I want to upgrade my Vista programs (I.E. DigitalPersona Fingerprint Reader, HP Media Smart, MS Office etc.), in preparation for my upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium. I don't like the Vista Backup Utility, as it backs up EVERYTHING. I just want to select files to back them up. Do not suggest copy and paste.

Can you recommend a program or way to backup certain files on to a USB Drive. I want to choose the programs to backup, and I want them backed up in their entirety.
Thank you,
~Vincent

If you're doing the upgrade, all your programs and files will stay intact.

I backed up my music and some of my program installers (yea don't worry about those), but that's it. I didn't need to use them, either.

Oh, and you can't backup programs because they have more than just files (hidden files, registry entries, etc.).

So, if I do the in place upgrade then all my files stay the same? Like, they won't get deleted or moved in Vista?
And also, will Windows 7 take up my entire hard drive, or just my Vista partition?
~Vincent

I've tried the upgrade option while installing 7. Yes all your files and programs stay with you.

I did an upgrade install to 7 a while back. I didn't lose any files or programs, BUT I recommend backing up your files anyway in case something goes wrong, AND I have had some problems with programs, and I'm actually going to do a clean install in a few hours because the upgrade install left so much junk related to the old OS. Seriously, do yourself a favour and do a clean install.

About backing up things, I know you told us not to suggest copy and paste, but I really don't see what's wrong with it. I've never understood why people use specialist backup software (often which they've paid for), when it's not difficult to do it manually.