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No Windows 7 upgrade option in the EU

Today Microsoft announced the pricing of Windows 7. As previously reported on Neowin, the EU will be getting a version that will not contain IE and because of this Microsoft will be offering no upgrade option in the EU.
windows - comments - 25.6.2009

Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program Confirmed

The Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program has been officially confirmed by Microsoft, although the only certain aspect of the initiative is the label, at this point in time.
windows - comments - 3.6.2009

Windows 7 Free Upgrade Option Program Website Live June 26

Although Microsoft has yet to officially confirm the launch date for its Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program, fact is that the Redmond company is about to go live with the initiative.
windows - comments - 24.6.2009

Your XP-to-Windows 7 upgrade path: Buy a new PC

Microsoft's leaders really, really want you to forget about Vista and move right on to Windows 7. And who can blame them?
windows - comments - 17.9.2009

Most PC buyers need to purchase MCE for free Vista upgrade

Only around 10% of PCs to be shipped in the fourth quarter of this year are equipped with MCE (Windows XP Media Center Edition) and consumers who buy the remaining 90% of PCs will need to purchase MCE to be able to upgrade to the upcoming Vista operating system (OS) for free next year, according to PC makers quoted by the Chinese-language Apple Daily
windows - comments - 4.9.2006

Microsoft and PC vendors to offer upgrade coupon to promote Windows Vista-capable PCs in 4Q

Microsoft and the world's leading PC vendors have reached an agreement to promote the long-awaited Vista OS by offering PC buyers worldwide a free upgrade coupon, as a way of encouraging them to buy a Vista-capable PC as early as possible, according to market sources, citing information leaked from Taiwan-based PC makers.
windows - comments - 10.8.2006

How to Pin Show Desktop Option to Windows 7 Taskbar

Windows 7 has got revamped taskbar also known as superbar. Windows 7 taskbar has number of excellent features like Jumplist, Thumbnail preview, Aero peak, etc.
download - comments - 7.10.2009

Microsoft TechNet Plus Direct subscription is now available! Finally with download option

TechNet Plus Direct is now available. It allows an individual subscriber full access to TechNet Plus resources including evaluation software, technical content, tools, utilities and support resources. Content is available through the TechNet Subscription Benefits Portal- the subscriber-only site (this subscription does not include CD or DVD media shipments).
microsoft - comments - 9.8.2006

Windows 7 E Full Version at Upgrade Prices, but No Upgrade SKU

With a new edition of Windows 7 tailored especially for Europe, Microsoft revealed that with this release of its Windows client, it was doing things differentially.
windows - comments - 25.6.2009

Windows Live FolderShare Beta Refresh for PC-to-PC Sync

Today, the FolderShare Team is shipping a Beta Refresh of both the Windows Live FolderShare website and client that offers some great improvements to the Windows Live FolderShare service at http://www.foldershare.com/.
download - comments - 11.3.2008

IE7 Virtual PC Image and IE6 Virtual PC Image Refresh

From the IEBlog: Hello! Just wanted to give you a quick update that we’ve dropped two new VPC images that you can use with the free copy of Virtual PC 2007.
download - comments - 19.4.2007

Should I upgrade to Windows 7?

A question that’s hitting my inbox a lot lately: Should I be starting to think about upgrading to Windows 7?
windows - comments - 20.4.2009

Windows or No PC at All!

sk0t has been arrested, fact which comes as quite a blow to torrent users all around the world. He was the one that uploaded Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith before its theatrical release, as The Register informs.
windows - comments - 25.8.2007

Windows 7 Upgrade Chart

Microsoft has released an upgrade chart to display the options you have for installation when upgrading to Windows 7.
windows - comments - 10.8.2009

Windows 7 Upgrade Facts

Windows 7 is set to come out through Microsoft's gates as soon as October 22, and the Redmond-based company already fired up the machine to be prepared for the demand its client is expected to register from those users willing to upgrade to the new platform iteration as soon as it is available for purchase.
windows - comments - 25.9.2009

