Windows 7 upgrade details released?
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted February 12th 2009 12:44PM
posted February 12th 2009 12:44PM
The kids over at Tech Arp got their hands on a draft of Microsoft's Windows 7 upgrade scheme. According to the the document, titled "The Microsoft Windows 7 Upgrade Program Rev. 2.1," Vista machines purchased from participating vendors after July 1st will be eligible for an upgrade to the new OS, whenever it comes out -- in a similar manner to the XP - Vista switchover. The idea here is to forestall a sales slump in the lead up to the new OS release. Upgrades will be tier-for-tier, with Vista Home Premium users getting to switch up to Windows 7 Home Premium when the time is right, Vista Business to Windows 7 Professional, and Vista Ultimate users getting an upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate. Additionally, 32-bit to 64-bit upgrades will not be allowed -- but folks using the 32-bit version will get to perform a clean install of the 64-bit version, if that's what their heart desires. Lastly, a system that has a valid Vista license but is running XP under the downgrade scheme will be allowed to perform a fresh install of Windows 7. You got all that? Good.
Update: Responding to the leak, a Microsoft spokesperson delivered the following statement: "We are not announcing anything new at this time." That's what is known in the biz as the "non-announcing announcement." We'll let you know if anything changes.
[Via SlashGear]
Update: Responding to the leak, a Microsoft spokesperson delivered the following statement: "We are not announcing anything new at this time." That's what is known in the biz as the "non-announcing announcement." We'll let you know if anything changes.
[Via SlashGear]
What about upgrades from the beta? Will that be possible? Or will you have to do a clean install?
nope, not possible. The official release OS will be different than the Beta, as bugs will be fixed (hopefully) and new features added and such, so you will need to wipe the HDD and do a fresh install if you have the Beta.
I think that letting people running xp, with a vista license upgade is a very very good idea
so can u upgrade from visa 64 to win 7 64 without a clean install?
I believe that is true.
No, just a clean install of MasterCard
Why would anyone purchase a new comp before July 1st, if they don't need to before then?
I predict a slump of vista sales until July 1st and then it will shoot up.
Hope it were July 1st, 2008.
John Doe; I was pulling a piece of data I found here: http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/02/12/microsoft-to-offer-free-windows-7-upgrade-for-vista-computers-purchased-after-july-1/
[upgrade to Win7] "Good on new PCs with Vista pre-installed purchased after July 1, 2009."
Thus the reason for my July 1st date.
I had that same question, but in all honesty a lot of sales happen during the summer, so I think that people looking for a cheap computer will not care about the upgrade (because , unlike most engadget users, most people do not care as much as you would hope) and therefore just go for the sale.
I think this is a really smart move since A LOT of computer are bought during the end of summer, because of all the students going to college. Therefore more people may be interested in buying those computers knowing they can upgrade. I could be terribly wrong though.
Off the topic (kind of) but...
Whats the fuss about several Windows 7 editions? Does anyone even recall having several versions of Windows altogether? Starting with...XP Home and Professional along with Windows Server 2000 (NT or whatever). Microsoft has brought it all under one name...Vista or 7. Yeah...I agree there are way too many versions of 7...but these are to accommodate those Server editions we used to have separately.
But...these are of course confusing.
The Windows Server products are still separate and have several iterations of their own.
Ok. Then...will they exist after 7 is released? Because, if they do, then 7 versions like Enterprise wont make any sense at all.
There's 6 version of Windows 7 and you will only really see 2 at your local Bestbuy.
Starter won't be retail.
Home Basic is for emerging markets.
Enterprise is only for volume licensing.
Ultimate will be sold in limited quantities.
You can also get Windows Server 2008 and Windows Home Server.
there's gonna be a PC slump now until July 1st...watch
Cool information to know.
However I'm dumb are these upgrades free? Like I have Vista Home Premium on my brand new laptop from last year October. I'm running the beta of Windows 7 on my laptops second hard drive. When Windowx 7 is officially released does this mean I get it for FREE or do I have to pay some type of upgrade fee? And if that's the case will it be as expensive as if I went out and bought a copy of Win 7 myself?
I wish there was a way to upgrade from Home Premium to Ultimate....
the upgrade program only applies after 2009-07-01. Presumably, you'll be able to pay to upgrade from Vista to 7, but you won't qualify for any freebies.
It 64-bit worth it... will games and other programs work with 64-bit? What are the advantage of 64-bit over 32-bit?
