But before spending your money
You need to download and run the Windows 7 Upgrade Adviser to check if your current computer and loaded software will work with 7.
It's available free here
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=1b544e90-7659-4bd9-9e51-2497c146af15&displaylang=en
As mentioned previously there is no Upgrade Path from XP to 7.
You need to Install 7 as a new clean install and then reinstall all of your Software. Naturally you will need to apply any Windows 7 Drivers that are not included with the Windows 7 Install DVD. You will also need a DVD Drive on the computer/s that you want to move to Windows 7.
What M$ calls a Upgrade to 7 is not a typical Windows Upgrade it involves a reinstall of the OS and ideally you should wipe the HDD before starting. Though this is not necessary it is better to do a new clean install to a HDD with nothing on it so that there is no chance of any Infections or other junk ending up in the newly installed OS.
As you need to do a Clean Install of 7 you also need to Backup all your Data and this includes not only your Documents, E Mail and any Accounting Data you may have but also any Specialized Programs that store the Data in the Program not the My Documents Folder. Mostly Accounting Apps that I'm aware of but there may be others that are used domestically that I do not get involved with.
You'll also need to Backup your ISP User Name & Password as well as the E-Mail User Name & Passwords and Settings. Not to mention any On Line User Names and Passwords for Sites like Face Book or On Line Auctions Sites/Shopping/Banking.
Changing fro XP to 7 is far more complicated than previous Windows Upgrades for those that stick a Install Disc in and hope for the best. However for those who always do a clean install it's no different to any Upgrade of the past. 
You can use Kill Disc to wipe the HDD
http://www.killdisk.com/downloadfree.htm
and other than running the Upgrade Adviser under XP there is nothing else you need do if you do not wish/need to save anything off the computer/s.
Of course if you want your Data you'll need to backup which is what you should be doing anyway.
Col
Would it be
A waste of money or a much need excuse to upgrade hardware?
I know, for me, buying that new game was a push for a new Graphics Card.
New hardware is OK
But maybe a New OS isn't such a good idea if a lot of your existing games that you like do not run on the new OS.
When I first looked at 7 I gave it to the son and he dumped it immediately because none of his favorite games ran on it.
If nothing else it was a starting point that i always use for new Windows OS's. Gives me some idea of what problems I'll have with Customers Apps. 
Col
Well actually
One of the places who are Earthmover's incidentally chucked out a M$ Rep when he went there to help them Migrate to Vista.
They are so strongly held to the belief that Vista is Bad and XP is Good that if I even take anything with anything that remotely says Vista or Newer they throw a Hissy Fit and I duck real fast before retreating out the door and removing the Vista Sticker. :0
I've never actually got to the bottom of what the guy from M$ did or what they did to him but if this helps when they have a problem and want a solution they tell me that if I'm not there in a reasonable length of time that they will park a Big Excavator on the problem computer. Since I have seen this done once already I try to get there very fast. I've also been there when they sicked their dog onto a Guy from one of the Machinery Sale Companies because he insulted them with an outrageous price on a bit of plant and was told to go away they would go elsewhere and when he came back the next day with a slightly cheaper price he got introduced to the German Shepard. :^0
Trying to find which bit of Tracked Machinery that they used to destroy the computer is way too difficult and it's not worth the problems in getting new hardware there. They really remind me of the guy who shot his original IBM PC because the Destruction Manual had the wrong directions in it. 
However keep them happy and they are really nice and will do anything for you so I try very hard to Keep Them HAPPY. :0
Col
See just how NICE I am. :^0 :^0 :^0
You're a Saint
Who needs morals when you have a steady income!
No, I would have no teeth due to grinding my anger away if I had to deal with people like that. Professionalism would come into practice and I'd muscle it out, but I wouldn't like it.
:^0
I actually like that place
You know exactly where you stand with the people, there are no Office Politics and if you peeve them off you know that they'll take a swing at you.
Makes a very pleasant change to some of the places where I work. Though I must say it doesn't suit everyone. Like that M$ Rep who went out there. :^0
Silly Boy asked for it too.
Col
Upgrading from XP to 7
Id there anywhere one can get the precise truth of what is required to upgrade at home on my PC and a Laptop in a language usung simple honest guideline.
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