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We set out to make it as easy as possible for everyone to upgrade to Windows 8. Starting at general availability, if your PC is running Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 you will qualify to download an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for just $39.99 in 131 markets. And if you want, you can add Windows Media Center for free through the “add features” option within Windows 8 Pro after your upgrade.
When you use Windows.com to purchase an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro, the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant makes upgrading simple by walking you through the upgrade process step-by-step from purchase to download and then of course installation.
The Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant will check to make sure your PC is ready for Windows 8. It will provide a detailed compatibility report that lets you know of anything you may have to address before or after the upgrade and outlines actions to take.
It will also inform you of any application or device compatibility issues. It will ask you what you want to keep from your current Windows installation. You will be able to upgrade from any consumer edition of Windows 7 to Windows 8 Pro and bring everything along which includes your Windows settings, personal files, and apps. If you are upgrading from Windows Vista, you will be able to bring along your Windows settings and personal files, and if you are upgrading from Windows XP you will only be able to bring along your personal files. Of course, if you want to start fresh, you can choose to bring nothing along. Or if you prefer to format your hard drive as part of your upgrade experience, you can do so as long as you boot from media and then format your hard drive from within the setup experience for installing Windows 8, not prior to it.
Once you purchase your upgrade, the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant kicks off your download. It has a built-in download manager that allows you to pause and continue your download at any time as well as a check to ensure your download completes successfully.
After your download finishes, you can choose to proceed with the upgrade (“Install now”) or install later either from your desktop or by creating your own media. If you choose to create your own media, you will be able to create your own bootable USB or .ISO file which can be burned onto a DVD for upgrade and backup purposes. If you prefer, you also have the option of purchasing a backup DVD for $15 plus shipping and handling.
We believe that your upgrade experience in Windows 8 will be a breeze by offering a faster experience, a single upgrade path, and compatibility from prior versions of Windows. We’ve continued to listen to our customers and have expanded the ability to download to over 100 countries and 37 languages. We have simplified the Windows upgrade experience with the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant which supports you during your upgrade with everything from selecting your language to pausing your download to built-in compatibility checks - it’s seamless. And if you’re an enthusiast you will have the flexibility to download and control how you upgrade.
If you prefer to shop at a local store, a packaged DVD version of the upgrade to Windows 8 Pro will be available for $69.99 during this promotion.
This upgrade promotion for Windows 8 Pro both online and at retail runs through January 31st, 2013.
We wanted to share information about this upgrade promotion with you as we continue to drive toward the RTM milestone for Windows 8. We will of course have more to say and more details to provide closer to general availability.
Oh, and by the way - if you’re not upgrading from a prior version of Windows and are building your own PC or installing Windows 8 in a virtual machine or a separate partition, you will be able to purchase and install the Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro System Builder product.
At that price, I don't see how I can't buy a copy. I was expecting to shell out $200 for Windows 8 Pro. This should certainly increase adoption from previous versions of Windows.
What about folks with Windows 7 Ultimate? I'd hate to downgrade my desktop from Ultimate to Pro.
Fantastic! Any family license options?
Would I have the option to do a clean install though?
@Bryan Johns, see above. You will be able to upgrade :-)
Is there an option to do this for multiple computers? I have a desktop and laptop - would I need to pay $40 for both of the upgrades?
@McKay - yes we address that above. You can format your hard drive as part of the upgrade experience.
Time to by a few more shares of MSFT
Where do I go to buy? Please show the link. Thanks!
For $40 I'll happily update the XP system I've been running for ages (unless I have to do a lot of screwy things like finding the CD or reading the rubbed off label for 80 digit serial numbers.
I'm a bit confused though...I have XP home...are you saying I can get Win8 Pro for $40?
Brandon, can you clarify on the System Builder package? Will that be part of the $39.99 + Free WMC deal? I have Windows 7, but I was planning on running Windows 8 on a separate partition and dual boot.
@Bryan Johns, you can still have your windows 7 and 8 and dual boot both! if you want i'd be glad to help you!
Brandon,
Will users with an OEM Win7 license be eligible for the Win8 Pro upgrade price?
