Windows 7 pre release

You bought the computer with 7 installed (64 bit). It doesn't matter whether you have 64 or 32 bit, the activation key is the same for both. Just make sure you get the same version (home premium, pro). I've never run 7 in a VM, not 100% positive it will work, but it's a decent chance it will. If not, you'll have to settle for a dual boot setup, in which case you may as well go with 64 bit. If you were asking me about a dual boot, I know that would work almost 100% of the time. Try the VM and see, that's all you can do.

I'm using a nice little program called Virtual Box that runs Windows 7 just fine for me (as well as XP and Linux Mint and Chrome and whatever OS I've thrown at it)

I'm using VM Player, and it does good for me. I'm running it on Windows 7, within it are XP Pro SP3, Win 2K Pro and Linux Mint 8. It's free and a good product. Can be downloaded from File Hippo. All three OS's runs and updates with no problem.

OMG It worked better then I thought it would It installed and runs perfect. I got my duel monitors set up so I can have windows 7 on one screen and Linux on the other and there is full mouse integration. In short this is freaking cool!!! Windows 7 works perfectly in virtual machines and its hard to tell its even a VM, this is just too cool.

I figured it would work for you, but I've never run Windows 7 in a VM, so I couldn't 100% say it would work. I've been only using it on a regular basis less than a month. You can't beat it for trying out an OS (especially Linux). Those "live CD's" do not give you a fully updated OS to evaluate, and the performance is slower. If you were to base the performance by live CD, it would be no good, too slow. Glad that it worked out for you.

During the Windows 7 Beta phases, a lot of users were testing Windows 7 in VM along with either their XP or Vista setups.

I have never really had a desire for using VM but I understand it's purpose and why people use it.

Once you start using one, that is, if you like to try and experiment and use alternative computing (other OS's than 7), they're great. You can remove them at any time you wish, and there's no partitioning or dualbooting involved. The installed OS works just like your Windows 7 does. It brings older OS's (XP Pro/Win 2K Pro) back to life and looks really good on your newer screen. There's so many posts on this forum involving printers that are ancient. This can get them up and running. The possibilities are unlimited as to what you can do.

I could not agree more Catilley!