Windows 7 for students

[kuronosan]

Are we limited in how many copies of this we can get?

[Fen]

Are we limited in how many copies of this we can get?

One copy per email address.

[Chips]

Lovely news for those upgrading from 32-bit to 64-bit... the installer doesn't work. It won't unpack correctly on an x84 system. Microsoft blames DigitalRiver, DigitalRiver blames Microsoft.

There's a workaround in place in which you have to burn an ISO (doesn't always work), but Microsoft promises a fix within a day.

Those who ordered from the Microsoft store themselves with the student discount are fine; only DigitalRiver customers are affected.

So I've got a 32bit vista with a 64bit version of 7. Am I completely SOL? Or is there still a way to wipe out vista while getting windows 7?

[Xanthe]

Something to note for any of you college alumni lucky enough to have a lifetime alumni email forwarding service... If you have the ability to change your alumni address at will e.g. from [email protected] to [email protected] you can potentially obtain an unlimited number of copies, albeit one per order. I don't know if additional checking is done with a mailing address, but even if that were the case you would only need one disc and the rest could be downloadable versions.

So I've got a 32bit vista with a 64bit version of 7. Am I completely SOL? Or is there still a way to wipe out vista while getting windows 7?

You can do a clean install. It should prompt you for the Vista install disc and key during the Windows 7 install process as verification.

[Chips]

You can do a clean install. It should prompt you for the Vista install disc and key during the Windows 7 install process as verification.

Well, when I try to run windows 7 it keeps giving me the "This version of windows is not compatible with the version of windows you're running". How do I get around this?

Not only that, but I can't even properly "unload the box". "We are unable to create or save new files in the folder in which this application was downloaded. Please check the folder properties to make sure you have permission..."

I downloaded them to my desktop, after that message I moved the files to a folder and moved it to my documents, but still get the same message.

[Xanthe]

Well, when I try to run windows 7 it keeps giving me the "This version of windows is not compatible with the version of windows you're running". How do I get around this?

Not only that, but I can't even properly "unload the box". "We are unable to create or save new files in the folder in which this application was downloaded. Please check the folder properties to make sure you have permission..."

I downloaded them to my desktop, after that message I moved the files to a folder and moved it to my documents, but still get the same message.

You either need to burn the downloaded files to a bootable DVD or copy them to a USB drive and boot from that drive. You can't go from 32-bit to 64-bit by running the install within Windows.

[Chips]

You either need to burn the downloaded files to a bootable DVD or copy them to a USB drive and boot from that drive. You can't go from 32-bit to 64-bit by running the install within Windows.

Alright, thanks!

[dekamii]

somehow windows 7 is not available thru MSDNAA for me, anyone else having the same problem? it said check back later.

[Jintu]

If I get professional through digitialriver it's the same as getting a legit hard copy correct, as in I'm not limited to one install?

[Greatguardian]

Uh, I don't have to uninstall x86 Vista to install x64 Pro 7, correct? I'm trying to make a boot disk for it, and read it on startup, but for some reason I'm just going straight to Windows.

My situation aside from this point is identical to Jyakku's. Student version of x64 Pro 7 with x86 Vista currently installed. Can't run from inside Windows. I created an ISO of the unboxed files I downloaded, and wrote them to a DVD-RW at 4X speed plus verified. My BIOS is set to load from CD "Group" before HDD "Group", and set the primary CD device as the only disk drive on my machine. Did I burn the wrong files or something? >.> When I look at the Disk in "Computer", even the Icon shows a Windows Installation disk. Note, the files I burned were the folders in the "expanded setup" folder created after unboxing the 2 Setup boxes with the Win7 installer. When I tried burning the installer and boxes to a DVD, I got the same problem.

What'd I break this time? ; ;

Edit: When I go into my BIOS and remove the option to boot from HDD (forcing it to boot from disk), it freaks out and says there's a Disk Boot Error and I need to put in a System Disk and press enter. fffffffff

Edit2:

Okay, it's mainly having issues writing the boot file at all -.-. I'm having the same issue Jyukku originally had, with that Read-Only BS. Cept, every time I unload the box it sets everything in its own folder to "Read-Only" -.- I can't help that. fffff

[ClassicRed]

Anyone with a not .edu address get accepted yet? :3 My college doesn't provide one so I had to send in proof of classes or payment and havent gotten a yay or nay yet.

[Fen]

For some reason it refuses to make the ISO after unpacking everything. I had the same problem exactly.

Using the tutorial here I was able to make an ISO that would actually work, end product being a bit over 3GB. Like you, I was doing this in Vista 32 for Win7 x62.

[kuronosan]

If I get professional through digitialriver it's the same as getting a legit hard copy correct, as in I'm not limited to one install?

You have a limited license. You may have to purchase a new key if you installed it on multiple computers.

