richardmc,

This is an article by Walter Mossberg about upgrading  Windows XP to Windows 7.

Thank you for the reply. I read all that he had to say and I went ahead and changed my windows 7 upgrade to the full version. Everything in my machine is compatible with windows 7 now so I guess the full version is the way to go. There is just too many processes with the upgrade.

---excerpt---

 Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows

http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/faq.asp

Q: Can I perform a clean (full) install of Windows 7 with the Upgrade media?

A: Microsoft says yes.

Q: Does a version of Windows have to already be installed on the PC in that case?

A: I don't know. I'm still waiting for the answer to that question and/or actual Upgrade media for testing.

Q: Does that clean install with Upgrade media require the same hokey and time-consuming "double install" method that was required with Windows Vista Upgrade media?

A: I don't know. I'm still waiting for the answer to that question, but I believe it will work as it does with Windows Vista.

---end excerpt---

Mossberg is trying to attract attention to his web site by sensationalizing the issue and stirring up the MS haters. The WinXP->Win7 upgrade isn't any different from Win3->Win95, or Win98->Win2000 was: they are both MAJOR upgrades. Old hardware will have to be thrown away (or used to run Linux?! hehehe) due to lack of driver support. etc. Otherwise, people should stay with WinXP until they can get a new PC that has Win7 installed on it. (Duh.)

You might want to research the "double install" issue mentioned above. www.windowssecrets.com might also have some info on that.

I am not specifically familiar with Dimension 4700 hardware but in general:

1) buy and physically install a second hard drive. these are relatively cheap compared to the past. format at least one partition (at least 40GB for Win7?)

2) temporarily remove the original ("old") hard drive to reduce any possible confusion during install of Win7.

3) set up the "second" (new) hard drive as new primary drive

4) run the Win7 installer, install all your software (etc.), on the "new" hard drive.

5) reattach the "old" hard drive and move data files to the Win7 environment, as appropriate. 

    (research use of file transfer/settings wizards, including any from MS. You may wish to dual boot.)

The more care you take in setting up Win7, the happier you will be with it over the long run. If you rush the Win7 install, and things get messy, you will probably have to do another install again before long, or live with problems.

note: consder using your "old" hard drive as a backup/archive target. if you don't have it already, get drive imaging software and "clone" the "new" disk to the "old" disk.

note2: you may find that you will get performance improvements from running a fast hard drive for the Win7 OS partition, such as a VelociRaptor 10,000RPM. problem: more expensive.