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Editor's picks

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  Microsoft Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade (Home Premium to Professional) [Online Code]

  Digital Software (Microsoft)
  

  Rating (205 reviews):

  (3.9/5)

  

  What this upgrade does

  I don't see much commentary here about the actual product performance. There is a lot of confusion about this upgrade in the retail outlets, so I thought I'd explain to those with questions.I researched Windows 7 before I bought my computer, and knew I wanted Win 7 Professional in case I wanted to run XP programs. Most retail outlets only had Win 7 Home Premium installed on their computers. The computer stores had the Win 7 Pro computers on backorder. Through some investigation at Microsoft, I found out that all versions of Win 7 are preinstalled, and you just need to get a key to "unlock" the higher versions. This is that key.It took a total of 14 minutes to install this upgrade on my new computer. The hardest part was typing in the multi-digit key. (In other words, not hard!) It ran for 12 minutes, and then it was ready to go!I haven't tried the features of Win 7 Pro to rate it, but this upgrade works as promised. 5/5 J. Jaeger (Minnesota, USA) - See all my reviews, November 12, 2009

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  This is how you upgrade from Win 7 Home Premium to Win 7 Professional

  Most laptops/notebooks seem to ship with Windows 7 Home Premium rather than Windows 7 Professional. That is probably fine for most users. However, if you need your Windows 7 Notebook to be part of a business domain network, you need Windows 7 Professional. This upgrade is how you accomplish the change.It turns out that Windows 7 Home Premium already contains Windows 7 Professional; it is simply not enabled. When you buy this upgrade you are getting an upgrade key. No disk, just a key sticker and very brief instructions. Key it in pursuant to the laughably simple instructions and within minutes you will be running Windows 7 Professional. One caveat: apparently you cannot upgrade from Windows 7 32 to Windows 7 64 bit. This will affect very few users as I do not believe that hardly any computers are shipping with 32 bit Windows 7. Nor should they. Windows 7 64 bit is very compatible with existing 32 bit software, and in the future we can expect lots of 64 bit... 5/5 Roger J. Buffington (Huntington Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews, December 28, 2009

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  Needed upgrade

  My laptop crashed and needed to be replaced. Old laptop was on XP Pro; new one on Win 7 Premium Home. One of my old software programs did not work on Win 7, and it is no longer supported, but I needed to use it. Research told me I could create a Virtual PC operating on XP but only from Win 7 Pro. So I bought the unlock code. It worked fine. I have now created Virtual PC and can access my needed old software program in that manner. Couple minor problems. First, a Virtual PC is truly a separate PC. It does not have access to the antivirus software installed on the Win 7 PC. Fortunately my ISP offers free downloads of Norton PC. Laptop came with McAfee (I did not want it because of my free access to antivirus from my ISP, but I had no choice). So I now have the main laptop protected by McAfee and the Virtual PC protected by Norton. Upgrade downloads occur separately and require separate reboots to take effect. There is no conflict because they are effectively two separate... 4/5 Retiree "Retiree" (Richmond, VA) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Microsoft Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade [Home Premium to Professional] (Software) My laptop crashed and needed to be replaced. Old laptop was on XP Pro; new one on Win 7 Premium Home. One of my old software programs did not work on Win 7, and it is no longer supported, but I needed to use it. Research told me I could create a Virtual PC operating on XP but only from Win 7 Pro. So I bought the unlock code. It worked fine. I have now created Virtual PC and can access my needed old software program in that manner. Couple minor problems. First, a Virtual PC is truly a separate PC. It does not have access to the antivirus software installed on the Win 7 PC. Fortunately my ISP offers free downloads of Norton PC. Laptop came with McAfee (I did not want it because of my free access to antivirus from my ISP, but I had no choice). So I now have the main laptop protected by McAfee and the Virtual PC protected by Norton. Upgrade downloads occur separately and require separate reboots to take effect. There is no conflict because they are effectively two separate... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , March 30, 2010

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  List Price: $89.95
  Price: $68.66
  You Save: $21.29 (24%)

  Move up to Windows 7 Professional from Windows 7 Home Premium with Windows Anytime Upgrade

  Run many Windows XP productivity programs in Windows XP Mode

  Connect to company networks easily and more securely with Domain Join

  Easily create a home network and connect your PCs to a printer with HomeGroup

  Watch, pause, rewind, and record TV on your PC

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  Microsoft Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade (Starter to Home Premium) [Online Code]

  Digital Software (Microsoft)
  

  Rating (76 reviews):

  (3.6/5)

