[crossbow]

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ALL original low offers have expired (update 14-09-09)
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LATEST UPDATE - 12th Sept 2009 - expired
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Well, all previous offers expired around a month ago, but Tesco are now doing it for under £50 again, with free delivery & club card points.

Use voucher code TDX-SFFT to take £5 off.

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Most offers below have expired, & remain for reference/comparison only

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Direct Microsoft Link

Plus 15% Quidco cashback if you buy directly from Microsoft

Other discount codes / cashback may apply to some stores

Various editions Comparison chart
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Last updated on 10/08/09. Please be sure to check all links as prices keep varying frequently

Current BEST offers:

Premium: £49.95 @ John Lewis - instore pre-order only (with free pick-up?)

Pro: £99.95 @ John Lewis - instore pre-order only (with free pick-up?)

Ultimate: £174.57 @ Misco - includes £4.59 del

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Also available at the following, but at increased prices for all versions - at least £65 for Premium & £148 for Pro:

Additions Direct (possibility of a discount code/voucher & 8% Quidco) | Argos (Premium only)

Amazon | Comet | Currys | Dabs | Dixons | eBuyer | John Lewis | Littlewoods | Micro Anvika

Microsoft Store | Misco | PC World | Overclockers | Play | Scan | Staples | Tesco (follow pre-order links)

Thank you for supporting Windows.

You've helped make Windows 7 great. As a token of our appreciation we're offering you the chance to be among the first to get it, between July 15th 2009 and 9th August 2009, at a great price. Hurry, quantities are limited.

Here's the deal

Many of you offered feedback that helped us make Windows 7 work the way you want. We think we found the perfect way to thank you—a chance to be one of the first (without having to wait in line) to get Windows 7 at a special low price.

You can pre-order Windows 7 Home Premium E for £49** or Windows 7 Professional E for £99**. The offer is available through participating retailers. Each retailer will tell you how to get your copy when Windows 7 is released.

** Estimated Retail Price [Free delivery from Amazon & some other retailers I should imagine]

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Disclaimer: With so much conflicting news about the pre-order license, please make sure to do your own research & come to your own conclusions concerning this. Please do not hold me, or the other good folk on here (who have kindly shared about this), responsible for any inaccurate/mis-information we may have shared/expressed. Hopefully, it has all been accurate & shared in the best of faith.

[llol_slim]

Just FYI and I think a brucey bonus

Before you install an E edition of Windows 7, please visit windows.microsoft.com/install-windows-E for important information. When you install the E edition of Windows 7, you'll need to do a custom (clean) installation. That means you'll need to back up all of your files and settings, install the operating system, then re-install your files, settings, and programs. Important: The E editions of Windows 7 do not contain an Internet browser.

[Mullicious]

It doesn't contain IE?

Whilst I hate IE, and am a total FF lover, I need to use IE for certain sites that aren't completley FF friendly.

[llol_slim]

Originally Posted by Mullicious

It doesn't contain IE?

Whilst I hate IE, and am a total FF lover, I need to use IE for certain sites that aren't completley FF friendly.

you will be able to download it and install it, if you buy this version, just download internet explorer first, whack it on a cd or USB pen and then install it after you have Windows 7 installed.

.. I'm not sure why it doesnt come with.

[MickyG33]

Apparently it's to do with European competition regulations, I guess Microsoft dont wanna fall foul of the European courts again.

BBC NEWS | Technology | Windows 7 pricing gets unveiled

[crossbow]

Originally Posted by Mullicious

Whilst I hate IE, and am a total FF lover, I need to use IE for certain sites that aren't completley FF friendly.

Use the IE Tab add-on instead

Will still require IE to installed.

[llol_slim]

Originally Posted by crossbow

Use the IE Tab add-on instead

Will still require IE to installed.

very good recommendation, love that plugin

[retro41]

I'll be getting one of these.

£41.65 is a deal, especially for a retail copy.

Even though I don't see the EU board's reasoning behind this(Apple is the one they should've went after, all of theyr programs break the so-called "Anti-Trust" and Apple would not want third-party applications to "ruin" their system).

I just hope by M$ being forced to remove it, doesn't badger the whole operating system, because i've removed I.E. forcibly in the past and its been disastrous...

Best time to buy would be during this period, prices after it will be steep I guess.

Might even persuade me to start a new build

[DoktorAvalanche]

Looks great!

Anyone know how the licensing works?
I am assuming its the traditional, one copy one machine...
...but I read on (of all places!) the BBC news that it can be put on multiple computers within the same household -now that would be nice.
Or did I read that wrong?

Can anyone clarify this?

[SteveSP]

Microsoft US are offering pre order of Win 7 for $50 (Home Premium) or $100 (Professional) c/w IE.
Rip Off Britain strikes again.

