I'm not a tech guy but I gave up trying to upgrade OS a few systems ago, now I only switch when I have to and when I do I buy a new machine that was built for and has the new OS installed. Not that that is trouble free either.
I remember reinstalling win 98 once a month or so, until I got a disk image program.
Now with xp I've had it for years and have never had to reinstall it.
I can't see any reason to switch to vista until they make me.
As a matter of fact the week Vista came out a tax preparer friend of mine had me searching all over trying to find new computers with xp installed and not vista.