Buy Early Windows 7.0 and Buy Discounted

[Rich-M]

For an early commitment Microsoft will be offerring a limited time only $49.99 Windows 7 Home Premium and $99 Ultimate. But you need to shop early!
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Buy-Windows-7-Ultimate-for-Just-99-99-Home-Premium-for-Just-49-99-115146.shtml

[Dee369]

Where would you buy that at Rich? I only see the Beta Release Candidate at NewEgg. Oh I see at Best Buy or Amazon or a Microsoft store.

[sho-dan]

Where to buy stores for upgrade:Windows 7
Home Premium Upgrade and Professional Upgrade
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/buy/offers/pre-order.aspx

[edheitz]

The Softpedia article doesn't mention that these prices are for UPGRADE versions, not full versions.

[sho-dan]

Click on this link in Richs' softpedia post, all prices are listed for upgrades/ full versions.
Windows 7 Official Pricing Details Available (http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-7-Official-Pricing-Details-Available-115127.shtml)

[Rob-S]

The Softpedia article doesn't mention that these prices are for UPGRADE versions, not full versions.

Ed,
All Windows 7 disks can be used for Full or Upgrade installs... the only difference is the license and key that comes with it.
From Vista you can upgrade or clean install Windows 7, but from XP you can only do a clean install of Windows 7.

In order to do an 'upgrade', a genuine copy XP or Vista is required.

Rob

[jcampi]

We already discussed this on another related post, but I just would want some more clarity on this 'upgrade' matter. If you have a Dell computer that came with the included installation disc(s) would the Windows 7 Upgrade 'work' or do you need to have the actual Vista OEM disc? Same goes for my Sony laptop. I only have the recovery discs I burned and no Vista OEM disc. Dan had mentioned it would likely be safer to just buy a Windows 7 OEM from somone like newegg and I'm tending to agree with him.

[Dee369]

Dan had mentioned it would likely be safer to just buy a Windows 7 OEM from somone like newegg and I'm tending to agree with him.
Newegg only has the Beta Release candidate right now. Not the Upgrade/Full version. I doubt that they will sell the Upgrade/Full Version at these prices. :(

Best Buy has them now but it's not stating OEM.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&_dynSessConf=-6928145797411502246&id=pcat17071&type=page&ks=960&st=windows+7+OEM&sc=Global&cp=1&sp=&qp=crootcategoryid%23%23-1%23%23-1%7E%7Eq77696e646f77732037204f454d%7E%7Encabcat050 0000%23%236%23%235q&list=y&usc=All+Categories&nrp=15&iht=n

[mommalina]

Click on this link in Richs' softpedia post, all prices are listed for upgrades/ full versions.
Windows 7 Official Pricing Details Available (http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-7-Official-Pricing-Details-Available-115127.shtml)

So, it's an upgrade from Vista, not XP, right?

[jcampi]

I would have to add that $50 for the Windows 7 update is a great deal and I would like to purchase it for the new Dell but I don't want to have installation issues, etc. I'd have to know if the upgrade disc will allow me to perform a clean install, etc. I don't want to repeat the issues I had with the Enermax PC build where I used the Windows XP upgrade disc for a full install.

[Rich-M]

John,
Upgrade disks will always do a clean install, it's just right now we don't know the formula. XP was easy because it simply asked you to input a copy of another version of Windows. Right now we don't know how Windows 7 will handle this but with an update you can always do the install of older version first.

[Dee369]

Found this...

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/ptech/06/25/cnet.windows7.pricing.upgrade/index.html?imw=Y&iref=mpstoryemail
From Friday through July 11, consumers in the U.S. will be able to buy an upgrade copy of Windows 7 Home premium for $49 or Windows 7 Professional for $99.

That offer is good for both XP and Windows Vista PCs, regardless of whether someone has been trying out the pre-release version of the operating system.

The offer, however, is limited in both duration and by the number of copies Microsoft is willing to sell, although Microsoft would not specify that figure. The upgrade will be available at Amazon, Best Buy, Microsoft's own store, Office Depot, OfficeMax, Costco, Staples, Wal-Mart and several other retailers.

"That truly is a price that we have never even come close to in terms of an operating system release," corporate vice president Brad Brooks said. "We've still got a business to run."