[yeswoody]

Originally Posted by SteveSP

Microsoft US are offering pre order of Win 7 for $50 (Home Premium) or $100 (Professional) c/w IE.
Rip Off Britain strikes again.

If anyone tries to get the US offer (and maybe pay on credit card), please post your success / failure reports here. Thanks

[llol_slim]

Originally Posted by yeswoody

If anyone tries to get the US offer (and maybe pay on credit card), please post your success / failure reports here. Thanks

just thought I'd have a gander at the US site, to see if I could do it.. Then I noticed this

Work in the language of your choice or switch between any of thirty-five languages.

Only available in "Ultimate"
So does that mean the other versions only have one language? If so, I dont want to be buying the US version...
Windows 7 - Buy and download from Microsoft Store

[yeswoody]

Only available in "Ultimate"
So does that mean the other versions only have one language? If so, I dont want to be buying the US version...
Windows 7 - Buy and download from Microsoft Store

From what they've quoted in the comparison checklist that is what I would deduce too. Shame.

[yeswoody]

Ok so my next tactic: does anyone know a yankie doodles (people who live in the US will suffice) that are going to but this upgrade to win7 so we can ask them if during the install they could look at the language options and report back?

Hold on, I see a flaw in this plan. When they purchase they wont be able to download straight away and by the time they can d/l the offer will be over.

I hate this rip-off Britain business, I seem to get stung constantly (and I'm always up for saving a few quid).

[fade]

US prices are ex-vat, if you take 15% from the uk home pro price it works out at $70, not worth fussing over if you ask me.

[yeswoody]

Originally Posted by fade

US prices are ex-vat, if you take 15% from the uk home pro price it works out at $70, not worth fussing over if you ask me.

Fair point. Need to set a reminder in my calendar for this then.

Anyone going for higher version than home premium, and what extra features are you especially looking for?

[dacdesigns]

Good find

Can't go wrong for £49

Shame there's no ultimate edition discounts, although I don't think I need any of the extra's you get in ultimate.

[atad]

I don't want to spread misinformation but I thought i read somewhere these versions are the upgrade versions, thats why it says in the FAQ that you need a legal version of windows.

Originally Posted by FAQ

How do I know if I am eligible for this offer?

To be eligible for the offer, you need to be running a genuine copy of the Windows XP or Windows Vista operating systems

[yeswoody]

If the legal version of windows you're running is the win7 beta? fingers crossed it'll be fine.

Originally Posted by atad

I don't want to spread misinformation but I thought i read somewhere these versions are the upgrade versions, thats why it says in the FAQ that you need a legal version of windows.

[crossbow]

Originally Posted by atad

I don't want to spread misinformation but I thought i read somewhere these versions are the upgrade versions, thats why it says in the FAQ that you need a legal version of windows.

At this point nobody seems to know for sure how the Win7 installation process will 'check' for previous installed versions of Windows.

It probably can & will do in the process of an upgrade-install from Vista, which is possible. But upgrading from XP will require a fresh install, which in turn will wipe the drive of the XP install.

So, does it have an applet during the install/activation process whereby one needs to enter the product key of their present (or, now past!) Windows OS? Or, will it do a separate install on the XP system anyway, after copying the XP install & associated files into other folders - e.g. Windows.old, Documents & Settings.old, etc? In this way being able to ensure that an eligible Windows OS was indeed installed on the system prior to the fresh install.

Without this kind of check or special install process, I cannot imagine of how MS are going to ensure that only systems running valid/activated XP & Vista versions will be able to install Win7.

[atad]

Thanks guys.

I'm actually running windows 7 beta at the moment, but today in spur of madness I bought windows vista, as there doing deal if you buy it now you get windows 7 (like for like) for free in October . Gave vista to my brother, as the beta won't run out til next March.

Microsoft Store UK - Windows Vista

[crossbow]

People (in the US) buying this directly from MS, are apparently being asked to input their present XP/Vista product key prior to purchase.

Other retailers don't have this facility of course, so some people are going to be very disappointed (& cross!) when they fail in their attempts to carry out a fresh install on a system with no XP/Vista.

Originally Posted by yeswoody

If the legal version of windows you're running is the win7 beta? fingers crossed it'll be fine.

Some people are saying that will not work, but it remains to be seen

Originally Posted by atad

I bought windows vista, as there doing deal if you buy it now you get windows 7 (like for like) for free in October . Gave vista to my brother, as the beta won't run out til next March.

Don't forget that even when you get the free Win7 disc, you & your bro will be eligible to run only one instance of Vista / Win7. In other words, your brother can't run Vista while you're running the free copy of Win7 on another system. You will need to buy your own Win7 OS/license (at additional cost) in order to run both simultaneously on separate systems.

