The Microsoft Windows 7 Upgrade Program

[NormCameron]

"Microsoft issued a draft of the Windows 7 Technical Guarantee Program to their OEM partners on December 10, giving them exactly one month to provide their feedback before Microsoft finalizes the program details. We managed to obtain a copy of the draft, which tentatively refers to the program as the "Windows 7 Upgrade Program". Let's take a look at the key points outlined in the draft.



Interim Name

The official name for the program has yet to be determined. Microsoft is using "Windows 7 Upgrade Program" as the place-holder for the Windows Vista to Windows 7 upgrade program, which was also known as the Windows 7 Technical Guarantee Program. Microsoft will announce the final program name at a later date.



Overview Of The Windows 7 Upgrade Program

The Windows 7 Upgrade Program is designed to assist Microsoft's OEM partners in minimizing the number of end users who may postpone acquiring a new computer because of the impending release of the Windows 7 operating system. This program allows OEMs to offer an upgrade to Windows 7 to end users who qualify.

This is a consumer-oriented program targeted at individual consumers and small businesses that have purchased eligible PCs during the Program Eligibility Period. End users will have to meet these requirements to be deemed eligible for the upgrade to Windows 7 when it is released :

* End users must purchase a new PC that is pre-installed with an eligible Windows Vista Operating System (OS), during the program eligibility window.

* The PC must have a valid Certificate of Authenticity (COA) attached.

* The only Windows Vista® versions eligible for the program are :
1. Windows Vista® Home Premium
2. Windows Vista® Business
3. Windows Vista® Ultimate
* Microsoft Windows Vista® Home Basic, Windows Vista® Starter Edition, and Windows® XP (all editions) are not qualifying products under the program.

* The Program does not support multiple upgrades for medium, large, or enterprise customers. Customers that want to upgrade multiple PCs should use the appropriate Microsoft Volume Licensing program. See Microsoft Volume Licensing Home Page for more details.

* The following are the only valid upgrade paths under the program :
1. Windows Vista® Home Premium -> Windows® 7 Home Premium
2. Windows Vista® Business -> Windows® 7 Professional
3. Windows Vista® Ultimate -> Windows® 7 Ultimate

Do note that this is an optional program, so not all OEMs may choose to participate. OEMs that choose to participate in this upgrade program will have the freedom to determine how to best provide qualifying end users with the details."

Tech ARP - The Microsoft Windows 7 Upgrade Program

 

[echrada]

Great read, Norm. If the versions that are mentioned in that are going to be the final versions I would be quite happy. Unfortunately I think that there are going to be a few more, which always brings confusion.

On the other hand upgrades - I don't particularly like that either but I guess price wise it will make sense.

 

[hethoofd]

"during the program eligibility window"... which is from when till when?

I wonder what Microsoft will cut in the Windows 7 versions lower than Ultimate...

 

[NormCameron]

"during the program eligibility window"... which is from when till when?

I wonder what Microsoft will cut in the Windows 7 versions lower than Ultimate...

Microsoft traditionally offers a "grace period" to purchasers of OEM Operating Systems so they can upgrade from the older OS to the new. They did this with XP to Vista. I guess each OEM supplier will provide a time period in which users can upgrade. This would I think be between 1 and 3 months, but who knows?

 

[darkassain]

good read norm...
if i remember its always been like this if i remember with xp and vista

and of course there is going to be more editions...lol
Oh well MS you are a company trying to make money too....
i would be happy it that would have been it though....

so then imma hold back to purchace my next tablet until winter....
giong to get i few patch tuesdays before i buy 7
that program looks nice and hopefully they do this right the first time...lol

 

[HyperL]

Look what I just found:

Windows Anytime Upgrade (WAU)

Windows 7 will provide end users with a quick and easy upgrade process. End users who wish to upgrade to a "more premium" version of Windows 7 can purchase an upgrade key to unlock additional features. Additional details will be forthcoming in the November update.

Update @ December 15, 2008 : Microsoft's OEM partners have chosen not to support WAU. Therefore, Microsoft will directly provide WAU to end-users by :

* Supporting the end user through the upgrade process and digital upgrade key delivery, and
* Supporting the end user after the upgrade. In other words, Microsoft will assume the responsibility of supporting Windows 7 after end user upgrades.
* Redirecting support calls from end users who have upgraded through WAU to Microsoft.



