Upgrade From Windows XP, Vista or 7 to Windows 8 Pro For Just US$39.99

We previously reported that Microsoft is offering a special price for customers buying a new Windows 7 PC to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro. The Redmond company has now announced a new offer that lets existing Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 users in 131 markets to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for just US$39.99. And to sweeten the deal, you can add Windows Media Center for free through the ‘add features’ option in the OS after the upgrade.

According to the Windows Team Blog, you will have to download Microsoft's Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant through Windows.com, which will check to make sure your PC is ready for the new OS. If everything passes, you can then purchase the upgrade, and the Assistant will download it for you.

After the download finishes, you can upgrade immediately or install later, either from your desktop or by creating your own bootable USB drive or ISO DVD. Microsoft is also offering the option of purchasing a backup DVD for US$15 plus shipping and handling.

For those who prefer to pick up a packaged DVD version of the upgrade, this will be offered in stores for US$69.99. All these upgrade offers certainly beat the ones offered by Microsoft for Windows 7 three years old.

Both the online and retail upgrade promotions will run through January 31, 2013. In other words, it’s safe to assume Windows 8’s general availability to be before the end of 2012. As it goes, the October/November time frame is looking increasingly likely.

Source: Windows Team Blog

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