Hello LB_WD,
Thanks for the input. I’m aware I could be causing a “mess” with this upgrade path and could very well end up with a clean install of Win 7. I myself wouldn’t recommend this path to others 
Since I have the xp system totally backed up and verified, I can always clean install win 7 and still retain the data (emails, docs etc.). I have to do something soon as the current boot drive is about to fail (overheating) and MS support of xp is gone.
The issue on this machine is with a dozen or so apps I don’t have installation disks for anymore (some were on floppies believe it or not). I have no way of knowing if they’ll even run on win 7, but I consider this as an experiment more than anything else. The upgrades will take several hours each but not concerned since I have other machines to work with while I’m “playing” with this one.
Thanks again,
John
