win8 Undecided on how I will upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8

[Az.mak]

Good moring everyone.

Lately I have been thinking on what method I will choose when it comes time to upgrade my Windows 7 machine to Windows 8 on October 26. I am curious to know what you all have decided for yourself. Will you be doing the $39.99 online upgrade or will you buy the $69.99 retail box somewhere and do it that way? Please if you would, explain why you chose the option you did.

Normally when I can afford to do so I prefer buying the retail copy so that I have a physical copy of the item. I don't know how the online update will actually work. I haven't found a link anywhere describing how it will be done. I did read a C|Net article the other day that said,

"You will be able to create your own bootable USB or .ISO file, which can be burned onto a DVD for upgrade and backup purposes. If you prefer, you also have the option of purchasing a backup DVD for $15 plus shipping and handling," Microsoft said.

But I haven't been able to find any such statement in an actual Microsoft post or article anywhere to back that up. It also seems apparent that Microsoft is still issuing updates to Windows 8 and I think that's great but I now wonder if the retail box to be sold on October 26 will have these last minute updates. It doesn't seem likely given the fact they need to fill and ship the orders out to the retail establishments ahead of October 26 release date so I am not sure that they will have the very latest updates. I think the one from the other day was 174mb or something like that. I sure would prefer having that 174mb update on retail disk so I don't have to download that.

Anyhow, I'd appreciate knowing how you all are going to do your update and would appreciate a brief explaination as to why you chose that method.

Thank you very much for your time and replies. Have a good weekend too. :)

[1337ish]

Online is fine, you download an iso which can either be loaded onto a usb stick for installing from or a dvd.

All you need really is your serial key and you can get a legit download of the iso for your version without issue using md5 checks.

You own the right to run the software on that pc so long as you have that right installing it from a burned iso will be fine.

Normally you see a "burn a disc" option at the end of the ordering process when it goes live. Its usually cheaper because you dont get a manual or any extra rights like boosted support which I *think* you get with retail.

There is a new procedure where you can do a clean install from upgrade but I am not sure what the procedure is, normally it will have to be ran from Windows 7 as an upgrade (not clean)

[George P Global Moderator]

I'll wait and see if anyone else does what I want to do upgrade wise. In my case I want to install Windows 8 on my new SSD not on the same old HDD Windows 7 is on. I know the upgrade version lets you do a clean install but I figure it's to the same drive Windows 7 is on unless it does infact let you pick where you want to install it then all is well in my case and I'll just d/l it and make a bootable USB for the install.

If I can't do this then I'll have to wait and get one of the full OEM/System builder copies but those cost more.

[skilithead]

I'll wait and see if anyone else does what I want to do upgrade wise. In my case I want to install Windows 8 on my new SSD not on the same old HDD Windows 7 is on. I know the upgrade version lets you do a clean install but I figure it's to the same drive Windows 7 is on unless it does infact let you pick where you want to install it then all is well in my case and I'll just d/l it and make a bootable USB for the install.

If I can't do this then I'll have to wait and get one of the full OEM/System builder copies but those cost more.

I think the upgrade version is concerned with the machine itself , not the disc .

[George P Global Moderator]

I think the upgrade version is concerned with the machine itself , not the disc .

I hope that's the case, but I'll wait to be 100% sure first.