Windows 7 Professional 64-bit pre-install questions.

I seriously doubt you bought a Retail version of windows at Best Buy, they haven`t sold them in years.

How much did you pay ?

How could you possibly not know what you bought ?

If you bought this, then it`s oem and it should tell you straight away by the price.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/operatin...30&loc=KW-4322

Well, I decided to brick-n-mortar my Windows 7 install purchase at the local Best Buy yesterday

What does this statement even mean

Are you saying you walked into your local Best Buy and they had Windows 7 on the shelf for sale ?

I have never seen a Windows 7 OS for sale in a Best Buy since W8 hit the shelf in 2012.

Mankxp said:

Hi all!

Over the next 2-3 days I will be upgrading my PC that I built back in 2007. I will be upgrading my CPU, adding 4Gig more RAM and a second 500G HDD that I will be installing Win 7 Professional 64-bit on.

Well, I decided to brick-n-mortar my Win7 install purchase at the local Best Buy yesterday, but today I have been made aware that certain Windows 7 Install packages will not allow a Motherboard change later on(which is on my to-do list), and not knowing what "versions" this limitation deals with, I thought I would come here and ask. The version I bought from Best Buy is a boxed edition of Windows 7 Professional 64-bit with Service Pack 1.

How do I know if I got a version that will allow a Motherboard upgrade later on?

Second issue:

I am currently using WinXP Professional 32-bit on a single 500GB HDD. I will be installing Windows 7 64-bit -after- I perform all of the hardware upgrades mentioned above. I am not worried about the WinXP install as it pertains to being able to boot into it, and I have already backed up/saved all of my important music/video/picture files, but I have some questions about a couple of things:

1). Since I am installing Win7 64-bit on a second HDD - If I don't format the HDD with the XP install, will I still be able to access and use the 32-bit games and programs located on that drive from inside Windows 7 once it's installed? I am just really uncertain about backward compatibility issues with using 32-bit programs inside Win7 64-bit, especially when it comes to programs like Valve's Steam, where I have over a hundred games already installed under WinXP.

2). What are some options that are available for someone like myself who has a HDD full of games/programs under WinXP, is not worried about being able to boot into XP, but still wants to use some of the programs on that HDD?

Edit to add: The reason for this upgrade(hardware and Win7) is I just downloaded a 40gig game on Steam, only to find out it requires a 64-bit OS.

Many Thanks in advance for any feedback.

Winxp won't work on the new motherboard. Almost certain... no drivers are available.

AddRAM, my apologies for the confusion.

While I was at the local Best Buy getting some other parts I asked about getting Windows 7 Professional 64-bit from the sales associate and he said that they could order it and have it sent to the store for pickup. The nomenclature of my purchase did not have "OEM" stated anywhere in the description like it does on some of the products listed on the Best Buy link you provided. Mine is actually the 3rd one down and cost $135.00. It reads "Windows 7 Professional With Service Pack 1 64-bit - PC". Hence my question about how to tell which version I bought. I never imagined it would be an OEM version, nor did the sales rep indicate it would be.

I didn't find out about this OEM/Motherboard issue until after I had already ordered it in the store.

I've been using Windows OS's since Windows 95, and have never had a problem reactivating with Microsoft whenever my upgrades have triggered a reactivation in the past. I've even used my current XP Professional install disk twice now, with the second activation taking place after building my current system. I have simply never encountered or been exposed to this "OEM" issue in the past.

At any rate, it looks like I'll have to hold off on the Motherboard upgrade for now and upgrade that(and my OS again) at a later time. Hopefully, my current CPU and RAM upgrades will carry me another couple of years on this Win7 install.

If you already have 4gb RAM or more you can install 64 bit Win7 with the license you own now, since every WIn7 license allows either bit version. You'd follow these same steps to download the installer, burn to DVD and then do a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7, even for retail.

Before you buy a new copy of Win7 after you do decide to Upgrade the hardware, I'd see if MS Phone Activation will reactivate the license you have now because we have reports that they are increasingly allowing retail OEM reactivation after some mobo changes, possibly reacting to court rulings overseas.

Exactly, it says so right in the overview :)

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/windows-7-professional-with-service-pack-1-64-bit-pc/3654008.p?id=1219092580328&skuId=3654008&st=categoryid$abcat0508002&lp=3&cp=1

Not sure why this link won`t work, but you have to paste it into the address bar

Windows 7 Professional With Service Pack 1 64-bit - PC - Best Buy