  

  Great for netbooks, but little else

  This product is only for computers running Windows 7 Starter, so if you are hoping to upgrade from XP or Vista with this kit you are out of luck. If you bought a Windows 7 netbook, chances are you have Windows 7 Starter and have already noticed a few shortcomings of the "netbook-friendly" OS. Among those are the inability to change the background or theme without assistance of 3rd party software, no Windows Media Center, and lack of Aero enhancements such as Glass (translucent borders) and Peek (thumbnail previews of open windows). Starter also lacks a 64-bit version and caps memory at 2GB, but the Atom processors in most netbooks are 32-bit and only support up to 2GB RAM.Windows Anytime Upgrade is a convenient way to increase functionality without spending extra on a full upgrade kit. The case contains only a product key, no disc, so no external DVD drive is needed. Windows 7 installs all of the components for all versions regardless of which is being installed, locking... 4/5 Curtis J. Katinas "sakanagai" - See all my reviews, December 8, 2009

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  Decided to forgo the upgrade

  So far, I am very happy with the Windows 7/Starter on the eeePC. I installed the 2GB upgrade, but I have decided I don't really need the upgrade to Home/Premium:Screensaver: I have read that these have little use with flat panel displays. The best approach is to turn the display off to extend the life of the back lighting. This you can do with 7/Starter.Desktop Background: Don't these tend to become invisible after a while anyway?Aero Effects: Can I live without it? Yeaahhh.Themes: Again, so what?I use the netbook for net surfing, ebooks, forums, email and a little blogging. Bookworm Adventure runs nicely. 7/Starter does all of these things very well. The look of Starter is attractive and pleasing. I can't see how a $77 desktop background will make these things perform any better. 4/5 David M. Wenning - See all my reviews, March 18, 2010

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  Upgraded from inferior product

  Does what it's supposed to do. The "No discs, no delay" is deceiving. When you order from Amazon, you don't just get the upgrade code emailed to you instantly, you actually have to wait for a package to be delivered. There is no disc, just the upgrade code. Seems like it could be done online so you don't have to wait several days for a little card to be delivered. A waste of time and packaging. The delivery method is the reason I'm giving it a lower number of stars.Windows 7 Starter needs to be done away with. Just because you have a small portable laptop does not mean that you want only a few basic features. Shame on Microsoft for making this version that almost forces an experienced user to upgrade. It's just a ploy to get more $$$. 3/5 D. Vajdak "Online buyer" (Aggieland, TX) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Microsoft Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade [Starter to Home Premium] Does what it's supposed to do. The "No discs, no delay" is deceiving. When you order from Amazon, you don't just get the upgrade code emailed to you instantly, you actually have to wait for a package to be delivered. There is no disc, just the upgrade code. Seems like it could be done online so you don't have to wait several days for a little card to be delivered. A waste of time and packaging. The delivery method is the reason I'm giving it a lower number of stars.Windows 7 Starter needs to be done away with. Just because you have a small portable laptop does not mean that you want only a few basic features. Shame on Microsoft for making this version that almost forces an experienced user to upgrade. It's just a ploy to get more $$$. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , July 28, 2010

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  List Price: $79.95
  Price: $37.70
  You Save: $42.25 (53%)

  Windows Media Center: Watch, pause, rewind, and record TV on your PC

  Snap, Peek, and Shake: Navigate lots of open windows more quickly

  Desktop Personalization: Personalize your PC with desktop slideshows and themes

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  Microsoft Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade [Home Premium to Ultimate]

  Software (Microsoft Software)
  

  Rating (60 reviews):

  (4.2/5)

  

