Yep, most of the software I need for my music will only run on XP, not Vista (yet) so I have no choice to with anything else but Windows XP, at least for now.

Ok, thanks to everyone for all the insightful input shared. I've since learned that Windows Vista isn't compatible (yet?) with a number of the programs above which I run regularly so I've decided to stick with XP Pro.

In the meantime, here is what Michael Bedesem, Yamaha keyboard utility software developer programmer advised me regarding running Vista: "As far as I know, the problem of not being able to change the default midi device remains. This effects programs like mine that use the Microsoft multimedia player that they were pushing so hard just a few years ago. I have not heard if MS intends to correct this in a next service release. I have deferred my own planned purchase to see if Vista is improved."

Ok folks: In the meantime, the thing that pushed me into a panic of thinking I need a a new PC appears to have been solved. I was experiencing a problem where out of no where, I would hear a mechanical 'single click' sound inside my PC tower followed my LCD display screen freezing, and the PC processing activity light turning on solid red, of which required me to reboot the PC. After opening up the PC to check for possible dust build up, I immediately noticed that the power cord going into the HD was hanging by a thread, so suspect the problem merely a flaky power connection to the HD. After solid reconnection, I've now run the PC now for a couple of hours with no problem, so 'knock on wood', hope the problem's been solved. I'll keep you posted.

Scott