win7 HI/Lo to upgrade, clean install, or dual boot?

I think Hi Beams/Low Beams for the different paths to using Win7 would be helpful to myself and others. Whether to 1. upgrade over xp, 2. do a format and do a clean install or 3.create a new partition to install Win7 there and dual boot. I'll assume creating a virtual pc is not an option.

Some questions for each that might help discussion:
1.Upgrade over vista. Has anyone gone this route? I understand that a .bak file is created and the option will remain to revert back to XP.
2.Clean install. Will access to the touchpad, and screen be immediately available after installation since I know for sure the touchpad is not a default Microsoft driver. Always been concerned that I'd be left without a usable means of operating a mouse when the clean install was finished.
3.New partition then dual boot. After installing Win7 to new partition, does one need a 3rd party boot manager? Are all applications then reinstalled to the new Win7 partition to be able to use them?

Appreciate any discussion.

 

Well, I have done it BOTH ways and either is OK...

You will still have basic mouse capability on the touchpad, and basic hard-wired network access and "aero"...Actually, I only upgraded over vista (not XP), and it took a lot longer, since it was migrating ALL the programs, registry entries, etc. So, I suggest a clean install (or a dual boot to a clean partition)....Afterall, this **IS** BETA, and it does have a few quirks in it...

But bottom lline, I think it's more of a you say po-TA-toe, and I say pah-TAH-toe...pick the one you like best...either wait the extra time, or spend the time re-installing the drivers...