  (ALMOST) As Easy as A, B, C

  I give this product 4 stars. 5 Stars for the quality of features unlocked and less 1 star for the hoops and hurdles involved in getting the Win 7 XP mode to be fully functioning.Well, if you were previously like me, having a Win 7 Home Premium O/S, hesistant about spending an extra US$129.99 (as at the time of writing) for an O/S upgrade, there are a couple of things you might want to know before taking the plunge.My Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q898 laptop (also bought from Amazon) came pre-installed with Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit. Unless you require practical features such as Bitlocker, XP Mode and the ability to use other languages for your O/S, the Ultimate edition is an overkill for the typical consumer. Well, as for "intangible" benefits, running Win 7 Ultimate comes with bragging rights too... ;) hee heeThis product will only upgrade Win 7 Home Premium 32 Bit/64 Bit to Win 7 Ultimate 32Bit/64Bit respectively. It will not work with any other... 4/5 Michael Ballack "mike_of_london" (London) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Microsoft Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade [Home Premium to Ultimate] I give this product 4 stars. 5 Stars for the quality of features unlocked and less 1 star for the hoops and hurdles involved in getting the Win 7 XP mode to be fully functioning.Well, if you were previously like me, having a Win 7 Home Premium O/S, hesistant about spending an extra US$129.99 (as at the time of writing) for an O/S upgrade, there are a couple of things you might want to know before taking the plunge.My Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q898 laptop (also bought from Amazon) came pre-installed with Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit. Unless you require practical features such as Bitlocker, XP Mode and the ability to use other languages for your O/S, the Ultimate edition is an overkill for the typical consumer. Well, as for "intangible" benefits, running Win 7 Ultimate comes with bragging rights too... ;) hee heeThis product will only upgrade Win 7 Home Premium 32 Bit/64 Bit to Win 7 Ultimate 32Bit/64Bit respectively. It will not work with any other... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , December 23, 2010

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  Make sure your computer has a TPM chip

  In order to use bitlocker, your computer must have a TPM chip in it. If not, you can turn bitlocker on but have to use a USB drive to hold the key file every time you boot it up. An acceptable solution for a desktop, but for a laptop a bit of an inconvenience having a USB drive sticking out of it, plus it takes up a USB port. My 2 month old Dell XPS laptop had the option of having Win 7 Home Premium, Professional, or Ultimate installed, so I assumed I could upgrade afterwards. Turns out they must only put that chip into models shipping with Ultimate already. So double check that if bitlocker is important to you.Other than this issue, the update process was quick and painless. It seemed to take less time than installing a regular software program since it didn't have to load off the CD and do a lot of registry changing.Ultimate itself with the XP mode seems a good upgrade for me. A few hardware items and some software just doesn't work with Win 7. Plus I... 4/5 AKO California (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Microsoft Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade (Home Premium to Ultimate) [Online Code] (Software Download) In order to use bitlocker, your computer must have a TPM chip in it. If not, you can turn bitlocker on but have to use a USB drive to hold the key file every time you boot it up. An acceptable solution for a desktop, but for a laptop a bit of an inconvenience having a USB drive sticking out of it, plus it takes up a USB port. My 2 month old Dell XPS laptop had the option of having Win 7 Home Premium, Professional, or Ultimate installed, so I assumed I could upgrade afterwards. Turns out they must only put that chip into models shipping with Ultimate already. So double check that if bitlocker is important to you.Other than this issue, the update process was quick and painless. It seemed to take less time than installing a regular software program since it didn't have to load off the CD and do a lot of registry changing.Ultimate itself with the XP mode seems a good upgrade for me. A few hardware items and some software just doesn't work with Win 7. Plus I... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , March 27, 2011

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  Upgrade to Ultimate a snap

  I upgraded a Dell machine that was pre-installed with Windows 7 Home Premium using the code that Amazon provided electronically, and the upgrade completed without any issues, in a reasonable amount of time. Ultimate features (like encryption, backup to a remote share, etc...) are all available. Registration process with Microsoft also went without a hitch. 5/5 ron_in_california - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Microsoft Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade (Home Premium to Ultimate) [Online Code] (Software Download) I upgraded a Dell machine that was pre-installed with Windows 7 Home Premium using the code that Amazon provided electronically, and the upgrade completed without any issues, in a reasonable amount of time. Ultimate features (like encryption, backup to a remote share, etc...) are all available. Registration process with Microsoft also went without a hitch. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , March 29, 2011

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  List Price: $139.95
  Price: $79.14
  You Save: $60.81 (43%)

  Help protect data on your PC and portable storage devices against loss or theft with BitLocker

  Move up to Windows 7 Ultimate from Windows 7 Home Premium with Windows Anytime Upgrade

  In addition to full-system Backup and Restore found in all editions, you can back up to a home or business network

  Work in the language of your choice and switch between any of 35 languages

  Connect to company networks easily and more securely with Domain Join

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• 

  Microsoft Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade (Home Premium to Ultimate) [Online Code]

  Digital Software (Microsoft)
  

  Rating (60 reviews):

  (4.2/5)

  

