Clean Install but keeping files.

I'm a bit confused on this and hoping I can get clarification on this.

I have installed Windows 7 RTM 32-bit on my desktop and laptop where both had Vista 32-bit. The desktop was an in-place upgrade and everything has been smooth. On the laptop, I did a clean install but it left a Windows.OLD folder with all the files from Vista.

My question is on my desktop if I decide to go from 7 32-bit to 64-bit, I will have to do a clean install. But will I have the option to backup everything to a Windows.OLD folder on the hard drive?

I'm confused because when I hear "clean install", I think of the entire drive or partition being wiped out whereas on my laptop, it left the Windows.OLD folder and I don't believe the setup told me, but I can't remember.

On a side note, if my brother upgrades from XP to 7 which will have to be a clean install, will he have the option to move everything to the Windows.OLD
folder instead of having to back up everything to external media?

Just want some confirmation on this, thanks.

 

I believe you don't have to format it. Just install on top of the existing windows and those files will be stored in Windows.old folder.
I don't think that's the case for XP though, but I could be wrong. I never tried that before.

 

You can use Windows Easy Transfer to back up to external media, or you could always upload the files to a file storage site. You could also create another partition and move the files there. Then, after install on that partition, move them back.

 

If you don't format the existing partition, there will be Windows.old folder after the clean install.
I would be backing up programs and data when moving from XP to 7. Not all programs launched from the windows.old folder work.