Upgrading Vista to Windows 7: what's the lowest-price path???

[zapp22]

apparently I'm not a very good windows 8 salesman !
someone I've done work for wants to keep an older HP laptop, and put windows 7 on it despite the sweet pricing on windows 8.
If I just wander out and buy a license at bestbuy... that's EXPENSIVE!!
What's the best pricing you know of? I think they have teachers in the fam somewhere but I dunno if there is a deal for 'education'

 

[Ztruker]

Did you run Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor on the XP laptop to make sure the hardware will handle Windows 7?

It's going to run you around $140 for Windows 7 while you can go to Windows 8 for $40. With a little work you can make Windows 8 look and feel a lot like Windows 7.

 

[hArLtRoN]

Make sure you run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor as said by the previous poster.

Newegg.com has Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64 and 32 bit OEM for $99
http://www.Newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=32-116-986

I can't remember enough to tell you the differences between a normal version and an OEM version. MAKE SURE YOU LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO VERSIONS.

 

[MichaelTav]

I would suggest to keep away from W8.
I have a feeling it will another Vista, as most software releases are stable on the 2nd goround.
After all, W7 was Vista SP3......
W7 is stable as was XP,,,kinda,,,,wellll, XP had more holes and security vulnerability's than Swiss cheese.
W7 on x64 is good but there are more and more x64 attacks happening, but much less than x32.
I'll wait till W9 is here.

Again,,,,
If your system will upgrade to W7, then get an ISO copy of Windows 7 Home Premium SP1-U ISO from Digital River:
Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River « My Digital Life

Purchase a Vista to W7 upgrade disk for the key ($40.00)
Install the ISO and the key and you should be good to go.

The HP Software Download for your product may or may not support drivers for W7 and your notebook.
Check there 1st!

 

[whs]

An OEM version runs $99.99 : Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 32-bit - Operating Systems Is also available as 64bit version for the same price.

 

[gregrocker]

Michael, where are you finding Win7 Upgrade version for $40?

Student version? Is Currency Loonies?

 

[MichaelTav]

Michael, where are you finding Win7 Upgrade version for $40?

Student version? Is Currency Loonies?

Best Buy (Canada) had them (Vista to W7) on sale, they are trying to move everything to W8.

I even have a key I can give away for the upgrade disk and key as I have a new HP Envy 17-3090NR 3D with W7.
The upgrade disk, if you rip it to a file, you can edit a specific file, reburn the disk and you will have the option to install any version of W7, as they are all on the upgrade disk.
I know that posting hacks or cracks is not allowed on the forum, so just Google this, its easy to find.

 

[gregrocker]

Here's the new link for the tool to unlock all versions of Win7:
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS-Enhancements/ei-cfg-Removal-Utility.shtml

I would hold onto the Win7 retail key because we've yet to see how consumers will react to a touchscreen OS for desktop usage, yet we already know Win7 is the best OS ever with millions just now discovering and falling in love with it.

 

[MichaelTav]

I believe it's similar to this one we've been giving out for years: Unlock any version eicfg removal tool

I would hold onto the Win7 retail key because we've yet to see how consumers will react to a touchscreen OS for desktop usage, yet we already know Win7 is the best OS ever with millions just now discovering and falling in love with it.

Your link didn't work, it didn't take me to the page and I didn't want to sort through them to find it.

Try this link, it will take you directly to the page:
Create Windows 7 Universal ISO With All Editions Selection On Install with ei.cfg Removal Utility « My Digital Life

 

[Ztruker]

Please don't steer people away from Windows 8. It's extremely affordable and works as well or better than Windows 7 once you tame it

I dislike the Metro interface so I have my Win 8 setup to look and fell like Win 7. It's solid and fast. I'll be keeping Win 8 and using my retail version of Win 9 to upgrade my Vista laptop in the near future. Just waiting for Acronis to release the update to ATI Home 2012 then I'll make the change.

 

[zapp22]

yes, 99 OEM was the lowest I saw.

to the last poster, its the other way around if you see the OP: the user is using win8 CP now and doesn't like it. I've seen this several times: the fact that one can click the lower left tile and go straight to the 'Desktop' interface just seems unbearable... Its like a psycho-pathology thing - baffling to me. the other thing is "how do I access my stuff" .... uhhh... see that folder picture? click it. it just seems unbearably difficult for whatever reason. very strange, but of the people I've tried to push it to, not one has been enthused. I sorta like 8 myself - sorta.... not enough to pay money for it but I like it for techie reasons. the people that MS needs to reach are not.
But to be more emphatic - they people MS has GOT to reach are not pc/laptop users - those don't matter anymore. they MUST get relative marketshare in the handheld space or they become a very different looking company in about 24 months flat. merely "holding their own" is disastrous

 

[MichaelTav]

Please don't steer people away from Windows 8.

I won't have to steer people away from W8, the fingerprints on the screens will will make them down grade to W7.
If anyone puts a fingerprint on my 17.5", 1080P, 120kHz, Brightview screen,,,,I'll break there fingers!

This W8 idea of a touch screen for notebooks is such a bad idea,,,,,Fingerprints on my tablet is bad enough, I don't want them on my lappy!

IMO!