Windows.
If your computer is already running a 64-bit version of Windows, you won't see the 64-bit capable listing.
What if I can't choose the Upgrade option?
Some versions of Windows can't be upgraded with the installation disc you're trying to use. For example, you can't upgrade a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version, or upgrade from a higher edition of Windows, such as Windows Vista Ultimate, to a lower edition, such as Windows 7 Home Premium. If this is the case, you'll need to use the Custom option during installation.
However, unlike Upgrade, the Custom option does not preserve your files, settings, or programs. You'll need to back up your files and settings before installing Windows 7, restore them after installation is complete—and you'll also need to reinstall your programs using the original installation discs or files. For a step-by-step tutorial on how to perform a custom installation, see
Upgrading from Windows Vista to Windows 7 (custom installation).