General Availability is expected around October.Microsoft said: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.
http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/...spx?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
-
Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!
Upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $40 (XP, Vista, 7) (Deal good from Release to Jan 31st)
- Thread starter Windu
- Start date
- Status
brochiller
Member
A price I might actually be willing to pay for a Windows 8 upgrade, if it really proves to be an upgrade.
Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew
Banned
Huge news! Not sure how stable or compatible Windows 8 will be so I'm sticking with 7 for now.
The Lamonster
Member
Hesitant to upgrade because Windows 7 is the shit.
Seraphinianus
Banned
Can I buy it now and wait to upgrade? I won't see any need to leave 7 just yet and I can wait for a bunch of updates to work out some kinks/compatibility issues.
Prophet Steve
Member
That's an excellent price, I'll try and wait a few months probably and see how is Windows 8 is received, but I use a lot of software so it might be important to stay up to date.
No, you can install from an ISO, it's not just part of the upgrade program. Just put in the key and it will work.
CarbonatedFalcon
Member
.
I feel like Windows 7 to Windows 8 might be a a Snow Leopard to Lion type transition. Not necessarily the best thing.
D
Deleted member 17706
Unconfirmed Member
I'm torn. That's a good price and Windows 8 looks like it has some good features, but I really like Aero and the current implementation of the start menu.
If the upgrade process is anything like Vista or Win7, there should be a method to do a clean install with the upgrade ISO.
Thanks for clarifying.
yes it will run better.
It will run better on older hardware than 7 did. They've done a lot to help with that, which is nice.
Yep.
Though in reality, it sounds like even if you do the 'upgrade' it's essentially a fresh install that keeps your user documents anyway. It just creates a list of a few of your settings, etc that it will try to carry over during configuration.
Shining Sunshine
Banned
Can I upgrade to Windows 7 instead?
~ Octoberish
Valkyr Junkie
Member
Thanks Apple.
Delusibeta
Banned
I would be tempted to jump on this if only because I lack a Windows install disc for reinstall purposes, especially if they don't do any $1=£1 shenanigans. Apparently, a hard drive format is also possible as part of the upgrade process.
(Might be wise to grab an external hard drive for backup purposes first, I'm not going to lose my digital music collection)
(Might be wise to grab an external hard drive for backup purposes first, I'm not going to lose my digital music collection)
PastorOfMuppets
Banned
I'm going to hold off until reviews are in. Going back to Windows 95, Microsoft has had a record of following up a good Windows iteration with a bad one.
Windows 95 - Bad
Windows 98 - Good
Windows ME - Probably the worst version of Windows ever released.
Windows 2000/XP - Good
Windows Vista - Bad
Windows 7 - Good
Windows 95 - Bad
Windows 98 - Good
Windows ME - Probably the worst version of Windows ever released.
Windows 2000/XP - Good
Windows Vista - Bad
Windows 7 - Good
MasterShotgun
brazen editing lynx
That's a great price. If Windows 8 is well received, I'll be sure to jump on that deal.
BronsonLee
Member
Why do you feel that way? Not to discount the stuff Lion upgraded, but this seems more comprehensive.
Well people debate over whether the new start screen us better or not (I like it) but aside from that the desktop experience is better especially if you have multiple monitors.
Kylie_Karnage
Neo Member
If it's useful, I'll upgrade. Windows 7 Ultimate is quite okay with me.
This is one of the stupidest myths that get repeated.
There was nothing bad about 95. How the hell can you combine Win2k and XP? What about NT 3.5 and 98SE?
It runs fan on my shitty dell m1330.
More on this? I was under the impression that upgrade keys won't work when installing on an empty drive and that you needed an existing install.
Uggg. If I see this posted one more time I'm going to freak out. It's not clever, it 's not accurate, it adds nothing.
EnderWiggles
Member
How so?
- Status