Vista to Windows 7 upgrade plan

Author: Cezar Renta

Jan 8th, 2009

win7_icon Well, there are some good news and some bad news. The good news is that, in some cases, you can upgrade your Vista to the new Windows 7. The bad news is, well, let’s me hit you with the wall of text.

The Windows 7 Upgrade Program is designed to assist Microsoft’s OEM partners in minimizing the number of end users who may postpone acquiring a new computer because of the impending release of the Windows 7 operating system. This program allows OEMs to offer an upgrade to Windows 7 to end users who qualify.

This is a consumer-oriented program targeted at individual consumers and small businesses that have purchased eligible PCs during the Program Eligibility Period. End users will have to meet these requirements to be deemed eligible for the upgrade to Windows 7 when it is released :

* End users must purchase a new PC that is pre-installed with an eligible Windows Vista Operating System (OS), during the program eligibility window.

* The PC must have a valid Certificate of Authenticity (COA) attached.

* The only Windows Vista® versions eligible for the program are :
1. Windows Vista® Home Premium
2. Windows Vista® Business
3. Windows Vista® Ultimate
* Microsoft Windows Vista® Home Basic, Windows Vista® Starter Edition, and Windows® XP (all editions) are not qualifying products under the program.

* The Program does not support multiple upgrades for medium, large, or enterprise customers. Customers that want to upgrade multiple PCs should use the appropriate Microsoft Volume Licensing program. See www.microsoft.com/licensing for more details.

* The following are the only valid upgrade paths under the program :
1. Windows Vista® Home Premium -> Windows® 7 Home Premium
2. Windows Vista® Business -> Windows® 7 Professional
3. Windows Vista® Ultimate -> Windows® 7 Ultimate

Do note that this is an optional program, so not all OEMs may choose to participate. OEMs that choose to participate in this upgrade program will have the freedom to determine how to best provide qualifying end users with the details.

As you can see, Vista Basic users don’t have anything to gain from this and, its up to the OEM if they participate in this program, being optional. So, drawing the line, I think it’s not the best news of the day

Wall of text is curtesy of Tech ARP

Ruben

I was one of those who qualified for the upgrade. Vista was actually working out for me but i had heard so much hype about windows 7 that I ordered the upgrade kit and installed it. BIG MISTAKE ! right off the bat…windows 7 was not compatible with live one care that i had just purchased two months prior. Opening applications was a nightmare and took forever to load. Internet explorer was slow to non reponsive, downloads were timing out more often than not. In a nutshell…Windows 7 upgrade is crap, the custom install is even worse. Your better off going out and buying a new computer with windows 7 on it. I don’t understand what the difference is but my cousin has a new laptop that came with windows 7 and it worked like a charm…Don’t waste your time with the upgrade.