Speed. And yes, games work.... at least all the one's I've tried do (Starcraft, Fallout 3, Fable, Bioshock, Assassin's Creed, and others)
The 64 bit version is basically future proofed, and it lets you use more RAM and makes you vulnerable to less spyware. I've used 64 bit Vista and Server 2008 on several machines and never had an issue running most software on them, though to be honest I haven't really tried any games. You can still install x86 based programs (it creates two program files directories - one called "Program Files" and the other called "Program Files (x86)", but you can have some 3rd party driver issues.
hmm. Perhaps you have been in a cave? 64 bit Vista works with everything 32 bit Vista works with. The only caveat I have found is Adobe products. They seem to be viserally opposed to writing new (or fixing existing) code against MS's newer platforms. Goodbye Adobe if that is the case.
I ran Vista 64bit and now Win7 64bit, almost everything has worked for me.
A few 3rd party drivers dont work, for example peer guardian, who cant afford the driver signing fee.
90% of new hardware should have 64bit drivers, it just takes a bit of searching for some things, also don't expect your crappy £10 web cam to work all the time, but win7 has been very good at finding drivers, and remember vista64 drivers will work fine.
CS4 is compatible with 64-bit
if nothing else, it lets you have more RAM in your pc which helps - 64 bit Vista and Windows 7 seem fine for pretty much anything i throw at them
meh
Can someone clarify this.
It says You can only upgrade from Vista to the equivalent 7 version.....is that only in the technical sense, or also the licensing sense?
Obviously, I can't buy 7 Pro and directly upgrade from Vista Home, but can I still get the upgrade version of Pro and clean install (which I was planning anyway) or would I have to buy the full version.
Does an upgrade wipe out all of my memory like a clean install would or is it similar to upgrading a version of a program and all settings, files and music remain the same? just got a new computer and not sure if I should upgrade now to win 7 beta in order to avoid having to wipe out my computer later when it bcomes official. I prefer not to be a beta user...
That is strictly in the LICENSING sense, for this program.
The only way to take advantage of this offer is to buy a NEW system after July 1, with Vista installed on it. Say, Home Premium.
Now, maybe you decide you want to actually have Windows 7 Professional (which will have features pretty close to the current Vista Ultimate, btw). Here's the way that will work:
You recieve your upgrade from your OEM, and take your Vista Home Premium machine to Win7 Home Premium. Then, you can perform an in-place upgrade (without the DVD!) to Pro. After purchasing the appropriate unlock code, of course.
To those that are asking about upgrading from W7 Beta
People that are currently running W7 Beta will be out of luck for any upgrade option. It is a BETA not a full operating system meant to be used like Vista (In MS's eyes any way). You will have to either purchase W7 full out retail, or if your dual booting from Vista or XP like most of us, you will have to pay for the upgrade option via your stable Windows operating system.(free if that stable system is purchases after the July date, NOT free if it was purchased before...or like any thing you have now)
So is this only for people who got Vista with a prefab PC? What if I purchased Vista Premium OEM separately and installed it on my PC?
I was really hoping of upgrading to x64 but I don't want to have to go through the hassle of reinstalling everything I have again with doing a clean install.
The hassle is worth it. You tend to junk up your computer with little programs, the registry is probably swiss cheese and your desktop is cluttered. If, however, you have a fairly clean desktop and few applications, then it won't be a hassle. Either way, the x64 is worth it in many ways - faster, more memory. Having Win 7 x86 is like driving a Smart Car on the Autobahn - sure it works and gets you from point A to point B, but you're not really tapping in the potential of the infrastructure.
That is, unless you're running an old computer.
I have a high end setup. It's just that I don't feel like wasting a whole day re-installing all of my apps. I don't know maybe when it comes out I'll change my mind. I really do want to go x64, I guess I should have done it with Vista.
No matter when this "Windows 7" comes out, or who gets a free upgrade. We can all be sure of one thing, its gonna be a nightmare.
Is Paul A.Chapel the most hated individual in the history of the internet?
No, unfortunately.
He has to be second to Chris Crocker. I mean, how can you not hate Chris?
Windows 7 = Windows Vista SP2 that you have to pay for.
No one is forcing you to buy it.
In fact, no one has even forced anyone to buy XP.
I mean Vista.
is there a list of the "vendors" that this will apply to as i am planning to buy a new laptop with vista installed on it so was wondering if there is any point in waiting?
All I'm curious about at this point is how long before it finds its way onto the Microsoft Academic Alliance. I'm graduating this spring but I think we stay enrolled for awhile afterwards. It'd be nice to be able to snag a cheap or free copy of the license instead of paying full retail.