Windows 7 Pre Order is live

I also want the 64 bit version and can't find an answer to this question. Are both the 32 and 64 bit versions on the same disc? If not, how can we get the 64 bit for pre-order.

Can someone confirm for me ??? Home Premium CANNOT be a Remote Desktop Host whereas Professional CAN. Is that correct?

And the 32-bit versus 64-bit question remains . . . .

Assuming windows 7 follows the same pattern as vista, it'll work like this:

Retail Full and Upgrade boxed copies (home premium or better) come with both x86 and x64 discs in the same box, with the retail licence code working on either. They can be installed on any number of machines, as long as it's only on one at a time (too many reinstalls close together, and you'll need to do phone activation though)

Upgrade copies using upgrade keys need a qualifying install on the hard-drive before they will proceed to the select partition stage; you can format and install clean into the 'qualifying' partition, or create a new partition alongside it and install there.

Installing the upgrade disc using the 30-day trial licence, then reinstalling the upgrade copy again clean using the upgrade key at install (format and over the top) works.

OEM copies are x86 or x64 only; the free upgrade copies provided as part of the last 'buy a machine early, get a free copy of vista later' were oem versions equivalent to what shipped with the machine; so if you get a machine with OEM vista x86 home premium, you'll likely get an OEM copy of 7 x86 home premium only. This can only be installed on one machine, according to the licence - upgrade motherboard or buy new machine, and you need a new copy, though you can often talk phone activation into it if it's a necessary repair.


From what I can tell, the discount pre-order process in the US is for upgrade retail copies; i.e. both x86 and x64 in the box (or downloaded), but you'll need xp or vista on the hdd, or do a double-install to get a clean install session going with the upgrade key.

The discount pre-order EU versions are full retail windows 7 E, i.e. without IE, Microsoft have said they're not doing upgrade versions at all of the E versions in the EU. This is presumably why the UK pre-order discount price is much higher than that of the US (£49/$80 for home premium, £99/$164 for professional) as it's a full retail version, not the upgrade copy.

weh said:

Can someone confirm for me ??? Home Premium CANNOT be a Remote Desktop Host whereas Professional CAN. Is that correct?

And the 32-bit versus 64-bit question remains . . . .

yup - however you can also use vnc etc. to do remote desktop stuff... i myself choose ultimate for all pcs using my technet licenses.

srq2625 said:

What I haven't seen is a clear statement of which version it is that we are ordering - are we getting 32-bit? 64-bit? Both? If I want 64-bit (and I do), how do I specify this in the order?

mowerman said:

I also want the 64 bit version and can't find an answer to this question. Are both the 32 and 64 bit versions on the same disc? If not, how can we get the 64 bit for pre-order.

You get both versions from Home Basic through Ultimate versions, ONLY Starter version come in 32 Bit. Windows 7 editions - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - http://windows7news.com/windows-7-starter/

weh said:

Can someone confirm for me ??? Home Premium CANNOT be a Remote Desktop Host whereas Professional CAN. Is that correct?

And the 32-bit versus 64-bit question remains . . . .

You are correct

Windows 7 Product Editions: A Comparison
http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/win7_skus_compare.asp

Hope this helps

Yay for me. I've ordered my copy of Pro upgrade via the MS Store. I'll be doing the 'double-install' to do a fresh x64 install once received. Until then I'm running the RC - 7229 at present and am quite happy with it thus far!

I just got my Pre Order Win 7 invitation from Windows @ Team

Anybody find a retail store carrying the Pre Order?

Microsoft Store offers a download version.

Thanks,
Bill

srq2625 said:

What I haven't seen is a clear statement of which version it is that we are ordering - are we getting 32-bit? 64-bit? Both? If I want 64-bit (and I do), how do I specify this in the order?

I was wondering about that myself as I need one 32 bit and one 64 bit (ordered two of the Home Premium version) Thanks for answering the question Arkhan.

If you look at the Wikipedia link, it says:

all editions will support both 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x86-64) processor architectures

That is not the same as saying you get both discs delivered.

Be nice if you did - anyone got a link indicating you get both dvd's.

You might still need to double install to get a clean installation from upgrade - it is not mentioned here, though:


* 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.