Microsoft to offer free Windows 7 upgrade for Vista computers

[Vinas]

Microsoft to offer free Windows 7 upgrade for Vista computers purchased after July 1

by Doug Aamoth on February 12, 2009

Microsoft has been putting together the Windows 7 Technical Guarantee Program and it appears that it’ll likely go into effect starting July 1st of this year. It’s that program that lets you purchase a machine with Microsoft’s current operating system and then upgrade it to the newest one when it launches, similar to what the company did when getting ready for Vista.

The program will apparently be optional to OEMs, so not all companies will be participating. But you can guess that a computer with a “Free upgrade to Windows 7!” sticker will probably sell over a similar machine without.

TechARP got a hold of all the technical documents but here’s a quick rundown.

* Good on new PCs with Vista pre-installed purchased after July 1, 2009.
* Versions will synch – Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 Home Premium, Vista Business to Windows 7 Professional, Vista Ultimate to Windows 7 Ultimate, etc.
* 32-bit to 64-bit upgrades not supported, but clean install will be allowed.
* Windows XP to Windows 7 upgrades not supported, but clean install will be allowed. Also, your OEM will have to be participating in the XP downgrade program.

The program dates could change based on when Windows 7 will actually be available but this should give everyone a pretty good idea of what’s coming.

http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/02/12...-after-july-1/

[Shintai]

Standard policy. What it shows is retail Windows 7 might hit around september/october 2009. And volume/MSDN in july/august.

Paced forward.

[Bgriffs]

Standard policy. What it shows is retail Windows 7 might hit around september/october 2009. And volume/MSDN in july/august.

Paced forward.

Didn't the vista ready sticker also come out in July of 06 for Vista in 07? So if they keep the same roadmap as the Vista launch we'll see 7 in early 2010 and volume/business in November.

[Sparky]

Vista computers.... What about retail Vista?

[belmontrich]

im still sticking with XP...

[m^2]

Vista Business FTW!
If Win 7 sucks, you can always upgrade to XP.

[XS Janus]

im still sticking with XP...

LOL!
cheapskate...

[ExodusC]

So this isn't available to those who own a retail copy?

I own a retail copy of Windows Vista Ultimate x86/x64, and I would LOVE to get a free upgrade to Windows 7 when it launches.

[XSAlliN]

Damn, at first (when i took a glance at this title) i fought I could trade my Vista license for Windows 7. Them i entered this topic and found nothing useful...

[jaredpace]

im still sticking with XP...

+1

No garbage for me, thanks.

[superjett]

anybody use vista should be giving a upgrade for this p.o.s we allready own!!!!!

[Soulburner]

So this isn't available to those who own a retail copy?

I own a retail copy of Windows Vista Ultimate x86/x64, and I would LOVE to get a free upgrade to Windows 7 when it launches.

This applies if you buy a Vista computer after July 1 2009, so no.

[rozzyroz]

im still sticking with XP...

I'm on the same boat as you.. i reinstalled vista, and ive come to regret it .

i figured that after enough time, all the problems that i encountered with it would be solved... i was wrong.

it sucks because vista has a lot of cool features, but they are overshadowed by compatibility problems.

[Oats]

I wonder if newegg and others will have OEM copies of Vista with Win7 upgrade like they did for XP-Vista.

[BakerT]

im still sticking with XP...

+1

No garbage for me, thanks.

Why stick with XP when you can stick with Windows 98?

I'm on the same boat as you.. i reinstalled vista, and ive come to regret it .

i figured that after enough time, all the problems that i encountered with it would be solved... i was wrong.

it sucks because vista has a lot of cool features, but they are overshadowed by compatibility problems.

What kind of problems are you having?

[shoota]

So this isn't available to those who own a retail copy?

I own a retail copy of Windows Vista Ultimate x86/x64, and I would LOVE to get a free upgrade to Windows 7 when it launches.

Wouldn't we all!

[m^2]

Why stick with XP when you can stick with Windows 98?

Don't compare these 2 systems. XP is NT and that's a huge difference.

[haylui]

hopefully Windows 7 won't disappoint the users as much as Vista did.

[Spawne32]

im still sticking with XP...

if its any consolation to you, i just put vista 64 back on my new computer i just built 2 days ago after having it in my draw since i bought it at release, it seems to be running quite smoothly. Im only using 37% of my 4 gigs of ram.

[Sparky]

I'm on the same boat as you.. i reinstalled vista, and ive come to regret it .

i figured that after enough time, all the problems that i encountered with it would be solved... i was wrong.

it sucks because vista has a lot of cool features, but they are overshadowed by compatibility problems.

What kind of compatibility problems? I've had.... hmm one, two? Fixed by a software update, except for some TV tuner that happauge was too lazy to release a new driver for.

[Linux_Box]

I'm skipping Vista but now I have to wait even longer... they are going to need time to fix the bugs in Win7 now.

[ericware]

I don't see any reason to stick with XP though .. so far i have used vista flawlessly
I am just wondering what kind of compatibility problem you have .. I feel vista is smoother in term of performance

[viccan]

I STILL CAN'T FIGURE OUT ALL THE VISTA HATERS?? i'VE BEEN RUNNING VISTA64 FOR OVER A YEAR AND THINK ITS A PHENOMENAL OS!!! I think the only OS that came outta Microsoft that was truly was Windows ME... But otherwise I think all their Os's are good if not excellent right on up from windows 3.11 (and yes that's where it really started for me well not computer that was commodore 64 thru Amiga 2500 but ms..)
Xp is not that much better than vista Even gaming wise if I get an extra frame or 2 p/sec is not that big deal! get a faster video card and you'll still be getting 103 fps in stead of 99 fps but who cares can you really tell the difference? If you can your an alien from the Vega system and shouldn't be playing with our cheesy earthling computers anyways !

[Jimmer411]

I love vista, in some ways more than XP but then again I dont bench...


Man I had a big smile on my face when I clicked this thread, but seeing as its prebuilt pcs only Im disappointed.

[Serra]

I'm skipping Vista but now I have to wait even longer... they are going to need time to fix the bugs in Win7 now.

Pretty sure that's why the beta release exists. It's not like they're going to wait until the beta is over to start addressing bugs people find.