It didn't cause this great grandpa problems. I like win 7 much better. Lots of help on Windows 7 forums if you need it.

It will be an adjustment just as going from any old version is to a new version and they have made quite a few cosmetic changes etc, you can set the windows 7 theme to classic which makes it look much more familiar. the windows 7 forums are awesome, start checking them out now and you will learn a lot before you get started plus their tutorial section is super.
Windows 7 Forums

you can google make windows 7 look like xp to get more tips and tricks, a must to help with original transitions issues in my book.

Since XP's lifecycle is winding down, and computing experiences are advancing the future will bring you no choice but to upgrade to a newer O/S. All that I read about W7 is positive. I am not personally purchasing a system as my Vista is 80% the same, and I am waiting for ythe release of W8 down the road. Just remember nothing is 100% welcomed by everyone.

Since you are ready to buy it would be best to go with W7 regardless of the learning curve; new feature locations, feature eliminations and new feature names. Plus, you would have an old friend, the XP system, as a backup to rely on during those frustrating times.

I guess it is like let's say buying a brand new 2005 vehicle in 2010. Yes it is brand new vehicle, but it is in actuality 5 years old.

DA

Thanks Raven. I checked on the shipping date and I should receive it Saturday!!! The link was really helpful.

Raven thanks for posting the windows 7 and about searching for tips. I bought a new computer and it has W 7. I am looking forward to the challenge.

Windows 7 comes with a good 2 way firewall so no other needed.
It comes with it's own backup software which can be programmed to run at a specific time if you wish or manually.
The new, higher than Vista, taskbar is great. Have more than one window open in any given program and when you hover over that icon in the taskbar they all show up as almost readable icons for you to decide which one you wish to see.
Near the clock is a triangular pennant shaped flag which appears if Windows detects a problem with any program, click this for options to fix.

If your new Dell does not come with recovery disks you should seriously consider creating them in case the hard drive fails or anything else happens after the warranty expires. You should need 3 DVDs for that.

If you're really concerned about the transition (or maybe you have devices that won't be supported) you can create a virtual machine from your existing PC and run that within Windows 7. Windows 7 professional supports VMs with software that is available for download from the MS site. You can make an XP VM with it, but it will be like a new PC, not a copy of your existing PC. I used this recently when a client wanted me to work offsite, but had a VPN that only works with XP.

You can make a copy of your existing PC using free software from Paragon. I was able to use that to create a VM of a laptop that crashed a while back.

You'll need a fairly powerful Windows 7 machine, and you want to make sure you don't do anything stupid. For some reason, I created a VM with 1.5 gb of ram and tried to run it on my 2 gb netbook (and netbooks have lower power CPUs also). It took quite a while to get everything shut down so I could fix it.

I was surprised (horrified) the firewall was NOT activated on my new laptop (Win 7). I had been online once before checking it in the control panel. Luckily no virus infection had occurred.

I also suggest installing a recovery program immediately. I use the free RECUVA.

Hated Vista. Love 7.

I have had 98, ME, XP, Vista and now W 7 and I have never seen such a drastic change as there is in Windows 7. I have adjusted to everything but I sure don't like Windows Live email and nothing else seems to work on 7. Also I noticed brighter white screens that really bother my eyes. What I do love is the search window after you click start. I typed "programs (x86)" and it popped right up. I made a shortcut for future use. I really like my computer it is very fast and I will make a nephew very happy with my Vista PC. He won't care system is on it.

I'm 66/F have 4 PC's now in my home, for 2 people.. lol I like my older XP's and Luv my new W7 which I set up and running never opened the book, W7 is awesome, fixes most of it's own problems if any come up, now how kewl is that?
I spend many days helping seniors online with pc problems or simply learning their pc's.

