should i upgrade or do clean install

Seems like it'd be worth it to just buy the full version rather than the upgrade disk, and avoid all the other problems/conditions. At least you'd have it for future use if you need to do a full recovery. Would that be a fair statement?

It would definitely be less headache to maintain, if you didn't need to worry about the previous OS. I've created a Disk Image of my drive. Now all I need to do is keep up with the image and I will never need to do the install again.

Ahh, thanks clifford that answers my question.
When I bought mine I got the full version, but I've seen the question raised enough times about the upgrade version/clean install thing that I was curious as to the details.

Id go for a clean install and besides it will only let you upgrade the same version to the same version. For example you cannot upgrade Vista Home Premium to Vista Ultimate

And you dont want to end up working with this problem

http://www.ghacks.net/2009/10/26/end...rade-problems/

I see no reason to purchase the full retail when you can do a clean full install with the upgrade media. Even M$ has acknowledged that people are doing it with no issues.

See the tutorial:
Clean Install Windows 7 With Windows 7 Upgrades

There you have it. An easy way to do a clean install of Windows 7 using an upgrade DVD. This is obviously only legal if you own a previous Microsoft operating system that’s supported by the Windows 7 Update program.

I have installed 4 Windows 7 systems using "Upgrade" discs as clean installs and had no problems at all. Didn't even have to do any extra tweaks.

Judging from problems posted on this Forum a clean install is preferable.