-phil
My laptop came pr-installed with 7 Home Premium, however I took the plunge and installed Windows 8 as the only OS. My laptop did not come with an OS Disk, will I be eligable for the offer?
@McKay If you don't currently have a valid version of Win7 and no key for one, then maybe not.
OEM versions of all mentioned OS will apply?
Does the offer extend to OEM OS versions?
If so, does the OEM version have to be on the device, or is the key enough? I have overwritten my default installation with win8 RP, and my DVD backup is damaged.
If I ma eligible, as someone said, I don't see how I WOULDN'T upgrade :)
Soooo... this is just an upgrade? What will Pro cost that is not the upgrade edition?
Hi where to make the buy! Any links in official site?
What about people who are currently running Windows 8 Release Preview? I had Windows 7 before. Am I boned for helping out with testing?
1) Is this price valid for the upgrading OEM versions of Win7 (eg., laptops that came with Win7 pre-installed)?
2) What about the cost of 'System builder product'? I have Win7 on one harddrive and would like to install W8 on a different one altogether.
That is just the upgrade, if you guys read the whole article than it will explain EVERYTHING! If you want to buy the whole bundle and not just the upgrade, it will probably be around $120 and up like windows 7 is right now.
Where can we see the list of 131 markets? Is India in that list?
Smart move. I'm ready to upgrade now!
Please, post a link to available markets to get their respective prices in local currency.
Very nice, very nice indeed! This will make upgrading a much more viable option. So is the "free" Windows Media Center download mentioned here the media pack that you guys were previously discussing would be available for a "small" fee?
How many installations per upgrade license, now that the installations are being tied to our Microsoft accounts?
I did not virtual my installation of Windows 8 RC. Will I need to reinstall Windows 7 in order to be eligible for this upgrade? Or will I get the option to type in my Windows 7 key during a fresh install?
So to do a "clean" install, you first must have XP, Vista, or Win7 already installed and boot to that first? i.e. - I install this 'upgrade' to Windows 8 and then my computer crashes which means I need to keep around my old Win7 OS install disc & key for as long as I owned Windows 8, and assuming it wasn't damaged and still worked, I need to first install Win7 to then wipe that out to 'upgrade' back to Win8?
This is fantastic! Can we have the start button back now?
This is good- I was worried since Apple is offering great prices on their OS releases. I still think the full non-upgrade needs to remain below $100 to be competitive.
@sam.inman I really hope the latter is true, because I have my key, but no Win7 install media came with my computer and I did a fresh Win8 install as well.
@lucasatkins - not available just yet - we're still driving toward the RTM milestone of Windows 8. We're just letting people know how they can upgrade when Windows 8 becomes available.
Fix this for Windows 8 and Windows 7: connect.microsoft.com/.../biggest-explorer-annoyance-automatic-sorting-windows-7-server-2008-r2-and-vista and I will upgrade.
@James Manes - yes, this promotion features upgrade (we wanted to provide customers with a single path at GA) however as I mentioned above, you can format your hard drive as part of the upgrade experience and install Windows 8 Pro.
@josetoribio0106: Appreciate the offer, but it's not necessary. I've already been booting both the developer preview and consumer preview from VHD. Not particularly interested in dual booting all the time though. Since posting my original question, I've found that Win8 Pro is intended to replace Win7 Pro and Ultimate. I do think that folks with an MSDN subscription should be able to side-load our own Metro apps without having to shell out for Win8 Enterprise tho. Not going to hold my breath on that.
@KHemmelman - the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant will help you step-by-step in your upgrade from either XP, Vista or Windows 7.
Windows.com doesn't say anything about this...all I'm reading is that the windows 8 you can download from there is a beta (or implied it's a beta) so..is this a production version of Win 8 or is it a beta version? Guess I'm just that guy who wouldn't believe in 1,000 years that MS is going to give away an operating system for $40 unless there's a hook with a big barb on it...so color me confused....can't the download be linked directly from here?
For users like us who have been using the Release Preview as their sole OS (not recommended, you know), we will hjave to start from scratch again: backup our data in external drives, format and install W7, buy/download and burn W8 upgrade and boot from that DVD to make a clean install without formatting our HD again prior to the clean install option in the W8 setup.