I think where you'll have most of your problems, if any, will be in the navigation through your computer screens. The look is different and some of the names have changed to other names meaning the same thing. As mentioned, you can make it look like XP. I had considered doing that but figured if I was ever going to become adjusted to 7, I may as well clunk through it. Keep your old XP unit close by and if you are in a hurry to do something and aren't up to speed on 7,you can at least finish the task at hand. I guess that's why I still have my old 286 with dos 4.0 that I upgraded to 5, windows 3.1.1 right up to Windows 7 ??? Can't bring myself to dump them yet. Still use Win. 2000 on a laptop.
Now that I'm a bit proficient with 7, I find I really like it. There's still some capabilities it has that I haven't had time to explore. I do like the updated drivers section as well as some of the self-repair routines. As mentioned above, on line help forums (especially this one) are fantastic.

Maryland,

May I make a suggestion that you consider reconfiguring your personal profile to eliminate your e-mail address being exposed when posting. By being able to directly see it the address is blatantly exposed to data minors thus resulting in the potential for SPAM to the address.

As you will see you are the only one on this thread exposed.

DA

Vala55, I just made a discovery on Windows Live Mail, and I don't know if yours was set up like mine or not. But I was looking around to try to make it look more like OE and clicked on View at the top. Then I saw that I could put the preview pane either to the side or to the bottom. It had been to the side and I had two columns to the left: one a list of my accounts and the other showing incoming e-mails. When I clicked to put it at the bottom, my incoming e-mails showed up above in the order I had selected (by date), and I think the column showing the accounts was no longer there. I am on my XP computer now in a different part of the house, so that's why I'm not sure. Anyway, it made it seem so much more like OE, and when you double click on the incoming mail, it opens full screen. So, after discovereing this last night (I've had this computer almost a year, LOL), I'm much happier with Live Mail. I still miss being able to use HTML stationery, but I can live without that, and there are some simple stationeries provided with Live Mail.

Grandms, Thank you for posting that tip. It makes using Live Mail much easier. I found it hard to read when it was on the side.
Janette

Grandms, If you want the folders to show, click on that same View, then on Compact View and the folders on the left will reappear.
Janette

One of the first things I do and advise anyone to do with their email client is to disable or turn off the preview pane, it is a security risk. So please those that have it open consider closing it totally. this page goes over some of the dangers and also focuses on outlook and outlook express but virtually all email programs have the preview pane option.
Turn the Preview Pane Off In Your Email Program

also it will end up getting you more spam since the spam that contain scripts to let the sender know the email was opened then knows it is a valid email address to continue spamming.

damccoy,

Thanks for the advice and I know you are right and it has been a topic of conversation many times. When I joined the site several years ago I considered the negatives. However, there are a lot of people who need my expertise in various areas where I offer suggestions, advice, help. I usually get from 10 to 30 emails a week from folks in other forums I participate on this site and from folks who lurk the site looking for help and information. I set the email address up especially for this use. I do have it spam filtered and virus checked and surprisingly, only get maybe 5 spams a month mostly from Chinese firms wanting me to sell their products. Spam hasn't been a problem since 2006 but if it does become one, I'll kill the email address. There are some people who just aren't what they say they are and they are just a handle in cyberspace. Most of the folks with real problems, especially in my area, know who I am personally. I do appreciate your advice and from reading many of your posts, I know you are genuinely trying to help!!! Thanks!!

Would the reading pane be the same as preview pane in WLM? Please explain why this prevents problems. Eventually you have to open the email, won't that trigger the same problem.

Unscrupulous e-mails, those with viruses, require them to be open to install their package of transgression.

The Preview Pane automatically opens a selected e-mail when the e-mail is highlighted removing the choice option from the user. If the Preview Pane is disabled, which has been recommended for years, the user has absolute choice of opening. The user can highlight the e-mail and have a choice of whether to delete suspicious or unsolicited e-mails directly or view them.

DA

Thanks Dave, I understand now, it gives the user an option to delete it if it is suspicious. In all my years I have never gotten an email that looked suspicious, but it is good to be warned.

Grandms, If you want the folders to show, click on that same View, then on Compact View and the folders on the left will reappear.
Janette

Sorry for the above duplicate post. I don't know how it got posted again.

Janette