SynApps The Open Source and Gadget blog

When the EU ruled that Microsoft can not ship Windows 7 only with Internet Explorer pre-installed it suggested to also pre-install other browsers like Firefox, Opera, Google Chrome or what-have-you.

This to Microsoft must have been like Chelski-Fans being ordered to cheering ManU. So, in a twist of things, Microsoft stated that all EU shipped versions of Windows 7 will be - without Internet Explorer, or any Internet browser at all. People now have the "choice" to simply download their favorite thing. But wait a minute, download...with what?!? No browser, no download (at least for most people, some techies know how to do it anyway).

It seems that the self-satisfaction from this brilliant counter-move of consumer protection was not sufficient. So today Microsoft launched stage 2 of the campaign. In a statement that TechARP has, Microsoft says: "The upgrade path from Windows Vista to the E or the N versions of Windows 7 will not support an "in-place" upgrade.  Instead, the upgrade must be performed as a "clean installation"". 

No update from Vista to Win7 for you stupido Euro-heads! In case you don't understand, take that: " It is very important that the end user understands the implications of a clean installation upgrade, and takes all necessary steps to retain their applications, files and settings, including backing-up applications, files and settings prior to installation."

Uh-oh, I hope this is not going to turn out a juicy shot in the foot for Microsoft.