@ grumpops Win8 doesn't come out until around October. This is just a heads up. The only Windows 8 version currently available is Release Preview, which is a beta.
I have been using the preview for months, and had to go back to Win7 for compat on a new dev program. WOW, I am amazed at how much I miss the metro interface, and how much smoother EVERYTHING was. I am a mac fanboy also, and just love Win8. So, this pricing is a day1 buy for me!
My computer is running Windows 7 and has 3 D capabilities, so if I download Windows 8 do I lose the 3 D?
@luis3007 Is that speculation, or do you know for fact that's the only way? I know it was with Vista/XP -> 7, since I did the 7 beta as well, but I would really love to not have to deal with that again.
ME WANT WINDOWS 8 NOW! :-). gud job MS on da offer I will upgrade very soon to Windows 8
@treefox It will be the same process as last time since the only way for the W8 web setup (the only way to burn the DVD) to know we have an original Windows license is to scan the installed OS during install, MS will not use CD keys since most people use OEM keys.
Treefox..so if I'm reading this correctly...if I download the beta and test it or use it whichever applies, then in October when the actual production release comes out...I can get Win 8 Pro for $40 for participating in the beta test? (At least that's what I'm gleaning from what I'm seeing here)
@grumpops Have you read the article?? It doesnt mention the beta versions of W8 at all!!
This deal is only valid for WinXP, Vista and 7 with original and validated licenses only!!
@grumpops No. The beta is just there if you want to test it out early. It will actually be easier to upgrade from 7 than the 8 beta, as you can see from my mini-convo with luis3007. You would have to reinstall 7 most likely, in order to do the upgrade to 8, since the beta will run different code from the final version of windows 8 (you can't just "activate" it or anything like that)
Brandon, I think KHemmelman was asking specifically about _after_ the upgrade. When/If you want to do another clean install of 8 (such as on a new hard drive), do you need the old install disk for whatever you upgraded from? Or is it a straight Windows 8 install (possibly with keys for 8 and the previous version)?
Excellent. Upgrade price for existing prior OS has always been to high. This is perfect and now no one will have anything to complain about.
@luis3007 He was confused. He thought the download link on windows.com was what was being talked about in the article. So he was thinking the Release Preview was the final version, or a version that you have to pay $39.99 for. Which is so wrong I almost cried.
@Luis...not sure how you mean that...I've got THREE computers here running valid licensed copies of Win 7 (64 Bit)...I'm not sure what you're saying....
@Xeio The upgrade media is probably designed to be installed only froma valid Windows install, but if you want to make a clean reinstall in your PC you use the new refresh/restore feature in Windows 8. It is specifically designed with enthusiasts in mid since you can create your own images to reinstall as many times as you wish without having to go with the old upgrade/clean install process.
I'm beginning to think that all that schooling was for nothing because CLEARLY I'm missing the point somewhere.
The headline reads UPGRADE TO WINDOWS 8 PRO for $39 (assuming you're running a valid licensed copy of XP, 7, etc......so what does that mean? Do I have to download and run the beta? Or did I somehow just luck up and what? How does one upgrade to Win 8 Pro for $40???????
@grumpops He's saying that if you install the Windows 8 Release Preview (which is the download on windows.com) you won't be able to upgrade to Windows 8 when the final version comes out.
You would have to reinstall Windows 7, then upgrade to Windows 8. In other words: leave your computers alone for now. In October (or whenever the final version comes out), just pay the $39.99 to upgrade to Windows 8.
Brandon...for those of us who are running windows 8 release preview build 8400 is it a good idea to pay for this upgrade or continue to test on your release preview and its updates until the end of the testing period..?
@Treefox...then it's too simple or too good to be true...just because I'm running Windows 7 Pro right now...in October I get to upgrade to Win8 Pro and only for $40???? Sweet...I think!!! lol
Is this also availible for Europian country's like Belgium ?
