Where can I get the offer?
This offer is available from participating retailers.
What will I get?
You'll get one upgrade copy of your choice of Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, or Ultimate. The package will include both 32- and 64-bit discs.
What does it cost?
Discount varies by product, and retailer pricing may vary.
How do I know if I'm eligible?
You're eligible if you buy a qualifying PC from a participating retailer. And, the PC you're upgrading needs to be running a genuine copy of the Windows XP or Windows Vista operating systems.
What should I check before purchasing?
You need to make sure Windows 7 will work on the PC you want to upgrade. Before you buy, please check system requirements and use the Windows Upgrade Advisor.
How do I redeem the offer?
You have to buy the copy of the upgrade software at the same time you buy a qualifying PC from a participating retailer.
When is the offer available?
This offer begins on October 22, 2009 and ends on January 2, 2010
My PC is running Windows XP. Can I upgrade it to Windows 7?
If you're 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, you'll 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, you'll need to save copies of all the files, photos, and other information you want to keep on an external hard drive. You'll 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 you're 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 PC's 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. You'll either do an in-place upgrade, which keeps your programs, files, and settings in place, or you'll do a custom installation. Here's how to tell which kind of installation you'll 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:
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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.
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Locate the original installation disks for the programs currently on your computer.
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Insert the Windows 7 DVD and follow the instructions for a custom installation by selecting the Custom (advanced) installation option.
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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 you're 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.