@_rt¹⁰⁰: You're going to need to:
1. Install XP or Vista.
2. Upgrade XP to 7. (Nothing will be imported from XP)
or
3. Upgrade Vista to 7.
There is no direct migration from XP to 7. Even though the upgrade copy will technically be doing a fresh install, it wants an existing XP or Vista installation before it does it.
@G.O.B.: Come on!: So the student dealy is an upgrade version? I though it was a full install disk. Like rt100, I had also hoped to take advantage of the price and install Win 7 on a Mac into either Boot Camp or Virtual Box.
@davebach: Well, given that the upgrade copy IS capable of doing a full install (because it reformats and installs freshly over XP), there may be a way to "persuade" the upgrade copy to install. I don't know because I've never looked into it, but there very well may be.
There is no Windows 2003. There was Windows 2000 and before that Windows ME. I personally found ME to the worst. XP64 was pretty good if only nVidia and ATI were up to their game and wrote good drivers for it (same goes for Vista).
Actually, OEM installs of this kind *are* transferrable to another computer. I've done it with the Vista Home Premium OEM, so unless Microsoft has changed their policy for Win7, it should still be true. It's the bulk install pre-authorised kind that major OEMs like Dell and HP get that can't be transferred.
The main difference is that you only get 32 or 64 (no switching) and you get no customer support from Microsoft.
Is the non-transfer of OEM product keys new? I can't swear to it, but I wanna say I've "transferred" my Windows XP license to "different machines when they've gone through a thorough overhaul (i.e., every part but the hard drive replaced).
I know MS hasn't always been the best judge of when a computer is, in fact, an entirely different computer and when it's simply been upgraded. This is kind of a real concern. Anyone got any experience/thoughts on this?
@OCEntertainment: All you do is call MS and talk to the indian lady and get a new code. Ive had to do it about 15 times with my original version of xp that i bought day 1.
@Eulatos: When I worked at circuit city we would have contests to see who could get past the indian lady the fastest. One guy did it in about 5 minutes which was impressive.
I was actually very excited about Windows 7 for most of the year, started using the open beta and moved on to RC loving the user experience. But when it came to using applications, mostly pro graphics software, 3D, compositing, etc. the thing just fell apart. Some wouldn't runt at all, others suffered from severe issues and even the ones that worked had performance levels of Vista, which is way below XP x64. Regrettably the user experience is not enough to take that kind of a performance hit, I really love the new taskbar and libraries. I guess I'll be saving my cash for the future iterations.
@ara: I find it strange that there haven't been more people around here making the same kind of statements. Normally there is a pretty large group of people that do graphics and photo for a living round these parts.
Are you running old software?
XP64 is the worst OS that MS has ever put out so I honestly find this hard to believe, not impossible mind you, just bizarre.
@UnderLoK: Windows XP Professional x64 Edition has the same core binaries as Windows Server 2003, they have same service packs, drivers, etc. There are some UI and service differences, but the core OS is same.
Unless you were talking about Windows XP 64-Bit Edition, the Itanium one?
@ara: You didn't say XP Pro 64 so I thought you were talking Itanium...
OGL has been by the way side for awhile now, kinda sucks.
@eXo: Do you not see my picture? Do I honestly look like I'm 12 or something? There was nothing wrong with ME, it worked. If you had a virus laden box, the OS was of no true consequence. It's obvious that you have no idea what XP64 is.
When XP64 hit it was a complete and utter clusterfuck from lack of drivers, shotty drivers, and bumbled software. You also get to add on the whole 64bit/32bit issue with applications and supporting dll's. Often times you run into 64bit apps with underlying 32bit extensions and what not that couldn't run together. You would have users installing everything 64bit, but run into those one or two apps that were only 32bit in which case it would cause a vicious circle of 32/64bit hell.
XP64 = Windows XP
XP 64 Pro = 2003
Both of which suffer from the scenario laid out above, but XP64 was bar none the worst MS OS in history IMO and on par with NT for Alpha in that regard.