Windows Vista - Anytime Upgrade

Yesterday, Windows Vista blog announced how windows anytime upgrade works.Current windows users can purchase and download a digital key to upgrade to a more feature-rich edition of Windows Vista.
windows - comments - 21.1.2007

How to Upgrade to another edition of Windows Vista

If you want more features in Windows Vista, you can upgrade to another edition. You can either buy an upgrade disc at a retail store or use Windows Anytime Upgrade to buy the upgrade online, and then use your Windows Anytime Upgrade disc or the Windows installation disc to complete the process.
windows - comments - 21.1.2

Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor 1.0

Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor is designed to help Windows XP users identify whether their PCs are ready for an upgrade to Windows Vista, which edition of Windows Vista meets their needs, and which features of Windows Vista will be able to run on their PCs.
download - comments - 18.2.2007

How to Upgrade Vista SP1 to Windows 7

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Release Candidate 1 has been released to Microsoft Connect, MSDN, Technet subscribers, and it’s also available for free download in Windows Update. Because, make no mistake about it, Windows 7 will grow its installed base for the most part to the detriment of its precursors.
windows - comments - 28.2.2009

Upgrade from Windows 7 Beta 1 at Your Own Risk

Sometimes, I just chuckle at these Microsoft Engineering Windows 7 blog posts. Today, it's why not to upgrade from Beta 1 to the release candidate.
windows - comments - 8.4.2009

Microsoft preps Windows 7 Upgrade

The clock is ticking. Microsoft is getting its partners prepped for the Windows 7 Upgrade program, expected to be launched officially by June 26.
windows - comments - 23.6.2009

Upgrade Coming to Windows Update

Come August 2009 Microsoft will release an upgrade to its update infrastructure. The Redmond company pointed out that both the Windows Update and Microsoft Update services would be impacted by the refresh.
windows - comments - 13.7.2009

Windows 7 Upgrade Chart Unveiled

Redmond-based Microsoft is set to release Windows 7 on the market in about two months and a half, on October 22, and, as the launch day approaches, some of those who already own a license for Windows XP or Windows Vista are considering ways of upgrading to the new client.
windows - comments - 8.8.2009

Windows 7 Upgrade: 1,220 Minutes

According to Microsoft, the maximum amount of time that a Windows Vista Service Pack 1 to Windows 7 upgrade can take is 1,220 minutes.
windows - comments - 4.9.2009

Windows 7 can take up to 21 hours to upgrade

With the official release of Windows 7 drawing closer every day, many people are preparing their systems for the change.
windows - comments - 13.9.2009

Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor Beta

Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor scans your PC to see if it's ready for Windows 7, and tells you about any known compatibility issues.
windows - comments - 14.10.2009

Answers to Windows 7 upgrade questions

Every day for the past few months, I have received at least one question from readers wanting to know how the Windows 7 upgrade process will work.
windows - comments - 26.10.2009

PC sales to drop despite Windows 7

Research firm Gartner have published their predictions for PC sales for 2009, predicting that worldwide sales will fall by 6% from 2008 levels. The sales of netbooks, however, are set to rise.
windows - comments - 29.6.2009

Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor Beta

It looks like Microsoft wants to make sure you know if your computer is ready for Windows Vista. Currently, the beta only works on Windows XP systems. Chances are, if you are running something older than Windows XP, your computer won?t run Windows Vista anyways. It?s nice to see a downloadable tool in advance. So that you do not have to buy Windows Vista and then find out your computer won't run it.
download - comments - 18.5.2006

Microsoft Upgrade Planning for Windows Vista

You can upgrade from your current edition of Microsoft Windows XP or Windows 2000 to a corresponding or better edition of Windows Vista by purchasing and installing an upgrade copy of Windows Vista.
windows - comments - 31.7.2006

No Windows 7 upgrade option in the EU

Today Microsoft announced the pricing of Windows 7. As previously reported on Neowin, the EU will be getting a version that will not contain IE and because of this Microsoft will be offering no upgrade option in the EU. This harsh line comes as somewhat as a surprise that all EU users that wish to upgrade to Windows 7 must buy a full copy. There is a silver lining to this announcement and it's that the full price of Windows 7 will be at the equaliviant price to the upgrade option.

