LOL!
I have used computers since before the "personal" computer, and MS DOS, then Windows since Win 3.1
My XP machine had two physical drives, one for Programs and the second for data only. I was able to install Win 7 and my data drive was totally unaffected, and completely accessible.
As an added bonus, my old data Drive behaves exactly as before. NO LIBRARIES!
It may take me a year or two to figure out that new stupid system.
Wish I knew how to do all that you do publius, Win7 has my pictures scattered all over the place, even in the media player!!