[Kaisha]

For Digitalriver, you have to sign an agreement stating they're allowed to do a check on your student status to ensure you're not cheating them out, as well as allowing them to phone call you, so it's a bit of a risk if you want to try getting more than one copy out of them by using more than one e-mail depending on whether or not they decide to give you a shout.

[Yugl]

I have a few questions about this.

Current OS: Vista (32-bit, Home Premium)

1. What are the specific benefits of going from Vista to Windows 7? I've looked at reviews and such, but they don't seem to point to anything specific aside from "fixing" the incompatibility errors of Vista. One article even suggested Windows 7 is slower than XP and Vista at a "cold boot" (I assume this means starting up from shut down?). In short, what am I paying for?

2. What are the real benefits of going from a 32 to a 64 bit? I read that 64 bit is the better one, but that it requires certain specs from your PC. Also, aside from the clean swipe, are there any annoyances I'll have to look out for in the future if I do decide to go from a 32 to a 64 bit OS?

3. What is the benefit of going from Home Premium to Professional? One obvious benefit is the ability to use the networking feature that they mentioned, which I may or may not need in the future. Aside from that, I'm not as informed about this since most of the information Windows offers follows the "Upgrade upgrade upgrade!" model with vague descriptions of what I'll really benefit from.

4. How do I back up data if I decide to buy the 64-bit or use Professional? Is the installing this OS something someone with limited computer knowledge, but reading competence is capable of doing?

5. If I do the back-up, will is save my programs? From the sounds of it, it appears I may not be able to save them and that causes concern for me with programs that came with the PC (Audacity) and Photoshop. Mainly the latter since I have the Photoshop CS2 disk (Upgrade), but I cannot find the original Photoshop 6 CD. Furthermore, since I'm on campus, torrents and such are a no-go situation for me due to heavy monitoring.

Thanks for any responses.

[kuronosan]

1. What are the specific benefits of going from Vista to Windows 7? I've looked at reviews and such, but they don't seem to point to anything specific aside from "fixing" the incompatibility errors of Vista. One article even suggested Windows 7 is slower than XP and Vista at a "cold boot" (I assume this means starting up from shut down?). In short, what am I paying for?

Much more streamlined memory and processor usage. Much better coding. That enough is reason alone.

2. What are the real benefits of going from a 32 to a 64 bit? I read that 64 bit is the better one, but that it requires certain specs from your PC. Also, aside from the clean swipe, are there any annoyances I'll have to look out for in the future if I do decide to go from a 32 to a 64 bit OS?

Everything runs quite faster on a 64-bit system. Some of your x86 programs may not run on a 64-bit system.

3. What is the benefit of going from Home Premium to Professional? One obvious benefit is the ability to use the networking feature that they mentioned, which I may or may not need in the future. Aside from that, I'm not as informed about this since most of the information Windows offers follows the "Upgrade upgrade upgrade!" model with vague descriptions of what I'll really benefit from.

Professional has XP-Mode which is basically guaranteeing your programs will work.

4. How do I back up data if I decide to buy the 64-bit or use Professional? Is the installing this OS something someone with limited computer knowledge, but reading competence is capable of doing?

Invest in a flash-drive. That's about the only thing you can do. Drag all your files onto it or burn them onto a DVD and have at it.

5. If I do the back-up, will is save my programs? From the sounds of it, it appears I may not be able to save them and that causes concern for me with programs that came with the PC (Audacity) and Photoshop. Mainly the latter since I have the Photoshop CS2 disk (Upgrade), but I cannot find the original Photoshop 6 CD. Furthermore, since I'm on campus, torrents and such are a no-go situation for me due to heavy monitoring.

No. Your programs are linked to the registry, which is erased when you install. You can get your original program CD-keys from the registry and then e-mail customer service and tell them you lost your CD and need a replacement, then give them the original key. There isn't anything else you can do given your situation.

[Yugl]

Much more streamlined memory and processor usage. Much better coding. That enough is reason alone.



Everything runs quite faster on a 64-bit system. Some of your x86 programs may not run on a 64-bit system.



Professional has XP-Mode which is basically guaranteeing your programs will work.



Invest in a flash-drive. That's about the only thing you can do. Drag all your files onto it or burn them onto a DVD and have at it.



No. Your programs are linked to the registry, which is erased when you install. You can get your original program CD-keys from the registry and then e-mail customer service and tell them you lost your CD and need a replacement, then give them the original key. There isn't anything else you can do given your situation.

Thanks for the awesome reply! It looks like Windows 7 Professional 64-bit is the way to go? Are there any x86 programs in specific that I may need but cannot use with 64-bit? I don't play games on my computer, so if it's just that, then I don't have a problem with the "No x86 programs" part.

[Ohemgee]

I keep getting a "could not install upgrade, please update your computer and restart setup"

[kuronosan]

What are you upgrading from and what architecture are you using?

[Ohemgee]

Vista Home premium SP1 32bit on a Dell XPS M1530