I did not read all the posts but it did not make sense to me to buy a 7 upgrade license without having a previous valid xp/vista disc and key, even if the installation is possible. There is no real advantage to buy a 7 licence exept to be legal and to encourage Microsoft. I mean, if you don't want to buy the licence you really need, use any torrent site and download it free instead.
Its about supporting them for deveoplping the product...Microsoft may be one of the wealthiest companines in the world but they have every day people like you and me who work to get money for their families. You taking Windows 7 for free is taking part of their paycheck. Would you like for someone to take your paycheck? If you like the product buy it...to support it
Why would this not still be available, the options has been available on ever peice of software that I can remember of. from Win 3 upto and including Vista. Why would they remove it now.Tepid said:
Yes, but you would not need your recovery disk to upgrade. The win7 upgrade disk will clean install. If you want all the programs from the HP RD, then you can move from or install first then upgrade. (My Acer RDs), allows me to copy and install from the disk what part I want, I do not have to total install from.bigcitycat said:
Mostly remember the Version OEM, UPGRADE or RETAIL depends on where you buy if you get SUPPORT or NO Support.
OEM means manufacture adds there stuff to the original retail version.
(This version has Trial stuff added if from Manufacture plus drivers for there devices)
Retail allows you to Clean install or upgrade with. (This cost more $)
Upgrade allows you to Upgrade or Clean install with.(This cost less $)
a) Downloaded torrents are OFTEN (NOT ALWAYS!) hacked copies that are infected with spyware. Be careful there Typhoid Mary.
b) An illegal copy may not pass the Windows Authentication test and will not be elligible for optional downloads/upgrades. (MS has wavered on the issue of security updates in order to control viruses and spyware - see point A above, not sure where they stand now).
c) $$$ for legal copy versus time spent jumping through hoops keeping an illegal copy running and updated/upgraded.
Your call. There will always be pirated copies available. How much is your time worth? $120 for a legal Home Premium Upgrade license, IMO is not a bad deal. It is not free, but it is not bad....
P.S. Also many users will do the traditional "wait for SP1 before upgrading" tactic. At which point the Upgrade Licenses may be on sale at lower prices.
(This to me is a myth. Reason: SP1 & SP2 on Vista made things worse, IMHO)(OS's are like cars, they always say: I want that but its new, wait until it tried and tested.)(Chevy-GM is responsible for that)
IBM said no to the first mouse, ATT said not that Video phones, Germany had Flying sausers n WWII, not aliens. Salesmen sell you what they think you want, by convincing you that is what you want.
I think i've been misunderstand or I have misunderstand some of the initial posts. grouchpunk08 was explaining how to install a Windows 7 upgrade without having a prior XP or Vista license. It's not fully legal as far as I know. That's why I tell that it would be better then to take an complete illegal copy, if the person don't want to aquire the license it really need to. What's the point to be semi-legal? In other words, their is many fully working and trustable copy on torrent site, so if you don't want to pay the license you need to, just don't buy it at all. It's kind of weird to me to buy a upgrade license and then to "hack it". I did not tell this to encourage people to pirate things at all, I will buy a license to support Microsoft myself.a) Downloaded torrents are OFTEN (NOT ALWAYS!) hacked copies that are infected with spyware. Be careful there Typhoid Mary.
b) An illegal copy may not pass the Windows Authentication test and will not be elligible for optional downloads/upgrades. (MS has wavered on the issue of security updates in order to control viruses and spyware - see point A above, not sure where they stand now).
c) $$$ for legal copy versus time spent jumping through hoops keeping an illegal copy running and updated/upgraded.
Your call. There will always be pirated copies available. How much is your time worth? $120 for a legal Home Premium Upgrade license, IMO is not a bad deal. It is not free, but it is not bad....
P.S. Also many users will do the traditional "wait for SP1 before upgrading" tactic. At which point the Upgrade Licenses may be on sale at lower prices.
Personal Opinons. I think Vista SP2 is far worse than SP1. infact i use a lesser version of SP2 than (18005) final.
Great.
MS rep themselves told me this pre-order version was 'full retail' then in next breath told me it was 'upgrade' and did not seem to appreciate the contradiction.
Then I asked if I needed to have a valid qualifying operating system already installed to install it. Was told yes. Vista or XP. Merely a valid key will not do. I am assuming that because I called the UK store that they were giving me answers relevant to the E version but who knows.
They did give me the mantra about the 'clean install'.
I was also told that if I wish to reinstall that I would have to reinstall the old o/s first each time.
Did not even get into the fact that I have an OEM version of XP and if that would count as qualifying to install this pre-order Win7 E.
Also did not get into question of whether I could install on new hardware if I should need to in the future.
Figured these questions would be way too hard if they cannot answer the first. And would I now believe anything they say anyway?
Rep referred me to the website address (which I was already looking at) and said that all the details were there. Clear answers to my questions are not there on that site as far as I can see.
BEWARE Other people have had different answers from MS Store UK. MS cannot unambiguously tell you what they are selling you!
If anyone works it out definitively would be very interested but if MC cannot tell us, who can?
Maybe I'll stick with XP awhile more. Well done MS!
Last edited by kevvyb; 13 Jul 2009 at 15:49. Reason: typo
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