Windows 8 Pro hardware and upgrade now available for pre-order

By George Ponder
last updated

Along with all the pre-order offers we are seeing on Windows 8 hardware, we are now seeing the software upgrade join the pre-order party. Starting today, you can pre-order your copy of the Windows 8 Pro upgrade for discounted price of $69.99 USD. Pre-orders can be made through retailers such as Amazon.com (opens in new tab), Best Buy (opens in new tab), Staples (opens in new tab) and the Microsoft Store (opens in new tab).

For those wanting to wait a bit, on October 26th you can upgrade to Windows 8 using the online upgrade assistant for $39.99 USD. The online option is supported for 140 countries worldwide with 37 languages and 23 currencies supported.

The discounted upgrade offer will only last through January 31, 2013.

If you have purchased an eligible Windows 7 computer between June 2, 2012 and January 31, 2013 the Windows 8 upgrade will cost $14.99 USD. If you are eligible for the $14.99 upgrade, those become available on October 26th and you can find all the details on this upgrade offer here at Microsoft (opens in new tab).

Source: windowsteamblog (opens in new tab)

George Ponder
George Ponder

George is the Reviews Editor at Windows Central, concentrating on Windows 10 PC and Mobile apps. He's been a supporter of the platform since the days of Windows CE and uses his current Windows 10 Mobile phone daily to keep up with life and enjoy a game during down time.

27 Comments
  • Can't wait for Windows 8
  • +1
  • Ordered!
  • If you use the online upgrade and later need to reformat the drive, can you download and reinstall win 8 again using the software key?
  • Yes you can.
  • Thats good to hear.
  • If you do install later and you are using an upgrade key, do you need to install windows 7 and then update or can you just install from the update and enter your old and new key?
  • Can I do a clean install onto a new hard drive with the online upgrade?
  • Well W8 does have a reset option for windows itself, it does not reformat the drive though. So no.
  • That is the nature of an "upgrade".
  • Well I intend to Upgrade to an SSD in the process, I was really wondering if I have Win 7 on my other drive, would the Win 8 upgrade from the online upgrade option allow me to do that?
  • Interesting. I want to buy a full product key, not an upgrade but doing a clean install on my computer is a lot of work with everything I have on there. Is it possible to use a full product key, not only an upgrade key, to upgrade win7 to win8??
  • As a just in case you format later? In the past you could use a full as an upgrade, I'm sure you could now. Steam cloud and SkyDrive and I'm good on any machine.
  • I have 6 hard disks in my machine with several versions of visual studio. Adobe master collection, several network drive configurations, several virtual machines and servers running for development. Add in my installed games and restoring my computer from a fresh install is a big process. I did it 6 months ago when I added an SSD to my system. I do want to upgrade but I want to buy a full version because I want to be able to do full wipes and installs in the future. If I can just upgrade and go with a full key I will be happy.
  • You need two computers.
  • Probably, I'd like to set up a dedicated media / VM machine to remove most of the content on my PC. 
     
    What makes it difficult is that I require full backup and redundancy.  All my media is on an array that allows for disk failure and all of my critical files are completely backed up.  This is all my gamesaves, university work, taxes, etc etc.
     
    I'm planning on building a new PC to replace this one in a year and then I'm going to convert this one into that media machine.
  • Online for me, just keep a document of keys from the old computers in SkyDrive for those just in case situations.
  • Since when did buying the upgrade eliminate the ability to wipe your drive and start all over? Once you buy the key aren't you able to use it on that particular machine no matter what? If not, you are screwed if your hard drive dumps.
  • Is there any point in buying if you have win7 on a desktop? No rhetoric, serious question.
  • Yes, two important points; first W8 is about relevant information right in front of you with live tiles, that just makes it worth. Secondly, get a touch mouse or a touch pad for $70 and get the full touch experience. Quite simple.
     
  • Wondering if it will work with the intuos? :-/
  • I got mine for £9.99 on Microsoft ExpertZone =P
    Working in retail does have it's perks haha!
  • Do u have to wipe your hard drive to install the online upgrade
  • I replaced my Windows 7 os with the Windows 8 release preview (build 8400). Can I still get the upgrade option or will it not work and I'd have to get the full version?
  • You can actually Upgrade from the Release to final with no reinstall. I got the final Key last month from our Action Pack
  • I'm running the Windows 8 Consumer Preview on my MacBook Pro. Will I be able to purchase the $69 version and update it/clean install or will I need to buy the System Builder edition? 
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