[atad]

Originally Posted by crossbow

Don't forget that even when you get the free Win7 disc, you & your bro will be eligible to run only one instance of Vista / Win7. In other words, your brother can't run Vista while you're running the free copy of Win7 on another system. You will need to buy your own Win7 OS/license (at additional cost) in order to run both simultaneously on separate systems.

Really, I didn't realise that, could you point me toward some info on this. Feel bit gutted now lol.

[crossbow]

Originally Posted by atad

Really, I didn't realise that, could you point me toward some info on this. Feel bit gutted now lol.

My understanding is that essentially the free Win7 offer is a 'free upgrade', & is tied to the Vista license you purchased earlier. Even though you'll be getting 2x Windows versions eventually, you have actually purchased only the one license to be used on a single PC at a time.

Think of a Vista PC eligible for the free Win7 upgrade - it's definitely linked to that PC & cannot be installed on any other PC.

I cannot find a link atm to corroborate the former, but will post as soon as I'm able to

[atad]

Thanks crossbow, I wish they made that clearer. I did do a search myself but seems diffcult to find, I looked in the FAQ no mention there either.

[Sunshinewelly]

i have a genuine copy of windows vista on my laptop but and am running windows 7 beta on my new pc (self assemply so came without an OS).

will i be able to use my key for the vista on the laptop to buy a new copy of windows 7 (not the upgrade option but the full pack -ie new install etc) to run on my PC

[crossbow]

Originally Posted by atad

Thanks crossbow, I wish they made that clearer. I did do a search myself but seems diffcult to find, I looked in the FAQ no mention there either.

Contact them to confirm either way:

If you have any questions, contact our call centre on 00800 272 70 909 or email us at MSStore.UK@msdirectservices.com. One of our knowledgeable representatives will be happy to assist you.

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Originally Posted by FGEvans1

i have a genuine copy of windows vista on my laptop but and am running windows 7 beta on my new pc (self assemply so came without an OS).
will i be able to use my key for the vista on the laptop to buy a new copy of windows 7 (not the upgrade option but the full pack -ie new install etc) to run on my PC

You will be able to purchase it with no problem, but we're still unsure if it absolutely requires a valid copy of XP/Vista already installed on the host system - it doesn't actually specify this anywhere. From the pre-order FAQs:

How do I know if I am eligible for this offer?
To be eligible for the offer, you need to be running a genuine copy of the Windows XP or Windows Vista operating systems.

Microsoft US (for their $49 upgrade versions) state:

Running Windows Vista?
If you have Windows Vista, you can purchase Windows 7 Upgrade versions. You can do a clean install (back up your files, clean install, and reinstall your applications) or an in-place upgrade (Windows 7 installs over Windows Vista).

Running earlier versions?
If you have Windows XP or Windows 2000, you can purchase Windows 7 Upgrade versions. But you must back up your files, clean install, and reinstall your applications.

Again it doesn't specify if the previous versions need to be installed prior to a fresh install.

[crossbow]

OK, curiousity got the better of me & I called them (yes it is a 00800 number, & I chose option 4 initially).

Regarding the Win7 pre-order license, as far as they (Microsoft UK store) know, being a full retail license one can install it on any compatible PC, even one without an operating system to begin with.

Regarding the Vista to Win7 free upgrade offer, either is indeed only meant to be installed on one PC at any given time (Edit: But see anothadave's post #29, I'll call again tomorrow 07/07)

Please post if you also call, but get conflicting advice - I spoke to a gent called Jan (pronounced Yan) when I called.
.

[anothadave]

from the information on this link

Microsoft Store UK - Windows Vista


seems to me it quite clearly says when you buy a copy of vista now, you get a free equivalent copy of win7 when its released october 22nd. its not an upgrade and doesnt replace the copy of vista. so you in effect get two operating systems. so there should be no reason why one person couldnt use vista and another use the copy of win7...

[MrSynner]

I've read elsewhere that the Windows 7 E version we are getting in Europe will only allow a full install - no upgrade - even the version called 'Upgrade' which is the version that will be in the offer.

I would guess that when you first install, it will do what the old XP upgrade did - either ask for an install disc of a previous OS to be inserted (XP or Vista) or - if it detects a compatible one on the HDD it will then wipe it and install 7 afresh.

I previously had both the XP and Vista upgrade discs, and was still able to use the previous OS once the new one was installed - I bumped XP over onto my netbook when I upgraded my main PC to Vista Home Premium. XP still activated happily, even after Vista had been activated.

The only bit that might be fun is how you get a web browser on to an OS with no web browser previously installed? I know you can download firefox before hand, but what if you are installing to an entirely fresh new HDD and have no other PC available to download the install files?