Windows 7 Upgrade Option Q&A Part 3

Q: Why has Vista Home Basic been left off the eligible upgrade path?
A: The major lesson learned from the last Windows Upgrade Program was "Keep the Program Simple". Thus, there is one set of Program Details world-wide.  Only Like-to-Like Upgrades are supported under the Program. Therefore, Windows Home Basic is not in scope for this program as there is no "like" version of Windows 7 in mature markets. Additionally, not all Windows Home Basic PCs meet the Windows 7 Hardware requirements, whereas all Logo-qualifying versions of Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Business, and Windows Vista Ultimate WILL meet the Windows 7 hardware requirements.

Q: Does the Upgrade require the user to be on Windows Vista SP1 to upgrade, or does it matter?
A: The Windows 7 Upgrade Option media requires that Windows Vista SP1 or Windows Vista SP2 be installed for the upgrade to work, unless a clean installation is desired.

Q: Is there an upgrade path for net books or ULCPCs (Ultra Low Cost PCs)?
A: ULCPCs are not covered by the Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program. The program is determined by OS version, not by the type of PC.

Q: Are ULCPCs (netbooks) included in the Windows 7 Upgrade Program?
A: No.  Microsoft’s current solution for ULCPCs (netbooks) must be installed with Windows XP Home Basic or Vista Home Basic (ULCPC - small screen netbook; large screen limited function devices and nettops). By definition, ULCPCs cannot qualify for the Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program because they do not have the necessary OS preinstalled. Note:  The Windows 7 Upgrade Program is only applicable to Vista Home Premium, Business and Ultimate PCs. This means any device preinstalled with Vista Home Premium, Business or Ultimate is eligible in the Windows 7 Upgrade program – providing it is manufactured by an OEM participating in the Program and that the participating OEM has opted to include that PC in their Program implementation.

Q: Will the Product Key only unlock specific editions of Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional or Ultimate?
A: Product Keys on COAs are specific to a product platform (32-bit or 64-bit) and product version (Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 7 Professional, or Windows 7 Home Premium). Thus, OEMs participating in the Program need to plan for multiple SKUs of Upgrade Media, even if they have multiple languages present on a single DVD.

Q: Can multiple Product COAs be shipped with one set of media to allow a common piece of Upgrade Media?
A: NO. Only one COA is allowed per Upgrade Media DVD that is fulfilled to end users. Each COA distributed will have the ability to activate a Windows 7 OS and thus only one COA can be distributed per qualifying Vista end user license.

Q: If an end user upgrades from a Windows Vista license that has been downgraded to XP, can they still get the original C:\Windows directory?
A: End users can either run setup from within Windows, or they can choose to boot from media. Both options are supported. If end users run a clean install from within Windows, they will have a windows.old directory.

Q: Will Microsoft allow OEMs to offer alternative upgrade options (such as a USB memory stick recovery option) for customers whose PC have one spindle?
A: At this time, a DVD drive will be required to upgrade to Windows 7 under the Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program.  A USB media delivery solution is not in scope for the Windows 7 Upgrade Program.

Q: When will Microsoft announce Windows 7 pricing?
A: Microsoft will publicly announce pricing for all Windows 7 retail products in mid-June 2009.

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