My wife wants a new computer, hers is so old it's still running Windows 98 (not kidding). I found a decent deal for an HP at Costco. It runs Vista but has a "free upgrade" offer to Windows 7 when it comes out. I thought... ok, fine. They direct me to a page on HP.com to fill out my information to order the upgrade. Bump, it forwards me to an error page stating that the site only works with IE. I'm currently on a mac so it's impossible for me to order the upgrade. What a load of crap. I guess I'll cancel the PC and order another stupid overpriced mac.

Use someone else's computer. Problem solved?

I honestly don't know anyone with a computer that runs a recent version of IE. At least not in Real Life.

That solution is like if you have a ingrown toenail, you amputate the foot.

Virtual Machine, Or give me the link and free upgrade.

Go to a cafe internet?...

I think the point is that they're locking out people who don't already run Windows from buying a machine with Windows. Yes, he COULD install a VM and do it through there, or he COULD go to an internet cafe and pay for internet to buy a new computer, or or or...

or they could just make a website that, you know, everyone on the internet can access.

My solution: In Opera you (used to be able to, at least) can have it identify as different browsers. You could try to set it to IE and see if that works.

Just use Firefox with the IE Tab extension.

Well, let's think about this logically for a second... He just ordered a PC with Vista on it. The upgrade program is for buying PCs with Vista, and getting a Windows 7 upgrade later when it comes out. Thus, one of the prerequisites for the upgrade is having a PC that he just bought with Vista on it. Vista comes with IE7. So he could you know, wait till he gets the computer he just ordered, use it, and get his Windows 7 upgrade when it comes out in October. In fact, I'm betting the upgrade program asks for the Vista product key on the computer, so even trying to do it before you get the new computer is fruitless...

there are ways to make [insert your browser here] appear to such websites as if it's [other browser here]... it can even tell those sites you're running a different OS

plus darth makes a good point that the deal probably asks for a vista product key

I vote this.

I suppose that makes a sort of sense, but it's still retarded. I wanted to order it now but I'm guessing you're right it probably requires the product key anyway. Which I don't have yet. Hrm. What if it was a gift?

The upgrade should only ask for the key when you go to install it. But still, you can extract the key from the machine. Google how to get the key. I think you can get it with regedit.

I was actually referring to when you order the upgrade from HP. I just checked though, and they don't ask for the Windows key. They do, however, ask for the HP Product Key and SN on the computer, so yeah, you can't actually order it until you get the computer I'm guessing.

fyi, HP's suck in my experience.

Or at least they did in the past.

Er isn't the key shown in right-click My computer -> Properties?

edit: whoops I meant to quote emon

yes, yes it is.

Yeah, so does every manufactured computer ever as far as I know.

Eh, I started out with an HP because it was on sale, damn fine machine to upgrade.