How to get the Windows 7 upgrade for free

Preorder two copies of the Windows 7 upgrade, then sell one later to recoup all your costs.

(Credit: Microsoft)

By now you've undoubtedly heard the news: Until July 11 (or while supplies last), you can preorder the Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade for $49.99.

After the deal expires, that same upgrade will cost you $119.99. Needless to say, if you're interested in Windows 7, now's the time to buy.

My advice: buy two. Then, after Windows 7 ships (on October 22), turn around and sell your spare copy for $100. Obviously that's $20 less than the list price, meaning you should have no trouble moving it on eBay, Craigslist, or wherever.

At the same time, you recoup 100 percent of your investment and get Windows 7 to boot (literally).

Risky? A gamble? Perhaps, but to this day upgrade copies of Vista are selling on eBay for $100 and more. And that's two years later. The only real downside is that you're out $100 for about four months. Worth it? Let me know in the comments.

In the meantime, keep in mind that if you're a Windows XP user, there's no automated way to upgrade your system to Windows 7--not without wiping your hard drive. (Vista users, however, can upgrade directly.)

That means you'll need to back up your drivers, data, and the like, install Windows 7, restore your stuff, reinstall your applications, etc. It's a hassle, but in the end you'll have an outta-the-box-fast PC with a spiffy new OS.

And a free one at that.

[samhardin]

I'd be sure to make a fresh backup anyways even for Vista users.

Sounds like a good deal to me, but I'd like to try the operating system before I buy it. If not for that, it would certainly be worth the risk.

[imop45]

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/download.aspx
Free windows 7 RC and lasts untill June 1, 2010.
Download, rip to CD, and install.

[rickbroida]

Actually, Windows 7 RC really only "lasts" until March, at which point it will start automatically shutting down after two hours. Still a great deal, no question, but not a permanent solution. :)

[shellcodes_coder]

lol

[jkohut]

Can you explain to me why Microsoft can't make an upgrade from Windows 7 RC to Windows 7 GA work? I would think there are a number of people out there who could take advantage of the RC right now, and then just upgrade as soon as the GA is available, but MS says they don't support an upgrade from RC to GA. Seems like Microsoft is going to make those people wipe their computers and start over. The question will be, will some of them decide the effor isn't worth it?

[rickbroida]

I suspect someone will find a workaround to this, which is what happened with Windows 7 beta to RC.

[adamzpocketnow]

Because it's not something customers should be doing. The Windows 7 RC and Beta builds are test versions meant to be run in a test environment. I think it's more important that Microsoft spend resources on getting Windows 7 to support an upgrade from Vista rather than an upgrade from a beta/test version of the operating system that isn't supported anyway.

There probably will be a work-around, but I wouldn't want to do that anyway, since you might still have flawed beta buggy code on there.

[DosEquisXX]

There's also the fact that if you're using Windows 7 RC you didn't necessarily pay for a full version of a Windows operating system. The point of having upgrade pricing versus full version pricing is that with upgrade pricing there is the assumption that at some point in the past you paid for a full version and so they can account for the money you've already paid them with the new version.

[Lerianis3]

Actually, they have. It's a simple "Copy the disc to flash drive", edit one file, then go!

Really, I too am pissed that they are going to put in a 'breaker' for upgrading from Windows 7 RC to the Windows 7 General Release. Sure, it's not MUCH of a breaker, but it's still going to be a pain in the butt to do for most people.

[jakemochas]

1. copy the disc to a flash disk using clonedisk
2. open up sources
3. open up cversion and edit it in notepad to include the RC (7100)
4. run the install with no problem.....

this worked from beta to RC1

[GEO2003]

@jkohut
The reason why you can't upgrade from Win 7 RC to the Retail Version is because the hash which is encrypted and matched to the User License will not match and you will end up having a problem with registration of your Win 7 full release.

Another reason is because MS is still tweaking the code even more for the final relise, even though in my testing of RC, it is 100 stable.

You right, we should be able, I so of agree, why have to re-install everything once you finish testing RC, but that is the nature of the beast.

Geo

[adamzpocketnow]

Actually, you don't have to wipe your hard drive to install Windows 7 on a Windows XP machine. The Windows 7 installer will move your old Windows XP files, programs, and settings to a "Windows.old" folder. The result will be a fresh install of Windows 7, but you can still access all your old Windows XP files.

[tipoo_]

True.

