Get Windows 8 Pro upgrade for $40
James Delahunty
3 Jul 2012 10:34
Microsoft aims to make transition to Windows 8 as painless as possible.
If you are running Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7, you will qualify to download an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $39.99. The promo will start when Windows 8 is launched this fall, and will end January 31, 2013. Additionally, the add features option in Windows 8 will allow upgraders to download Windows Media Center for free.
If you would prefer to buy an upgrade from a retail store, it will cost $69.99 during the promotion.
The Upgrade process to Windows 8 is simplified by the
Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant. It starts by checking your system for any compatibility issues, and will advise you on changes you will need to make to hardware or applications before or after Windows 8 is installed.
The Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant tool itself will download the Windows 8 operating system locally. When it is complete, you will have the option to Install immediately (which will upgrade your current Windows installation),
"Install by creating media," which will create a bootable USB drive or burnable ISO or it will give you the option to place a shortcut on the Desktop to upgrade later.
Bootable media will allow you to format your hard drive as part of the upgrade process, if you would prefer to keep nothing of the previous Windows operating system.
Exactly what the Upgrade tool can retain depends on what version of Windows you are upgrading from...
- Windows XP - Update can retain your personal files.
- Windows Vista - Update will retain Windows settings and personal files.
- Windows 7 - Update will retain more or less everything including personal files, Windows settings and installed applications.
Including Windows XP as part of the deal is a positive step from Microsoft, which has been nagging XP users to upgrade for years already. You have to wonder though, how many PCs running Windows XP will be compatible with Windows 8?
Some questions have been raised about whether this promo includes OEM versions of Windows, but the Microsoft blog announcing the promotion did not even mention licensing.