|  | | Toshiba Screws Windows 7 Upgrade Program in EMEA | 
Five months ago, Microsoft announced its Windows 7 upgrade program. The program offers cheap or free Windows 7 upgrade [upon general availability] to anyone who bought a PC with Windows Vista from a participating OEM or retailer between June 26th, 2009 and January 31st, 2010. Recently, I discovered that Toshiba - one of the largest manufacturers of laptops, has really messed up with their Windows 7 program in the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East and Africa).
Recently, consumers in the US have complained about Windows 7 upgrade program's additional fees ($10). But ironically, they should be thankful, since Toshiba charges $40 for Windows 7 upgrade in the EMEA region. If the high price wasn't enough, Toshiba emailed EMEA customers about a week ago and informed them that they won't be able to ship their Windows 7 upgrade on time due to a driver issue:
"Thank you for ordering the Toshiba Windows 7 Upgrade pack. Your shipment will contain a Windows 7 DVD, the product key and a free Toshiba driver DVD, containing the latest Windows 7 drivers for your Toshiba PC. Additionally, the driver DVD will guide you through the upgrade process for your convenience. The collection of the driver DVD and the programming of an automatic upgrade process require some more time. Therefore, we will be able to ship your Windows 7 Upgrade at the beginning of December. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause. Due to technical reasons it is not possible to ship your Windows 7 Upgrade pack without the driver DVD. As soon as the upgrade pack has been shipped, we will inform you straight away by email."
EMEA customers will have to wait two more months to receive their alleged cheap Windows 7 upgrade pack. Suspiciously, North American customers aren't affected by this issue: "North American customers who purchased qualified Toshiba laptops after 6/26/09 and register for the upgrade on our site will receive their Windows 7 upgrade media in October. Specifically, Toshiba will ship the discs on 10/25/09. Also, Toshiba will soon release Windows 7 drivers for all our consumer laptops released over the past two years, ensuring that customers who purchased Toshiba laptops prior to 6/26/09 and purchase Windows 7 on their own can continue to get the most out of their purchase dollars." said Jared Leavitt from Toshiba's US PR to Theo Valich from BSN.
We wrote an email to Toshiba EMEA asking for their official response and some explanations for the driver issue and its two month delay, but we haven't heard from them yet [if their PRs work like their software developers, it's going to take them at least a month to reply]. Three things are certain: Toshiba hasn't prepared itself properly for Windows 7, their software developers aren't taking their jobs seriously and the EMEA consumer got screwed once again.
Last edited by Regeneration; October 28th, 2009 at 01:26 PM..
| | | | 38 Comments | | | Driver issue is the only reason for the delay? They've had Windows 7 RTM for...what? TWO months at least??? Something's really screwy here is all I can say. | | | | Weird, especially when drivers for vista can be installed on windows 7. | | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by SpectatorX  Weird, especially when drivers for vista can be installed on windows 7. | This. | | | | Idiots. I am one of the victims  | | | | | | I live in America and Toshiba still hasn't shipped my Windows 7 DVD. | | | | Free for US customers, but still waiting from Toshiba to send my Windows 7 DVD. A friend of mine has a DELL and received his DVD within one week. | | | | make that three and counting for the USA and no Tracking Number Link. I want to get windows 7 that's why I bought this. I could have waited and bought, but I put some cash in Toshibas' pocket. Now, please could someone at Toshiba put some WINDOWS 7 in my pocket? I have read elsewhere this might take as long as 60 days. WHAT? | | | | same here.. still waiting for my upgrade... must be coming by pony express.. | | | | just received mine in the mail today. I live in PA and registered for it in july. | | | | Me from Singapore. Sent in upgrade request more than a week ago and still no news about the shipment. Checked status in their website and its still the same - "Pending proof of payment". Any normal transactions would take only 3 days. Wrote to them to ask about it but have not received any reply. Are they sleeping or what? At least they should reply and say something. | | | | Same here! Windows 7 drivers for my laptop hasnt been out yet!!
Funny thing though is that when i had vista i run upgrade advisor. Upgrade advisor said nothing for my graphics drivers and after upgrading to 7 i have a problem with my drivers! I managed to find one from toshiba US which are similar to US models but still graphics dont work as they should!
And thats not all....nvidia website says that i have to get them from my manufacturer's website cause some drivers are being modified by toshiba!!! Never buying a toshiba laptop again! Had an Acer aspire, put Windows 7 RC in MAY and works better than ever! | | | | Toshiba has still not ship and there is no one you can talk. Email response is late and inconsistent. | | | | SENT ALL DOCS A MONTH AGO STILL NO RESPONSE AND TRACKING SAYS "WAITING FOR PROOF OF PURCHASE" | | | | Order Date Status Item Carrier Tracking Number/Link
10.12.2009 Accepted Windows 7 Home Premium
Not an email, nothing! Not even a clue when it will come. Could they blow customer good will any more? | | | | Sent my proof of purchase via onlne in late July. Got my approval in mid August. I have gotten no response since and the status on the tracking site is the same. They have sixty days after the general release date of 7 to ship it. They are probably facing a class action lawsuit soon, I'm sure, if nothing happens before Christmas. | | | | I thought Toshiba was a good and reputable company until reading about this fiasco. There's never been a longer and better Beta and open testing of a Windows OS than there has been with Windows 7. There is simply no excuse for ANY company to be delaying shipping of an upgrade due to any driver issues. | | | | I received mine but it won't install | | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered I received mine but it won't install | What are you installing it on? Desktop, Laptop, or ???? | | | | If I go to the tracking page, estimated delivery date for my copy is now 16th December. Last time I checked a few weeks back it was 23rd November. EPIC FAIL. | | | | Nothing here yet, toshiba US still hasn't shipped the order, and i got a feeling that it never will... | | | | My proof of purchase was approved on the 13th of Oct. When I check the order tracking website it says shipped, it does not provide any courier or tracking number. It has been saying the same thing since about the end of Oct. I have been constantly emailing toshiba and I do not get any specific responses to my email. I request read receipts and they are read within a day, but respond back in about a week. Again with just general responses that tells me it has been shipped.
