Digital River Windows 7 pricing

[Gibson486]

Anyone ever do this? My gf works at a university, so she has a university address.

I remember people saying that it was the full version even though it was advertised as upgrade? Is this still the case?

 

[Modular]

I've done it, but my experience was that it was not a full version. I had to put in a previous versions disk or have a previous version installed when I installed it.

Maybe I was doing it wrong?

 

[Gibson486]

Argggg....I find it pretty amazing that Windows can still be sold for $250 for the full version.

 

[dank69]

Yes you must have a copy of windows installed, but you can do a full format fresh install once the existing windows partition is detected. There are (were?) ways to fake even that but who doesn't have a copy of any version of windows lying around?

 

[Brigandier]

Argggg....I find it pretty amazing that Windows can still be sold for $250 for the full version.

I find it funny people don't understand OEM purchasing.

 

[PieIsAwesome]

It may have been because I had XP installed, but when I installed I just formatted and did a clean install with the upgrade disc and key and it worked fine.

There is also an easy way to use the upgrade key to make a clean install without needing any previous windows installation. So for all practical purposes, its no different than the "full" version key.

 

[Gibson486]

Yes you must have a copy of windows installed, but you can do a full format fresh install once the existing windows partition is detected. There are (were?) ways to fake even that but who doesn't have a copy of any version of windows lying around?

This guy here does not have one....


I used to have a Windows ME disc, but I have no idea where it is now.

 

[Gibson486]

It may have been because I had XP installed, but when I installed I just formatted and did a clean install with the upgrade disc and key and it worked fine.

There is also an easy way to use the upgrade key to make a clean install without needing any previous windows installation. So for all practical purposes, its no different than the "full" version key.

will google be my friend on this?

 

[redz]

It will let you do a clean install, but it will say something like it needs a valid key within 30 days or it will stop working. I then reinstalled on top of the install I just did, and apparently it considered that an upgrade because it accepted the key.

 

[PieIsAwesome]

will google be my friend on this?

http://www.winsupersite.com/article/windows-7/clean-install-windows-7-with-upgrade-media

Go down to the methods section. Its not exactly shady or anything.

 

[Gibson486]

It will let you do a clean install, but it will say something like it needs a valid key within 30 days or it will stop working. I then reinstalled on top of the install I just did, and apparently it considered that an upgrade because it accepted the key.

lol....that is a pretty big flaw.....

 

[Nintendesert]

lol....that is a pretty big flaw.....

It's not a flaw and from what I've read actually acceptable to Microsoft.

 

[Gibson486]

It's not a flaw and from what I've read actually acceptable to Microsoft.

Well then....I guess that settles it....

do they really check your student status? I mean, my gf will be taking classes for free (1 per semester), but not until the fall.

 

[mizzou]

I was able to do a clean install win7 64bit with the additional backup cd with no problems

Search for the mega thread on this in hot deals

 

[BoomerD]

Looks to me like it's only the upgrade...

http://www.microsoft.com/student/en/us/windows/buynow/default.aspx

Says so right on the box.

 

[fixxor]

I did this when 7 first came out. Got the pro version and did a reformat and install.

 

[secretanchitman]

http://www.winsupersite.com/article/windows-7/clean-install-windows-7-with-upgrade-media

Go down to the methods section. Its not exactly shady or anything.

method #2 works 100%. have done it multiple times on upgrade installs and has worked every single time. no need to worry about having xp/vista installed beforehand either.

 

[Nintendesert]

Yeah it works for me. I have licenses of XP, tons and of Vista with the boxes and disks sitting here. When installing 7 though I want to do clean installs so doing the methods mentioned and googleable is preferable and I've never had problems. The only problem I had was installing 7 over 7 beta and then having the whole install revert to beta status a few weeks ago and no longer functioning. It was weird.

 

[Wyndru]

this is new to people? on a tech forum?

 

[bhanson]

Mine seemed to be a full version. I installed directly onto a brand new hard drive and activated with no problems.

$30