For any business user looking to move to Windows 7, there's one key question that must be answered up front: upgrade (using any of several possible methods) or perform a clean installation?

That same question applies to CIOs and IT pros thinking about moving to Windows Server 2008 R2. Of course, there's a bit more to that decision, starting with considerations concerning R2's 64-bit nature.

Over at Enterprise Networking Planet, Microsoft MVP and technical consultant Jabez Gan discusses those considerations as part of an overall look at the question: Should you upgrade or clean-install Windows Server 2008 R2? Here's a sample:

Determining whether to do a clean installation or upgrade is based on time needed and complexity. Upgrading might save a lot of time, but if issues arise it will be harder to troubleshoot and create longer downtime. Clean installation is time consuming as application data and services will need to be migrated. It is not relatively complex, but the migration process is also relatively predictable.

Gan also delves briefly into topics like legacy applications, 64-bit hardware, and even free space on the system volume. Good stuff.

Has your organization made a decision on the upgrade/clean-install question? If so, what and why? And if not, what's holding you back? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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