Taking the plunge into Windows 7

[Mabubeezareel]

I've made the decision to upgrade to Windows 7, but before actually doing so, I've got a few questions that I'm hoping you guys can answer for me.

1. Not sure which edition to get, though Home Premium seems like it will do the trick for me. Are the differences between Home Premium and Professional significant enough to warrant spending the extra $?

2. I'm currently running XP Pro 32-bit - can it be upgraded directly to Win7, or should I prep myself for a full wipe and start from scratch?

3. Contingent on the above answer being "full wipe", can I install from scratch with the "upgrade" version that most retailers are selling, or do I need to get a different version for a fresh install? Newegg seems to have both the system builder and upgrade versions available, with the system-builder ones being a few bucks cheaper. Are these just the same difference between OEM and Retail versions of hardware?

4. 32bit or 64bit? I saw the poll further down the page here where the consensus was that 64bit was the way to go in general. Having never used a 64bit OS before, should I have any worries about hardware/software compatibility?

Relevant PC specs are:

C2D E8400
4GB DDR2 800 (2x2GB)
Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3L
Radeon 4850
HT Omega Striker sound card

[Cephius]

1) If you're a typical home user, no. Just stick with Home Premium.

2) Can't do a straight upgrade unless you're on Vista. You'll need to wipe and install.

3) Yes, you can use the upgrade DVD to install Windows 7.

4) You won't notice any difference. Use 64 bit!