I recently picked up Windows 7. I plan on installing the 64-bit version (then I can fully use my 4GB ram). However, I have a few questions since I've never done anything like this before.

1)If I just install it from the disk, will everything be formatted on the existing drive?

2)If it doesn't automatically, should I do it manually (and how)? I have backed up everything of importance.

3)By going to 64-bit, is there any chance of some stuff not working? I've heard things about drivers not working, but the only stuff I have that might be affected is a 3 1/4" floppy drive, a graphics tablet, and a USB keyboard.

4)Will I need to deactivate things like Office 07?

5)Is there anything else I should know about, either from XP->7 OR from 32->64?

Thanks!

My version of Win7 did not clearly prompt me with format options when installing over a copy of XPpro. This was mildly annoying to say the least, as I had not actually cleared the drive, so it spent well over an hour shuffling things around trying to make room for Windows 7. I don't know if the options simply aren't there, if I missed a menu, or if the MSDNAA installer was just different.

I strongly suggest using a tool to format then, but have no suggestions as to which.

My version of Win7 did not clearly prompt me with format options when installing over a copy of XPpro. This was mildly annoying to say the least, as I had not actually cleared the drive, so it spent well over an hour shuffling things around trying to make room for Windows 7. I don't know if the options simply aren't there, if I missed a menu, or if the MSDNAA installer was just different.

I strongly suggest using a tool to format then, but have no suggestions as to which.

Do you mean a tool to format BEFORE I install, or in the process of?

Yeah, I didn't see any way I could have formatted after I booted off the DVD, and I haven't gotten around to fixing the issue in all these months.

(I really should reinstall windows over Reading Week.)

Hi,

I recently installed Win 7 x64 and it wouldn't format the drive (didn't gave me a clear reason, very frustrating). In the end I decided to remove all drives except one. Then it finally formatted the drive and installed Win 7 and I added the other drives again. Almost all of my programs work even old games like from GOG. The only thing that didn't work at first was my Wacom RS232 tablet. However using some advice I found on the internet I managed to install the old Vista RS232 drivers in Win7 and now that works too.

In the end I am happy I moved to Win7 (although I don't understand it still lacks some basic stuff like mounting an ISO image as drive :-( )