  (ALMOST) As Easy as A, B, C

  I give this product 4 stars. 5 Stars for the quality of features unlocked and less 1 star for the hoops and hurdles involved in getting the Win 7 XP mode to be fully functioning.Well, if you were previously like me, having a Win 7 Home Premium O/S, hesistant about spending an extra US$129.99 (as at the time of writing) for an O/S upgrade, there are a couple of things you might want to know before taking the plunge.My Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q898 laptop (also bought from Amazon) came pre-installed with Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit. Unless you require practical features such as Bitlocker, XP Mode and the ability to use other languages for your O/S, the Ultimate edition is an overkill for the typical consumer. Well, as for "intangible" benefits, running Win 7 Ultimate comes with bragging rights too... ;) hee heeThis product will only upgrade Win 7 Home Premium 32 Bit/64 Bit to Win 7 Ultimate 32Bit/64Bit respectively. It will not work with any other... 4/5 Michael Ballack "mike_of_london" (London) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Microsoft Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade [Home Premium to Ultimate] I give this product 4 stars. 5 Stars for the quality of features unlocked and less 1 star for the hoops and hurdles involved in getting the Win 7 XP mode to be fully functioning.Well, if you were previously like me, having a Win 7 Home Premium O/S, hesistant about spending an extra US$129.99 (as at the time of writing) for an O/S upgrade, there are a couple of things you might want to know before taking the plunge.My Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q898 laptop (also bought from Amazon) came pre-installed with Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit. Unless you require practical features such as Bitlocker, XP Mode and the ability to use other languages for your O/S, the Ultimate edition is an overkill for the typical consumer. Well, as for "intangible" benefits, running Win 7 Ultimate comes with bragging rights too... ;) hee heeThis product will only upgrade Win 7 Home Premium 32 Bit/64 Bit to Win 7 Ultimate 32Bit/64Bit respectively. It will not work with any other... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , December 23, 2010

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  Make sure your computer has a TPM chip

  In order to use bitlocker, your computer must have a TPM chip in it. If not, you can turn bitlocker on but have to use a USB drive to hold the key file every time you boot it up. An acceptable solution for a desktop, but for a laptop a bit of an inconvenience having a USB drive sticking out of it, plus it takes up a USB port. My 2 month old Dell XPS laptop had the option of having Win 7 Home Premium, Professional, or Ultimate installed, so I assumed I could upgrade afterwards. Turns out they must only put that chip into models shipping with Ultimate already. So double check that if bitlocker is important to you.Other than this issue, the update process was quick and painless. It seemed to take less time than installing a regular software program since it didn't have to load off the CD and do a lot of registry changing.Ultimate itself with the XP mode seems a good upgrade for me. A few hardware items and some software just doesn't work with Win 7. Plus I... 4/5 AKO California (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Microsoft Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade (Home Premium to Ultimate) [Online Code] (Software Download) In order to use bitlocker, your computer must have a TPM chip in it. If not, you can turn bitlocker on but have to use a USB drive to hold the key file every time you boot it up. An acceptable solution for a desktop, but for a laptop a bit of an inconvenience having a USB drive sticking out of it, plus it takes up a USB port. My 2 month old Dell XPS laptop had the option of having Win 7 Home Premium, Professional, or Ultimate installed, so I assumed I could upgrade afterwards. Turns out they must only put that chip into models shipping with Ultimate already. So double check that if bitlocker is important to you.Other than this issue, the update process was quick and painless. It seemed to take less time than installing a regular software program since it didn't have to load off the CD and do a lot of registry changing.Ultimate itself with the XP mode seems a good upgrade for me. A few hardware items and some software just doesn't work with Win 7. Plus I... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , March 27, 2011

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  Upgrade to Ultimate a snap

  I upgraded a Dell machine that was pre-installed with Windows 7 Home Premium using the code that Amazon provided electronically, and the upgrade completed without any issues, in a reasonable amount of time. Ultimate features (like encryption, backup to a remote share, etc...) are all available. Registration process with Microsoft also went without a hitch. 5/5 ron_in_california - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Microsoft Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade (Home Premium to Ultimate) [Online Code] (Software Download) I upgraded a Dell machine that was pre-installed with Windows 7 Home Premium using the code that Amazon provided electronically, and the upgrade completed without any issues, in a reasonable amount of time. Ultimate features (like encryption, backup to a remote share, etc...) are all available. Registration process with Microsoft also went without a hitch. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , March 29, 2011

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  List Price: $139.95
  Price: $79.91
  You Save: $60.04 (43%)

  In addition to full-system Backup and Restore found in all editions, you can back up to a home or business network

  Help protect data on your PC and portable storage devices against loss or theft with BitLocker

  Connect to company networks easily and more securely with Domain Join

  Move up to Windows 7 Ultimate from Windows 7 Home Premium with Windows Anytime Upgrade

