Welcome to the forums Vinny :emotion-21:     So many questions - so little time :emotion-3:   First of all... you can't simply copy drivers over to the new OS installation.  Drivers have to be reinstalled. Secondly... Vista 32bit drivers will NOT work for Windows 7 64bit.  Vista 64bit drivers might (/often) work, but not 32bit drivers. Thirdly... you can download any drivers not included on the drivers discs you've got - from the XPS M1530 ':emotion-22::emotion-50:Drivers & Downloads' page. As you can see, there are Vista 64bit drivers available too, and Vista 64bit drivers have worked for many of us, on components Windows 7 64bit didn't install default drivers for.       Is it possible to and how would I go about backing this recovery partition up on a bootable DVD or external partition?    Unfortunately (and annoyingly!), the recovery partition files can't be used to create a recovery disc. And of course the recovery partition can only be used with the OS which was pre-installed on the laptop. If you decide to buy/install Windows 7, you're as well to delete at least the recovery partition - if not all the Dell partitions, and just create your own. Then once you've installed the OS and all drivers, create your own complete/full image to an external source (CD/DVD, hard drive or whatever). Many of us prefer to use the likes of Acronis True Image, or maybe one or other of the programs listed in this :emotion-22::emotion-50:Disk Imaging Software Review 2010. But Windows 7 includes its own 'Backup & Restore' features.  Although I use Acronis True Image 2010 myself, I used Windows 7 option to create a backup of my C:\ drive, and it was quick and easy to do so. I expect the 'Restore' option will be equally as painless, should I ever need to use it.   Notice I've said to create your own image after installing the OS and drivers - not OS, drivers, and all Windows Updates? That's because - although few and far between, certain Windows Updates have been known to cause problems on some systems. But if you manage to download/install them all without any issues, then you either create another full image - and delete the original (after you've tested the new one), or just do an incremental or differential update of the original. (See :emotion-22::emotion-50:here for an explanation of the differences between the two)   As for whether it's worth upgrading to 64bit:  IMO - yes it is.   One major reason for doing so, is that 64bit OS can use all the RAM installed.  With 4GB RAM installed, 32bit OS only use something in the order of 3.25GB of it.   A 64bit OS can recognise/use it all :emotion-11:  You'd want to make absolutely sure any important software you use is Windows 7 compatible of course, before taking the plunge :emotion-5:
windows 7 help - recovery partition, drivers, Dell software ?s