"A few days ago we released our Windows 7 upgrade guide with the hopes of answering all your burning questions regarding the inexpensive upgrade editions that so many of us have pre-ordered. One of the questions that we couldn't answer at the time however, was how Windows 7 would handle the verification process to ensure that you were eligible to update. In Windows XP upgrade editions, you simply needed to insert an older install disk. Vista upped the ante considerably by requiring you to have a previous version installed (no activation required). Windows 7 on the other hand, will now require an activated previous version to be installed and not even the workaround found in the Vista version will be permitted."
There's a lot of confusion flying around about this - the concern is, of course, the activation process. The above paragraph pretty much says it all - Microsoft is taking a hard-line approach with this process it seems. They must really want to drive the purchase of full-price Windows 7 - but I suspect this will have the effect of keeping some people on Windows Vista if they don't have all the licenses they need. It seems as though getting a key for Windows 7 RC is the smart move so you can install the RC, then upgrade to Windows 7 final from that. This article has an interesting comment posted by a user who says that once you install and activate Vista or XP on a computer, it will remember that activation so if you need to re-install Windows 7 again, you won't need to install the older operating system. Frankly, this all seems like a bit of a headache. Was the old method really so bad Microsoft?
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Really Microsoft? Just awful if true. Under that scenario if my Win7 OS hard drive fails and the first thing I have to do to recover is grab my disc and reinstall XP and activate it...nice.
Sounds like the punchline for an Apple commercial if you ask me.
I really think that this isn't what it is made out to be. I think your linked article comment has it right. XP/Vista must be installed and activated for the initial upgrade (this makes sense, after all), but this is primarily to deactivate the prior license (again, makes sense) and basically transform the upgrade key into a standard key (as far as the activation servers are concerned). After this, the new key would allow re-installation just as would a standard product key. Any other scenario makes little sense, and MS rarely does things that fundamentally make little sense (truly--I believe that--and I'm steeled for all of the mockery that is bound to follow...).
Incidentally I just got my invite into the Office 2010 preview. Wow! Just as Win7 is what Vista should have been, 2010 is what 2007 should have been. Very well integrated and well thought out, even in preview form. Now if I could just get access to those web-based versions I'd be in geek heaven.
What's really annoying about this is that in the past when I bought a new copy of Windows (even an upgrade), I could, once I upgrade, then use the old copy of Windows on a different machine. This new rather draconian upgrade policy will now require that I keep my copy of Vista for the machine I've upgraded to Win7, instead of passing it along like I've always done in the past.
So, Jason, as far as you know, this is entirely correct? Commenters in that thread are complaining that there's no confirmation from anyone else yet...
What's really annoying about this is that in the past when I bought a new copy of Windows (even an upgrade), I could, once I upgrade, then use the old copy of Windows on a different machine.
Yep, MS is trying to crack down on this. It was never legal to do it. From Vista’s EULA:
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13. UPGRADES. To use upgrade software, you must first be licensed for the software that is eligible for the upgrade. Upon upgrade, this agreement takes the place of the agreement for the software you upgraded from. After you upgrade, you may no longer use the software you upgraded from.
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Now they are just enforcing it (at least if these rumors are true). Annoying maybe, but I'm not sure "draconian" would be the proper term to use here since obviously their licensing terms were not being adhered to in the first place.
Now they are just enforcing it (at least if these rumors are true). Annoying maybe, but I'm not sure "draconian" would be the proper term to use here since obviously their licensing terms were not being adhered to in the first place.
Yeah, and they knew it the whole time. Anyone here EVER pay for the full retail version (not OEM) of Windows? Ever? Even my copy of Windows 3.1 is an upgrade. I don't mind keepng the old disc on hand to verify upgrade eligibility, but requiring that I install and activate said old disc is a ridiculous time-waster. Microsoft would be smart to not alienate the PC enthusiast market. You think my Mom and all my friends are going to upgrade themselves? No, they're gonna ask me. And I'm likely to give MS just about as much loyalty, respect and trust as they've given me.
So, Jason, as far as you know, this is entirely correct? Commenters in that thread are complaining that there's no confirmation from anyone else yet...
My main Windows team contact hasn't posted a reply yet - so I'm not sure.
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Yeah, and they knew it the whole time. Anyone here EVER pay for the full retail version (not OEM) of Windows? Ever? Even my copy of Windows 3.1 is an upgrade.
Yeah, I agree. I mean, I'm all for obeying licensing rules, but it's always been a given that when you bought a copy of Windows you'd buy an upgrade, because you were ALWAYS a previous owner of Windows...this new system is more of a shock to the system because it's so different from how it's always been. Let's face it, a Windows OS upgrade price is pretty expensive at normal prices ($149 USD or so). The full version pricing is INSANE in my opinion - when you have perfectly capable desktop computers selling for $400, Microsoft expects users to pay more than 50% of the computer price just for the OS? Yikes - that's just too much.
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Windows 7 Upgrade Will Only Install Over Activated Copy of Windows XP or Vista?
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