I was talking about the DVD of Windows 7 that you got today.

Who said I got a DVD of Win 7 today? I certainly didn't.

I don't believe Microsoft have said conclusively what the retail version will include.

They have been very specific

I have read that, and I think it pre-dates the last offer to the EU on the 24th July. To "implement and test" a ballot screen shouldn't take Microsoft more than a week. I reckon they have time before they have to supply hard media in bulk to OEMs.

I don't believe MS have said anything about an additional CD or DVD with a selection of web browsers. As I have said before they have been very specific that the 'E' release will require a clean install and will not include any browsers.

OEMs have already said they will include a browser option, but that won't help european users who try to 'upgrade' to Win 7 between 22nd October and when MS get round to dealing with this issue if they install Win 7 and negate to RTFM first.

Browser issues aside, the clean install issue is bound to mean that a huge number of users inadvertently lose all their data because they simply did not take in what the installer was for you or I so obviously telling them.

In reply to a post by john2007:

it pre-dates

yep, igniore anything they PRed before their concession to the EU.

They have not said this and to ensure this advice was still current I just followed MS's links. I was very careful about this. Try it for yourself. Follow the links for MS in the UK/Buy now/Win 7...... / caveats/ and you will end up here.

I read the wording, legally they have to send you the full version.

No upgrade mentioned.
No requirements listed for old version of windows.
They also stating no browser included which would indicate the original version planned will be sent.

they might not have said anything yet but it's not released to the general public for another 3 months yet. a lot can change in that time.

my post was speculation on my part. whatever happens, i just cannot see microsoft letting end users end up sitting there staring at a nice new desktop on their screen without some easy way of getting online.

I'll accept your word about the destination link.

I think Microsoft have time to implement the browser ballot before the release deadline.

Indeed. And I think it is blindly obvious that if they suddenly included IE or some option that they could be taken to court for breaching any amount of EU legislation covering trade descriptions when they have specifically said that it won't include IE or any web browser.

I clearly misuderstood:

No instructions available I'm afraid. I got home from work to find my new Windows 7 DVD and installed it on my only PC. After a few hours of hunting and reinstalling and who knows what it's now 9pm. I still have no IE on this install and no clue what to do in order to get it.

I now have no idea whatsoever what you are talking about, so there's little point in continuing.