Windows 7 Upgrade Question

I am preparing to make an attempt to make a clean upgrade install to Windows 7. I have a question that I would like answered before I start. I am presently running Windows XP Home - the Upgrade version. I have read on forums that I have to have an earlier Windows OS CD to install before I upgrade to Windows 7 Upgrade. I do not have an earlier version and would have to reinstall XP first, I think. Then a local electronics salesman type tells me that I can install XP without the earlier Windows OS installed. Can someone set me on the correct track here? Am I making sense?

Intel e6600 Core 2 Duo @ 2.4 GHz
Noctua NH-U12P Cooler
ASUS P5Q Pro
OCZ Reaper 2X2GB DDR2 800 (PC 6400)
EVGA GeForce 8800GTS 640 MB
WD 250GB GB SATA II
Corsair CMPSU 550W
Windows XP Home

 

Do I read correct that you have 640MB?

And your XP was an upgrade from what?

Have you done a compatability analysis;

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=1b544e90-7659-4bd9-9e51-2497c146af15&displaylang=en

 

I don't think so.
See OCZ Reaper 2X2GB DDR2 800 (PC 6400)

Bazza

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That machine will take the W7 upgrade with zero issues, heck, I have that motherboard running a quad if the OP ever wants to upgrade the CPU. You'll just have to install W7 twice, once without the key and the second time with the key and then activate so you don't need your XP disk.