  Work in the language of your choice and switch between any of 35 languages

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  Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade

  Software (Microsoft Software)
  

  Rating (577 reviews):

  (3.6/5)

  

  Best if you Plan Ahead

  Windows 7 Home Premium is the best version to choose for older machines and/or simpler networks. The "Backup" offered in 7 Pro can be done easily with free tools, and unless you need complex networking, 7 has what it takes to manage a home network. Last, the 'XP Mode' promised in 7 Pro and above will only work on hardware new enough to support "Virtualization Technology" (stop by Microsoft's website to learn more). This isn't the same as "XP Compatibility Mode", which you will still have for all versions of Windows 7 (there's a great video explanation of this on CNET's website in their Windows 7 Center at CNET TV).Some very important things you need to know about upgrading:1) There are two types of upgrade: "in-place" (where a Vista machine upgrades to 7 and you get to keep all your programs) and "clean" (where you lose all your old programs and settings).2) Anyone going from XP to 7 will have to go "clean".3) Anyone going from a different Vista... 4/5 Pyanfar Chanur (USA) - See all my reviews, November 1, 2009

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  Worth the Wait

  I'll admit, I've been running Windows 7 for six months now: the preproduction version of it and have just upgraded to the gold code. So I have quite a bit of experience with the operating system. Let's get to the nitty gritty:Should you upgrade from Windows Vista? YES! I mean it - upgrade today.Windows 7 is quite simply faster, more stable, boots faster, goes to sleep faster, comes back from sleep faster, manages your files better and on top of that it's beautiful to look at and easy to use. Even the preproduction version of Windows 7 was better than my Vista with SP2.Should you upgrade from Windows XP? Maybe, but for different reasons.XP is a good operating system and if you don't need to add new hardware or software, XP is good. However, XP is old as an operating system. Also chances are that if you're running XP, you might not meet the minimum requirements for Windows 7 - check the compatibility site at Microsoft to see if your system will... 5/5 Just Anonymous (Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews, October 22, 2009

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  Questionable for Vista, consideration for XP

  I have now installed this on 3 Vista computers, and I must say that the result is underwhelming. By now, we can expect computer journalists to hype any Windows release; and to certain extent they are right - 7 does work better, but not that much better or differently from Vista if you have installed all updates and security releases from Microsoft. I had to uninstall anti-virus and selected other programs, some of which did not have listings in the "Programs and Features" Control Panel section. All of my upgrades took 2 to 3 hours; journalists claiming 45 minute upgrade times must not have had many programs installed on their computers. Once programs identified as potential problems had been removed, the upgrades completed uneventfully; and it works OK once installed.Value-wise, I think that the single computer upgrade is a loser for Vista users at current price levels. If you have two or more computers, the Home Premium 3-computer "family" upgrade is borderline. I will... 3/5 Robert L. Estes (Nashville, TN USA) - See all my reviews, October 27, 2009

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  List Price: $119.99
  

  Make the things you do every day easier with improved desktop navigation

  Windows 7 Home Premium (includes 32-bit & 64-bit versions) makes it easy to create a home network.

  And share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music--you can even watch, pause, rewind, and record TV

  Make your web experience faster, easier and safer than ever with Internet Explorer 8

  Start programs faster and more easily, and quickly find the documents you use most often

  Easily create a home network and connect your PCs to a printer with HomeGroup

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  Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade Family Pack (3-User)

  Software (Microsoft Software)
  

  Rating (475 reviews):

  (4.1/5)

  

  Here Comes Windows 7

  Here comes Windows 7, nearly three years after Windows Vista and eight years after Windows XP. By most accounts, Windows 7 is what Vista should have been. Do we finally have a worthy successor to XP?** CLEAN UPGRADE UPDATE BELOW 10/29/09 **PROS:- Fast startup and performance- Stable- Nice aesthetic and functional changes to the desktop- Improved networking, power management & security- 32-bit & 64-bit versions included- Windows Media Center- Windows XP Mode (Professional & Ultimate only)- Family Pack valueCONS:- User Account Control still annoying- Upgrade can be challenging** CLEAN UPGRADE UPDATE 10/29/09 **It seems that a lot of upgraders have been complaining about the upgrade process, especially from XP. Most of us expected to be able to format our hard disks and be prompted for either the XP disc or product key. Alas, this is not the case. The upgrade is much more... 4/5 Ed R. (San Francisco Bay Area) - See all my reviews, October 22, 2009

