Microsoft has been putting together the Windows 7 Technical Guarantee Program and it appears that it’ll likely go into effect starting July 1st of this year. It’s that program that lets you purchase a machine with Microsoft’s current operating system and then upgrade it to the newest one when it launches, similar to what the company did when getting ready for Vista.
The program will apparently be optional to OEMs, so not all companies will be participating. But you can guess that a computer with a “Free upgrade to Windows 7!” sticker will probably sell over a similar machine without.
TechARP got a hold of all the technical documents but here’s a quick rundown.
- Good on new PCs with Vista pre-installed purchased after July 1, 2009.
- Versions will synch – Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 Home Premium, Vista Business to Windows 7 Professional, Vista Ultimate to Windows 7 Ultimate, etc.
- 32-bit to 64-bit upgrades not supported, but clean install will be allowed.
- Windows XP to Windows 7 upgrades not supported, but clean install will be allowed. Also, your OEM will have to be participating in the XP downgrade program.
The program dates could change based on when Windows 7 will actually be available but this should give everyone a pretty good idea of what’s coming.
I was going to buy a new pc soon, but unless I decide the go the Apple route, there is no incentive to make a purchase until after July 1. Microsoft is hurting their business partners, with making you buy a new update, especially with so many problems with Vista.
So many problems??? Only two I can think of are the annoying UAC, and the and the resource sucking Aero theme.
TWO?
Let’s see.
* Resource hog
* Hopeless file transfer rates over network, cruelly slow even between disks in the same computer
* F**ked up tcp/ip stack
* Still not much better in the sleep/suspend department compared to XP
* Overly intrusive UAC and quite often silent fails unless you know your process need administrator privileges beforehand.
* No simple way to allow a program access to protected folders when necessary
* Hopelessly inadequate defrag-tools, and buggy shadow-protection that make third party tools dangerous.
* Continuous disk-accesses is reaaally inconvenient on laptops that need to save energy
Etcetera.
It is really amazing that apart from the Aero UI, the advantages of Vista over XP is pretty damn close to nil. After all the systems are half a decade apart.
It’s nice that there will be offers for a Win7 upgrade, but I remember my dad buying a WinXP eMachine from Best Buy during the holidays before Vista shipped, and he didn’t get his copy until the next fall. Maybe it’s just that the eMachines brand isn’t exactly HP or Dell, but I wouldn’t think that anyone participating in the upgrade program could expect to see a shiny DVD arrive on their doorstep the day Windows 7 releases.
I was thinking of getting a new laptop and now thinking I’ll try to hold off until July. I mean, what can it hurt? It’s best to stay up-to-date with technology and the best way to do that in my opinion is through patience. I mean, sure there were some Vista issues but I thought overall it worked well.
windows7 in download
In fact the upgrade program is not offered by Microsoft but the PC manufacturer like HP, DELL etc. The actual date from HP is PC purchased between 26th June 2009 and 31st Jan 2010. A more detailed information can be found at http://blog.techiezone.in/windows/windows-seven/get-a-free-windows-7-upgrade-from-hp/
Hi just bought a new emachine 19.10.2009 with vista home basic on why is there no upgrade for the basic version.
THATS WHAT I WANT TO KNOW TOO!
Now when Windows 7 is not free anymore, some users returns to XP or Vista. As for me i really appreciate Microsoft software products!
YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO GET A FREE THAT IS FREE UPGRADE TO WINDOWS SEVEN THAT MEANS NO SHIPPING NO HANDLING ONLY A MORON CHARGES SHIPPING AND HANDLING FOR A FREE THAT IS FREE UPGRADE AND ONLY A MORON PAYS FOR IT. AN THE THIEVES AT HP IS CHARGING SHIPPING AND HANDLING AND THEY DO NOT KNOW THE DEFINITION OF FREE NOR CAN THE PEOPLE AT HP READ
my hp laptop purchases date 6.8.2008 can i free upgrade window vista to window 7
I feel that microsoft has yet again been a rip off, Went through the upgrade appication process but nothing has happened and no upgrade. This has now convinced me to push the Apple ans Linux approach. I now fully support the Open software approach and believe that microsoft needs to be excluded from more Government and idustry as it is not in out long term benefit. Odddly until the recent experience I used to be a Microsoft supporter but not any more!
I just got my free upgrade from Emachines no shipping or handling took about a month to get it. It shipped from Canada. A smokin deal since I bought it from Woot for $225 shipped.
I bought an emachine in nov, after about 7 or 8 days, the keyboard wasn’t working very well… i returned it no problem for another one exactly the same, in fact the price had gone down, and I got a refund from Walmart. I was glad to hear that i would get a free upgrade to windows 7. no one told me there was a time limit.
Christmas being busy as it always is, holidays, vacations, 3 birthdays in Jan, 2 in Feb, mine the last on the 18th and today I thought I’ll look into this free upgrade. I live in Canada, and apparently the last day to request your free upgrade was 10 days ago.
So that means I’m SOL???? I think that’s pretty lowsy, considering the last yellow box up top where it states that customers should be communicated effectively too, in regards to their “promised” or “promotional gimmick”.
Can I ask how others were notified of how and when they had to look into their free upgrade, other than just remembering to do some research.
I don’t usually rush out and get anything new from microsoft… and I don’t know of anyone using or even talking much about windows 7, didn’t even hear when it was released.
I’m a tech… but busy with family and renovations, rather than working in the field. But not clueless.
I wasn’t happy with Vista when I bought a dell notebook a few years ago… none of my devices would work with it, ie: sony ericsson, printer, pda, etc. It’s now, pretty ok, except for the windows installer problem with sp2.
Emachine official site says they will take no responsibility for the 3rd party distributor of the free upgrade disbursement.
what about the folks at walmart. they were the only ones who promised me anything.
I guess when you register your machine and your OS, you figure someone knows how to contact you. everyone else sure has no problem contacting me offering to enlarge my breasts and penis, lol.