That doesnt help me one bit since it shouldnt take any more than a week to get to me, but was supposedly shipped a month ago. I called the customer service number 2 times. The first time they gave me a case number and said someone would contact me within 2-3 days. That never happened. So I called them again trying to find answers, but couldnt. I think now I am going to file a complaint with the "Better Business Beauru". | | | | Similar problem with Toshiba in US. FAXed proof of purchase in Aug. Showed confirmed, Accepted Mastercard as payment for shipping, carrier DHL. Now shows New as status. FAX number on website is not a working FAX number. Uploaded, proof of purch, no result. Refaxed to original working number, no change, uploaded again, no change. Emails and website still say waiting on proof of purchase. Trying regular mail next. It feels like a rebate company that is paid to deny rebates.
What agency can we report this to? | | | | I think the upgrade is contracted out to a company called Arvato USA. based out of Valencia, CA. When I did get general email replies, that was in the email address (toshibawin7@arvatousa.com). I have researched them and found this phone number...1 800 223 1478. I havent called it yet because I just filed a claim with the Better Business Bureau. I want to see if they can handle it for me. You can do so at BBB.com. | | | | I think Arvato is just the web designer/hoster. | | | | | | | | Yep, that them. Scroll down and read Arvato Digital Services | | | | This is what's shown in the lower right corner of the status of order page.... | | | | i too have fallen victim to Toshiba's bs. i had a feeling i was not the only one. i ordered mine in october5 and was approved on November 5th. the status said shipped on November 12. I am still waiting for it. February 3rd is the 60 business day mark... | | | | I may have also been taken by Toshiba's deceptions regarding the Windows v7 upgrade. One of the options to register for the upgrade was to fax in requested information. Well, after 3.5 months of waiting for the upgrade, I checked my paper work to find out that the deadline for the request is 1/31/10. So, after contacting Toshiba to find out what the status is of my upgrade, I was informed that they conveniently do not have my request on file. Lesson number one, don't submit request by fax since you do not get a confirmation other that a fax transmission report. I will be seeking out a review site to rant about the laptop operation and battery life. Oh, and lesson number two, battery usage time is a major attribute of a laptop!!!! | | | | I am still waiting for my Toshiba Upgrade and have been getting the run around since August when I bought my Laptop. The order has been accepted, processed, cancelle, accepted , and approved. What the heck is that all about. I need a number to call someone to complain. But all I get is you have to e-mail your request. Now what??? | | | | So far, my VISA has been charged, credited, charged, credited, and charged again several times. I finally did get an email stating that the product would be shipped ASAP. But, the status page still shows estimated delivery of 1/25/2010 and no tracking number. | | | | i've been through a nightmare with them. i faxed them all required documents 3 times. they said it approved, then cancelled it, then i faxed again (two more times), then they said they "cant open a fax" (at their own fax) and declined it (all this after already being charged for it). then they said i have to take a picture of it and then scan it to them. i dont have a scanner and dont need to buy one for this nonsense. this is a game. | | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered i've been through a nightmare with them. i faxed them all required documents 3 times. they said it approved, then cancelled it, then i faxed again (two more times), then they said they "cant open a fax" (at their own fax) and declined it (all this after already being charged for it). then they said i have to take a picture of it and then scan it to them. i dont have a scanner and dont need to buy one for this nonsense. this is a game. | In my last email to them, I told them that I would contact any consumer protection entity that I could contact to file a complaint against them for not providing the product in a timely manner. I got my copy within the next week.  | | | | Toshiba = LIES UNTRUTHS DENIALS and ACCUSATIONS re their 'upgrade' program. The suckered me into buying a laptop directly from them with a promise I would get the Win 7 upgrade.
"No we didn't".
A$$holes. Sony has a good pal in Toshiba's Customer DIS-service... | | | | As I've stated previously, Toshiba will get not one more dime from me for anything with that brand stamped on it. They've lost a customer for life. | | | | I have been patiently waiting for my Windows 7 upgrade that was promised by Toshiba. When I returned to the States recently, I called them and was told that they didn't ship it to me because they don't ship to APO addresses (or any mailbox). I then asked them to send it to a USA address and they told me that Arvato said it was too late. They told me that Arvato is a subsidiary of Microsoft. So I then called MS. They said that Arvato was contracted by Toshiba. So here comes the vicious finger pinting cycle! No one even had the courtesy to send me a postcard or anything explaining the delay and now denial of what I am entitled to. Toshiba ... hmmm. | |
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