Microsoft also confirmed, as expected, that a program offering Vista PC buyers a free copy of Windows 7 will kick off on Friday.

When boxed copies of Windows 7 go on sale on October 22, Microsoft plans to charge $119 for Home Premium, $199 for Professional and $219 for Ultimate.

The Home Premium upgrade is down $40 from the product's original price, although the Vista product had already gotten a price cut along the way. The Professional and Ultimate versions are priced similar to where Microsoft was with Vista.

The upgrade prices apply to those moving from a previous version of Windows to Windows 7, but only those from Windows Vista will be able to upgrade without doing a clean installation of the product.

Hope that helps sort out some of the confusion...

[writeco]

This is from the Microsoft Store website where you can purchase the discounted upgrade version of Windows 7.

Running Windows Vista?
If you have Windows Vista, you can purchase Windows 7 Upgrade versions. You can do a clean install (back up your files, clean install, and reinstall your applications) or an in -place upgrade (Windows 7 installs over Windows Vista).

Running Earlier Versions?
If you have Windows XP or Windows 2000, you can purchase Windows 7 Upgrade versions. But you must back up your files, clean install, and reinstall your applications.

[mommalina]

If this upgrade also applies to XP, will my current computer's specs be good
enough? I understand that Windows 7 doesn't need the same specs as Vista.

Are mine good enough for Windows 7?

Dell 4550
60.00 GB
2.53 gigaherz Intel Pentium 4,
768 RAMNVIDIA GeForce4 MX 420
Viewsonic VP 2103 LCD Display

And perhaps even for my daughter's Dell Dimension 3000 Series?

[Rich-M]

If this upgrade also applies to XP, will my current computer's specs be good
enough? I understand that Windows 7 doesn't need the same specs as Vista.

Are mine good enough for Windows 7?

Dell 4550
60.00 GB
2.53 gigaherz Intel Pentium 4,
768 RAMNVIDIA GeForce4 MX 420
Viewsonic VP 2103 LCD Display

And perhaps even for my daughter's Dell Dimension 3000 Series?


Yes and yes, but the reason to upgrade would be what?

[mommalina]

Yes and yes, but the reason to upgrade would be what?

Maybe just for the hell of it, for curiosity's sake. Daughter's IT guy will wipe and
load her Dell 3000 (to take off company stuff). I could ask him to install
Windows 7 on it instead of reloading it with XP.

Maybe I could have two computers going. I should be able to use the same DSL 3.0 connection at no extra cost, I assume ... except for buying and installing Nod32, SAS, and Admuncher.

It would be nice to experiment with Windows 7. If I screw it up, no harm done.
It would be like a "bench" machine .. ;)

[Rich-M]

Maybe just for the hell of it, for curiosity's sake. Daughter's IT guy will wipe and
load her Dell 3000 (to take off company stuff). I could ask him to install
Windows 7 on it instead of reloading it with XP.

Maybe I could have two computers going. I should be able to use the same DSL 3.0 connection at no extra cost, I assume ... except for buying and installing Nod32, SAS, and Admuncher.

It would be nice to experiment with Windows 7. If I screw it up, no harm done.
It would be like a "bench" machine .. ;)
Sas, Ad Muncher and Nod32 licenses should all cover 2nd pc Lina. I originally installed Windows 7 on a Dell 3000 with a 2.4 P4 and 1 gb ram and it ran fine. However I doubt you need a "bench machine" and you will need a router and wireless adapetr or just plan to keep pulling the ethernet cable out of your present pc until you finally break one port or the other.

[Dan18960]

Rich,

Lina only has 768 MB of RAM - for Windows 7 I wouldn't use anything less than 2 GB of RAM.

[Rich-M]

Rich,

Lina only has 768 MB of RAM - for Windows 7 I wouldn't use anything less than 2 GB of RAM.
Dan,
She is talking about a 3000 she doesn't have yet and I ran 7.0 just fine on a 3000 with 1 gb ram.

[mommalina]

Sas, Ad Muncher and Nod32 licenses should all cover 2nd pc Lina. I originally installed Windows 7 on a Dell 3000 with a 2.4 P4 and 1 gb ram and it ran fine. However I doubt you need a "bench machine" and you will need a router and wireless adapetr or just plan to keep pulling the ethernet cable out of your present pc until you finally break one port or the other.

