Windows Anytime Upgrade-A Bad Rap?

Last night, I had problems trying to install 7 Pro (64 bit) on my desktop. It installed, but I had networking issues that I couldn't resolve, due to my screwing up a backup. Anyway, I was originally going to upgrade through the Anytime Upgrade, but it was given such a bad rap that I decided against it. Being that I wanted Pro, and not wanting to screw up again, I decided to go the Anytime Upgrade route. It was guaranteed to be satisfactory, or my money back within 30 days of purchase. So I made the purchase, and in less than 10 minutes, I had a nice, clean install of 7 Pro. The files are already in Windows 7 system, you just have to unlock them with a key. It works really good, and I've had no issues as of yet. Where did all of these horror stories come from regarding this method of upgrade? I mean less than 10 minutes, a reboot, the updates configured themselves, and 7 Pro was on my desktop. My system runs as good as it did with Home Premium. In my opinion, this is an excellent and cost efficient way to move from one Windows 7 install to whatever higher level you want. Less than $100, and Windows did all of the work. So if there's any one here that wants to upgrade, this is the way to go. Satisfaction is guaranteed.

bad raps really got underway with the unbelievable increase in internet availability.

it is a bit like those steel balls you see on office desks. Someone has a bad experience, and knocks the first ball. The story is quickly taken up (everyone prefers bad news to good news!) within hours the story is being repeated and used as an original experience. It spreads like bacteria.
I felt the most recent classic example of this was Vista. Out of the box, it ran perfectly. Yes, it did rather hog memory, that was its only majot fault, due to its excessive greed (by dsign) to have many resources loaded fo quick access. With customisation and subseqient updates, I find it is now quite competitive with Windows 7. But, as you point out with the update situation, it got a really bad rap from implsive users, and was unable to change that image.

Thanks for the response, davehc. You're right, for whatever reason, and regardless of what it's about, a lot of people prefer bad over good news. It may do little good, but I hope that my post helps to change that image, as it's a decent product. If it weren't, Microsoft would have removed the option long ago. The main reason that I wanted Pro was for the Windows Virtual PC option. I like VM's, and want Microsoft's version of it. It will help me to answer questions on the forum regarding the use of it, once I get the hang of it. I believe VM's are the solution to running older programs and hardware, and I'm working on proving it.

I believe the "horror stories" you're referring to is those who used the Upgrade retail discs version, not the Anytime Upgrade download. Plus they upgraded over the old Vista OS already on the computer.

They weren't upgrading a Windows 7 install to a higher edition of Windows 7, such as you did. Remember that the install discs, whether x86 or x64 have ALL the editions of Windows 7 on them, it is the KEY that makes the difference. It is the "ei.cfg" file in the "sources" folder that tells the installer which edition to install from the DVD.

A few months ago I posted on how to delete that file and make an All-In-One install DVD using PowerISO.

This sentence you have contradicted yourself. WTH?

The sentence you were referring to was that I was going to do this kind of upgrade from the beginning (about 3 months ago), but because of the bad rap that the Anytime Upgrade had, I decided against it. But after 2 failed attempts to complete the clean install, I booted into the recovery partition, and loaded it back to factory specs. Then I visited the Anytime Upgrade site, it was explained fully that the files were already there, there were no files to be downloaded, just a key was needed to activate what was already there. And it has a 30 day no questions asked guarantee. So that erased any doubts that I had about doing this upgrade. The original doubts that I had came from this forum, there were members who said it left a lot of trash behind. It may have done so for them, but it didn't for me. And these "horror stories" involved both types of upgrades, not just the upgrade disc.

I'm glad Vista ran perfectly for SOMEBODY at least.
My experience has been that Vista's bad rap was no accident, it was earned.
For my money W7 is far superior.