Most New PCs Will Come With Free Win 7 Upgrade

We know that Windows 7 is coming out on October 22 and now we know for how much. The general consensus is that Windows 7 is a worthwhile upgrade over either of the previous two generations’ operating systems.

So what is someone to do if he or she needs to buy a new PC before October 22 but wants to have Windows 7 without paying for another license? Buy it anyway.

As was previously figured and even saw revealed by Best Buy in a memo, customers who purchase a new PC starting today loaded with Windows Vista will in most cases receive a free upgrade to Windows 7.

“In fact, we know many people need that new PC sooner – for back to school specifically,” wrote Brandon LeBlanc, Microsoft’s Windows communications manager, on the Windows Team Blog. “Anyone who buys a PC from a participating OEM or retailer with Windows Vista Home Premium, Business or Ultimate on it will all receive an upgrade to the corresponding version of Windows 7 at little or no cost to customers. The Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program will be available until January 31st, 2010 – and is global!”

The only version of Windows Vista that doesn’t qualify for the upgrade is Home Basic, but edition isn’t a factor in the western market.

For more information on taking advantage of the Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program, click here.

Marcus Yam
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.
  • jerther
    Upgrades are cheaper, and according to this, free! Can be preordered, etc... What about OEM deals? If a format is needed, reinstalling vista and 7 next is a pain!

    What'd be cool is to get a 7 licence with vista. just like they did for 2000 and XP
    Reply
  • lifelesspoet
    I really liked the beta, but its really more then i want to spend on an os when i have a pretty good stable alternative for free.
    inb4 windowsmelover
    Reply
  • bydesign
    The upgrades have a clean install option...
    Reply
  • jerther
    ByDesignThe upgrades have a clean install option...!? never heard of that, although I gave up on upgrades long ago so it might have changed...
    Reply
  • computabug
    Kubuntu ftw
    pff... windows... who uses that stuff anyways?
    Reply
  • ben850
    ByDesignThe upgrades have a clean install option...
    doesn't make sense, but that would be awesome. isn't the upgrade cheaper because that means you've already spent your hard earned money on one of their previous products, and they ironically feel bad for you?
    Reply
  • jerther
    I've read that when doing a clean install with an upgrade, the installation will ask to insert a previous product CD in the drive to prove you're really upgrading and then proceed with normal format/installation.

    Good thing! realy good thing.
    Reply
  • jerther
    fucktarddi think alot of ppl that were really pissed at vista will get a huge sigh of relief when going to Win7, even cross platform the RC ultimate out performs xp/vista, best part is the RC came with generic drivers( had a chipset driver in xp(x64)that i could never find)Yeah and for the first time, I've used Windows Update to find drivers with actual results...
    Reply
  • asiaprime
    omg I missed it by 2 weeks!! I got a new laptop the 11th... :(
    Reply
  • miikerman
    I feel your pain, but at least you can upgrade (pre-order now) at half the price, $50 (or $40 at Micro Center b&m stores) ...
    Reply