Good to know about SAS, AdMuncher, and Nod32 licenses for two pcs. Thanks.

The router, wireless adapter, and ethernet cable are way above my head. I just
thought I could plug the computer into the filters I have in each phone outlet.
I forgot I'm using a modem for my Dell .. :doh:

Dan wrote:


Lina only has 768 MB of RAM - for Windows 7 I wouldn't use anything less than 2 GB of RAM.

Well, that definitely burst that balloon .. :(

Thanks, guys.

[jcampi]

I just received the new Dell desktop pc this month. If I were to perform a clean install of Windows 7 possibly in the fall when the product is delivered from Best Buy would the warranty from Dell be impacted at all? Maybe I have to ask Dell? I can't imagine Dell could tell a user they can't upgrade the OS or software for that matter.
I would intend to perform a clean install and get ride of all the Dell crapware. In the past we would install the new OS to a special folder and install all of the software programs again. Afterward the old Windows (Vista) folders would be deleted. Is this the case or is some other method used for the termed 'wipe and load'?

Another question: What would happen to the recovery section on the hard drive partition that Dell provides? I'm assuming this would be eliminated with a wipe and load process.

[Rich-M]

Good to know about SAS, AdMuncher, and Nod32 licenses for two pcs. Thanks.

The router, wireless adapter, and ethernet cable are way above my head. I just
thought I could plug the computer into the filters I have in each phone outlet.
I forgot I'm using a modem for my Dell .. :doh:

Dan wrote:


Well, that definitely burst that balloon .. :(

Thanks, guys.

Lina,
1 gb ram is fine on that, that was the original unit I used to test Windows 7. And yes you need a router to at least wire it and an adapter if you want to do it wirelessly from another room.

[writeco]

Check out Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/upgrade-advisor.aspx

After installing, I tried running the advisor twice and both times my system crashed. It rebooted without any problems.

Curious as to the experiences of others, if they dare.

[Rich-M]

I just received the new Dell desktop pc this month. If I were to perform a clean install of Windows 7 possibly in the fall when the product is delivered from Best Buy would the warranty from Dell be impacted at all? Maybe I have to ask Dell? I can't imagine Dell could tell a user they can't upgrade the OS or software for that matter.
I would intend to perform a clean install and get ride of all the Dell crapware. In the past we would install the new OS to a special folder and install all of the software programs again. Afterward the old Windows (Vista) folders would be deleted. Is this the case or is some other method used for the termed 'wipe and load'?

Another question: What would happen to the recovery section on the hard drive partition that Dell provides? I'm assuming this would be eliminated with a wipe and load process.

John,
Dell warranties only the hardware anyway so that has nothing to do with warranty.
A clean install would format the partition but remember Vista saves anything on their in terms of "Old Windows" and also any existing folders and 7.0 does also so I am not sure partition would be wiped. That should be asked of Dell.

[jcampi]

Sounds like the Windows 7 Upgrade for $49 is the way I'll go. If I'm going to eventually do a clean install and wipe/load I might as well do it with Windows 7. Again, I only have the disc Dell provides but this sounds like the upgrade would work for me. I do have the OEM Key to the Vista install that Dell performed.

[Rich-M]

Sounds like the Windows 7 Upgrade for $49 is the way I'll go. If I'm going to eventually do a clean install and wipe/load I might as well do it with Windows 7. Again, I only have the disc Dell provides but this sounds like the upgrade would work for me. I do have the OEM Key to the Vista install that Dell performed.
Tell you what I will buy as many of those as I can for new installs as that is half what I would pay for oem's and Windows purchases is what kills my prices in new client builds.

[Frenchman96]

Hi Guys

I am entering this thread late but I'll still pitch in if I may.....

I am quite happy with my XP, does xp support from m/s intend to continue for a while?

My friend is about to buy new laptop which will have Vista on board but I believe some retailers will offer vouchers or promise of a free upgrade to W7 in October , any comment on both statements please

[Dee369]

I am quite happy with my XP, does xp support from m/s intend to continue for a while?
I believe that XP will be supported by M$ until at least 2011.


My friend is about to buy new laptop which will have Vista on board but I believe some retailers will offer vouchers or promise of a free upgrade to W7 in October , any comment on both statements please
This is true if purchase of the new computer is some time in July.