I want Windows 7

StarBob

StarBob

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I avoided Vista because everytime I had an encounter with it, I didn't like it. Of course to spite me I now have to use it at work. Regardless, I do want Windows 7 if only so I Can use DX10 and 11. XP 64 has been an uphill battle and has served me well, but now I need to get Windows 7.

So... I don't want to spend a bunch of dollar bills on it. I graduated from college so I can't get it cheap through Microsoft nice times... Anyone have a fancy scheme in play where I can get it nearly free or as cheap as free?
 
Well, I know one way to get it free.

Unfortunately, it's illegal.
 
Go to a computer store and write down the OEM license key off one of the computers they have. Then find yourself an OEM disk (torrent or whatever) and install that way. You will probably have to activate it by phone but they will let you do it (just say you DIDNT...as in did NOT...replace the motherboard when they ask).

Keep in mind this is still technically illegal, but it won't prevent you from downloading updates and other problems you would have with a pirated version.
 
I heard they no longer update your PC at all if it's not genuine. (win 7)
 
Ok, I read it in some news, maybe comments.

But you sound like you know for a fact, so I'll take your word for it.
 
I would imagine for the updates you have to do some additional voodo if using a pirated version, I dont know for sure. But overall I jsut feel dirty with the idea of a pirated OS, never done it before and never plan to.

As a side note if you use an OEM key from the back of a store display unit your copy will be registered as genuine.
 
No Limit said:
I would imagine for the updates you have to do some additional voodo if using a pirated version, I dont know for sure. But overall I jsut feel dirty with the idea of a pirated OS, never done it before and never plan to.

As a side note if you use an OEM key from the back of a store display unit your copy will be registered as genuine.
Click to expand...

You can't activate a COA key, Microsoft stopped that loophole years ago. All OEM PC's have the exact same key, the protection lies in the BIOS. All legit Win 7 OEM pc's have a SLIC table on them that holds the licence without that table in your BIOS you can't activate.

I got mine for free, tried activating a copy i got from work and it failed telling me to ring MS i did answered a few automated questions and the machine gave me a free Ultimate key.
 
No Limit said:
I would imagine for the updates you have to do some additional voodo if using a pirated version, I dont know for sure.
Click to expand...

There are already copies out there for download that are recognized as genuine, and get all the updates and support from microsoft. Not sure how they pull it off, but they've had "genuine" vista and xp versions too. And all without the downloader having to do anything special to get it to work, beyond running the installer.
 
PimpinPenguin said:
You can't activate a COA key, Microsoft stopped that loophole years ago. All OEM PC's have the exact same key, the protection lies in the BIOS. All legit Win 7 OEM pc's have a SLIC table on them that holds the licence without that table in your BIOS you can't activate.

I got mine for free, tried activating a copy i got from work and it failed telling me to ring MS i did answered a few automated questions and the machine gave me a free Ultimate key.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure where you heard this from, every OEM key is different and yes, they can and do need to be activated.

The bios does have ways to communicate with windows in some cases to avoid activation but in no way does this prevent activation if that needs to be done. As a full disclaimer I have not yet tried this on Windows 7, but it worked on Vista and I didn't read anything about microsoft changing this for windows 7.
 
Krynn72 said:
There are already copies out there for download that are recognized as genuine, and get all the updates and support from microsoft. Not sure how they pull it off, but they've had "genuine" vista and xp versions too. And all without the downloader having to do anything special to get it to work, beyond running the installer.
Click to expand...

I would think that it's just a matter of time before microsoft marks those copies as pirated since WGA always runs prior to major updates. But not having any experiance with it I really don't know.
 
There are certain programs which trick Windows to thinking that it's a OEM PC or a genuine version by doing things with the BIOS or something.

It works.
 
I was sold when I saw that you can run XP in a window whilst being in Windows 7.

Damn nice idea. Whether its exactly the same though, I dont know yet, but its great that you can run XP programs that havent had their Windows 7 update yet.

Got it for almost half price on Amazon (premium DVD, not the upgrade). Was pretty hard to resist.
 
?ynast? said:
I was sold when I saw that you can run XP in a window whilst being in Windows 7.

Damn nice idea. Whether its exactly the same though, I dont know yet, but its great that you can run XP programs that havent had their Windows 7 update yet.

Got it for almost half price on Amazon (premium DVD, not the upgrade). Was pretty hard to resist.
Click to expand...

I'm not aware of any such feature built in to Win7. You can run a virtual machine by downloading a virtual machine server (such as VMware or microsoft's own VM solution) but it is not built in to win7 nor is it anything unique to win 7.
 
Yeah.

They called it, wait for it...XP mode!