@Brandon - Thank you for the prompt reply. I'm assuming by your response that I do in fact need to keep my old Windows 7 disc for the life of this Windows 8 upgrade then. I've never been a fan of this style of upgrade and don't do those. I've been testing Windows 8 at work since the Developer Preview was released and I will wait to see what the pricing of a 'full' version of Windows 8 Pro is, and if it's too high, I'll stay with Windows 7 as the benefit vs. the cost for me personally won't be worth it. Thank you.
@grumpops Yes. That is accurate. And yes it is sweet. No more paying $100 to get the newfangled OS.
@Justindelta it is in the 121 markets. Not sure about your country. ask Brandon
@Xeio and @KHemmelman - when you go through the upgrade via the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant, you can choose to create media (DVD or bootable USB) of Windows 8 Pro for backup purposes. Or you can purchase a backup DVD also within the Upgrade Assistant. See above.
Yeah, the headline implies it is ready to buy (like the Surface announcement) but if you still have your W7 leave it alone until October. In the cases of new HD....well you may have to do the whole process again, but only in that case, for everything else use the refresh/restore feature and personalize it as you wish
Hallelujah! This is great news! Windows upgrades have always been way too expensive, so it's great news to see you are really listening. Fantastic work! Now we just need the same adjustment for Office 2013...
Great news. I played around with win 8 preview. I Hope Microsoft will change it's policy and allow Win 8 preview customers to upgrade to RTM. You really encouraged adoption, and this announcement will only serve to increase trails. You should clarify all avail upgrade paths. Also, I don't see why I need to purchase and install the Windows 8 Pro System Builder product if I want to install on a separate partition. I have win 7, want to install win 8 and migrate to clean install rather than upgrade my apps....shouldn't have to buy full version. Thanks again for the great post.
@grumpops - I apologize for any confusion but this blog post is pre-announcing how customers will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro and the price when it becomes generally available. When Windows 8 becomes generally available, Windows.com will have the information you seek. Windows 8 is not yet generally available. As I mentioned above, we continue to drive toward the RTM milestone for Windows 8.
@Brandon LeBlanc Can you confirm what the process for upgrading to Windows 8 is for people who did a clean install of the Release Preview (or the other betas)?
@grumpops: It means exactly what it says. If you're computer is running WinXP, Vista, or 7, you qualify for the $40.00 upgrade price. If it's NOT running one of those versions, then the inverse is true, you do not qualify for the $40.00 upgrade price. If you've already replaced your OS with a beta version of Win8, then you're no-longer running WinXP, Vista or 7.
What will the UK price be? Will it be the on-the-day equivalent of $39.99 or will they just stick on a few extra quid (as usual) and charge £29.99?
You guys should learn from the whole Surface debacle. Stop announcing crap you aren't prepared to make available. I don't care if you're giving it away for free. You're setting yourselves up to be one-upped. At least my people got to actually touch and use the Nexus 7 at the Google I/O, meanwhile, you guys weren't even prepared to let people at least get a feel for the "progress" you guys made. It's like saying we have the cure for cancer, but it's a few months away. Hopefully, you make it until then." In the meantime, users will buy competitors products and forget you even announced this. Nice going!
Wow! $39. Time to get a touchscreen montitor. When can we upgrade?! :)
@theNewDanger trolls be trollin.
And I actually just preordered my Nexus 7 yesterday.
@Brandon - I think perhaps you're misunderstanding what I'm asking. I'm not asking how to get a Windows 8 DVD. I did read the above article and this statement is what I'm asking about:
"Or if you prefer to format your hard drive as part of your upgrade experience, you can do so as long as you boot from media and then format your hard drive from within the setup experience for installing Windows 8, not prior to it."
Looking at this, my understanding that I was looking to clarify is that the ONLY way to do a CLEAN install of Windows 8 using this 'upgrade' version is to FIRST install my Windows 7 and boot to that, and then do the Windows 8 upgrade assistant. This effectively means that I MUST keep my Windows 7 disc around for as long as I'd own this Windows 8 upgrade because how else would I install Windows 8 if my computer crashed?
Brandon.. You should probably amend the blog post to include this...
"I apologize for any confusion but this blog post is pre-announcing how customers will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro and the price when it becomes generally available. When Windows 8 becomes generally available, Windows.com will have the information you seek. Windows 8 is not yet generally available. As I mentioned above, we continue to drive toward the RTM milestone for Windows 8."
