July 11, Last Day for Discounted Win 7 Upgrade

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Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
  • hellwig
    I was very dissapointed in the lack of details about the upgrading procedure. For one thing, no-where on the pre-order site could I find what OS's you are allowed to upgrade from. I assume XP Home and Vista Home upgrade to Win 7 Home, and XP Pro and Vista Business upgrade to Win 7 Pro, but they never said anything definitive.

    Also, will I need a CD key, official media, etc.. to actually perform the upgrade? I have an old XP Pro CD for my own computer, by my fiance's XP Home is an OEM version, and I don't have a Microsoft-branded CD.

    Of course, since Win 7 copys everything, and what you can run is based on the product key you enter, maybe its doesn't matter, but it would have been nice to know in advance.
    Reply
  • andune
    Any official word on whether the upgrade offer works with OEM Vista keys, or is it retail only?
    Reply
  • legierk
    You can do a clean install. I ordered mine from Newegg already. Check out Paul Thurrott's site to learn how to do the clean install. (He's 90% sure it will work like in Vista). Anyhow, $50 to get a licensed copy? I'm in...just wish I would have waited and got the 3 pack family upgrade....even better deal.
    Reply
  • So only had it up for 2 weeks? Supplies? What about the family packs we have been hearing about? No family option for pre-order? So this is them TRYING to make people angry? I'm now full prepared to pirate Windows 7
    Reply
  • lifelesspoet
    This is a very tempting offer, windows 7 is one of microsoft's finest products to date and this price is very much within the realm of reason. While linux is my primary os of choice, I will consider this product for running games and other programs.
    Reply
  • lukeiamyourfather
    legierkYou can do a clean install. I ordered mine from Newegg already. Check out Paul Thurrott's site to learn how to do the clean install. (He's 90% sure it will work like in Vista). Anyhow, $50 to get a licensed copy? I'm in...just wish I would have waited and got the 3 pack family upgrade....even better deal.
    You didn't really miss anything on the family pack if it goes the way some are saying. At $150-ish for a Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade pack good for three machines that's $50 each. Only you didn't have to buy three to get the deal.
    Reply
  • coopchennick
    TeejSo only had it up for 2 weeks? Supplies? What about the family packs we have been hearing about? No family option for pre-order? So this is them TRYING to make people angry? I'm now full prepared to pirate Windows 7Actually this is Microsoft trying to be nice. For a limited time, they are offering preorders for a large discount. If this pisses you off, you are free to wait and pay the regular price at release.
    Reply
  • Doesn't this just upgrade your windows 7 starter edition when you get it? Or will it upgrade my XP to 7??
    Reply
  • rigaudio
    You can upgrade from any XP or Vista version to whatever W7 version you want.
    Reply
  • dingumf
    What happens to my old Vista?
    Reply