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neowin.net - 25.06.2009

Microsoft announces 'Windows 7 Upgrade Option' for OEM PCs

Microsoft today has officially announced the start of the Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program allowing consumers and small businesses to receive Windows 7 when they purchase a qualifying Windows Vista PCs starting June 26. Under the program, PCs preinstalled with "premium versions" of Windows Vista will qualify for a license equivalent of Windows 7. "There is a lot of excitement for Windows 7 in the marketplace today. However, many consumers need a new Windows PC for school, work or home before October 22.

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neowin.net - 25.06.2009

Windows 7 upgrade chart available

Microsoft has made available the official Windows 7 Upgrade chart, via allthingsd which indicates which previous versions of Windows are available for an in-place upgrade to Windows 7, and to which version they can upgrade. You can view the chart below: As you can see from just a glance at the chart, it's relatively confusing. Windows 7 offers no direct upgrade path from XP, which was announced very early on in the Windows 7 development life cycle. Very specific upgrade paths from other versions of Windows Vista exist also. You can perform a "Custom Install" which is pretty much a clean install, but you have the option to install Windows 7 to another disk without overwriting data.

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neowin.net - 10.08.2009

Microsoft: Windows 7 Upgrade deal maxes out at 25 PCs

There's one more bit of small print regarding Microsoft's Windows 7 Upgrade Option program, which the company unveiled officially last week, that may be of interest to business customers.



Via the program, users who purchase new PCs with Windows Vista preloaded from participating PC makers and retailers, as of June 26, will get coupons entitling them to a free copy of Windows 7 some time on or after October 22. The fine print: As InformationWeek noted, the Upgrade Option program maxes out at 25 upgrade coupons per customer.




winbeta.org - 30.06.2009

Microsoft: Windows XP to Windows 7 upgrade possible

Microsoft has confirmed that customers can purchase upgrade media and an upgrade license at a discounted price to move from Windows XP to Windows 7. However, customers need to do a clean installation of Windows 7. The pricing details of XP upgrade licenses are not yet known. An operating system upgrade offers users the option of choosing between in-place upgrades, with installed applications & data in-place in the machine and a fresh installation which overwrites the hard drive's contents. By eliminating in-place upgrades, users can have a reliable installation after backing up all their data and applications.

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neowin.net - 04.02.2009

Understanding Windows 7 upgrade paths

Windows 7 has already earned itself a blue ribbon, and it isn't even in stores yet. Many Vista users will migrate to Redmond's latest and greatest operating system in search of greener pastures, and countless Windows XP laggards will be lured from the woodwork by Windows 7's polish. Microsoft will be granting both XP and Vista users the right to buy "Upgrade" versions of Windows 7 which run for considerably less money. But in terms of how you can perform an upgrade on a machine already running Windows, for some the in-place upgrade option will make the experience seamless; all your programs, files and settings will remain untouched coming from certain versions of Vista.

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neowin.net - 03.09.2009

Will your PC run Windows Vista? Download the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor

The Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor is an application that you can run on your current Windows XP-based computer to find out if it's ready for an upgrade to Windows Vista...
microsoft.com/windowsvista - 25.05.2006

Windows 7 upgrade details leak out

A document has leaked out that details the upgrade plans for users who purchase PC's with Vista this summer. According to the document obtained by Tech Arp titled " The Microsoft Windows 7 Upgrade Program Rev 2.1" states that computers purchased after July 1st will be eligible to upgrade to Windows 7 free of charge. The plan will follow in a similar path the Windows XP and Vista transition occurred. The idea behind the plan is to not prohibit people from purchasing computers as they wait for Windows 7 to be launched.

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neowin.net - 12.02.2009

The Secret Windows Vista Upgrade - Explained

There is a well known Windows Vista Upgrade secret in the IT community. In this article I talk about it and the possible legal implications! Please take this article "as-is" I provide no warranty of any kind by providing this information. Well to be honest it is no big secret as you can find this information anywhere online and many Microsoft staff must also know about it as they created this process! The "secret" is that the setup program (setup.exe) in Windows Vista's upgrade version will accept an installed copy of XP, W2K, or an un-activated copy of Vista itself as evidence of a previous installation.