Ahhh Microsoft clearly hired Columbo to think of such a grand name.
 
Actually it looks like the nice thing with their solution is you don't need a new XP key but you do have to use Win 7 professional or better.
 
XP mode is just a virtual server running XP. Something that is not new exactly but MS has included it for Win7 Pro and you don't pay for the XP license.
 
No Limit said:
I'm not aware of any such feature built in to Win7. You can run a virtual machine by downloading a virtual machine server (such as VMware or microsoft's own VM solution) but it is not built in to win7 nor is it anything unique to win 7.
Click to expand...

I'm assuming it works on the same principle that 32 bit programs use on a 64 bit OS. It still works just not at the same capacity. So the initial functionality is there when the proper build is not.

So all I'm getting is a lot of "Steal It" suggestions... which I expected, but I just want like a contest to win it or something... or just a really good deal. One of my coworkers won Win7 ultimate from a codeproject contest by hardly doing anything. I tried the same but did not win.
 
I just bought Win7 Pro upgrade. Installed it on itself (without activating it the first time, you have 30 days) and it thought it was an upgrade. That means I didn't have to buy the full. But I also bought it back in July when it was 1/2 off.

And as far as Virtual OSs, they can be 32 or 64bit. I don't think it matters what the main OS is. Previously, I had Vista 32bit installed but was using 64bit Linux in VMware.
 
No Limit said:
I'm not sure where you heard this from, every OEM key is different and yes, they can and do need to be activated.

The bios does have ways to communicate with windows in some cases to avoid activation but in no way does this prevent activation if that needs to be done. As a full disclaimer I have not yet tried this on Windows 7, but it worked on Vista and I didn't read anything about microsoft changing this for windows 7.
Click to expand...

Are you talking about the key that's on the sticker on the back of new PC's? Those cannot be used to activate Windows 7. Those key's are not OEM keys has they are often mistaken for but COA key's which are different. Try using it to activate and it will fail and tell you to ring Microsoft. Microsoft did that to prevent people copying keys off store display PC's and using them to activate. Every OEM PC do use the same key hence the reason Microsoft can't stop people who hack these key into their BIOS as it will ban millions of legit users. Every Manufacturer gets a master key for each version of Windows 7, however you cannot activate them as a product key as it only meant to be used in the SLIC table.

Right now the most common crack of Win 7 is a Loader which emulates the SLIC info of the BIOS before Windows loads which make make it think it's legit without the need for it to phone home.
 
If you're a college student you can get Win7, any of them, for $30. Just have to enter your school email addy. I don't have a link handy, but just google, Windows 7 for students and it should come right up. My school handed them out for free like candy, so you should check with your school. Idk if you're even in school.............but...........yeah........
 
ShinRa said:
If you're a college student you can get Win7, any of them, for $30. Just have to enter your school email addy. I don't have a link handy, but just google, Windows 7 for students and it should come right up. My school handed them out for free like candy, so you should check with your school. Idk if you're even in school.............but...........yeah........
Click to expand...

StarBob said:
I graduated from college so I can't get it cheap through Microsoft nice times...
Click to expand...

Mmhmm.
 
PimpinPenguin said:
Are you talking about the key that's on the sticker on the back of new PC's? Those cannot be used to activate Windows 7. Those key's are not OEM keys has they are often mistaken for but COA key's which are different. Try using it to activate and it will fail and tell you to ring Microsoft. Microsoft did that to prevent people copying keys off store display PC's and using them to activate. Every OEM PC do use the same key hence the reason Microsoft can't stop people who hack these key into their BIOS as it will ban millions of legit users. Every Manufacturer gets a master key for each version of Windows 7, however you cannot activate them as a product key as it only meant to be used in the SLIC table.

Right now the most common crack of Win 7 is a Loader which emulates the SLIC info of the BIOS before Windows loads which make make it think it's legit without the need for it to phone home.
Click to expand...

I am aware that they require you to call Microsoft, I said so above. This is normal. What I am saying is that once you call them and as long as you tell them you didn't change the mother board they will always activate it for you.
 
ShinRa said:
If you're a college student you can get Win7, any of them, for $30. Just have to enter your school email addy. I don't have a link handy, but just google, Windows 7 for students and it should come right up. My school handed them out for free like candy, so you should check with your school. Idk if you're even in school.............but...........yeah........
Click to expand...

http://www.microsoft.com/student/di...px?CR_CC=100211782&CR_SCC=100211782&WT.srch=1

if you don't have a .edu address ask a friend. problem solved.
 
XP Mode might be useful, but keep in mind that it's emulated; the performance will suffer greatly compared to just running XP natively.
 
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