Where can I buy the full retail version of 7 -- not system builders

[Straitsfan]

Okay, here's another one:

I'm coming across something called 'system builder' versions of win 7. I'm trying to figure out where or if I can get win 7 home premium that I can move from one computer at a time to another if necessary. Can anyone help me? What are 'system builder' versions. Is there a 'regular' version that I can buy like anyone else and install it on my machine?

Using it with parallels desktop 9 on my mac.

 

[gregrocker]

I haven't seen them listed for sale for over a year. But we hear lately that they are allowing retail OEM to move now when using MS phone Activation. Either way it may be the only option since they still think their only popular OS is being phased out, even as business moves off of XPired almost entirely into Win7.

 

[Straitsfan]

So are you saying that I can still use it? Can you tell me what the difference is between the two types? I'm just going to use it for work to upgrade from XP, which is no longer supported; other that work I just use it my Mac for everything else.

 

[gregrocker]

Retail OEM normally locks to the first mobo upon install, but it seems MS may be making exceptions.

You'll need to do a Clean Install Windows 7.

Tools and methods to prepare, get and keep a perfect install are the same as for Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

 

[Straitsfan]

I'm not familiar with 'clean install' -- I think I have to just open parallels and tell it I want to install a new virtual machine -- I'm using the boot camp partition right now for XP; i could either, I think, eliminate the boot camp partition, install Windows 7 on that, and then use that for my VM, or just keep the boot camp partition, and install win 7 as a separate virtual machine. That's all I had to do for XP; unless Win 7 is different.

 

[badger906]

if you have a system builder version in my experience you can install it on multiple platforms, as long as they are not online at the same time no issue arises. I have win 7 booted on my pc as well as bootcamped on my mac and I only have the one licence.

 

[Straitsfan]

badger 906 -- did you have any problems installing it? Did you just have to create the bootcamp partition and install it? just want to ask as many questions as possible before spending this money, because if it doesn't work I can't return it once it's opened.