1. SPS Accounts:
    Do you find yourself coming back time after time? Do you appreciate the ongoing hard work to keep this community focused and successful in its mission? Please consider supporting us by upgrading to an SPS Account. Besides the warm and fuzzy feeling that comes from supporting a good cause, you'll also get a significant number of ever-expanding perks and benefits on the site and the forums. Click here to find out more.
    Dismiss Notice
Dismiss Notice
You are currently viewing Boards o' Magick as a guest, but you can register an account here. Registration is fast, easy and free. Once registered you will have access to search the forums, create and respond to threads, PM other members, upload screenshots and access many other features unavailable to guests.

BoM cultivates a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. We have been aiming for quality over quantity with our forums from their inception, and believe that this distinction is truly tangible and valued by our members. We'd love to have you join us today!

(If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. If you've forgotten your username or password, click here.)

Where to purchase Windows 7 64-bit Home Premium retail or upgrade?

Discussion in 'Techno-Magic' started by SlickRCBD, Apr 19, 2014.

  1. SlickRCBD Gems: 29/31
    Latest gem: Glittering Beljuril


    Resourceful Adored Veteran

    Joined:
    May 7, 2005
    Messages:
    3,017
    Media:
    47
    Likes Received:
    173
    Gender:
    Male
    I have somebody who was asking me for help upgrading their Vista system to Windows 7. They bought the OEM copy of Windows 7 and instead need a copy of Windows 7 64-bit home premium upgrade. They intend to return it as luckily the packaging hadn't been opened.

    The question is, where can I purchase a legitimate copy of Windows 7 64-bit Home Premium, either Upgrade or Retail, whatever will allow the easy upgrade option instead of overwriting everything?

    A link to a reputable site or mail-order business that ships to the Chicago Suburbs would be appreciated.

    Oh, the computer in question does NOT have a touch screen, and Windows 8 is probably unsuitable for that system. It might work OK if she bought a touch screen, but does not want one. She's just interested in Windows 7 Home Premium.

    All I can find on Amazon and Tiger Direct are OEM copies.
     
  2. Blackthorne TA

    Blackthorne TA Master in his Own Mind Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2000
    Messages:
    10,407
    Media:
    40
    Likes Received:
    231
    Gender:
    Male
    Is the Vista version 64-bit? I'm fairly certain you cannot do an in-place (upgrade) install from 32-bit to 64-bit.

    Do you care about technically violating the license? As I understand it, an OEM version can do an in-place (upgrade) install, it's just not technically legal to do it that way since OEM versions are only supposed to be used with new hardware.

    One thing though - a clean install would probably be better.
     
  3. T2Bruno

    T2Bruno The only source of knowledge is experience Distinguished Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2004
    Messages:
    9,766
    Media:
    15
    Likes Received:
    440
    Gender:
    Male
    Have you looked at Fry's?
     
  4. SlickRCBD Gems: 29/31
    Latest gem: Glittering Beljuril


    Resourceful Adored Veteran

    Joined:
    May 7, 2005
    Messages:
    3,017
    Media:
    47
    Likes Received:
    173
    Gender:
    Male
    I got an answer here that worked.
    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...-premium/c9c9ef49-d285-4c9c-a29c-17893d74f83c
    Downloaded a retail copy, did the upgrade install with it, then entered the OEM product key. Which it surprisingly accepted and activated. It said "Your copy of Windows is now genuine", so I presume the activation also ran a WGA check.

    This is different from the XP days when I had a CD case with pirated copies of the OEM version of XP Home, OEM XP Pro, retail XP home, retail XP Pro, and a corporate XP Pro without any product keys lying around.
    When somebody asked me for help with reinstalling Windows and told me they lost the CDs that came with the computer, I pulled out that "kit" and selected the appropriate disc.
    The only one I had legally was the corporate copy, which was also made available to teachers through schools at a huge discount and my mother worked for such a school and purchased it for me.

    ---------- Added 0 hours, 59 minutes and 54 seconds later... ----------

    Oh, and I forgot about Frys. The only one I know is in Lombard (or just south of it), and the person I was helping was in Lake Zurich. Fry's is probably 45 minutes away from me (Arlington Heights), so it would be over an hour for her. I haven't actually been there since 2007 when I worked in Addison. Fortunately we're both pretty close to IL-53/Interstate 355.
    I should have suggested looking there.
     
  5. Blackthorne TA

    Blackthorne TA Master in his Own Mind Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2000
    Messages:
    10,407
    Media:
    40
    Likes Received:
    231
    Gender:
    Male
    Pretty sure you didn't need to download anything if you were going to use the OEM key. The disk she bought would have done the same thing.
     
  6. Merlanni

    Merlanni Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!)

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2005
    Messages:
    2,445
    Media:
    23
    Likes Received:
    53
    Gender:
    Male
    When you buy a computer, you get a key. a small piece of paper or a sticker. That is your code. you can use an other disk with the same windows version and use that code.

    the OEM copy will install, but it will be locked with the motherboard, so you cannot use it on an other motherboard. you can upgrade every part of the PC but not the motherboard meaning that you can replace the processor, but not upgrade with that version to a newer generation of motherboard.

