I always buy OEM copies of Windows and the last upgrade disc I bought was Windows XP. I remember wishing I hadn't because the XP Upgrade Edition required it's own disc and license key (IE I couldn't use a standard XPH install disc and then use my upgrade key). I also was unable to slipstream service packs onto a disc and make a "XPH Upgrade w/SP3" disc because it would then refuse my upgrade key. Suffice it to say, it was a pain for installations later on. Basically, I want to take advantage of the nice pre-order deal going on right now. Does anyone know what catches are included with the Windows 7 Upgrade disc, or will it function the same as any other Windows 7 disc?

thequinox,If you read this article, It will give you an idea of what isgoing to happen. It states that for Windows XP, you have to have the OS installed and verified genuine, then Windows 7 will install in the same partition that was taken by Windows XP.It's probably the same for Windows Vista except a direct upgrade is possible... however they didn't detail that part.

I guess that is where I am foggy. I have no intention of "upgrading". When I install I always do clean installs. I basically want to know exactly how the licensing ties into the physical discs. For example, is the Windows 7 upgrade disc physically differant then the OEM disc, or does it just depend on what key you put in? When I bought XP Upgrade Edition, the disc was physically different. If I ever wanted to use my key I had to make sure I had a Windows XP Upgrade disc handy to use it. This was annoying because when I reloaded that computer several years down the line, I still had to use the same old Windows XP Upgrade disc, then manually apply service packs afterwards. It would have been a lot nicer to just be able to use one of the newer OEM Windows XP Home w/SP3 discs I had around when installing. I understand that versions will be handled the same way as with Vista, all the editions will be packaged onto the same disc. What I don't know is what limitations will be placed on me by buying the upgrade version instead of the OEM or retail copies. Will the clean install option be grayed out on the upgrade discs like it was in Windows Vista? Will I still be able to get around that by installing the trial and then entering my key afterwards? Basically, I want to take advantage of the upgrade pricing, but not if it means extra hassle during install, because I reload my systems a lot.

thequinox,Right. Many people are hoping that it is the same way (need to keep the old disk handy), however mentioning that it will ask for a validated genuine install makes me think that they won't do it that way. I haven't seen anything to indicate that there will/will notbe a 30 trial...

That is my concern as well. I really doubt they have done anything different. I assume it will activate and install pretty much the same way Vista did, I wish I could just get some confirmation before I jump on this sale.

Any definitive answers on this? I would really like to jump on the specials provided they don't cause me grief in the long run. Also, slightly off topic. If I got Pro, and then later decided to use Any Time Upgrade, would that give me a normal Ultimate key, or if I wanted to reload would I have to put Pro on again and transition up?

Looking in this article, Microsoft says: "I am running Windows XP, can I upgrade to Windows 7? Microsoft designed Windows 7 Upgrade media for Windows Vista. A customer with Windows XP can purchase Windows 7 Upgrade media but must back up their files, clean install, and then reinstall their applications."This would seem to imply that you can do a clean install of Windows 7.The article does not explain how, or even if, verification of a previous install is accomplished.I know this doesn't answer your question, but I hope it helps.

Indeed. There does seem to be a lot of information floating around, but as you say, it's not concrete. There is another topic here discussing this as well, they have yet to come up with anything. To the average consumer who is actually interested in "upgrading" their current systems and don't care how it gets done, this promo is a good deal. But to all the tech savvy people out here I find it surprising that Microsoft isn't telling us HOW this product we are supposed to be buying even works! I guess I will wait until we hear something official, because I am not going to deal with any extra steps. If I miss the deal then I guess I will just buy OEM like I always have.