Windows 7: Free Windows 7 Upgrade?

Which version of Windows Vista would I have to buy in order to get a free upgrade to Windows 7? Any retail box version like from Newegg? Or would I have to buy the OEM version with the free upgrade coupon?

Vista Retail at Newegg with no 'Free Upgrade Coupon'
Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 - Operating Systems

Vista OEM with 'Free Upgrade Coupon' tag
Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - Operating Systems

Why not just get Windows 7 and bypass Vista altogether??

You have to buy something that specifies it includes the free upgrade coupon. If it doesn't include one, you don't get it.

But unless you're desperate to use Vista for a month, you're better off just buying a normal version of Windows 7 and skipping the upgrade step. The upgrade discs need to see a prior genuine version of Windows installed before they'll go in. The normal discs don't.

Slight derail but, I recently bought windows vista myself, which included a windows 7 upgrade key. Does your vista install have to get totally overwritten to use this version of windows 7?

But what if I buy the retail version and register it at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/buy...s/upgrade.aspx ?

Look on the bottom.

There's lots of info at the bottom of that page, so what part do you want us to look at?

Not sure what there is to see "on the bottom."

Without the coupon, you take your chances as to if your "boxed product purchase" qualifies. And again, with a month or so to go, you're better off buying the "full" version of Windows 7 when released than buying a full Vista now for $200+ and getting the upgrade Windows 7 later.

If you must have something for the next month and don't mind the upgrade Windows 7, you could even simply do the Release Candidate until October 22 instead.