Microsoft documents how Windows 7 E customers can get a browser

"A virtualization is a new machine" Should say "virtualization environment".

"Will there be an option in Add/Remove Programs (or whatever it's now called, I use Vista a home but XP at work and old habits die hard) option to install IE from the DVD?" No. It's not included on the disc. There has been talk (rumours?) that Microsoft may have some kind of CD available later. I'd like to just see them offer it via Microsoft Update as an optional update as it does for Silverlight, the Office Live plugin, Windows Live Essentials, and the Vista Ultimate Extras.

Chuck, please tell me Apple pays you to do this kind of marketing. Everytime Paul has an article that says something negative about Windows 7, you use it as an opportunity to sell OS X. You sound like an infomercial for Apple most of the time.

"Second, to forestall the comments about Safari being bundled with OS X. I have no problem at all with the EU mandating the inclusion of 5 or 6 browsers! It's a total non-issue." When is it right for an organization to force competition to a market leader that has already made it there, just for the sake of some that couldn't compete in the same open market? What I'm referring to, of course, is the EU's possible mandate to include competitors browsers. To my knowledge, there are no laws to protect a market leader against unfair competition from a challenger, but the EU is imposing that upon Microsoft.

@chuck: XP OEM licenses aren't transferable. (unless you buy Software Assurance as an add-on, but I'm not dwelling on that) XP Retail full version licenses are transferable, but only if you don't use it on the previous computer. XP Retail upgrade licenses technically are too, but it entirely depends on what the previous OS license includes. An "upgrade" is not a full license - it's just a "license" to use the new bits on top of a previous full version license. So the previous version would have to include transfer rights (ie. it would have to be a retail full version). If you try to move an XP OEM license that was running on hardware into a virtualization environment, it's not a valid license. An OEM could include an OEM license to run a VM, but you'd also have to have a separate host OS license too. Also, the OEM license restriction specifically states that you can't transfer it. After talking with Microsoft Partner Support on this, they state that OEM licenses aren't transferable to other HARDWARE. That includes the HARDWARE that the VM environment is running on. The reason for this is because the OEM supplied the VM license to run on their hardware (physical hardware, not the emulated hardware of the VM environment), and they provide support for it, so transferring it would break the support chain and Microsoft doesn't allow that with OEM licensing. If you want to be able to move stuff back and forth between machines (virtual or not), it's probably because you are into IT, and you'll likely have, or work for a company that has, a volume license agreement. Otherwise you should use trial software in a VM, or get a product that includes VM licensing out of the box (Server 2008 does, to varying degrees depending on the edition, and so does 7 Ultimate). 7 Professional includes VM licensing, but only the license of XP to run in XP Mode. It doesn't include a license to run a second copy of 7 Pro inside a VM. I would say that the XP license that ships with XP Mode likely doesn't qualify for downgrade licensing either, but that's just a guess.

@chuckb84 "It complies with the EU in a manner that is an obvious non-starter" No, it completely complies with the EU's demand that Microsoft not engage in the 'monopolistic practice' of bundling the browser with the operating system. "However, the flat out refusal to include other browsers, or even a means to choose one on first launch is totally arrogant." No it's not. Microsoft doesn't want to be put in the position of supporting competitors' products. It is completely unfair to think they should have to. If bundling is a problem for the EU, then Microsoft should stop bundling. But to expect them to support every dirty product out there is ridiculous. There are perhaps hundreds of competing browsers - tucows.com lists 138 and who knows how many have backdoors? There's just no way. "and that is completely at odds with what the EU was trying to do." Well yes, the EU Commission was/is trying to bilk Microsoft out of billions! Notice though that they have changed their tune. Microsoft is in compliance now (the cash cow has no reason producing milk) so now they want to 'discuss' rather than demand. Hm. They're probably looking for something, anything .. lol ". I hope the EU fines them another 1B Euros. Microsoft deserves it." Why? They are in compliance. As a matter of fact, they've gone beyond and stripped the email and newsgroup client out of Windows, the instant messenger is out, so is the basic calendar - the movie maker is gone, even the automatic video import is gone - one can't import video with an out-of-the-box version of Windows 7. I'd like to see all that applied to OSX and Linux distros lol. Microsoft has gone beyond fair and beyond compliance. It is really time to leave them alone.

Waethorn, I did the research this time instead of just telling you. Paul covered this in an earlier post. Here is what he said: 1. A qualifying Windows operating system must be installed. 2. The qualifying Windows operating system must have a genuine license (product key) and it must be activated. 3. To upgrade, boot to the qualifying Windows desktop, insert the Windows 7 Upgrade disc in the DVD drive. 4. When the setup menu appears, select Custom (advanced) to initiate a clean install procedure. Here's the link: http://community.winsupersite.com/blogs/paul/archive/2009/07/09/clean-in...

John, In this case, I sort of agree with you. Opera has been non-competative in the browser space for over a decade. It seems more like the EU is busy protecting their businesses instead of truely fostering competition. The question is now, where does the EU go from here? They could easily turn around and force Apple to unbundle iTunes from Macs in Europe. Or force unpopular apps on to machines, adding layers of bloat to any OS in Europe. The question also becomes where does the EU stop? I just wish the EU voters would vote somebody in their assemblies to stop this nonsense.

"I just wish the EU voters would vote somebody in their assemblies to stop this nonsense." You and me both, unfortunately we as European voters haven't got that much influence, European commissioners aren't voted directly.

@panache1023 "Apple has not been convicted for abusing a monopoly position" Yeah, who's being payed off? The silence is deafening .. because if you want an example of a monopolized platform, it's the Apple Compatible Platform.

I still think not including a browser option for customers who purchased Windows is quite user-unfriendly. It seems that Microsoft's "solution" to satisfy the EU puts their business interests first and not their customers, which I think is wrong-headed.

Vista's updater offers IE 8, but does not seem to use IE 7 to check or DL, so theoretically, if I'm correct about this, E users could DL from the updater?