Tech Guarantee

Microsoft is planning to offer a Windows 7 Tech Guarantee Program, where end-users who purchased Windows Vista systems will have the option (for a limited time) to upgrade to Windows 7. Additional details will be forthcoming in November, 2008. At this moment, the following features have been proposed :

* Eligible Editions : Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Ultimate
* Eligible Languages : Wave 0 to Wave 4
* Available Upgrade Paths : Like-to-like product paths only (e.g. from Windows Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 Home Premium)

Once Windows 7 is released, OEMs can send Windows 7 upgrade disks to end-users who qualify. The Windows 7 installation will require end-user activation.

Update @ November 22 : The anticipated Windows 7 Tech Guarantee Program will be revealed by next week. However, our source says that instead of the usual 6 months upgrade period, Microsoft may be considering much shorter periods of 60 days or 90 days.

Update @ December 15 : Microsoft has tentatively scheduled the Technical Guarantee Program to begin on July 1, 2009. The complete program eligibility dates will be provided at a later date.

Microsoft will announce, by April 1, 2009, the program eligibility end date and if the program eligibility start date will be moved to a later date.

Microsoft's OEM partners have been asked to send in their feedback of the draft Tech Guarantee Program by January 9, 2009 as Microsoft intends to provide a final Program Guide no later than January 30, 2009.

http://www.techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=599&pgno=1

 

[darkassain]

i love this
then this means no bloatoemware???
if yes then
SCORE!!!
even though i can get vista Ultimate for 50 bucks....lol
[dreaming]
win7 for 50 bucks...
that would make very pleased...lol
[STOP dream]

 

[NormCameron]

Look what I just found:

Windows Anytime Upgrade (WAU)

Windows 7 will provide end users with a quick and easy upgrade process. End users who wish to upgrade to a "more premium" version of Windows 7 can purchase an upgrade key to unlock additional features. Additional details will be forthcoming in the November update.

Update @ December 15, 2008 : Microsoft's OEM partners have chosen not to support WAU. Therefore, Microsoft will directly provide WAU to end-users by :

* Supporting the end user through the upgrade process and digital upgrade key delivery, and
* Supporting the end user after the upgrade. In other words, Microsoft will assume the responsibility of supporting Windows 7 after end user upgrades.
* Redirecting support calls from end users who have upgraded through WAU to Microsoft.



Tech Guarantee

Microsoft is planning to offer a Windows 7 Tech Guarantee Program, where end-users who purchased Windows Vista systems will have the option (for a limited time) to upgrade to Windows 7. Additional details will be forthcoming in November, 2008. At this moment, the following features have been proposed :

* Eligible Editions : Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Ultimate
* Eligible Languages : Wave 0 to Wave 4
* Available Upgrade Paths : Like-to-like product paths only (e.g. from Windows Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 Home Premium)

Once Windows 7 is released, OEMs can send Windows 7 upgrade disks to end-users who qualify. The Windows 7 installation will require end-user activation.

Update @ November 22 : The anticipated Windows 7 Tech Guarantee Program will be revealed by next week. However, our source says that instead of the usual 6 months upgrade period, Microsoft may be considering much shorter periods of 60 days or 90 days.

Update @ December 15 : Microsoft has tentatively scheduled the Technical Guarantee Program to begin on July 1, 2009. The complete program eligibility dates will be provided at a later date.

Microsoft will announce, by April 1, 2009, the program eligibility end date and if the program eligibility start date will be moved to a later date.

Microsoft's OEM partners have been asked to send in their feedback of the draft Tech Guarantee Program by January 9, 2009 as Microsoft intends to provide a final Program Guide no later than January 30, 2009.

Tech ARP - ED#105 : The Latest Microsoft Windows 7 Roadmap Rev. 1.5

Good find
and Welcome to the forums.

 

[NormCameron]

Full info including dates etc. on the link posted by HyperL

• Introduction
• Interim Name
• Overview Of The Windows 7 Upgrade Program

• Important Program Dates
• Eligible Upgrade Paths

• Validation Of Program Compliance
• Fulfillment Limitations
• Installation Notices


• Windows 7 Upgrade Hardware Requirements
• Media Delivery
• Product Activation
• Upgrade Media Bill Of Materials

Tech ARP - The Microsoft Windows 7 Upgrade Program

 

[Joe]

Great post. Keep 'em coming!

