I used Easy Transfer to back up all my data files to an external hard drive (I searched around for all data files in App Data and in Program Files that might not be in the default Easy Transfer backup). Even so, during the Win7 RC install, looks like everything in my previous OS install was moved to a file called Windows.old as read-only files, so the external backup was somewhat superfluous but a good failsafe measure.

Norton Internet Security 2009, which worked under Win7 Beta, does not work under Win7 RC but Symantec has a temporary pre-release Win7 RC-compatible version of NIS 2009.

Windows 7 Antivirus - Win 7 Virus - Norton Security Protection | Norton Is Ready to Protect Windows 7

Right now Symantec doesn't seem to have the server up to activate the new NIS 2009 but it's promised that all owners of previous versions of NIS 2009 will be activated and continued with the Win7 RC version of NIS 2009 (updates can be downloaded without official activation, EDIT: 7-day "free trial").

So here I go merrily reinstalling everything.

Although the Aero effects didn't work in the Win7 Beta with my puny 2006 1.5 GHz HP laptop with no dedicated graphics card, it's working under Win7 RC. Cool!

__________________
-Jim-

Use every part of the buffalo - Brad Bird