Does a "clean install" of Vista save all my files and folders?

I just read Cnet review of Vista ( not great...suggest we wait).

They said if we install we should do a "clean install". I take that to mean that XP is purged and only Vista OS remains on the computer. Is this correct?

If we do a clean install what happens to all the files, folder and software programs already on our computer...do they get carried over or do they need to be reinstalled.

Perhaps there is a link or another thread that talks about this in detail.

Thanks

Oh..I just found the thread....

 

Yes & you would have to reinstall your programs from scratch.

 

A clean install will wipe all of the data off of your hard drive and start with a completely new build. If you upgrade, then your files will be saved. What I usually do is during my first build, I create a second partition that I map the My Documents folder to and ensure that all of my other files are saved there. That way if I decide to do a clean build (which I always to) I am only rebuilding the OS partition and all of my files stay safe.

Having your data on another partition also makes backups a lot easier.

 

My new dv9000t ( with XP Media) will only have 80GB of hard drive. My old laptop after two years only has 7GB of used space.... will the 80GB be enough to have both Vista and XP in a partitioned drive?

Do the systems run completely independent of each other....for example. If I open XP and write a word document... will I see that word document in Vista as well?

 

Depending on how you partition your drive, yes. With those two OSes you'd be better off having three partitions, one for XP, one for Vista, and the last for data.

 

This sounds way more complicated than perhaps my abilities. I may either have to have someone do this for me or just do theXP/Vista override upgrade.

 

vista is freaking awsome. everyting is better than XP. i just installed my business version yesturday