[jake3373]

That's true, but I'd still backup my computer. Even if there was an upgrade path, I'd still perform a clean install just because 1) it would run faster and 2) I really wouldn't want any files/code from the old OS still stuck in my system.

[joecandido]

No not worth it. If I wanted 7 so bad I would just buy the $50 copy and be done with it.. people will be searching for downloads (pirated or not) rather than searching on ebay, not to mention plenty of people thought of and are going to attempt to do this anyhow.

[tuckebw]

I think I'm gonna do it. I might use both, but if not at least I should be able to sell one. Hell, might even get Business for one of them and sell it, so it's like make $$$ to use Windows 7, right? I know it's not the most logical thing in the world to do, but I'll be buying a couple of copies.

[imop45]

Each one works on 3 systems actually. You buy %50 off the original, make %50 which evens out to free.

[dariffle1]

@joecandido: Not everyone steal software. There will be plenty of people looking for deals and they'll most certainly look on eBay.

@ Rick: You aren'y actually out the money for four months. According to the Microsoft store, they won't run your card until thep roject ships or is available for download (October 22, I think). You're really just holding your place when you sign up today.

[rickbroida]

Oh, duh, you're right! I think legally a company can't charge your card unless they ship the product within 30 days. Excellent point!

[dariffle1]

I'm just glad you though of it, Rick. I ordered a copy last night and it didn't even cross my mind to buy a second.

By the way, I love your blog. It is one of few I make sure to check every day.

[imop45]

Wait, so i can buy it now, although i'm broke as hell now??

[IDSmoker]

Too bad Vista Ultimate owners have to pay full price to pre-order their upgrade or go through the same 'clean install' as WinXP owners to take advantage of the price break !

[j_a_s_p_e_r]

Why do you use Ultimate? For me it never made sense to me over Premium. You really only get Bitlocker, Shadow Files and a few extras. I guess if you don't want to secure personal data on your laptop then Bitlocker is OK, but was it really worth it?

[IDSmoker]

In my case, Vista Ultimate came installed on the last Dell refurb I bought. At the time of purchase, I considered it a 'bonus'.

Since I haven't used any of the extras, with the exception of playing with the Dreamscene backgrounds (which I think you can get elsewhere), I certainly wouldn't have paid extra to get Ultimate.

Now that Windows 7 is coming out, I seem to be stuck having to pay extra in order to avoid performing a complete re-install of all my applications.

[drbohner]

Actually - if you have the disk space, you may not have to back-up all your data...

The install of W7 will create a new folder called Windows.Old. This folder will contain all your previous machine's data and setup...

HOWEVER - to accomplish, you would have to have sufficient drive space.

HOWEVER HOWEVER!!! - it is ALWAYS VERY VERY VERY SMART to have a complete replica of all you data 'somewhere' before you you start the exercise. Remember to disable/uninstall things like Audible/Adobe CS and other packages that are machine based (since you won't have the same machine after the install)...

Regards

(db)

[Lerianis3]

No, it isn't. I have NEVER had a install of Windows 'wipe' my data EVER. Yes, it is good to have a backup, but NOT just because you are installing a new OS.

[rufwork]

The question for me is when I'm going to upgrade my hardware. With a new laptop with Windows at $300 at Dell already, why pay $50 for Windows 7 now? I'm going to get it bundled with my next box purchase anyhow.

Combine that with the free Win7 install until March of next year (at which time, as Rick already pointed out, it still works, but just gets annoying), and there's absolutely no pressing reason to buy Win7 now, or to bet on its worth on eBay in a few months.

To sum: If you're going to get a new computer by July (or even a month or two later) of next year, don't use any rationalization to pay a dollar for Win7 today.

[rickbroida]

Excellent point, one I foolishly neglected to make.

[Scopip]

Vista came with my PC and it works fine. The OS hasn't frozen or crashed in an entire year...

OS / Hardware compatibility is clearly a major issue. I don't see how Upgrading is going to make it more stable.

[Lerianis3]

This isn't Windows Vista. A lot of stuff has been changed and improved in Windows 7, and they have 'tweaked' a bunch of things or completely rewritten them in order to get Windows 7 much faster than Windows Vista.

OS/Hardware compatibility was only a problem because the stupid ass OEM's and device manufacturers waited until the ABSOLUTE LAST SECOND to start making drivers for Windows Vista and they couldn't get them out fast enough.

[Nychocolips]

Driver/Hardware compatibility is a good point.

