At last! Microsoft confirms Windows 7 upgrades for UK

 

Gallery

By Barry Collins

Posted on 4 Aug 2009 at 14:14

Microsoft has confirmed that the UK will now get upgrade versions of Windows 7, following last week's decision to drop the E editions.

The company has been in a state of turmoil since last Friday, when it was announced that Microsoft was abandoning plans to launch Windows 7 without Internet Explorer in Europe.

Finally, the company has told PC Pro that the decision means the UK "will now have upgrade Full Packaged Product (FPP) SKUs of Windows 7 available in Europe".

Microsoft had previously decided not to offer upgrade versions, because of the difficulties involved with removing Internet Explorer during the upgrade process.

The company says it will "continue to honour the pricing offers made in Europe before this change is implemented". This means that Windows 7 buyers should still be able to buy full versions of the operating system at upgrade prices until 2010.

There's also reassuring news for customers who pre-ordered Windows 7 E versions from Microsoft and other retailers. "Users who have pre-ordered a full license to Windows 7 will be able to receive that license," Microsoft has confirmed, allaying fears that pre-orders might be downgraded to upgrade versions. Microsoft was selling the pre-order software at upgrade prices.

There's still no confirmation of whether Microsoft will now offer the three-licence Windows 7 Family Pack in the UK. Microsoft had previously stated it wouldn't be coming to this country because it was an upgrade product.

Click here to read why Microsoft doesn't really care about the UK.