The Microsoft Windows 7 Upgrade Program
- 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 :
- Windows Vista® Home Premium
- Windows Vista® Business
- Windows Vista® Ultimate
- 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 www.microsoft.com/licensing for more details.
- The following are the only valid upgrade paths under the program :
- Windows Vista® Home Premium -> Windows® 7 Home Premium
- Windows Vista® Business -> Windows® 7 Professional
- Windows Vista® Ultimate -> Windows® 7 Ultimate
- OEM must keep the information collected for a period of at least two years following Program End Date for the purpose of Microsoft validation of OEM compliance with the program requirements.
- Microsoft may request that OEM provide written documentation to show its compliance with the Program Requirements.
The Microsoft Windows 7 Upgrade Program
Posted: 06 Jan 2009
The Microsoft Windows 7 Upgrade Program
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 :
* Microsoft Windows Vista® Home Basic, Windows Vista® Starter Edition, and Windows® XP (all editions) are not qualifying products under the program.
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.
Validation Of Program Compliance
This section is really only important for OEMs but it is still an interesting read. The kicker is the "fine" that the OEM has to pay if they infringe the terms of the program.
If Microsoft determines that an OEM has not complied with the Program Requirements, the OEM will be required to pay 130% of the full royalty of the Windows 7 Product licensed under its OEM Microsoft Desktop Operating System License Agreement (DTOS) 12.X for each unit of upgrade software distributed out of compliance with the Program Requirements.
Fulfillment Limitations
Microsoft expects most users to submit single upgrade requests, but allow qualifying end users (consumers or small businesses) to upgrade multiple eligible systems. In this draft though, they have tentatively set a maximum limit of 25 upgrades for each qualifying end user's mailing address.
Installation Notices
The upgrade media will come with the following notices :
“Installation for some of the Windows 7 products may require you to re-format your hard drive. Also, certain upgrades may not allow the end user to retain applications, files and settings as they were in the previous installed edition of Windows. Therefore, you should back up your files and settings prior to the installation or they may be erased. Microsoft is not liable for any loss of data as a result of this installation.
“If you upgrade and want to return (if permitted by your license terms) to the Windows Vista product previously running, you will need to un-install the Windows 7 product and re-install the Windows Vista product using a recovery solution for the Windows Vista product. Contact your PC Manufacturer as required for Windows Vista recovery media for your PC if you wish to un-install the Windows 7 product after upgrade."
“Windows Product Activation of Windows 7 Upgrade software is required. The Product Key number found on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) supplied with the upgrade software is required to activate the Windows 7 software. Please keep the COA and related Product Key for use during Windows 7 Product Activation.”
Windows 7 Upgrade Hardware Requirements
Microsoft expects the PC hardware requirements and recommendations for systems upgraded to Windows 7 under the program to remain the same as those published for systems preinstalled with Windows Vista products. Microsoft will provide the final Windows 7 hardware requirements at a later date. Of course, the PCs must have a DVD drive to allow the installation of the Windows upgrade media.
Incidentally, Microsoft claims that PCs that meet the hardware requirements for Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Business, or Windows Vista Ultimate should experience similar or possibly better performance running the “like” version of Windows 7.
Media Delivery
Microsoft will not allow the OEMs to deliver Windows 7 upgrade media to end users under the date of Windows 7 General Availability. In practice, expect to receive the media some time after Windows 7 is launched.
Product Activation
Qualifying end users receiving the upgrade media will need to activatetheir Windows 7 operating system after installationusing the Product Activation Key supplied with the upgrade media's Certificate of Authenticity (COA). Therefore, end users who receive the upgrade media should retain the upgrade media's COA and associated Product Activation Key for future use.
Upgrade Media Bill Of Materials
Microsoft will be recommending that the following items be shipped to every qualifying end user :
Related Discussions