Where can I get the offer?
This offer is available from participating retailers or the Microsoft Store.
What will I get?
You'll get a copy of Windows 7 Home Premium that you can install on up to three PCs in your home. The package will include both 32- and 64-bit discs.
What does it cost?
The estimated retail price is $199.99. Actual price may vary.
How do I know if I'm eligible?
To be eligible for the offer, each PC you upgrade needs to be running a genuine copy of the Windows XP or Windows Vista operating systems.
How do I redeem the offer?
You can purchase the family pack from participating retailers or the Microsoft Store.
When is the offer available?
This offer begins on October 22, 2009 and lasts while quantities are available.
Where is the offer available?
The offer is available in Austria, Benelux, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and US.
Whats the benefit of running Windows 7 on more than one PC?
When you run Windows 7 on more than one PC, you can do more. For example, you can use HomeGroup to quickly connect PCs and share files, music, and photos with the whole family. You can also share a printer with all the PCs in your home.
Is this offer available on new PCs, or just as upgrade software?
This offer is for people who want to upgrade their current PCs. Looking for a new PC? Find a laptop that fits your life with the Windows Laptop Scout.
Will Windows 7 work on my PC?
Before you take advantage of this offer, please check the PC you want to upgrade. The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor can help you determine which features and editions of Windows 7 will run on your computer.
For quick reference, here are the Windows 7 System Requirements:
- 1GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
- 1GB RAM (32-bit) / 2GB RAM (64-bit)
- 16GB available disk space (32-bit) / 20 GB (64-bit)
- DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
These additional requirements are needed to use certain features:
- Internet Access (fees may apply)
- Depending on resolution video playback may require additional memory and advanced graphics hardware
- For some Windows Media Center functionality a TV tuner and additional hardware may be required
- Windows Touch and Windows Tablet require specific hardware
- HomeGroup requires a network and PCs with Windows 7
- DVD/CD authoring requires a compatible optical drive
- BitLocker requires TPM1.2; BitLocker To Go requires a USB Flash Drive
- Music and sound require audio output
- Windows XP Mode requires:
- Additional 1GB of RAM
- Additional 15GB of available disk space
- Processor capable of hardware virtualization, with Intel-VT or AMD-V turned on
Product functionality and graphics may vary based on your system configuration.
My PC is running Windows XP. Can I upgrade it to Windows 7?
If youre thinking about upgrading a PC from Windows XP to Windows 7, please download and run the free Windows Upgrade Advisor to see if your PC can run Windows 7 acceptably.
If you decide to install Windows 7 on a PC running Windows XP, youll need to do a custom installation. This is sometimes called a "clean" installation because it completely erases the contents of your PC. To avoid losing anything, youll need to save copies of all the files, photos, and other information you want to keep on an external hard drive. Youll also need to have the installation disks for your programs so you can re-install them after installing Windows 7.
See below for detailed instructions on doing a custom installation of Windows 7.
Upgrading a PC from Windows XP to Windows 7 is an involved process. If youre at all uncomfortable with it, please consider having the upgrade done by a local PC or electronics retailer.
My PC is running Windows Vista. Can I upgrade it to Windows 7?
PCs designed for Windows Vista should run Windows 7 very well. To double check your PCs capabilities, you should download and run the free Windows Upgrade Advisor. How you install Windows 7 will depend on the edition of Windows Vista on your PC, and the edition of Windows 7 you want to install. Youll either do an in-place upgrade, which keeps your programs, files, and settings in place, or youll do a custom installation. Heres how to tell which kind of installation youll need to do:
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| From | Windows Vista Home Basic | In-place upgrade | Custom install | In-place upgrade |
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| Windows Vista home Premium | In-place upgrade | Custom install | In-place upgrade |
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| Windows Vista Business | Custom install | In-place upgrade | In-place upgrade |
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| Windows Vista Ultimate | Custom install | Custom install | In-place upgrade |
How do I do a custom installation?
Important: In a clean installation, your files, settings, and programs will not be transferred to Windows 7. You should back up your data before installing Windows 7.
To install Windows 7:
- Run Windows Upgrade Advisor to see if there are any known issues that might affect the installation and whether you should install the 32- or 64-bit version of Windows 7.
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Back up your existing files and settings by saving them to an external hard drive, CD, DVD, USB flash drive or other media. Use Windows Easy Transfer and an external hard drive to make this process easier download it free here.
- Locate the original installation disks for the programs currently on your computer.
- Insert the Windows 7 DVD and follow the instructions for a custom installation by selecting the Custom (advanced) installation option.
- Reinstall your programs and your backed up files and settings. If you used Windows Easy Transfer, launch Windows Easy Transfer in Windows 7 (in the Start menu, click All Programs>Accessories>System Tools) and follow the instructions.
Performing a custom installation is an involved process. If youre at all uncomfortable with it, please consider having the upgrade done by a local PC or electronics retailer.
Please visit http://windows.microsoft.com/upgrade for more information.