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Latest News Updated, Windows 7 Free Upgrade: Windows 7 launches today and Microsoft hopes it will be a positive upgrade from the now outdated XP. If you bought a Windows Vista-based PC in the last four months, it’s likely that you’re eligible for a free upgrade to Windows 7. Getting the free upgrade to Windows 7 might involve some work, and for some, the Windows 7 upgrade won’t be totally free.
Microsoft’s Windows 7 October 22 launch has many new features including Snap, the ability to instantly arrange two windows exactly side-by-side. It also features Live Taskbar Previews that allows you to scan through open files to find what you are looking for. Home networking is supposedly much easier to set up so that you can share music and other files.

Those who bought a Windows Vista-based PC in the last four months may be entitled to the Windows 7 upgrade for free. However, getting the upgrade could take a while so don’t count on getting it on launch day, October 22. Toshiba states that it will be getting upgrades out in October if they have registered and submitted the proper information.

Hewlett-Packard and Dell state that they will begin shipping the Windows 7 upgrade after October 22, though Lenovo says upgrades will ship one to two weeks from your request. Acer says “shipments will begin in increments. All orders will be handled on a first-in, first-out basis.” So if you bought a computer last week, you could be at the end of a long line.

Aside from actually getting the free upgrade of Windows 7, consumers may have other issues with the new upgrade. Problems are to be expected and if you’ve survived the horror of using Windows Vista, it shouldn’t be terribly painful.

Some of the issues anticipated with the upgrade of Windows 7:

Softpedia reported that Windows 7 upgrades could kill the recovery applications that manufacturers include with their computers.

Microsoft said that some “in-place” upgrades from Windows Vista to the new Windows 7 may take some users more than 20 hours to complete.

You will need a DVD drive to install the Windows 7 upgrade. If you skipped the DVD when you purchased a computer, then you’ll need to use an external one to add Windows 7.

You will need Internet Explorer to get the free upgrade. If you nixed it because you never use it…oops! You need it. IE is required to visit HP’s Windows 7 upgrade order page. That’s because the high and mighty Microsoft uses a Web program to validate your computer, and it only works in IE.

Did you keep your receipt when you bought your new computer? You’re going to need it or you’re not going to get your free Windows 7 upgrade. Start digging for it because without it, you’re paying full price for the upgrade. HP and Toshiba explicitly state that a proof of purchase, not just a serial code.

Free might not mean free for some when it comes to the Windows 7 upgrade. Some companies are charging hipping and handling charges as well as tax.. Lenovo charges $17.03 for U.S. customers, while Compaq, HP, Sony, and Toshiba charge some users and not others. No rhyme or reason to it. Bottom line — read the fine print.

The Windows 7 upgrade is a hot topic today and may continue to be due to the typical issues that are presented when anything using the word “upgrade” is combined with the word “computer”. Microsoft’s last operating system, Windows Vista, was a disaster when it was released in 2007. It was full of bugs, software incompatibilities and annoying security alerts. Hopefully the Windows 7 upgrade will be a little easier, although it seems that it’s already painfully complicated just to get a free upgrade.
Source: wikipedia, PCW, CNET, Microsoft