According to ZDNet, Microsoft has detailed its Windows 8 upgrade plans with select partners, giving a better way (but with some restrictions) that a user can move from Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. Here’s how one can move:
- Users will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 from Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Home Basic and Windows 7 Home Premium while maintaining their existing Windows settings, personal files and applications.
- Users will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro from Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Home Basic, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate while maintaining their existing Windows settings, personal files and applications.
- Users will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 Enterprise from Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Enterprise while maintaining their existing Windows settings, personal files and applications.
- Users will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 from Windows Vista (without SP1 installed) but only personal files (meaning data only) will be maintained. If upgrading from Vista with SP1, personal data and system settings will be maintained.
- Users will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 from Windows XP with Service Pack 3 or higher but only personal files/data only will be maintained.
There are few more specific restrictions that need to be fulfilled in order to make the move to the Windows 8, like 32bit XP, Vista, and 7 users can only upgrade to 32 bit Windows 8, and similar to that for 64 bit Windows. We are expecting further more from the company as expected October release date still having time, and company will put up more plans how to make more and more users to be a part of this “Windows 8” drive.