...and it is this last option that enables you to perform a "clean install" of an upgrade version of Windows Vista to any formatted or unformatted hard drive! Basically you are installing Windows Vista twice to take advantage of this trick.

Is This Windows Vista Upgrade Secret Legal? Probably not. I am no legal expert but I am guessing this will violate some part of the Windows Vista EULA (End User Licence Agreement.) BUT Microsoft have created this process.... It is not something you have to try and crack in their software or run a third party application to perform this process... Their development team created it. Which kind of begs the question WHY?


neowin.net - 15.02.2007

NVIDIA 8800GT Option for Older Mac Pros Soon?

With the release of the Penryn-based Mac Pros only two weeks ago, Apple introduced a new video card option for the Mac Pros -- the NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT. Existing Mac Pro owners saw this is an opportunity to upgrade from current cards as well as ailing 1900XT cards.

Despite an upgrade-kit becoming available on the Apple Store, Apple quickly contacted those who ordered the video cards to clarify that the 8800GT would only work on the most recently released Penryn Mac Pros. This led one user to jot off an angry letter to Steve Jobs who reportedly responded:

"I suggest you calm down. Everyone knows the issue and it is being worked."
Steve'


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neowin.net - 20.01.2008

Windows 7: Vista Upgrade & Anytime Upgrade overview

So far, in our Windows 7 Overview series, we have published the following: Windows 7 beta quick review Windows 7: HomeGroup Overview Windows 7: BitLocker To Go & Biometric improvements overview Windows 7: Easy Connect Windows 7: Problem Steps Recorder Windows 7: Action Center Overview Windows 7: User Account Control (UAC) Overview Windows 7: Calibate Your Display Windows 7: Federated Search Windows 7: Device Stage Windows 7: Internet Explorer 8 Overview Over the next few weeks we will be adding many more focus items on Windows 7 including Touch, Windows 7 networking and media enhancements. Stay tuned for the ultimate Windows 7 focus from Neowin.net. Here is an overview of Windows Vista to Windows 7 Beta upgrade.

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neowin.net - 13.01.2009

Microsoft: Using Vista Loophole Is Cheating

Microsoft is denying a recent report that suggests it deliberately included a technical loophole in Windows Vista that lets users install the OS without paying for the full priced version.



In an article that appeared earlier this week in the Windows Secrets newsletter, reporter Scott Dunn noted that the Service Pack 1 version of Windows Vista gives users the option of buying the 'upgrade edition' and installing it on any PC, which enables them to avoid paying for the more expensive 'full' edition.



In the U.S., the list price of the upgrade edition is more than $100 cheaper than the full edition, according to Dunn.




winbeta.org - 05.04.2008

Windows 7 Upgrade Program shifts to June 28

TechARP has updated the Windows 7 Upgrade Program schedule with some slight changes. According to the new schedule Windows update program will begin on June 28, 2009 instead of July 1, 2009 which Neowin sighted earlier, and users who purchase PCs preinstalled with Vista between the dates June 28, 2009 - January 31, 2010 are eligible for a free Windows 7 upgrade. Microsoft will allow only 5 upgrade requests from eligible end users (consumers or small businesses) to upgrade to Windows 7. This means that a user with 12 upgrade coupons will have to visit the fulfillment website at least 3 times to order all 12 upgrades.

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neowin.net - 23.02.2009

Vista "Express Upgrade" anything but express

When news hit of Windows Vista's final major delay, OEMs were depressed. Several contacts in the industry told me that not having Vista on PCs in time for Christmas was a major disappointment. Big surprise. For all of the negative press Vista was sure to garner, it still would drive PC sales. Many OEMs adopted Microsoft's "Express Upgrade" plan, offering holiday shoppers the option of getting an upgrade to Vista for little or no additional cost. If you purchased a new PC with Windows XP after October 26, chances are you're entitled to a free or discounted upgrade, depending on the deal the OEM offered.