 

[Yoder54]

It would be nice if Microsoft made a decision to target consumers instead of OEM providers. As a consumer we get hosed by OEM. What is especially troubling is that the consumer is never told or made aware of what the OEM guidelines are. In fact, go to Dell, HP, Sony, Polywell, Alien, etc., and when you go to purchase a computer and check on the "Vista Ultimate" you get the hefty price...which is fair...but you are not told the it is OEM, and what the limitations are of owning such. The consumer should have the right to choose between OEM or non-OEM software. I would prefer non-OEM...or standard retail software.

As a consumer I assume that when I pay $150 or whatever it is for "Vista Ultimate," that the software is mine. But, according to OEM it is not mine. I do not have the legal right to sell it...try to sell it on eBay and see how long it takes for MS to pull it off of the auction block. According to OEM, the purchased software is to remain on one computer only. So, if I decide to trash a box that is four years old and has been running an OEM version of Win XP, then I cannot transfer it to my new build. In my case, I wanted to sell my XP Pro to help finance a buy of Vista Ultimate for a new build. No dice. MS pulled my sell.

In all fairness, MS should start working with us consumers. We are the one's who buy and who want upgrades. What would be the advantage of some vendor offering upgrades? It is in their best interests to make a computer sale, and they have no real reason really to offer upgrades. It might sound nice, but what is the reality of it actually happening to the extent that all consumers who are elgible to participate are actually able to do so?

In the end MS will look pretty for making the offer, but it is the individual consumer who will end-up holding the original software that he started out with.

Given the hand-cuffing of the consumer that takes place with OEM software, then why doesn't MS give the consumer the opportunity to choose? Personally, I would be willing to pay more for software that I can legally sale sometime down the road and I don't think that I am alone on this. The vendor naturally will go where costs are lower, this is natural. But, if given guidance by big daddy software company then they will follow suit.

 

[darkassain]

hey yoder welcome to the Se7en forums

and i completely agree
but who's the one with the one with the money...
oem???
(sigh)
sometimes money does make the world round

 

[NormCameron]

It would be nice if Microsoft made a decision to target consumers instead of OEM providers. As a consumer we get hosed by OEM. What is especially troubling is that the consumer is never told or made aware of what the OEM guidelines are. In fact, go to Dell, HP, Sony, Polywell, Alien, etc., and when you go to purchase a computer and check on the "Vista Ultimate" you get the hefty price...which is fair...but you are not told the it is OEM, and what the limitations are of owning such. The consumer should have the right to choose between OEM or non-OEM software. I would prefer non-OEM...or standard retail software.

As a consumer I assume that when I pay $150 or whatever it is for "Vista Ultimate," that the software is mine. But, according to OEM it is not mine. I do not have the legal right to sell it...try to sell it on eBay and see how long it takes for MS to pull it off of the auction block. According to OEM, the purchased software is to remain on one computer only. So, if I decide to trash a box that is four years old and has been running an OEM version of Win XP, then I cannot transfer it to my new build. In my case, I wanted to sell my XP Pro to help finance a buy of Vista Ultimate for a new build. No dice. MS pulled my sell.

In all fairness, MS should start working with us consumers. We are the one's who buy and who want upgrades. What would be the advantage of some vendor offering upgrades? It is in their best interests to make a computer sale, and they have no real reason really to offer upgrades. It might sound nice, but what is the reality of it actually happening to the extent that all consumers who are elgible to participate are actually able to do so?

In the end MS will look pretty for making the offer, but it is the individual consumer who will end-up holding the original software that he started out with.

Given the hand-cuffing of the consumer that takes place with OEM software, then why doesn't MS give the consumer the opportunity to choose? Personally, I would be willing to pay more for software that I can legally sale sometime down the road and I don't think that I am alone on this. The vendor naturally will go where costs are lower, this is natural. But, if given guidance by big daddy software company then they will follow suit.

Totally agree Yoder. And welcome to the forums.