Windows 7 Full Version?

tommieboy

tommieboy

SOH-CM-2025
I'm kind of late to the party, but is Windows 7 Professional (the Full Version) still available for purchase? I think I'm going to pass on Windows 8.x for the time being.

I see a lot of the OEM versions of Windows 7 Professional for sale on the internet, but I've been told that the OEM version is tied to your motherboard once it's activated.

Tommy
 
Digital River are an official Microsoft partner and download channel, they still have Windows 7 with SP1 available for download from here, read this as it has the DR download links down the bottom ---> http://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/14-windows-7-direct-download-links

Download the version you want, burn it to a disc then follow the instructions on purchasing an OEM copy from anywhere you like and use the OEM copy's serial to activate your downloaded Windows 7 from Digital River.

Ps, same Digital River links on here for simplicity (just the English versions) - http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...oad-site/66a8439b-0d16-4b70-92f7-1c8486a46ebf
 
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I briefly looked at Cyberpower and they offer Win7 64bit Professional @ $135.00. I didn't look elsewhere on the assumption that, as they are fairly typical, Win7 Pro should be available. Win7 Pro is what I have on my laptop and desktop, though Home Premium would likely serve me just as well.



Bob
 
tommieboy said:
I'm kind of late to the party, but is Windows 7 Professional (the Full Version) still available for purchase? I think I'm going to pass on Windows 8.x for the time being.

I see a lot of the OEM versions of Windows 7 Professional for sale on the internet, but I've been told that the OEM version is tied to your motherboard once it's activated.

Tommy
Click to expand...

OEM versions of Windows are just cheaper releases meant to be sold with hardware. So, you can legally buy an OEM Win7 as long as you buy a piece of hardware with it. (ie a harddrive, ...) And any Windows is "tied to your hardware as soon as you activate it", except if you have a version with a MAK (multiple activation key). Those keys are sold to companies, not individuals.

Other than that, the software is exactly the same, just cheaper than a retail version.

There are of course the OEM windows sold with branded computers, but they will only install to that exact same PC. So nthere are in fact two different versions of OEM windows, one for PC brands and one for people who build their own.

Dumonceau
 
Get it from a reputable dealer, many copies on eBay are as kosher as pork blintzes. Microsoft will stop selling OEM versions of Win7 later this year, but dealers may well have stock for longer. Newegg and Amazon still sell OEM copies for example.
 
Just get Windows 8.1. There's no reason not to. It's better in so many ways: better multi-monitor support, speed enhancements, better support for newer hardware.

If you don' like the new Start screen, just grab Start8 and you'll get the Win 7 style Start menu back.
 
DennyA said:
Just get Windows 8.1. There's no reason not to. It's better in so many ways: better multi-monitor support, speed enhancements, better support for newer hardware.

If you don' like the new Start screen, just grab Start8 and you'll get the Win 7 style Start menu back.
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The problem for some of my older hardware is that the manufacturer is not currently providing support for Windows 8.x. For their newer hardware, YES; for a lot of their older hardware, NO. No problem with Windows 7 with the hardware that I currently have and intend to keep.

Tommy
 
Except in a few, very rare instances, Windows 7 drivers work fine on Windows 8.1. If it doesn't want to install, you just run the driver setup executable in "Windows 7 compatibility" mode.

I have 8.1 running on some pretty moldy hardware around the house. :) Only my Media Center PC is still on 7, due to Win 8 dropping boot-to-Media-Center support.
 
DennyA said:
Except in a few, very rare instances, Windows 7 drivers work fine on Windows 8.1. If it doesn't want to install, you just run the driver setup executable in "Windows 7 compatibility" mode.

I have 8.1 running on some pretty moldy hardware around the house. :) Only my Media Center PC is still on 7, due to Win 8 dropping boot-to-Media-Center support.
Click to expand...

Y'know, Denny - some of us old farts like our "old" Windows 7 Pro.... it's comfortable... familiar... friendly... it doesn't "bite" anymore.... we tend not to like surprises, and these are all very good reasons for not changing to a new operating system.

It may be fine for you - and many other geeks and gurus, to easily - almost being flippant - to say "If it doesn't want to install, you just run the driver setup exe in W7 Compatibility mode"... I'll tell you from very personal experience - there are thousands of experienced IT guys who have listened to consultants say similar platitudes before a major change - and then get bitten in the a*** when the stoopid CIO said to "go ahead, starting at 18:30 on Friday evening - we should be up and running on Monday at 07:00...."

Absolutely no disrespect, Denny, I understand the enthusiasm and the offer of advice. We would never move forward if it weren't for you and others like you.

Tommy - you do what you feel most comfortable with.

2 cents

(Oh yeah - I like Wright Cyclones, too... )

pj
 
Paul, I don't think there's necessarily any reason to upgrade a stable Win 7 system to Win 8.1 unless there's a new feature you're particularly enamored with.

But the original poster is buying a whole new OS, which is a different situation. In that case, it makes sense to get the newer OS, which is faster, has new desktop features, better support for future upgrades down the road, and so on. Almost all Win 7-compatible hardware works fine with Win 8.1 as well. Buying Win 7 instead of 8.1 would be like buying a 2009 car instead of a 2014 model, when they're the same price.

As for IT guys, if they were left unchecked, we'd all still be running Commodore 64s because 8-bit hardware and CBM Basic V2 are proven and stable technologies without the unnecessary complexity of newer PCs and OSes. :)
 
DennyA said:
Paul, I don't think there's necessarily any reason to upgrade a stable Win 7 system to Win 8.1 unless there's a new feature you're particularly enamored with.

But the original poster is buying a whole new OS, which is a different situation. In that case, it makes sense to get the newer OS, which is faster, has new desktop features, better support for future upgrades down the road, and so on. Almost all Win 7-compatible hardware works fine with Win 8.1 as well. Buying Win 7 instead of 8.1 would be like buying a 2009 car instead of a 2014 model, when they're the same price.

As for IT guys, if they were left unchecked, we'd all still be running Commodore 64s because 8-bit hardware and CBM Basic V2 are proven and stable technologies without the unnecessary complexity of newer PCs and OSes. :)
Click to expand...

Hahahaha!

"We'd all still be running Commodore 64s because 8-bit hardware and CBM Basic V2 are proven and stable technologies without the unnecessary complexity of newer PCs and OSes."

Isn't that the truth! It would not surprise me to know that the lab pc's in the College where I worked - are still using XP, as the decision to move from '95 to '98 or ME was eventually made redundant by the release of XP!!

I understand your first paragraph Denny, and the rational is perfectly correct of course; if I were to rebuild any of my systems they would have 8.1 on them without fail - but Tommy quite plainly said - in two separate posts - he has pretty well made up his mind and now just has a couple of questions that need answering - at least that's how I and four other posters read it. I'm not about to launch an attempt to push him in a direction where he might well not be comfortable - without knowing him a lot better than I do right now!

All the Best,

pj
 
Hey guys, thanks for the insights on the issue of newer vs older OS's; I really appreciate it. Yeah, I think I'm going to stick with Windows 7 Professional as my choice of OS upgrade. Most if not all of my friends and family currently run Windows 7, so I know I'll be in good company with I start pestering them to tips and insights on the inner workings of Windows 7.

Tommy
 
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