Windows 7 upgrade program nears launch

A posting indicates those interested in the Windows 7 upgrade program should check back on Friday.

(Credit: CNET)

If you are thinking of buying a Windows Vista PC in the next day or so, you might want to hold off just a bit longer.

Microsoft has said that it will have a program whereby Vista PC buyers will be able to get a free copy of Windows 7, but only if they purchase after a certain date. Well, that date would appear to be June 26.

That is the date pointed to by enthusiast site TechARP and in a leaked Best Buy memo we reported on earlier this month. The Best Buy memo also mentioned a pre-order program that will run from June 26 through July 11, offering Windows 7 Home Premium upgrades for $49 and Windows 7 Professional upgrades for $99.

It's also a date mentioned on this Microsoft Web site, uncovered by posters at Neowin.

Microsoft has confirmed it will have such a program, but has not detailed it as yet.

As in the past, the exact offer will vary by PC maker, but in general users get a free or minimal-cost upgrade once the new operating system is released. Windows 7 is slated to hit store shelves on October 22.

[Super2online]

This is a wonderful development and a very smart move on Microsoft's part. It will allow individuals and companies to continue to invest in technology with the understanding that they won't be left behind when Windows 7 releases without having to pay extra.

[Mr. Dee]

If you are a large company, it would be better to invest in one of Microsoft's volume license programs. Upgrading based on OEM or retail pricing is more costly and prohibitive considering you have upgrade on their watch. With Volume License, you get the latest, but upgrade at your own pace.

[the_iceman]

Id rather it be pre-loaded than just get a disc and a goodluck wish

[marcjen]

Then wait until Oct. 22nd.

I did the upgrade from Vista Business to Windows 7 RC1, worked without a hitch. I'm sure in most cases, there's bound to be at least a few upgrade snares, always is.

[dhavleak]

@ marcjen & the_iceman

It'll be available in stores prior to Oct. 22nd if my understanding is correct. I thought Oct. 22nd is the date for retail box versions to be available. Laptops and desktops with Win7 preloaded will be available prior to that. At least that's how I remember it working for Vista.

[cary1]

I bought a Dell laptop in Nov 06 with the option of free upgrade to Vista (it was one of the radio buttons on the configuration page). 4-5 months later, I called them to get the Vista DVD and they told me that I was supposed to call by a certain date to get the disc. I argued that they never told me about the deadline (atleast it was not mentioned on the configuration page). They gave me $100 back as compensation. Isn't that great considering some people have to pay $100-$150 extra to downgrade to XP

[Vegaman_Dan]

Did you talk to Dell or Microsoft? THe offer is up to the PC OEM to make available and honor, not Microsoft.

[gggg sssss]

uh no - that condition was clearly on teh ordering page. I know because I have a bunch of upgrade DVDs. Never installed though.

[The_happy_switcher]

Good luck upgrading from XP. You will have to either buy Vista first and then 7; or if you want to go from XP to Win 7 you will have to reinstall all your apps and drivers. Microsoft gets its pound of flesh one way or the other.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Yes.... and it's always a good idea to do a clean install of any OS. That's just common sense.

When I upgraded from OS X 10.4.11 to 10.5, I had to reload the entire disc and all my applications had to be reinstalled as well.

I don't see why this should be a surprise or even an issue if Apple does it as well.

[sythara]

Win7 pretty much does the drivers for you. And the apps, really? Its not hard nor takes long to reinstall your stuff.... and you don't have to upgrade if you don't want to

[The_happy_switcher]

"When I upgraded from OS X 10.4.11 to 10.5, I had to reload the entire disc and all my applications had to be reinstalled as well." This is not normal procedure. I assume you had something go wrong. I've never had to do that in OS X.

[Lumiseon]

You know, you don't REALLY have to reinstall EVERYTHING. All you need is some common sense, really. Just go into Windows.old, find the Program Files folder, and transfer all of those into the REAL one in the C:\ Drive. It's not rocket science, you know...

[dcardozo]

vegaman_dan is just a MS troll. Surely paid to do those comments. Pls don't bother to answer.
If you didn't know that, pls check any of the 4,362 posts that he has posted in this site in the last couple of years.

[Get_Bent]

Lumiseon: Simply copying your program files to the new o.s. usually doesn't work. Sure, you'll get the files, but you'll miss all of the settings in the Windows registry database.

