Windows 7 Migration Question

[Credo]

I currently run Vista 64 on a partition on my 1TB WD Black, with three other partitions for My Docs, Photos and Data. I also have a 250Gb Hitachi. My question is, what's the safest upgrade (actually a fresh install) path? My thoughts are:

1. Back up application data - Outlook, Firefox, etc
2. Image Partitions to external HDD using Acronis.
3. Clone system partition to Hitachi using Acronis.
4. Install Win 7, wiping old system partition.

This way, I have a backup image, and a clone of the Vista system to switch to if I have issues.

Would this become a dual boot system? I don't want one long term but initially it may be safest.

Any alternative ideas are welcome!

 

[Credo]

Thanks for your reply. I was thinking along the same lines as you, imaging to an external HDD, and cloning to the other internal disk to provide a file-based backup. What would happen when I booted with a Win 7 system and the cloned Vista partition visible? I don't really want to dual boot, I wondered if this scenario would appear as dual bootable by default?