Microsoft Windows 7 Upgrade Program – Important Program Dates

The upgrade program concerns upgrade paths from Windows Vista to Windows 7, and basically entails that when you buy a Windows Vista machine after July 1 2009, you will get a free upgrade to Windows 7 once it's released. The data also confirm a number of versions for Windows 7.

Important Program Dates for the Windows 7 Upgrade Program are listed in the table below. Some dates have not been finalized and will be included at a later date. These dates are marked as to-be-determined (TBD). However, for planning purposes, program eligibility will begin on July 1, 2009.

Program Eligibility Period - Windows Vista PCs preinstalled with qualifying software must be purchased by end users between these dates. - OEMs may choose to offer a shorter program period within the allowed date range.	July 1, 2009 through TBD
Program Calculation Period - The total number of eligible Windows Vista Certificates of Authenticity (COAs) invoiced to an OEM during the Program Calculation Period, multiplied by 20%, determines the number of program upgrade media that can be purchased by OEM through Microsoft ARs. - End of Program Calculation Period will be 90 days prior to the end of Program Eligibility Period.	April 1, 2009 through TBD
Initial Upgrade Media Fulfillment Date - Date on which OEMs may start shipping upgrade media to Qualifying End Users.	Windows 7 General Availability Date
Final Software Fulfillment Date / Program End Date - Date by which upgrade media must be shipped for Qualifying End Users’ upgrade orders. - Microsoft recommends that OEMs establish and communicate to their customers a final submission date to ensure fulfillment by the Program End Date.	TBD