[Get_Bent]

By the sound of his comments, dcardozo has never done a Windows upgrade from one version to another. Sure, Microsoft says it's okay, and sometimes it works as advertised. But all too often, weird things start happening in the upgraded system. You're always better off backing up your data, wiping the hard drive clean, and installing from scratch.

P.S. - If you're going to complain about someone being a troll, wait until they make a REAL troll comment. Otherwise, you just make yourself look like an idiot.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Ask yourself why you are upgrading the OS. Is it for faster performance? Better features? Cleaner system?

Wouldn't it make sense to follow the OEM's recommendation to do a clean OS install on a freshly formatted drive? This is what both Apple and Microsoft recommend, and since they make the OS, I figure they have a pretty good idea why they make this suggestion.

Why keep all your old apps in place along with old system files or entries that could possibly cause problems with the new installation?

If you were going to change engines in your car, woudln't you want to put new oil in the engine instead of transferring the old nasty stuff from the old engine?

Why borrow trouble from the past?

Yes, you can do it, but you won't get the best results compared to doing a clean install.

@dcardozo:

"If you didn't know that, pls check any of the 4,362 posts that he has posted in this site in the last couple of years. "

Please doublecheck your figures. 4,362 posts? That's ridiculous! It's been easily 5,137 by now! I mean, really! Get your facts straight! :)

[pithenumber]

@Dan
my counts say around 6742 posts
;)

[tipoo_]

Sweetness, waiting on the details.

[retroboy77]

Oh that's awesome. I really want to buy a new computer, and I don't think I can wait until October.
Does anyone know if Canada usually gets these offers too?

[monkeyfun14]

I believe its global.

[Renegade Knight]

So when are they going to fix Vista? Clearly 7 isn't being marketed as the "fix" even though that's exacly why MS rushed it.

[aka_tripleB]

To all those who doubted me that Best Buy was ripping you off: I told you so! I know it costs money to have someone else install software for you, but I don't think Best Buy will back up your data. So you're better off going somewhere else to install Windows 7.

[gggg sssss]

if you are that clueless, get a mac

[Jenny0913]

I want the new windows but i will wait to buy it on a new computer.

[techcafe]

what a pathetic joke. microsoft should be REIMBURSING people for wasting their $$$ on Vista. i paid more then $300 for Vista Ultimate... and what a WASTE of money that was. Vista is pure JUNK.

anyone who paid for a retail copy of Vista, should automatically be eligible for a FREE upgrade to Windows 7!

[Vegaman_Dan]

I bought a 2003 Chevy pickup and you know what? Chevrolet went ahead and produced a 2004 model. The nerve of them! I should demand they give me a free 2004 model! It is simply inexcusable that they should produce a new improved product and not give me a free one too!

I wonder if this would actually work.... nah...

[gggg sssss]

@ Vegaman_Dan but look how well the pickup buisness is working for GM You probably can trade your 2005 in for a 2009 depending on the lease and if GMAC is financing it. Get your share of govt money from GM while it lasts. 2003 might be a bit old though.

[lavern]

See Iphone for reference

[sanjayb]

I feel bad for the people that paid full retail prices for Vista Ultimate. They should get some break in the price for Win 7. The Vista Ultimate Extras alone was a complete rip off.

[drbyte]

techcafe, you speak the truth. I can't believe they can make the public long term beta testers like this and then charge again for the resulting 'correct product'.

I just put xp pro on my little compaq c551nr notebook and it runs 4 times faster and is much more responsive than the vista that was on it. Windows 7 should be free to all registered owners of Vista. XP pro will be my OS of choice for the next few years.

[Vegaman_Dan]

I expect if you try Win7 on that little laptop that it will run even better than XP or Vista. Does that mean you should get a refund for XP as well?

[gggg sssss]

if you had not been so cheap and actually purchased enough memory it woudl ave worked. Not much hope with 256 mn RAM though.

[drbyte]

I ran vista with 2gb of ram, for 2 years so I could know my way around it when fixing clients PC's who had it. The only positive thing I can say about it is the indexing feature was nice. Other than that it was too sluggish to really be a "OS replacement' for me (file copying and deleting was nuts). My main work machines are both XP pro. Now that Vista is dead I felt it was time to take it off the notebook, and I was really shocked at the speed increase.

But all you have to you do is look at what Microsoft has done. Anyone trying to defend Vista just comes off looking kind of silly. Microsoft can't really defend it, developing releasing a new OS as soon as Vista hit the shelves. Service packs can only do so much.