Windows 7 Upgrade Program : It's Not Too Late To Upgrade From Vista/XP

Microsoft ran a Windows 7 Upgrade Program, a scheme which essentially allowed users who purchased an eligible PC or laptop, to upgrade from Windows Vista to Windows 7 for free with, in many cases, a minimal shipping fee attached.

The program ran from 26th June 2009 to the 31st of January 2010 and eligible OSes included Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Ultimate but not Windows Vista Home Basic.

Microsoft did attach a number of restrictions to each upgrade. For example, you'd only be able to upgrade from say, Windows Vista Home Premium to the equivalent Windows 7 OS. You wouldn't be able to upgrade or downgrade.

Furthermore, you can only upgrade a 32-bit Vista to a 32-bit Windows 7 under the scheme and the same applies to the language version of the qualifying Windows Vista product.

In all cases, you will possibly have to deal directly with the vendors rather than going through the retailers (like Dabs or Ebuyer). The orders are being fulfilled by Mentor Media, Microsoft's authorised replicator in charge of sending the Windows 7 upgrades in Singapore.

However we did experience significant issues with Acer (which charges only £12.80), Lenovo and Samsung. It might be simply that the offer has ended, but it would have been so much nicer to have a proper landing page.

We've researched a list of ten major computer resellers. Some of them, like Dell and Sony, have already closed their upgrade sites altogether saying that the registration and order period has ended.

Others, like HP, might have stopped selling eligible kit but are still taking orders for Windows 7 Upgrade Kit for eligible systems until the 15th of February with the last day to submit proof of purchase for such systems set to the 1st of March 2010. HP will charge a whopping £22 which it says will "cover shipping, handling and other fees."