Upgrade options - Mac Install

[scribblesteve]

Hey folks!
Thank you for your time on this -

When Windows 7 was released, I upgraded through student pricing, and got Home Premium.

I bought a mac and I need to install Windows 7 on it - I'm just wondering how I can find out if I have a 1 user license? I read somewhere that sometimes it's a 3 user license, but I don't think so since I bought a student license.

I'd also like to know if I upgrade to Professional, if I can have multiple user licenses for that as well?

 

[BCXtreme]

I'm pretty sure that the student pricing is only one license. The only way you get a 3-user license is through a special family pack option, which wouldn't be available with student pricing.

If you upgrade to Professional, you will still have a 1-user license. Even if you had the family pack option, I don't believe one Pro upgrade license could upgrade the entire pack.

 

[not so gray matter]

Unless you specifically bought a family pack, you have a one machine license. Beyond that, you won't be able to install your copy of Windows 7 on your mac as you've already installed it on another PC.

If you're looking to upgrade from Home Premium to Professional, you should purchase an anytime upgrade. This will allow you to upgrade to professional without too much hassle. It's cheaper than buying a brand new copy of the software as well.

Home Premium to Professional is currently $75 at Newegg.com
Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Anytime Upgrade from Home Premium

As far as your Mac goes, I won't go into specifics on how to install Windows, but you'll need to purchase a new copy of the software. The cheapest way to do that is to buy a OEM/System Builder's license. This is a single key, but is cheaper than Retail because it doesn't come with Support/Refunds/Warrantys and you must choose the version you want upfront (32/64-bit). These keys are meant to be used by system builders such as Dell/Gateway/etc but anyone can buy them. If you want a copy of Windows 7 that has Support/Refunds/Warrantys and the ability to switch between x86/x64 then you'll need to purchase the Retail version. There is a substantial price differential.

Win7 Home Premium (Retail/Full) - $260
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...Windows_7_Professional-_-32-116-717-_-Product

Win7 Professional (OEM | 32-BIT) - $140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...Windows_7_Professional-_-32-116-756-_-Product

Win7 Home Premium (OEM | 64-BIT) - $140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...Windows_7_Professional-_-32-116-758-_-Product

FYI, if you actually wanted multiple copies of Windows you could always purchase a OEM 3-PACK of Windows 7. This would allow to to have both your Mac and PC on Professional without buying an anytime upgrade but would cost $200 more than buying a single OEM license for the Mac and an anytime upgrade for the PC. Not to mention the fact that you'd have an extra license and no need for it.

Windows 7 Professional 64-BIT OEM 3-PACK - $410
Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit 3-Pack for System Builders - Operating Systems

 

[scribblesteve]

Thanks for the messages. So how about this:

If I were to buy an upgrade from home to pro - isn't that technically 2 licenses? So would it work if I upgraded to premium on my existing computer then used the home premium license to install on the mac? Or am I just dreaming?

 

[Bill2]

Legally speaking, an upgrade obsoletes the underlying OS license, so you end up only with ONE license- the final version.