I purchased a copy of this from Amazon some time ago now, but decided to wait until I made a decision on a new computer. Well I have decided just to replace the hard disk for now and so could go ahead and install. However, would it be better to wait until the first service pack is out and is this operating system well received? XP is doing well at present but I bought Windows 7 because it was on offer too good to miss....

Windows 7 works OK and I'm using it. It's a popular view that a new Microsoft operating system shouldn't be used until the first service pack has come out. I've never subscribed to that view myself, so I'd say to install Windows 7 now and get to know it. I don't think you'll regret it. Updates are available as soon as the installation is complete.

If your present computer is a fairly old one, install the 32 bit disk (both 64 and 32 bit versions are included in the box). Older computer processors won't work with the 64 bit version.

Edit: You can get fair idea of how well your computer will work with Windows 7 by downloading and running the utility found here.

That's a useful site and I have saved a copy of the report for the engineer. There are one or two incompatibilities but it looks like they can be resolved with updates. I am hoping the loud running noise I am getting at present may be reduced with the new drive. Sometime this week......

One of my older programs won't install on Windows 7 64bit. A compatibility mode was offered with Windows 7 32bit for Xara Xtreme 4.0 but not so on the 64bit version.

Also, the scanner part of my Brother DCP-117C multi-function printer won't work properly despite downloading the 64 bit driver from Brother support. The printer part works OK though.