But as the January 30 launch date came and went, customers waiting for their Express Upgrade have found that there's nothing "express" about it. Some two weeks after launch, few-if any-customers have received their upgrades from major OEMs, despite the fact that you can walk into any retail computer store and pick one up right off the shelves. What gives? Dell cited initial customer demand and server problems for part of their own delays, but now that everything is working, the company is still saying that Express Upgrades will not ship before the end of the month. Furthermore, the company states that orders are filled on a first-come/first-served basis, so some users have longer waits in store. Indeed, the company is warning users that shipping itself may take 6-8 weeks.


neowin.net - 19.02.2007

Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade retail boxing revealed

AeroXperience's Bryant Zadegan has got his hands on an exclusive look at the Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade retail boxing. Those who are familiar with the Windows Vista Anytime Upgrade will remember that it was only pushed online, but Zadegan says that "Microsoft will indeed be pushing Anytime Upgrade through retail channels." On Tuesday, Microsoft unveiled the final design for the regular retail box. The anytime upgrade boxes are the same shape and design as the full version or regular upgrade boxes, except slightly smaller since they just contain a product key used to migrate Windows 7 from Home Premium to Professional or Ultimate from within the Windows 7 control panel. More images are available over at the AeroXperience Blog.

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neowin.net - 26.06.2009

Windows Anytime Upgrade: Digital Distribution To End

Microsoft had this to say on its website: "In an effort to streamline the Windows Anytime Upgrade experience for our customers and open the program to additional markets worldwide, Microsoft and its partners have decided to end digital product key distribution on February 20, 2008."

With Windows Anytime Upgrade, customers could upgrade to another version of Vista by purchasing a digital product key. Microsoft has now decided to stop distributing product keys online. Those who now want to upgrade, will have to buy a Windows Anytime Upgrade Kit from a local retailer or from Microsoft.


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neowin.net - 11.02.2008

Windows 7 Upgrade Program shifts to June 26, 2009

TechARP has come up with a new revised schedule of Microsoft's Windows 7 Upgrade Program. The Upgrade Program shifts to an early date from June 28, 2009 to June 26, 2009 now. According to the new schedule, end users who purchase PCs pre-installed with Vista between the dates June 26, 2009 to January 31, 2010 are eligible for a free Windows 7 upgrade. According to TechARP, this slight adjustment was done at the request of many OEMs to allow for better sales over the first weekend of the Program. It is not possible for Windows XP users to upgrade to Windows 7 unlike Windows Vista users.

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neowin.net - 25.03.2009

Is the PC upgrade cycle dead?

A somewhat predictable PC upgrade cycle was a welcome fact of life back in the 80s and 90s, but it might be a thing of the past.



Or it might not. Analysts are debating it. We will find out next year.



Here's the brief history. In those long ago days, PC manufacturers--and hence software developers, chip makers and computer dealers--would see a spike in demand every three to four years. Microsoft and Intel would come out with major refreshes of their product lines roughly at that cadence. The whole system of steady upgrade cycles culminated with the release of Windows 95 in 1995, still one of the best orgies of technology binge buying on record. Start me up!




winbeta.org - 17.04.2008

Using Input Panel in Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005

Windows XP Service Pack 2 includes a free upgrade for your Tablet PC. Columnist Jeff Van West discusses how the new Input Panel improves the ink-to-text flow...
WindowsXP/expertzone - 04.01.2006

Microsoft extends XP downgrade option for OEMs to 2011

Microsoft will be extending the Windows XP downgrade option until 2011. While Microsoft has threatened to halt the option on numerous occasions, it has yet to set a date, write it in stone and actually make good on the promise. Windows XP has been the corner stone for Microsoft as Windows Vista was largely rejected by businesses and consumers due to its initial rocky start. With Windows 7 right around the corner Microsoft will be looking to phase out XP but still must do so in a cautious manor.

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neowin.net - 20.06.2009