files, just the av program and disk defrag usually checks for fragmented files, nothing that checks for relevancy.

reg: nothing, but I will go in a remove program references that are no longer valid.

thank you yrag, your help has been much appreciated.

Oh, one last thing. I upgraded to win7 from vista and bought the computer with vista installed. what problems can I expect.

I'd do a clean install, start fresh with no excess baggage hanging around. Make sure you back up everything first though.

I'd try to backup everything to a second physical hard drive if you have one....if not then make sure to backup all your data at least.

Download the drivers you'll need before you start the re-install process and copy them to a cd or flash drive.

Put n your Win 7 DVD and run the setup.exe Make sure to choose the "Custom" installation when you're asked what kind of installation you want.

Do not do that.

Is this an OEM or do you have a Win 7 key? 

Ok... only save pics, music, documents and such. Forget everything else. Once they're on the external, unplug it.

You're now going to do a full, clean install of Win 7.

Boot to Win 7 DVD. Use it to format your drive. Pick Custom install. DO NOT TYPE IN KEY NUMBER. Un-check Activate on connection and Do not check for Updates. Install Win 7. Once it is complete, it will give you 30 days to Activate.

Now you're going to upgrade from Win 7 to Win 7.

From within Windows, insert Win 7 DVD and hit 'Upgrade'. This go around you type in key number, check for updates and activate on connection.

After Windows installs the second time and is activated open Disk cleanup/ Cleanup Sytem Files and delete all setup files.

You are now the proud parent of a full clean install of Win 7.  

You don't need any...Win 7 will find and install all of them. Let it.

The double install takes about an hour (2nd upgrade install takes about 15 minutes longer than the fresh first)......

...... and you'll be up and running.

Now, here's my closing advice: invest in a backup program and you'll never have to do this again. Other then Windows ME (I threw the whole fuckin' computer away just to get any trace of ME out of the shop) I have never re-installed an operating system even after hardware failure (and I've been known for blowing up more than a few).

http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/

Food for thought.  

well, here we go wish me luck,see ya on the other side.

With a Win 7 upgrade DVD, you must install within Windows with Vista installed along with every mistake it and you have made to it. Double Win 7 install is to a virgin disk and only Win 7 files are replacing Win 7 files....and you're not involved in it.

Simply put.... if you bought a Win7 upgrade DVD and wanted a fresh install, you'd have to re-install Vista first.....

Good luck....I don't think you'll have a problem though. As long as you read the information provided throughout the install process and make the right selections, it should be a breeze. Some hardware/driver incompatibilities are mostly what I've seen cause problems or as Lantec advised, may wanna keep your drivers handy...just in case.

first morning boot after re-install and it took forever, 6+ minutes but it booted. system and avg took 3 minutes alone.

on the good side, it did boot, I have a fresh install of windows, my apps have been pared down, everything loaded okay and I was able to switch from eudora to outlook, long story... (entering addresses will be a pain but the wife says she'll help if I put them in a spreadsheet for her).

Impulse Now is more than slightly obnoxious (resident evil) glad it can be turned off. AVG was doing some type of updating every time I had to reboot and changing some settings took care of that.

notice a lot of differences from win7 installed over vista and from a clean win7 install, HELP, where's the tool bar in window's explorer and is there a way to have my user folder expand upon opening?