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Free Vista to Windows 7 Upgrades Program Debuts June 26th

Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program

By Marius Oiaga, Technology News Editor

27th of May 2009, 16:55 GMT

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With the Release Candidate Build 7100 development milestone available for download since May 5th, 2009, and Windows 7 making its way toward RTM, Microsoft is also planning to debut the Tech Guarantee Program, now labeled Microsoft’s ‘Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program’ associated with the operating system. The Redmond company offered a similar program for Windows Vista, and it is now planning to do the same for Windows 7, starting June 26th, 2009. The marketing initiative is designed to offer free

upgrades from Windows Vista to Windows 7 for customers who will not wait for the next iteration of the Windows client.

Microsoft has failed to offer any details related to its Technical Guarantee Program for Windows 7, but APC revealed that the Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program was planned for debut by the end of next month. PC manufacturer Acer has already begun promoting the initiative in Australia, by offering marketing materials advertising the debut of the program. “Beginning June 26, 2009, customers who purchase a qualifying ACER Vista-based PC will receive a comparable version of Windows 7 when available,” reads the message of a slip included with new purchased Acer computers.

The Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program is designed to compensate eventual consumer trends to hold out from buying new computers and wait for the general availability of Windows 7 instead. The Redmond company, in partnership with OEMs, is working to convince users to buy new machines preloaded with Windows Vista and get a free upgrade to Windows 7 when the operating system will become available.

The only eligible Vista editions for the Upgrade Option Program are Home Premium, Business, and Vista Ultimate. The move will be made between equivalent SKUs, for example Vista Ultimate users will receive an upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate. Windows XP is also included in the program, but only for Vista downgrades, essentially only if a Vista license is present.

32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7 (Release Candidate) RC Build 7100.0.090421-1700 is available for download here.

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User opinions:

Comment #1 by: RanMan on 27 May 2009, 23:03 GMT

reply to this comment

I understand the plan to promote new PC sales by this offering and I believe it is a good idea. However, real news would be how Microsoft was going to offer those of us that purchased a PC 11 months ago and are disappointed in the performance of Vista should get a similar deal.

If not free, maybe $5 to assist, not cover, assist in the cost of supporting the huge acceptance to soon be followed by one of the largest download days or two days or whatever in history to attain the Windows 7 equal of our Vista versions.

I would be very appreciative of the act and it would certainly spawn more loyalty to the brand. In other words, Microsoft accepting the disappointment of Vista and doing the right thing for customers.

Sign Me Up !

Comment #2 by: Martin Schwartz on 28 May 2009, 03:39 GMT	reply to this comment
I am an owner of windows xp professional and if I want to upgrade to Windows 7 and purchase windows vista ultimate will I get Windows 7 ultimate for free.

Comment #2.1 by: person B on 10 Jun 2009, 15:14 GMT

When vista was coming out, i could buy xp software and it was eligible for the vista upgrade too. So i walked in and bought xp pro, got the $100 rebate, and got the free upgrade to vista business.

Comment #3 by: Person A on 31 May 2009, 02:28 GMT	reply to this comment
From what I've read, it only applies to new computers, not Vista discs.

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