CompUSA Guarantees Vista, Will Reinstall Old OS If Necessary

The program is part of the electronics chain's Windows Vista rollout, which will begin 12:01 a.m. next Tuesday, Jan. 30. Customers who buy Vista or Microsoft's new Office 2007 application suite along with in-store installation of the software are eligible for the satisfaction-guaranteed refund and reinstall.

Customers who bring their PCs to a CompUSA store before 3:00 p.m. Jan. 29 will be able to buy Vista or Office installation for $19.99 (just installation, not the software), and retrieve the computer as early as 12:01 a.m. Jan. 30. From Tuesday on, installation fees will climb to $49.99 (in-store) and $149.99 (in-home).

CompUSA also debuted a notebook trade-up scheme Monday in which customers can bring in an old laptop and receive credit toward the purchase of a new Vista-equipped computer. According to CompUSA, the notebook's value will be based on its condition, hardware specifications, and age. The PC must be in working order, CompUSA said.

"With these offers, CompUSA is addressing the most common barriers that consumers could face in upgrading their PCs to Vista," Stephen Baker, an analyst with the NPD Group, said in a statement.

Microsoft plans a media event in New York on Jan. 29 to introduce Vista to consumers. Retailers and online sellers will have Vista PCs stocked starting Jan. 30.