No Windows 7 Upgrades for Europe
It's all because of the IE8 deal with the EU.
When Windows 7 hits on October 22, it’ll come in flavors that are familiar to us from before with full and upgrade versions. Countries that a part of the European Union, however, won’t be getting the upgrade version due to the recent events between Microsoft and the European Commission.
“To ensure that Microsoft is in compliance with European law, Microsoft will be releasing a separate version of Windows 7 for distribution in Europe that will not include Windows Internet Explorer,” the Redmond company said in a memo to PC manufacturers.
The result of that is that European consumers looking to jump into Windows 7 will have to back up their own data and perform a clean install, according to Gizmodo. Apparently the decision behind the lack of an upgrade option stems from quality assurance. Microsoft can be relatively sure about what happens with a clean install, but it is unable to control what happens when Windows 7 is upgraded onto a system that already has browsers already installed on it.
“We don't want to break anyone else's software, we don't want to break our own software, and we don't want the customer on the phone with support,” said Mike Ybarra, general manager of Windows Product Management, to the gadget blog.
Fortunately, those running Windows Vista or XP won’t be stuck with paying for full version prices. Microsoft said that it would offer upgrade pricing on the full licenses (for those who qualify), though didn’t detail how it would go about verifying existing licenses. European customers will also get an offer for discounted upgrades starting July 15.

Most european citizens (me included) think the whole lawsuit thing is just as crazy and ridiculous as you do. 99.9% probably don't care at all or even know what's going on, though.
I guess I'd better load up Firefox Portable on a USB key *before* I reformat and install Win7 on the only computer in the house, then.. Otherwise my system will be permanently offline and I'll have to buy a new system with XP or Vista on it and then transfer Firefox from that I guess... Or maybe the days when ISPs sent CDs with browsers when you signed up are about to return... I thought Windows7 was about a cleaner, easier experience...?
Maybe there's some command line based FTP client in there to get a browser downloaded. But then the makers of FlashFXP would probably also sue MS...Wonder if they can even keep the command prompt in there. Aren't there companies making virtual DOS environments for Windows? How are people going to discover their products when Windows already comes with a command line interface?
The Windows8 EU version should just be a black screen, everything else has to be coded in using machine language.
Yeah, also more expensive. Vista Ultimate cost about twice as much in the EU compared to the US. Normally the EU Ripoff Tax™ is only about 30%.
How do you think any business makes up for loss of money due to stolen products, they charge the people who wont steal it more. This was probably already taken into consideration before they set the prices.
And yes I know that an enthusiast can easily procure a browser without IE, but let's see the backlash from the common user when their OS doesn't have a browser.
Then all you need do is create a partition called stores or some such and keep on it all YOUR stuff like your free anti spyware,search & destroy, etc,,,.your free anti virus,Avira,,comes to mind,and your free firewall Comodo f'r instance,,including a copy of your favourite non MS browser,, hell it's a no brainer..
Obv you the grandmaster of the universe should just rewrite the code for the os all by yourself.
The inconvenience is neglible really, as most professionals don't use the upgrade feature anyway (mostly it went wrong with 2000, xp and vista - why should it not on win7!)
So the EU power users will get a full version of Windows 7 for the price of upgrade without the biggest security hole in Windows called IE. On the other hand USA power users will buy upgrade only version with IE. So if you system crashes and you need to re-install you have to install old OS, then patched and then re-install Windows 7. (I think I read that Windows 7 upgrade will not work like old XP where you need to insert the old Windows 2000 CD in order to install it.) For power user installing browser of their choice is not a problem and the average users that might have problem with that never will attempt to upgrade Windows in the first place. They will pay the OEM for that. So called inconvenience that you have to backup your data before full install is bogus. I hope that readers of this site have common sense to backup their data before they start the upgrade. The only problem is the time to re-install your applications, but guess what MS not guaranty that you not have to re-install them after the upgrade either.
So, I think the US users are getting the short stick here.
If MS some how insert some kind of check that required that old OS is installed in order start the install for EU users that have paid only upgrade price, but Windows Installer can’t perform the actual upgrade they just going to open new case that will allow the EC to fine them again, because they effectively will sell the Upgrade version that can’t do the upgrade.