Users will be able to make the purchase straight from Windows.com

Jul 3, 2012 09:41 GMT  ·  By

Windows 8 is nearing its official availability, and Microsoft is ensuring that users will be able to upgrade to the new OS without having to pay the full price tag for it.

Thus, the company made it official that users of Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 will be able to purchase and upgrade to Windows 8 Pro starting with the general availability of the platform, while paying only $39.99 for it.

The offer will run until January 31st, 2013, and will be available for all qualifying users in 131 markets around the world.

Following the upgrade, users will also be able to get the Windows Media Center for free on their platforms, through the “add features” option within Windows 8 Pro, Microsoft’s Brandon LeBlanc notes in a blog post.

The discounted upgrade is available through Windows.com, yet users will also be able to grab the OS on DVD through local retailers for $69.99 (US).

“When you use Windows.com to purchase an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro, the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant makes upgrading simple by walking you through the upgrade process step-by-step from purchase to download and then of course installation,” Brandon LeBlanc explains.

“The Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant will check to make sure your PC is ready for Windows 8. It will provide a detailed compatibility report that lets you know of anything you may have to address before or after the upgrade and outlines actions to take.”

The Assistant will also offer info on the application and device compatibility issues related to the upgrade. When upgrading from a consumer version of Windows 7, all settings, personal files and applications will be preserved.

More info on what will be kept during the update emerged online yesterday, and you can learn more on the matter through this post on Softpedia.

Users will also be able to format their hard-drive and perform a clean install, as long as they boot from the media and perform the formatting as part of the setup process of installing Windows 8.

Windows 8 can be installed on customers’ computers either through a DVD or via a USB drive. They will need to create a bootable media in either case.

“We believe that your upgrade experience in Windows 8 will be a breeze by offering a faster experience, a single upgrade path, and compatibility from prior versions of Windows,” Brandon LeBlanc continues.

“We’ve continued to listen to our customers and have expanded the ability to download to over 100 countries and 37 languages. We have simplified the Windows upgrade experience with the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant which supports you during your upgrade with everything from selecting your language to pausing your download to built-in compatibility checks - it’s seamless.”

Windows 8 is expected to become generally available sometime this fall. The platform is currently moving toward the RTM milestone, which should be reached before the end of this month, rumor has it. Additional info on the upgrade options for current Windows users will become available closer to launch.