@treefoxx
You shoulda ordered a Surface, doh! No wait ... SMH
That is pretty cool for only thirty dollars but i thought they would be getting it free for all windows 7 customers (but it was only a rumor)
@theNewDanger you suck at being funny. oh wait your dumb actually. stupid nerd. little rejects in the school world
Looking at Microsoft's site for this deal in the UK (£14.99) there is a major clause:
Key Dates
You must purchase a qualifying Windows 7 PC between 2 June 2012 and 31 January 2013 to be eligible for this offer. The last day to register and order your Windows 8 upgrade is 28 February 2013.
This rules out a lot of people! Me included! As Windows 8 offers me no Must Have features I won't be upgrading from Windows 7 Pro if it costs me more than £50.
I was thinking to upgrade my laptop but not my desktop, but with this price I'll upgrade all my computers
Will this be another Windows 7 upgrade nightmare where we get the "upgrade" only to have something screw up, then have no ability to install because we have no installation disk? I wound up having to pirate a windows 7 installation even thought I already bought a copy because of the whole fiasco! Please don't repeat this.
@KHemmelman, I'd like to know too, but for this scenario I don't think he means boot to Windows and run the Upgrade Assistant, but merely boot to Setup. It looks for a previous version of Windows, and if it finds it, you can wipe it out and install W8. My guess is that it would also work if Setup saw a previous version of itself (W8 RTM) on there, say, if you wanted to wipe out your current install for a do-over. It would be ridiculous otherwise.
Will Windows Pro 8 be available through school online? I got Windows 7 when i started college wanted to know if that option will be available.
tickleonthetum: That's not the offer being discussed in this article, but the offer to upgrade recent Windows purchases for a very small fee.
The offer mentioned in the article won't be available until closer to release.
@tickleonthetum, that's a separate, cheaper offer for those who've bought new PCs starting from that date.
www.prnewswire.com/.../microsoft-outlines-revenue-recognition-for-the-windows-upgrade-offer-156276065.html
@tickleonthetum - That seems to be a different offer. As I'm aware, you can get Windows 8 Pro for $15 USD if you buy a computer between those times, or you can upgrade on a not-so-recently purchaced computer for $39.99 from Windows 7, Vista, or XP to Windows 8. (I apologize for not putting prices in £; I don't know them off of the top of my head. :) )
When will it be available, take my $ now!
@tickleonthetum - that is a different offer for people who buy Windows 7 PCs today - I blogged about that offer here: windowsteamblog.com/.../the-windows-8-release-preview-amp-windows-upgrade-offer-windows8.aspx
The above promotion is different.
Great price point. This will encourage widespread adoption of Windows 8 quickly. Very cool!
@12Danny123 - let's keep things a bit more on topic and stay constructive in your responses to other commenters please. Thanks!
They'd have to pay me $40 to use it....
Windows 8 only good for tablets imo.. not for desktop users...
I'll stick to Windows 7 Ultimate x64... great OS! :)
When will we be able to download this?
@Brandon LeBlanc Speaking of on topic: Could you respond as to how/whether or not this upgrade process will work for people who have done full installs of Windows 8 Release Preview, or other betas?
Will Windows 7 Enterprise qualify for such upgrade?
My only draw back with Windows 8 at the moment is the Metro UI. I do not have a touch screen. I have heard that there are 3rd party applications that will disable Metro, but is MS going to offer anything?
Very important question I need to know!
When a user wants to do a full format clean install of Windows 8 Pro with this upgrade version will we need our old Wondows 7,Vista or XP Disc during the install?
Or will we get a key that we can use over and over again when we buy the $40.00 upgrade?
Windows 7 Premium OEM versions can upgrade to Win 8 for 40 dollars
what if i have already updated my Win 7 to Win 8 preview
Will I do I have to w8 download licenses when bought; or can I put N W8 upgrades on my MS account and then install them as needed over the next year or two (like I did with my W7 boxed copies).
Brandon, how will this work for those of us with Windows 7 Family Packs? (3 install keys) Thanks!