I also understood that noticeably improved performance is another plus of going to Windows 7. There more than a few cases where system were sold with Windows Vista and had less than stellar performance and questionable performance ratings. I'm reading about people who find these issues are resolved with the Release Candidate version. I think I will try the RC version on my laptop that came with only 1gb of RAM and see how it performs. Better yet, upgrade the ram and use it for a few... then upgrade to the beta and see if there is a noticeable difference.

What do those of you using the Release Candidate think? Are any of you trying this on a 64-bit architecture?

Cheers

[Inconnux]

Sure Vista is stable, but for performance, it is a DOG. If you run any performance sensitive software, this will be a must buy.

[jake3373]

@Nychocolips
I'm using the Windows 7 RC 64-bit version right now on 4gb of RAM, and it works beautifully, always responsive, and is very stable, especially for a pre-release. I also have ran the 64-bit version on 3gb of ram, and it works well, too.

[hxx4]

I don't own Windows Vista, but could I still buy this pre-order upgrade and sell it to someone else who owns Vista? Thanks!

[texadelphia]

I am happy with Vista at this point but I bought the upgrade for $50 anyway to update one of my computers at some point if I want to. I really want to hear what everyone thinks about 7 to see how much better it is than Vista. I don't think it will be that much better, maybe a little faster.

[jake3373]

It is a LOT faster, and I also found it has better driver support than Vista or XP. I am using it as my main computer, and, out of all my apps that I used to have installed in XP, almost all of them worked (everything except Google Desktop, which doesn't have a 64-bit version, but I really don't need it anymore because of Win7's built-in search features)

[lelapin]

Rick makes the argument that this strategy will yield a FREE copy based on his comment that Vista is being sold for $100 or more on eBay:
", but to this day upgrade copies of Vista are selling on eBay for $100 and more."
BUT those are for sellers that are offering to sell on a "BUY IT NOW" basis. That doesn't mean ANYONE is buying at those prices

If you look at the actual auctions, you will see that HOME PREMIUM versions are actually only yielding bidding prices in the $40-50 range. So, the caution here is what people are ACTUALLY paying vs what sellers are ASKING.

Not saying that the strategy won't work, but Rick's argument needs to be considered.

[rickbroida]

OTOH, you can't say for certain that they're *not* selling at Buy It Now prices. :) Alternately, look at a vendor like Newegg, which sells the Vista Home Premium Upgrade for $122.99. My point is that Vista is selling for *over* $100 more than two years after its release. I think getting $100 for Windows 7 will be a walk in the park. Heck, you might get more!

[pablouk1]

One way to upgrade from XP is to get a cracked copy of VISTA, upgrade your X/P with that then upgrade to 7.
Cheap easy and sure to **** of Micosoft.

[Esquirrel]

1. Buy 100 copies of Windows 7 Home Premium
2. ???
3. Profit!

[technogirl23]

Hey, can't I just wait until the PCs being sold in the stores have Windows 7 in them???

wouldnt that be easier than having to clean out hard drive in order to upgrade.....right !?

Please reply with what you think.

[Nychocolips]

If you are intending to buy a new PC/Laptop it is a great idea. But if you are planning to keep what you have... looking at this purchase might be a good idea instead. It depends on what you already have and see yourself needing in the near future.

[Lara-Ricardo]

actually the beta starts shuttting down in march... the RC will last until 2010

[Gaurav42]

Id like to point out where the reviewer is wrong, you actually gain a profit of 2 cents, not just recoup you investment.

:P

[dariffle1]

Ah, but you aren't including sales tax and shipping for the physical product or just sales tax on the download.

[mogamer]

On another forum this question was asked. Usually when you upgrade, you're asked to put in the original OS disc to prove it's legit. What happens if you have a pre-built system and you don't have any discs, just that stupid HDD back-up partition?

[CyberBob859]

What if you don't have Vista installed on a machine anymore, and "downgraded" to XP? I still have the original Vista disk that came with the computer. Will I be able to buy the upgrade to WIndows 7, and just use the Vista disk to prove I have Vista, even though XP is installed on the machine?

[jake3373]

On the page about the pre-order program (http://store.microsoft.com/microsoft/Windows-Windows-7/category/102?WT.mc_id=msccomhpfeature_win7), it says that you can upgrade from XP to Win7, but you will have to do a clean install. (meaning you can buy the cheaper "upgrade" copy)
If this doesn't work, I'm hoping that I can use the Vista disc that came with another computer in my house