XP64 Pro suffered from a client OS being put in the hands of people that treated it like a desktop rather than a workstation. If used only for work it ran like a champ (just like 2K3), but when people would install all sorts of crap or what to play those real videos or any other related crap everything would go to hell in a hand basket.
@Xndingo: They are, you get a browser selection screen... Some day... Opera is still crying about it trying to influence it in a way to promote their browser over others, so in other words, once hell freezes over you guys should get it.
I prefer the TechNet subscription. It provides 10 licenses as well as all OS's, Office products and just about everything one needs to use at home. Just not allowed to use in a full "production" environment. Just 249.99, look for coupon codes online.
Again, it is not for business use at all (EULA) but it is great for the house. All 3 my PCs are running Windows 7 & Office 2007 Ultimate and 1 in VMWare on my Mac.
I always thought the cheapest way was teh torrentz, although personally for that one time i needed windows a few years back i just used some old oem cd's that have been lying around unused. Why pay for software that drives you crazy the second you want to do something with it (ie. instantly), GNU/Linux FTW.
@citizen024: Errr, actually, he didn't say a thing about MS support. He said that getting around the copy protection is a hassle big enough to occasionally warrant paying money to Microsoft.
@mGARANDEUR1: It took me less time than windows back in the day, its just so intuitive. Although i cant speak for simpleminded folks that cant learn anything slightly new once they learnt something another way.
@UnderLoK: The community provides excellent support for end users (superior to proprietary software phonelines in my experience), although for someone who is used to having to call a number and being asked if they can "turn the lights on in the room they are in", just to check if its not a poweroutage that is the cause to the computer not starting, might have a hard time getting used to the idea.
@OCEntertainment: right, i miss read, although from what ive heard copy protection isnt much of an issue, a magazine i read reviewes a hacked version called TinyXP and there the install demanded no activation or cracking or codes. Id argue that pirate versions are less of a hassle.
@SEDAGIVE?!: right, because if your time is worth anything it will not only be free but also earn you money with better productivity (easy configuration, no hassle)
@citizen024: When you need something fixed RIGHT NOW you don't have time to dig around for the answer. This is why support options exist even in the Linux world and because people have to sit there to answer questions, it isn't "free".
@fleebailey33 but there is the deal where you get office professional 07 for 91% off which is close enough frankly! I lucked out tho and had a co-op job at my school and was given office 07 and office 08 for free 'trial and training' purposes. i like bad budgeting for buying me and my sister office lol
@Benitocarmona: It's not that hard to understand. The work that has to go into the OS supporting virtually every hardware configuration under the sun for starters...
@Benitocarmona: Its $29 if you have Leopard. Its $129 if you have Tiger. Its basically over $600 if you have a PPC (a Mac Mini cost about that much, right?)
Windows 7 is $120 to upgrade. Period. Its a pretty good deal in my book.
Another cheap way to get Win 7 (Which I am using right now)
University/college students may have access to MSAA/MSDNAA (same thing, some unis call it different) which has access to Windows 7 pro for free, nada, zilch (and Vista nad XP) in 32-bit n 64-bit variants.
Your paying a crap load in tuition fees, may as well take advantage of what your uni has to offer.
Edited by Mike Zuniga: That was Unexpected at 09/21/09 1:26 AM
Mike Zuniga: That was Unexpected was starred
Mike Zuniga: That was Unexpected was unstarred
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09/29/09
09/29/09
can i get that $30 college student package and install in bootcamp on my MBP?
On the link it says "upgrade version", but I've had windows PCs in the past, just not at the moment...does that qualify?
Is it possible to format part of my drive and install Win7 on there, as a fresh install?
09/29/09
1. Install XP or Vista.
2. Upgrade XP to 7. (Nothing will be imported from XP)
or
3. Upgrade Vista to 7.
There is no direct migration from XP to 7. Even though the upgrade copy will technically be doing a fresh install, it wants an existing XP or Vista installation before it does it.
09/29/09
09/29/09
09/29/09
There is no Windows 2003. There was Windows 2000 and before that Windows ME. I personally found ME to the worst. XP64 was pretty good if only nVidia and ATI were up to their game and wrote good drivers for it (same goes for Vista).
