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If those systems stay on the PC where they were first installed, a couple of those is probably your least expensive option:Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - Operating Systems
If those systems stay on the PC where they were first installed, a couple of those is probably your least expensive option:Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - Operating Systems
Technically, it's possible to install the Windows 7 Upgrade to a machine that doesn't have a previous version of Windows...making the Windows 7 family pack the best way to go. Now, this obviously would be against what Microsoft "intends" for you to do, thus its up to you to determine if it's suitable based on what you are doing.
Clean Install Windows 7 with Upgrade Media
Your other option is to buy a Technet subscription, which is $199 for the 1st year. This will give you access to downloads and multiple keys for Microsoft software including Windows 7, Vista, XP, as well as Server OS's (2003/2008), Product servers (Exchange/SQL), and finally Office (2007/2010). With Technet software, it's intended that you "use" the software for testing and evaluation purposes. As long as these are your own machines and you aren't running a business or selling off your keys to friends, it will work just fine and dandy. At the end of your first year, you can optionally renew at $149 for another year. if you don't renew, as long as you have the software downloaded and your existing keys written down...you can keep using them. Technically the software does not expire.
When I'm familiar with the company, no - but if I don't know the company at all, or it's a strange kind of license, then you bet I read them - and you should too.
NOT reading the License Terms is how a LOT of what many consider spyware gets installed - and how people lose control over their personal information and sometimes their cash.
It's also how people get trapped into long contracts for things they thought were trials.
Bought and downloaded 1 license of Windows Home Premium (full version) to put on my old Compaq Presario notebook last night. Wow! What a breath of fresh air. I had Linux on it before but, with all the, in my opinion, cr*p desktop environments of late, it's refreshing not to have to fight my computer to work how I want. I've only run into a couple of issues, nothing major.
Think I'm going to buy a hard copy license of Windows Professional to go on the other machine I wanted to install on. No hurry though. Thanks for the recommendations and, um, discussions.
Full retail versions of Win7 are expensive. I alway opt for OEM versions - $80 for Home Premium at Newegg. Only limitation is that the license has to stay with the PC where it was first installed. Else it is all the same.
Sorry 'bout that!
I do tend to get a little tetchy when people suggest things that are outside the intention of the License terms - for the simple reason that so few people actually read them that many leave themselves open to alls orts of things that they never dreamt were possible.
Seems like you've got yourself sorted, though, which is the main thing.
Good Luck!