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  A Good Deal

  If you're like most people, you have several computers running throughout your house: a desktop, a laptop, a kid's laptop etc. This 3 license package is a great way to upgrade all of your PCs in your home for one low price.Here's my generic Windows 7 review:I'll admit, I've been running Windows 7 for six months now: the preproduction version of it and have just upgraded to the gold code. So I have quite a bit of experience with the operating system. Let's get to the nitty gritty:Should you upgrade from Windows Vista? YES! I mean it - upgrade today.Windows 7 is quite simply faster, more stable, boots faster, goes to sleep faster, comes back from sleep faster, manages your files better and on top of that it's beautiful to look at and easy to use. Even the preproduction version of Windows 7 was better than my Vista with SP2.Should you upgrade from Windows XP? Maybe, but for different reasons.XP is a good operating system and if... 5/5 Just Anonymous (Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews, October 22, 2009

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  Key upgrade info

  I had a difficult time trying to upgrade from Vista. I kept getting "unknown error" or "can't create directory for update files". Eventually I disabled everything running in the system tray - spysweeper, anti virus, and my background backup program. The install also asks you to un-install itunes. After this, I was able to update all three home computers. You would think it would be easy for Microsoft to detect these issues and give a decent error message - or include it in the installation instructions.An update after using Windows 7 for a couple of days:* Very good compatibility with programs, and printers. Everything came up and worked well. Even my Western Digital background backup program.* Taskbar bar icons are bigger - I'd guess that most Microsoft designers are growing old with me and starting to use reading glasses* Occasionally hangs when shutting down - I think that I have narrowed it to Spysweeper hanging out in the background and not closing... 3/5 J. McGillivary "mcgillca" (Santa Rosa CA USA) - See all my reviews, October 25, 2009

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  List Price: $149.95
  Price: $145.99
  You Save: $3.96 (3%)

  Make the things you do every day easier with improved desktop navigation

  Install Windows 7 Home Premium on up to three PCs in your household

  Windows 7 Home Premium makes it easy to create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music--you can even watch, pause, rewind, and record TV

  Start programs faster and more easily, and quickly find the documents you use most often

  Easily create a home network and connect your PCs to a printer with HomeGroup

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  Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Upgrade

  Software (Microsoft Software)
  

  Rating (181 reviews):

  (3.5/5)

  

  Here Comes Windows 7

  Here comes Windows 7, nearly three years after Windows Vista and eight years after Windows XP. By most accounts, Windows 7 is what Vista should have been. Do we finally have a worthy successor to XP?** CLEAN UPGRADE UPDATE BELOW 10/29/09 **PROS:- Fast startup and performance- Stable- Nice aesthetic and functional changes to the desktop- Improved networking, power management & security- 32-bit & 64-bit versions included- Windows Media Center- Windows XP ModeCONS:- User Account Control still annoying- Upgrade can be challenging- ExpensiveCLEAN UPGRADE UPDATE 10/29/09 **It seems that a lot of upgraders have been complaining about the upgrade process, especially from XP. Most of us expected to be able to format our hard disks and be prompted for either the XP disc or product key. Alas, this is not the case. The upgrade is much more complicated than it should be and some... 4/5 Ed R. (San Francisco Bay Area) - See all my reviews, October 22, 2009

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  Worth the Wait

  I'll admit, I've been running Windows 7 for six months now: the preproduction version of it and have just upgraded to the gold code. So I have quite a bit of experience with the operating system. Let's get to the nitty gritty:Should you upgrade from Windows Vista? YES! I mean it - upgrade today.Windows 7 is quite simply faster, more stable, boots faster, goes to sleep faster, comes back from sleep faster, manages your files better and on top of that it's beautiful to look at and easy to use. Even the preproduction version of Windows 7 was better than my Vista with SP2.Should you upgrade from Windows XP? Maybe, but for different reasons.XP is a good operating system and if you don't need to add new hardware or software, XP is good. However, XP is old as an operating system. Also chances are that if you're running XP, you might not meet the minimum requirements for Windows 7 - check the compatibility site at Microsoft to see if your system will... 5/5 Just Anonymous (Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews, October 22, 2009

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  Be careful which Version of Windows 7 you buy !!!!

