14 DAY TRIAL // Debuted last week for customers worldwide, the Windows Upgrade Option Program is designed to deliver customers and small businesses that buy designated PCs with premium versions of Windows Vista pre-installed free upgrades to equivalent flavors of Windows 7 once the operating system becomes available. The initiative is meant to feed consumers' appetite for Windows 7 that could hurt Windows Vista sales and to make waiting for the next iteration of the Windows client drop pointless.
1. What is the Program Eligibility Period?
June 26, 2009 to January 31, 2010 – Only PCs preinstalled with qualifying Vista editions have to be acquired starting with June 26, but no later than January 31, 2010, in order to be eligible for a free Windows 7 upgrade through the Upgrade Option Program.
2. What are the qualifying Vista SKUs? To which Windows 7 edition will free upgrades be possible? - Windows Vista Home Premium Upgrade free upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade - Windows Vista Home Premium Full free upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade - Windows Vista Business Upgrade free upgrade to Windows 7 Professional Upgrade - Windows Vista Business Full free upgrade to Windows 7 Professional Upgrade - Windows Vista Ultimate Upgrade free upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate Upgrade - Windows Vista Ultimate Full free upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate Upgrade - Windows Vista WAU Home Basic to Home Premium free upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade - Windows Vista WAU Home Basic to Business free upgrade to Windows 7 Professional Upgrade - Windows Vista WAU Home Basic to Ultimate free upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate Upgrade - Windows Vista WAU Home Premium to Business free upgrade to Windows 7 Professional Upgrade - Windows Vista WAU Home Premium to Ultimate free upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate Upgrade
3. Are there Windows releases that do not qualify for the Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program?
Yes, Windows Vista Home Basic, Windows Vista Starter Edition and all the editions of¦Windows XP.
4. Will a PC with a qualifying edition of Vista bought on June 25 and earlier be eligible for a free upgrade to Windows 7?
No! The Program as well as the Fulfillment Website go-live date is June 26. Only starting with this date will Microsoft offer free Windows 7 upgrades.
5. When will the free Windows 7 upgrades be available?
According to Microsoft, October 22, 2009 is the Initial Upgrade Media Fulfillment Date. October 22 is also the General Availability deadline for Windows 7, and it will mark the first shipments of upgrade media for qualifying customers in accordance with their upgrade options.
6. How long will customers be able to submit Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program requests?
The Upgrade Offer Form Expiration Date is February 28, 2010. After this date no more submissions for Upgrade media redemption orders will be possible or accepted.
7. Is there an end date for the program?
Yes, the Final Software Fulfillment Date / Program End Date - April 30, 2010. This deadline will mark the last of free Windows 7 upgrade shipments for customers.
8. Are there restrictions to the initiative?
Yes, Vista to Windows 7 upgrades can only be performed for the same architectures, namely 32-bit to 32-bit and 64-bit to 64-bit, but not x86 to x64. At the same time, both operating systems have to share the same language and have to belong to the same market/territory.
9. Who are the OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) participating in the Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program?
Here is a short list (OEM participants are not limited to the companies listed below):
10. Is there a certain period of time that I have to wait for my Windows 7 upgrade media to be delivered?After October 22, 2009 Microsoft will work to serve all Windows 7 upgrade orders in less than four weeks. In the eventuality that the four-week period passes and the Windows 7 upgrade order hasn't been fulfilled, customers can use this email, aporders at microsoft.com, to check the status of their order.
11. Is there no way to get free Windows 7 upgrades for Windows XP?
Actually, there is. Here is what Microsoft has to say: “a system that was sold with a Windows Vista Business Certificate of Authenticity (COA) and has Windows XP Professional installed, and meets all other program offer requirements, can be eligible for the Windows 7 Upgrade Option offer.” Of course, upgrades to Windows 7 are only possible from Vista. XP users have only the option of performing a clean install.
12. How will Microsoft offer Windows 7 upgrades?
The Redmond company will deliver Windows 7 DVD upgrade media to qualifying Vista-PC users.
13. How free is free?
In some cases the PC manufacturers involved in the Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program can choose to charge customers extra fees. Microsoft itself will charge customers of Windows Vista-packaged software a sum around $20. The money is “required at the time of your online registration at Microsoft’s Windows 7 Upgrade Option fulfillment site. Your credit card will be charged approximately two weeks before the Windows 7 Upgrade media ships to the address you have provided,” Microsoft informed.
14. Where should I submit my Windows 7 upgrade order?
Microsoft revealed that “for PC purchases, you should find information about deadlines on a coupon or form included with your PC. If you don’t find the coupon or order form, please contact the PC manufacturer. Completed Windows 7 Upgrade Offer Forms must be received by 1 March 2010. A good place to begin looking for contact information is at our Windows 7 Upgrade Option page. For software purchases you can register your order online at Microsoft’s Windows 7 Upgrade Option fulfillment site, anytime between 26 June and 31 January, 2010.”