Advice regarding Windows 7 Student Offer

louis · 26 Dec 2009 at 16:59

Just a quickie folks, but quite an important one at that.

Microsoft are selling Windows 7 for £30 to students as I'm sure you're aware. I'm hoping to install Windows 7 on a brand new build but I believe this offer applies to upgrading from your existing OS which doesn't really help me.

Unfortunately I only discovered this after paying my £30. I also paid for the backup disc as I assumed this was the remedy to my problem. After making a payment I was directed to a page with a link to download the software which I left as I wasn't sure as to what I actually need.

So, in brief, can this offer be applied to a new pc and if so how? If I can't, what's my next cheapest option as I've been seeing non upgrade editions for around £130 which is steep to say the least.

Cheers all

ns400r · 26 Dec 2009 at 17:52

You can use the download to create a DVD. You can then use that DVD to install onto a clean empty hard drive. There is a long and bloated thread somewhere with lots of information, some of it useful, about the student offer.

ViperZS · 29 Dec 2009 at 16:16

just to bump this up...

If i buyt he student Windows 7 64 bit, will i deifnitely be able to do a clean install instead of an upgrade?

dazzerd · 29 Dec 2009 at 16:21

You need to get hold of a retail iso, or borrow somebodies copy.

Install it as normal, then look about on google (Paul Thurrock, Windows 7 student). There is a reg key which needs changing, restart the machine, and activate as normal and you will have a fully clean install.

ns400r · 29 Dec 2009 at 17:00

I used a download copy of Windows 7 Professional from Digital River. Installed onto a clean formatted hard drive from the DVD I made.. Windows, (custom install), installed with NO reference to any other copy of Windows. No copy was asked for. Activation was seemless and no editting of the registery was needed.

Vulcan · 29 Dec 2009 at 17:07

ns400r said:
I used a download copy of Windows 7 Professional from Digital River. Installed onto a clean formatted hard drive from the DVD I made.. Windows, (custom install), installed with NO reference to any other copy of Windows. No copy was asked for. Activation was seemless and no editting of the registery was needed.

x2

Although I ordered and used the DVD copy. No problems.

ViperZS · 29 Dec 2009 at 17:21

ns400r said:
I used a download copy of Windows 7 Professional from Digital River. Installed onto a clean formatted hard drive from the DVD I made.. Windows, (custom install), installed with NO reference to any other copy of Windows. No copy was asked for. Activation was seemless and no editting of the registery was needed.

thats the kind of answer i was hoping for.

So i can back up my HDD, then wipe and format it, then have windows 7

Cheers!!

TonyM19 · 29 Dec 2009 at 19:11

I have already legally downloaded the ISO using a uni email address and used it to update my (legitimate) old copy of Vista Home Premium. If I download another copy using my old school email address (and I've had the email confirming that the .sch.uk email addres is valid) I'm assuming from this that I could do a clean install on a new build. If I download and get the new serial number can I use the previously burned ISO to install and then use the new serial or will I have to burn another ISO?

ViperZS · 29 Dec 2009 at 19:24

ns400r, was that with an upgrade version?

ns400r · 29 Dec 2009 at 21:02

ViperZS said:
ns400r, was that with an upgrade version?

It was - Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Upgrade - 64 bit. But the actual downloaded file(s) is called - Win7-P-Retail-en-us-x64.exe.

Azza · 29 Dec 2009 at 21:31

That's interesting to know ns400r.

Got Vista 64bit OEM, so it isn't a biggie if I have to do the upgrade method, but clean install is much better for my needs. May as well give it a go.