Where to buy Windows 7 Upgrade [Media?]

[ShdwFlash]

So here I am considering to upgrade to Windows 7 Professional 64-bit from my Windows Vista Business 32-bit.

I hear you can make use of the "Windows Upgrade Media" which is essentially there for people who already have a legal copy of a previous version of Windows (XP or Vista) installed on their computer. This is, of course, apparently cheaper than buying it retail wise.

Jumping for joy at the prospect of maybe not having to pay R2000+ on an OS, I started looking for places to buy it.......but......I can't find any!


All I get are DSP & Retail (full versions) for sale and the upgrade option you do seem to get are these "anytime upgrade(s)" for if you have a lower package than the one you want to upgrade to a.k.a. if I have Windows 7 Starter, I can use this upgrade feature to upgrade to Windows 7 Professional.

Does anybody know where I can buy this?

PS: Using upgrade media you can do a custom installation on a formatted HDD so I can go from 32-bit to 64-bit legally according to Microsoft. Here's a link: Clean Install Upgrade Windows 7

Thanks in advance!

 

[Techrat]

Can't be of much help but you can only upgrade to Windows 7 Pro from Vista Business apparently, http://lifehacker.com/5152335/windows-7-upgrade-details-for-xp-and-vista-users.

Vista Professional does not exist so I'm not sure what you actually have.

Check here, http://www.microsoft.com/windows/buy/offers/upgrade-option.aspx. If you bought a PC with Vista or a retail box copy you could be sorted.

 

[ShdwFlash]

Can't be of much help but you can only upgrade to Windows 7 Pro from Vista Business apparently, http://lifehacker.com/5152335/windows-7-upgrade-details-for-xp-and-vista-users.

Vista Professional does not exist so I'm not sure what you actually have.

Check here, http://www.microsoft.com/windows/buy/offers/upgrade-option.aspx. If you bought a PC with Vista or a retail box copy you could be sorted.

Oops. My mistake. I corrected it now.

I have Windows Vista Business 32-bit currently installed on my PC.

As for the 2nd link you provided. Thanks, but this refers to the special offer they had for when you purchased Windows Vista after June 26, 2009. They did this for people who actually wanted Windows 7, but had to wait until October before they could buy it.

I already bought mine in 2008 so it will unfortunately not work.

Anybody else? I'd really appreciate it.

 

[Techrat]

Essential details: When you buy Windows Vista Home Premium, Business, or Ultimate either as a packaged product or on a qualifying PC you can get a comparable upgrade version of Windows 7 after it's generally available on October 22, 2009. Qualifying PCs, offer details, and product delivery methods will vary by manufacturer, so check their sites for specifics. If you buy a packaged copy of Windows Vista, you can order your upgrade from Microsoft. The Windows 7 Upgrade Option program runs from June 26, 2009 through January 31, 2010. However, individual PC manufacturers may choose to offer the option for a shorter period. For full details, see the FAQ.

From what I can see this should work for you, but you have to get going before the end of the month (it doesn't say that you have to have bought it within this time frame, unless I'm missing something). It doesn't seem that upgrade media like you are looking for exists, though I could be wrong.

 

[ShdwFlash]

Taken from the green bar up top: Upgrade Option

"Did you buy a copy of Windows Vista or a PC running Windows Vista after June 26, 2009? If your purchase qualified for our special upgrade offer*, here's how to get your copy of Windows 7."

I bought mine retail wise in November, 2008 which is months before June 26, 2009.

Here you can buy the Upgrade Media online via Microsoft: Windows 7 Professional Upgrade

It does exist!

 

[Techrat]

Ok. You might have to go with MS then.

 

[DearHeart]

I've been through this route before. Apparently the Vista->Seven upgrades didn't make it to SA. I eventually realised that the landing price in SA, if it was available here, would only save me about R300. Then the upgrade is tied to your PC and isn't transferable to another. So, best bet is to get the full pack, R1969 from Digital planet, then it can outlive your current PC.

 

[ShdwFlash]

I've been through this route before. Apparently the Vista->Seven upgrades didn't make it to SA. I eventually realised that the landing price in SA, if it was available here, would only save me about R300. Then the upgrade is tied to your PC and isn't transferable to another. So, best bet is to get the full pack, R1969 from Digital planet, then it can outlive your current PC.

But it's not like I am going to buy the DSP. I aim to get the retail version so there shouldn't be anything blocking me from re-installing when I upgrade (hardware wise) my PC in the future.

Really? The Vista->Seven upgrades didn't make it? I was about to say you must be joking, but the fact that I've yet to find a place that I can buy it gives credit to what you say. Stupid Microsoft!

Btw, I think you can save more, because you pay $199 for the upgrade and that currently works out to approx. R1500. Does shipping up it to R1969?

Well, I am not going to give up hope just yet. Is there anybody out there that can tell me where you can buy this? I cannot believe that there is absolutely no computer store in SA that sells it.

Thank you again so far for the answers.

 

[DearHeart]

Does shipping up it to R1969?

That's for the full boxed Pro version. I claim the VAT back and that makes the difference between the upgrade even less. If you really want the upgrade and If you know someone in the USA you can ask them to pay on the MS site and then dowload the ISO and license.

 

[Techrat]

Take 2 has Ultimate Retail on special for R2100,http://www.take2.co.za/list.php?type=4&qsearch=windows+7, probably not a lot more than if you got the upgrade with shipping I should think.

I'd be carefull about whether or not the upgrade counts as DSP or retail, I don't see anything on that page that mentions that.

 

[DearHeart]

Take 2 has Ultimate Retail on special for R2100,http://www.take2.co.za/list.php?type=4&qsearch=windows+7, probably not a lot more than if you got the upgrade with shipping I should think.

I'd be carefull about whether or not the upgrade counts as DSP or retail, I don't see anything on that page that mentions that.

AFAIK only the retail versions comes with both 32 and 64 bit installs, and the discussion at the bottom confirms it's retail. Very good price

 

[ShdwFlash]

AFAIK only the retail versions comes with both 32 and 64 bit installs, and the discussion at the bottom confirms it's retail. Very good price

That really is a good price! It's even cheaper than the Professional! I'm definitely considering it. But it does seem ever more likely that I will have to buy the full version if I am to get Windows 7. I was kinda hoping to get away with the upgrade option - which is cheaper, but with Microsoft (or M$) I guess that isn't an option.

I'm gonna hold off on getting the full version for a while longer. If anybody finds it purchasable somewhere, please post it.

 

[DearHeart]

If you don't mind to re-install your PC, or got a spare around, download the Windows 7 Enterprise Trial. I downloaded it on my SAIX local bw at the end of the month. After the 90 day trial period you can use slmgr /rearm from the cmd line to extend the trial for another 90 days, and AFAIK do that 3 times which will give you a full year trial, and it's all legal

 

[ShdwFlash]

Just an update. After checking with more computer stores, it does seem that getting a Windows Upgrade is impossible. You can only get the full version and the Anytime Upgrade packages.

 

[Luke7777]

I also went the Take2 route this week with Win7 Ultimate. Ordered on Sunday eve, got it on Wednesday morning