How to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8

I have been using Windows 7 on my Lenovo Ideapad Laptop from the time Microsoft announced the Windows 7. I skipped Windows Vista and upgraded from Windows XP to Windows 7 directly.

It is time again to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8. Microsoft launched Windows 8 Developer Preview in October 2011. A more matured version called Windows 8 Consumer Preview was announced in February 2012. I tried to use both the versions on my laptop and desktop and like some of the Windows 8 new features. Even though I am not a big fan of the new desktop and the Windows 8 metro start menu, I would like to upgrade to Windows 8 as soon as it is available publicly for some of the other interesting features.

How to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8

In case of developer preview and consumer preview versions, it is strongly recommended you keep your original Windows 7 as it is and not upgrade it to Windows 8 because of the potential problems in a pre release software. Even though Windows 8 is pretty stable as of now, there could be unforeseen problems later which could result in loss of data.

Once the final release of Windows 8 comes out, we can expect a stable and reliable Windows which can be used to upgrade your primary work computer. Windows 8 will support upgrading Windows 7 to Windows 8 and will be a smooth process.

One thing to note is, you cannot upgrade any edition of Windows 7 to any edition of Windows 8. There will be multiple Windows 8 editions and you can choose an appropriate edition suitable for you. You can upgrade from Windows 7 to corresponding editions of Windows 8.

Upgrade Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium to Windows 8

If you currently have Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic or Home Premium editions installed, you can upgrade to either Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro editions. You will have to pay and buy appropriate upgrade options for Windows 8.

Windows 7 Professional or Windows 7 Ultimate to Windows 8 PRO

If your current edition is Windows 7 Professional or Windows 7 Ultimate, then your upgrade option is limited to Windows 8 Pro. Microsoft has consolidated 5 editions of Windows 7 in to 2 editions in Windows 8, which will reduce confusion and will give advantage to the end users.

How much it cost to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8

Microsoft has not announced the licensing details and price for upgrading Windows 7 to Windows 8. If you look at the pricing for upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7, it was between US$75 to US$150 depending on the editions you choose. Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Upgrade is currently available in Amazon.com for US$171.

Even though Microsoft has not yet revealed the cost for upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 8, we can expect a price range of about US$100 for the Basic Edition and about $175 for the Pro edition. This is just based on my own estimates and not based on any solid information from any official sources.

Also note that there is no cost to upgrade your Windows 7 to Windows 8 preview versions. The pre release versions of Windows 8 are free for everyone. You can see step by step instructions to install Windows 8 on Oracle VM VirtualBox.

DISCLAIMER: All information provided here is based on various external sources combined with my own interpretation. I have no association or connection with Microsoft. If you are looking for official announcement of Windows 7 to Windows 8 upgrade, I suggest you look at the official blogs and websites of Microsoft.

How to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8

How to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8

How much it cost to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8

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