  "Windows Vista(tm) Home Premium cannot be upgraded to Windows 7 Professional.You can choose to install a new copy of Windows 7 Professional instead, but this is different from an upgrade, and does not keep your files, settings, and programs. You'll need to reinstall any programs using the original installation discs or files. To save your files before installing Windows, back them up to an external location such as a CD, DVD, or external hard drive. To install a new copy of Windows 7 Professional, click the Back button in the upper left-hand corner, and select "Custom (advanced)".Simply said you cannot upgrade Home Premium, keeping your programs and files, you must start over similar to a clean install.. To install Windows 7 on top of Home Premium while maintaing all of your files, programs, settings etc., you must purchase the Ultimate Upgrade for $19 more.This will allow people who are not "computer friendly" upgrade without the hassle of backing... 3/5 T. R. Collins "trc Gaget Guy" (Las vegas) - See all my reviews, October 23, 2009

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  List Price: $199.99
  

  Start programs faster and more easily, and quickly find the documents you use most often

  Make the things you do every day easier with improved desktop navigation;

  Recover data easily with automatic backups to your home or business network, connect to company networks effortlessly and more securely

  Windows 7 Professional (includes 32 & 64-bit versions) lets you run Windows XP productivity programs in Windows XP Mode,

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  Microsoft Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade [Home Premium to Professional]

  Software (Microsoft Software)
  

  Rating (205 reviews):

  (3.9/5)

  

  What this upgrade does

  I don't see much commentary here about the actual product performance. There is a lot of confusion about this upgrade in the retail outlets, so I thought I'd explain to those with questions.I researched Windows 7 before I bought my computer, and knew I wanted Win 7 Professional in case I wanted to run XP programs. Most retail outlets only had Win 7 Home Premium installed on their computers. The computer stores had the Win 7 Pro computers on backorder. Through some investigation at Microsoft, I found out that all versions of Win 7 are preinstalled, and you just need to get a key to "unlock" the higher versions. This is that key.It took a total of 14 minutes to install this upgrade on my new computer. The hardest part was typing in the multi-digit key. (In other words, not hard!) It ran for 12 minutes, and then it was ready to go!I haven't tried the features of Win 7 Pro to rate it, but this upgrade works as promised. 5/5 J. Jaeger (Minnesota, USA) - See all my reviews, November 12, 2009

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  This is how you upgrade from Win 7 Home Premium to Win 7 Professional

  Most laptops/notebooks seem to ship with Windows 7 Home Premium rather than Windows 7 Professional. That is probably fine for most users. However, if you need your Windows 7 Notebook to be part of a business domain network, you need Windows 7 Professional. This upgrade is how you accomplish the change.It turns out that Windows 7 Home Premium already contains Windows 7 Professional; it is simply not enabled. When you buy this upgrade you are getting an upgrade key. No disk, just a key sticker and very brief instructions. Key it in pursuant to the laughably simple instructions and within minutes you will be running Windows 7 Professional. One caveat: apparently you cannot upgrade from Windows 7 32 to Windows 7 64 bit. This will affect very few users as I do not believe that hardly any computers are shipping with 32 bit Windows 7. Nor should they. Windows 7 64 bit is very compatible with existing 32 bit software, and in the future we can expect lots of 64 bit... 5/5 Roger J. Buffington (Huntington Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews, December 28, 2009

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  Needed upgrade

  My laptop crashed and needed to be replaced. Old laptop was on XP Pro; new one on Win 7 Premium Home. One of my old software programs did not work on Win 7, and it is no longer supported, but I needed to use it. Research told me I could create a Virtual PC operating on XP but only from Win 7 Pro. So I bought the unlock code. It worked fine. I have now created Virtual PC and can access my needed old software program in that manner. Couple minor problems. First, a Virtual PC is truly a separate PC. It does not have access to the antivirus software installed on the Win 7 PC. Fortunately my ISP offers free downloads of Norton PC. Laptop came with McAfee (I did not want it because of my free access to antivirus from my ISP, but I had no choice). So I now have the main laptop protected by McAfee and the Virtual PC protected by Norton. Upgrade downloads occur separately and require separate reboots to take effect. There is no conflict because they are effectively two separate... 4/5 Retiree "Retiree" (Richmond, VA) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Microsoft Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade [Home Premium to Professional] (Software) My laptop crashed and needed to be replaced. Old laptop was on XP Pro; new one on Win 7 Premium Home. One of my old software programs did not work on Win 7, and it is no longer supported, but I needed to use it. Research told me I could create a Virtual PC operating on XP but only from Win 7 Pro. So I bought the unlock code. It worked fine. I have now created Virtual PC and can access my needed old software program in that manner. Couple minor problems. First, a Virtual PC is truly a separate PC. It does not have access to the antivirus software installed on the Win 7 PC. Fortunately my ISP offers free downloads of Norton PC. Laptop came with McAfee (I did not want it because of my free access to antivirus from my ISP, but I had no choice). So I now have the main laptop protected by McAfee and the Virtual PC protected by Norton. Upgrade downloads occur separately and require separate reboots to take effect. There is no conflict because they are effectively two separate... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , March 30, 2010