    If they plan to use it for at least two years, it is very likely that windows 9 will be available. Win 9 is expected, as rumours go, to be more PC orientated.

    ---------- Added 0 hours, 1 minutes and 30 seconds later... ----------

    But why the need to upgrade from Vista? It is not that bad.

    ---------- Added 0 hours, 3 minutes and 11 seconds later... ----------

    Microsoft works in series of two's.

    95 got perfected in 98
    2000/ME got perfected in XP
    8, we assume, will be corrected with 9.
     
  7. SlickRCBD Gems: 29/31
    Latest gem: Glittering Beljuril


    Resourceful Adored Veteran

    Joined:
    May 7, 2005
    Messages:
    3,017
    Media:
    47
    Likes Received:
    173
    Gender:
    Male
    Everything I've seen says the OEM DVDs will not offer an upgrade installation. While I'd normally recommend doing a clean install, this was one situation where an upgrade install was better.
    The person in question had a low 256kbit DSL connection. While there I had to make two downloads of over 100mb to update software and drivers. The first took over an hour for 117mb. The second took over an hour and a half for 158mb.

    If I had used the OEM DVD, I'd have had to make a clean install. The person in question had not kept ANY of her software installers, trashing them after they finished. I would have had to re-download everything. It took five hours to perform the upgrade, and it only took two hours for the actual upgrade, another three to download drivers and stuff, plus she still had some additional stuff to download overnight, particularly the 900mb of Windows Updates.
    I'd have missed Easter if I had to reinstall all her software like that.

    So, and upgrade install was necessary. I also advised her on some things like saving her installers to a flash drive or burning them to a CD/DVD (and explaining that a CD-RW or DVD-RW might be a good choice here for inexpensive backup media for installers, or using the advanced features of Roxio dvd burning software to not finalize a disc so you can keep adding installers until it is full) so they don't have to be redownloaded, choosing full installers instead of internet-based stubs for the same reason, and had to teach her that no, it's not a good idea to use an admin account with UAC turned off for your day-to-day tasks.
     
  8. Merlanni

    Merlanni Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!)

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2005
    Messages:
    2,445
    Media:
    23
    Likes Received:
    53
    Gender:
    Male
    256 dsl? Wow, that made me appreciate the speed we have in the Netherlands. Here a 30mbps download is normal.
     
  9. Blackthorne TA

    Blackthorne TA Master in his Own Mind Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2000
    Messages:
    10,407
    Media:
    40
    Likes Received:
    231
    Gender:
    Male
    I can't say for sure, because I went from XP to 7 (which had to be a clean install), but I have read claims of several people saying they did just that from Vista to 7 (used an OEM disk to perform an upgrade install).

    If you were going to use the OEM key, why not try it before downloading? The worst that would have happened is it would only offer a clean install and you'd cancel it...
     
  10. Topken

    Topken Elven-dragon wizard

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2008
    Messages:
    442
    Likes Received:
    13
    Gender:
    Male
    I personally have a 48-1 windows 7 disc I use for reinstalls if need be. But not sure if it can do upgrades or not I normally just use it to wipe the disc and start from scratch without any bloatware personally if I am unable to save the installed windows 7 or if its so trashed a reinstall is far quicker and safer.
     
  11. SlickRCBD Gems: 29/31
    Latest gem: Glittering Beljuril


    Resourceful Adored Veteran

    Joined:
    May 7, 2005
    Messages:
    3,017
    Media:
    47
    Likes Received:
    173
    Gender:
    Male
    The simple answer was I did not know I could use the OEM key, and thought she was going to have to return the DVD. and purchase the retail version. There were several things on the package that basically said "break this seal and you cannot return the DVD".
    I returned home after making the post asking where to purchase a retail version. About an hour after posting, which included my 20-minute drive home, somebody replied on the Microsoft forum with those download links and the information on using the OEM DVD's key.
    At that point, I was sitting at home on my own high speed cable internet connection, and decided to download and burn the DVD at home, which took less than twenty minutes to download (one of the fastest downloads for that amount of data ever), and another 7 minutes to burn. If I'd tried to download the 3.1gb DVD at her place, it would have probably taken more than a day, assuming no hiccups on the internet connection.

    That's why I downloaded first. Better to "have it and not need it than need it and not have it". Plus, I didn't want to have to back-track with a 20 minute drive each way. Better to come prepared.

    As for why not try the OEM DVD? I didn't feel like wasting time on experiments with other people's equipments. I had a procedure that should work that didn't involve using that DVD, so I followed the instructions to get the job done ASAP. I was being paid (not a lot, but still being paid for my time) to help her upgrade the system, and wanted to be as efficient as possible.

    P.S. I keep tying (and saying) "CD" when talking about Windows DVDs because it's been CDs for Windows 95, 98, 2000, and XP. Does anybody else make that mistake, and do I need to go back and edit the post if I spot it after hitting "post reply"?
     
    Last edited: Apr 22, 2014
Sorcerer's Place is a project run entirely by fans and for fans. Maintaining Sorcerer's Place and a stable environment for all our hosted sites requires a substantial amount of our time and funds on a regular basis, so please consider supporting us to keep the site up & running smoothly. Thank you!

Sorcerers.net is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products on amazon.com, amazon.ca and amazon.co.uk. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.