09/29/09
09/29/09
09/29/09
The main difference is that you only get 32 or 64 (no switching) and you get no customer support from Microsoft.
09/29/09
I know MS hasn't always been the best judge of when a computer is, in fact, an entirely different computer and when it's simply been upgraded. This is kind of a real concern. Anyone got any experience/thoughts on this?
09/29/09
09/29/09
09/29/09
09/29/09
Are you running old software?
XP64 is the worst OS that MS has ever put out so I honestly find this hard to believe, not impossible mind you, just bizarre.
09/29/09
09/29/09
09/29/09
Unless you were talking about Windows XP 64-Bit Edition, the Itanium one?
09/30/09
OGL has been by the way side for awhile now, kinda sucks.
@eXo: Do you not see my picture? Do I honestly look like I'm 12 or something? There was nothing wrong with ME, it worked. If you had a virus laden box, the OS was of no true consequence. It's obvious that you have no idea what XP64 is.
When XP64 hit it was a complete and utter clusterfuck from lack of drivers, shotty drivers, and bumbled software. You also get to add on the whole 64bit/32bit issue with applications and supporting dll's. Often times you run into 64bit apps with underlying 32bit extensions and what not that couldn't run together. You would have users installing everything 64bit, but run into those one or two apps that were only 32bit in which case it would cause a vicious circle of 32/64bit hell.
XP64 = Windows XP
XP 64 Pro = 2003
Both of which suffer from the scenario laid out above, but XP64 was bar none the worst MS OS in history IMO and on par with NT for Alpha in that regard.
XP64 Pro suffered from a client OS being put in the hands of people that treated it like a desktop rather than a workstation. If used only for work it ran like a champ (just like 2K3), but when people would install all sorts of crap or what to play those real videos or any other related crap everything would go to hell in a hand basket.
09/29/09
09/29/09
09/29/09
Again, it is not for business use at all (EULA) but it is great for the house. All 3 my PCs are running Windows 7 & Office 2007 Ultimate and 1 in VMWare on my Mac.
Still cheaper than the family OEM pack.
09/29/09
You can get MSDN for free, do some searching. I have almost 3 years left free on mine.
09/29/09
09/29/09
The real cost of an OS isn't always the price.
09/29/09
09/29/09
09/29/09
Go buy a copy of Linux that has support with it and tell us how much you paid for it smart guy.
09/29/09
09/29/09
I think that's my favorite quote of the week!
09/29/09
@UnderLoK: The community provides excellent support for end users (superior to proprietary software phonelines in my experience), although for someone who is used to having to call a number and being asked if they can "turn the lights on in the room they are in", just to check if its not a poweroutage that is the cause to the computer not starting, might have a hard time getting used to the idea.
@OCEntertainment: right, i miss read, although from what ive heard copy protection isnt much of an issue, a magazine i read reviewes a hacked version called TinyXP and there the install demanded no activation or cracking or codes. Id argue that pirate versions are less of a hassle.
@SEDAGIVE?!: right, because if your time is worth anything it will not only be free but also earn you money with better productivity (easy configuration, no hassle)
09/30/09
09/29/09
09/29/09
09/29/09
09/29/09
09/29/09
Windows 7 is $120 to upgrade. Period. Its a pretty good deal in my book.
09/29/09
09/29/09
mdsnaa
09/29/09
University/college students may have access to MSAA/MSDNAA (same thing, some unis call it different) which has access to Windows 7 pro for free, nada, zilch (and Vista nad XP) in 32-bit n 64-bit variants.
Your paying a crap load in tuition fees, may as well take advantage of what your uni has to offer.
09/29/09
of course we don't get office :P
09/21/09
Had a play with the display model - felt cheap, very small, plasticy, and certainly not the quality feel of a Touch or iPhone.
Menu text was almost fuzzy - the UI get's old after about 2 minutes of use.
When people actually get their hands on a unit, rather than just drooling over the rendered publicity images, they'll have a serious reality check.
Hey - at least I tried one - it still sucked IMHO, and clearly hadn't sold out.
09/21/09
[en.wikipedia.org]
[encyclopediadramatica.com]
I wish we had a troll button.