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  List Price: $89.95
  Price: $68.00
  You Save: $21.95 (24%)

  Connect to company networks easily and more securely with Domain Join

  Move up to Windows 7 Professional from Windows 7 Home Premium with Windows Anytime Upgrade

  Easily create a home network and connect your PCs to a printer with HomeGroup

  Run many Windows XP productivity programs in Windows XP Mode

  Watch, pause, rewind, and record TV on your PC

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  Sticking with Windows XP...or Not? Why You Should or Why You Should Not Upgrade to Windows 7 (Windows Tips and Tricks)

  eBooks (ComputorEdge E-Books)
  

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  Microsoft Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade [Starter to Home Premium]

  Software (Microsoft Software)
  

  Rating (76 reviews):

  (3.6/5)

  

  Great for netbooks, but little else

  This product is only for computers running Windows 7 Starter, so if you are hoping to upgrade from XP or Vista with this kit you are out of luck. If you bought a Windows 7 netbook, chances are you have Windows 7 Starter and have already noticed a few shortcomings of the "netbook-friendly" OS. Among those are the inability to change the background or theme without assistance of 3rd party software, no Windows Media Center, and lack of Aero enhancements such as Glass (translucent borders) and Peek (thumbnail previews of open windows). Starter also lacks a 64-bit version and caps memory at 2GB, but the Atom processors in most netbooks are 32-bit and only support up to 2GB RAM.Windows Anytime Upgrade is a convenient way to increase functionality without spending extra on a full upgrade kit. The case contains only a product key, no disc, so no external DVD drive is needed. Windows 7 installs all of the components for all versions regardless of which is being installed, locking... 4/5 Curtis J. Katinas "sakanagai" - See all my reviews, December 8, 2009

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  Decided to forgo the upgrade

  So far, I am very happy with the Windows 7/Starter on the eeePC. I installed the 2GB upgrade, but I have decided I don't really need the upgrade to Home/Premium:Screensaver: I have read that these have little use with flat panel displays. The best approach is to turn the display off to extend the life of the back lighting. This you can do with 7/Starter.Desktop Background: Don't these tend to become invisible after a while anyway?Aero Effects: Can I live without it? Yeaahhh.Themes: Again, so what?I use the netbook for net surfing, ebooks, forums, email and a little blogging. Bookworm Adventure runs nicely. 7/Starter does all of these things very well. The look of Starter is attractive and pleasing. I can't see how a $77 desktop background will make these things perform any better. 4/5 David M. Wenning - See all my reviews, March 18, 2010

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  Upgraded from inferior product

  Does what it's supposed to do. The "No discs, no delay" is deceiving. When you order from Amazon, you don't just get the upgrade code emailed to you instantly, you actually have to wait for a package to be delivered. There is no disc, just the upgrade code. Seems like it could be done online so you don't have to wait several days for a little card to be delivered. A waste of time and packaging. The delivery method is the reason I'm giving it a lower number of stars.Windows 7 Starter needs to be done away with. Just because you have a small portable laptop does not mean that you want only a few basic features. Shame on Microsoft for making this version that almost forces an experienced user to upgrade. It's just a ploy to get more $$$. 3/5 D. Vajdak "Online buyer" (Aggieland, TX) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Microsoft Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade [Starter to Home Premium] Does what it's supposed to do. The "No discs, no delay" is deceiving. When you order from Amazon, you don't just get the upgrade code emailed to you instantly, you actually have to wait for a package to be delivered. There is no disc, just the upgrade code. Seems like it could be done online so you don't have to wait several days for a little card to be delivered. A waste of time and packaging. The delivery method is the reason I'm giving it a lower number of stars.Windows 7 Starter needs to be done away with. Just because you have a small portable laptop does not mean that you want only a few basic features. Shame on Microsoft for making this version that almost forces an experienced user to upgrade. It's just a ploy to get more $$$. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , July 28, 2010

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  List Price: $79.95
  

  Start programs faster and more easily, and quickly find the documents you use most often

  Make the things you do every day easier with improved desktop navigation

  Make your web experience faster, easier and safer than ever with Internet Explorer 8

  Watch, pause, rewind, and record TV on your PC

  Move up to Windows 7 Home Premium from Windows 7 Starter with Windows Anytime Upgrade

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