Windows Anytime Upgrade

Windows Anytime Upgrade
A component of Microsoft Windows
Details
Type Upgrade application
Included with Windows Vista, Windows 7
Replaced by Add Features in Windows 8
Related components
Windows Update

Windows Anytime Upgrade is a discontinued software upgrade component developed by Microsoft for Windows Vista. Anytime Upgrade enables users who have purchased the Home Basic, Home Premium, and Business editions of the operating system to upgrade to a successive edition (e.g., from Home Basic to Ultimate).[1] Pricing for upgrades purchased through Anytime Upgrade was also reduced when compared with traditional retail packaging.[2][3]

Anytime Upgrade was also available in Windows 7.[4] In Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, the feature was re-branded as Add features to Windows and was used to purchase an upgrade license to the Pro edition of the operating system or to add Windows Media Center to an existing Pro edition installation.[5] However, support for this feature in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 was discontinued on October 31, 2015.[6]

History

A preliminary version of Anytime Upgrade.

Windows Anytime Upgrade was in development prior to the development reset of Windows Vista, then known by its codename "Longhorn." A preliminary version of the feature can be seen in build 4093.

On February 26, 2006, Microsoft announced the editions of Windows Vista to be released to retail and original equipment manufacturers.[7][8] After this announcement it was reported by various technology-related outlets that Anytime Upgrade would enable users to upgrade to successive editions.[1][9][10]

Overview

Windows Vista version

All editions of Windows Vista, excluding Enterprise, are stored on the same optical media—a license key for the edition purchased determines which version on the disc is eligible to be installed.[11] When first announced, Anytime Upgrade enabled users to purchase a digital license from an online merchant for a successive edition of Windows Vista. Once a license had been purchased, a user's product license, billing and other information would be stored within a user's digital locker at the Windows Marketplace digital distribution platform; this would allow a user to retain this information at an off-site location for reference purposes and to reinstall the operating system, if necessary.[12] A user could then initiate an upgrade to the successive edition that the license was purchased for either through components stored on the hard drive by the original equipment manufacturer of the personal computer, an Anytime Upgrade DVD supplied by the OEM, or through installation media compatible with Anytime Upgrade.[13] If none of these options were available, Anytime Upgrade included an option for a user to purchase a DVD online and have it delivered by mail.[2][3]

Microsoft would also release retail packaging for Anytime Upgrade. The retail products were first made available during the consumer launch of Windows Vista on January 30, 2007.[12] The initial version of the products included only an upgrade license, but this was later modified in May 2007 to include both a DVD and a product license.[14] In an effort to streamline the upgrade process, Microsoft announced that digital license distribution would cease on February 20, 2008; licenses purchased prior to this date would not be affected. As a result of this change, users would be required to purchase the aforementioned retail packaging in order to use Anytime Upgrade functionality,[2][15] and Windows Vista Service Pack 1 omits the option to purchase a license online.[16] DVDs for Anytime Upgrade were only produced for Windows Vista.

The version of Anytime Upgrade in Windows Vista essentially performs a full installation of the new product edition while retaining the user's data, programs, and settings.[17] This process can take a considerable amount of time, up to a few hours.[2]

Windows 7 version

Anytime Upgrade in Windows 7 no longer performs a full installation of the edition to be upgraded to. Components for successive editions are instead pre-installed directly in the operating system; a notable result of this change is that the speed of the upgrade process has been significantly increased. Microsoft stated that an upgrade should take approximately 10 minutes.[16] Anytime Upgrade also does not require physical media or additional software.[4][17] Instead, Windows 7 requires a user to purchase a license online, in a manner similar to the initial functionality that was later removed from Windows Vista starting with Service Pack 1.[16] Microsoft would also release Anytime Upgrade packaging for Windows 7 at retail. The packaging, however, would only include a license for the edition to be upgraded to, as Anytime Upgrade in the operating system does not require physical media.[18]

Region availability

When first announced by Xavier Akil Clark-Walker, Anytime Upgrade was available in the United States, Canada, EMEA, European Union, Norway, Switzerland, and Japan, with Microsoft stating that availability of the program would expand after launch of Windows Vista.[13] English version retail packaging for Anytime Upgrade was made available at the consumer launch of Windows Vista for North America and Asia-Pacific regions.[14]

In 2009, it was reported by Ars Technica that Anytime Upgrade retail packaging for Windows 7 may only have been available in regions without broadband Internet access or where retail packaging was ineligible to be offered.[18] Anytime Upgrade was available for Windows 7 in select regions.[19]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Mondok, Matt (March 1, 2006). "Anytime Upgrade: it's a breeze". Ars Technica. Condé Nast. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Thurrott, Paul (October 6, 2010). "Windows Vista Feature Focus: Anytime Upgrade". SuperSite for Windows. Penton. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Shultz, Greg (April 11, 2007). "Inside the Anytime Upgrade Program". TechRepublic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  4. 1 2 LeBlanc, Brandon (February 4, 2009). "A closer look at the Windows 7 SKUs". Blogging Windows. Microsoft. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  5. ↑ Microsoft. "Add features: FAQ". How-to. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Windows 8 and 8.1 Pro Pack and Media Pack are no longer available to buy". Windows How-to. Microsoft. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
  7. ↑ Microsoft (February 26, 2006). "Microsoft Unveils Windows Vista Product Lineup". News Center. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  8. ↑ Fisher, Ken (February 27, 2006). "Microsoft unveils Windows Vista editions". Ars Technica. Condé Nast. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  9. ↑ Fisher, Ken (March 1, 2006). "Windows Vista to support upgrades on the fly". Ars Technica. Condé Nast. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  10. ↑ Bott, Ed (February 28, 2006). "Instant Windows Vista upgrades are on the way". Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  11. ↑ Thurrott, Paul (October 6, 2010). "Windows Vista Installation Super Guide, Part 3: Clean Install Windows Vista". SuperSite for Windows. Penton. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  12. 1 2 Zheng, Long (August 18, 2007). "Windows Vista Anytime Upgrade Packs". istartedsomething. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  13. 1 2 Microsoft (January 2007). "Anytime Upgrade Program Details". Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  14. 1 2 Zheng, Long (August 21, 2007). "Anytime Upgrade Packs, in detail". istartedsomething. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  15. ↑ Oiaga, Marius (February 8, 2008). "Microsoft to End the Distribution of Windows Vista Digital Product Keys". Softpedia. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  16. 1 2 3 Thurrott, Paul (October 6, 2010). "Windows 7 Feature Focus: Anytime Upgrade". SuperSite for Windows. Penton. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  17. 1 2 Bott, Ed (April 23, 2009). "Microsoft prepares Anytime Upgrade, v2". ZDNet. CBS Interactive. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  18. 1 2 Protanlinski, Emil (June 26, 2009). "Anytime Upgrade packs coming for Windows 7 (Updated)". Ars Technica. Condé Nast. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  19. ↑ Microsoft. "Windows Anytime Upgrade: frequently asked questions By Xavier Akil Clark-Walker". Windows How-to. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
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