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Windows 7 Upgrade - Pre-Order Sale Begins

Discussion in 'Community Broadband & Computers' started by Mr. Linux, Jun 26, 2009.

  1. boomertsfx

    boomertsfx Booyakasha!

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    Yeah, I think you can just put in a copy of Vista/XP in the cdrom and it will verify that it is eligible to be installed... Vista had the trick where you could buy the upgrade version and install it (once without key, then "upgrade" with key) on a fresh hard drive without needing a previous os installed, but I'm sure MS will fix that bug =)
     
  2. Buffettbassman

    Buffettbassman Troll Extrordinare'

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    Running Windows 7 as we speak.
     
  3. Buffettbassman

    Buffettbassman Troll Extrordinare'

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    Prius getting 51 mpg. Yeah...right! You're reading too much of the marketing material....

    :pofl:
     
  4. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    I'm serious about the mileage part: we have averaged 51 MPG!
     
  5. Ozgood

    Ozgood Not a space alien

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    Wish I could. I have not been able to break the 50 mpg barrior for a full tank of gas yet. Gotten close 49+ but never the "magic" 50.

    Hats off to you :clap:
     
  6. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    Smooth starts, lots of coasting, and gradual stops win the race.
     
  7. GeauxTigers

    GeauxTigers Member

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    Bleh! The Apple vs PC hijack was more entertaining! :pofl:
     
  8. boomertsfx

    boomertsfx Booyakasha!

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  9. GeauxTigers

    GeauxTigers Member

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  10. BigDog

    BigDog Member

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    Don't forget that OEM versions don't allow you to reinstall on a new pc (like if you get a new pc or new motherboard after you installed it on your original pc) like the retail and upgrade versions. I probably won't be installing the upgrade day one, but I did get the deal on the upgrade versions (8 copies) and will slowly be transitioning the computers.
     
  11. GeauxTigers

    GeauxTigers Member

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    I've bought OEM versions of XP and Vista and have not had issues with upgrading HW in the past. On my last hard drive failure I reinstalled the OS with some new HW as I took the opportunity to partially upgrade and didn't have a problem. I've heard that sometimes you'll have to call Microsoft to reactivate the license, probably after certain level of changes maybe, but I didn't have to in my situation with a new CPU, new HD, and RAM increase. Honestly I think this limitation is with any non-corporate version and not an OEM thing. My understanding of OEM it that there comes two limitations. You can't use it as an upgrade disc and more importantly there is no support. OEM is cheaper as the computer reseller is on the hook for support and not Microsoft. So if you are buying the OEM disc then technically you are the support.
     
  12. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    Correct - the OEM discs from Microsoft are not tied to any particular hardware. But some vendors do ship their 'restore' discs tied to their own hardware - (usually through BIOS checks)
     
  13. BigDog

    BigDog Member

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    Maybe they changed it. For OEM XP:

    "In general, OEM software may not be transferred from one system to another system. However, the computer system can certainly be updated with new components without the requirement of a new software license. The only exception to this is the motherboard 1. If the motherboard is replaced 2, the computer system is deemed "new" and a new license would be required. Other PC components may be upgraded, including a hard drive. Though if the hard drive 3 is replaced/upgraded, the operating system must first be removed from the old hard drive. To restate: the operating system is "married" to the computer system on which it is originally installed."
     
  14. GeauxTigers

    GeauxTigers Member

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    I am fairly sure even with XP you can still call Microsoft and get a new license issued without buying another in the event you change the motherboard. They'll simply invalidate the old one and issue a new one at that time. In fact I think this is likely necessary for both OEM and non OEM releases that are not under a corporate license. Once you've activated the license on a given system, there are restrictions on what HW can change when attempting to activate it a second time. You are probably right that this HW is simply the motherboard.
     
  15. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    You are referring to the licensing terms, not what the OS can physically be installed in. What you are quoting is simply the long way of saying 'non-transferable'. You aren't entitled to take the Windows you get from a computer purchase (a pre-installed OEM version) and reinstall it on another computer. The activation process is how Microsoft tries to enforce this.

    Microsoft makes it difficult for you to do this with a retail copy of Windows as well as the activation process will get in your way and you have to talk to Microsoft. Because they want to ensure you are not installing the same copy on multiple computers.

    However, when you buy an OEM copy yourself, it's never been installed anywhere, so there is no limitation on which hardware you install it on.
     
  16. GeauxTigers

    GeauxTigers Member

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    Here is an article on a Win7 "Family Pack" upgrade. For those planning to upgrade three PCs, this could wind up being cheaper than the recently expired "pre order" sale. Will this just be more fodder for the Mac vs PC debate since Apple has been doing "family packs" for a while now?

    http://www.fudzilla.com/content/view/14753/1/

     
  17. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    I made the upgrade to Windows 7 from Vista last night. So far so good!

    I had Googled "Windows 7 upgrade experience" to find info on how it had gone for other people so I knew what to look out for. The three or so blogs/articles I read said it went very smoothly but took about two hours. Before performing the upgrade I downloaded and ran the Windows 7 Upgrade software to see if everything was compatible. It found a few things that I needed to delete and reinstall and a few things that needed driver updates. I had no trouble at all with my various Mozilla software, and everything else seems to be running fine as well. I opted for the Upgrade rather than the Custom install because that was recommended and then I wouldn't have to reinstall any of my software.

    Of course just in case I first went out and bought an external hard drive to back up my computer, then I backed it up. I used to back it up to DVDs but what used to seem like a lot of room on a DVD (4.7 GB) doesn't amount to much these days so I got an external drive instead. The Seagate Desktop drive was so easy to install and run and much easier than Windows Backup!

    Anyway, just thought I share.
     
  18. Brassy

    Brassy Hiyah

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    I also read where you can uncheck everything for the update /install then just check email. download that and hten other things you want aftewards and it'll be fine. We lost my email once, but since Koasdad is a pro, we were able to get it back. now we back it up everytime we upgrade. Still on XP here so far.
     
  19. Tech Head

    Tech Head New Member

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    Word of caution (I learned this the hard way). Make sure you disable or uninstall Norton anti-virus before you start. I ignored this warning and was greeted by the blue screen of death upon completion of the upgrade from Vista. I was finally able to figure out what the problem was, download and install the update in Safe Mode, and everything works fine now.

    I'm a bit underwhelmed by Windows 7, as compared to Vista. Not much is different on the surface. There are some cool new features, but it doesn't seem like that big of an upgrade.
     
  20. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    Oops. Glad you got it fixed.
     

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