The answer to upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7 is no and yes. You can upgrade from Vista to Windows 7 just using the Windows 7 DVD and a license key/CD key.

Microsoft's answer to upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7 is that you can transfer settings and data, but you must do a clean install and reinstall all your programs. This means you need the CDs and the keys. This will work for some, but others have too many programs to re-install and finding the original media and keys may be a problem.

Now for two ways you can upgrade Windows XP to Windows 7.

You can buy PCMover Windows Upgrade Assistant edition from www.laplink.com to do an upgrade from XP to Windows 7. It will transfer almost all, if not all, of your programs and work with the installation. It costs about $20 and can only be used on one machine. They have volume licensing for five or more PCs.

I used it as I moved from XP to Vista from 32-bit to 64-bit to Windows 7 (I am not sure exactly where in the process) and my machine is running Windows 7 with everything transferred. I installed Windows 7 in early August. I have programs on my computer back to DOS days from constantly upgrading.

You could also upgrade XP to Vista to Windows 7. I have not seen it done, but you may be able to use the Vista trial version as that interim step. If you do not use the fully licensed versions, you could hit problems and lose your drive and data.

Before doing any upgrade, always backup your data and disk as they do fail sometimes.

Why Microsoft did not include the ability to upgrade from XP to Vista I am not sure as XP is the more widely-used operating system than Vista.

Dwight Watt is a computer instructor at a technical college in northwest Georgia and also does computer work for businesses, individuals and organizations in the Swainsboro area. His webpage is www.dwightwatt.com.