Windows 7 Student Offer

[Tootech]

If you are a student, you can buy Windows 7 at a reduced price of £30

 

Have a look

 

Windows: Student Offer

[dharma24]

i have a question regarding this offer,

 

I'm currently studying a course at university and my old PC has died. I'm going to purchase a new one next week (Windows 7 compatible) however it has no OS installed.

 

So i was wondering if i purchased Windows 7 via the student website, would i have to carry out a clean/custom install? Or do i need a genuine copy of XP/Vista already running on my NEW pc.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, As far as I am aware the copy you buy will still be the full operating system and so should be a straight forward clean install, if no other operating system is present.

Nev.

[dharma24]

Thanks for the reply, i just don't want to waste my money if it's an upgrade version. I can also opt for the Professional version with the disc.

 

I also asked this on the Windows 7 Answers site, and got this reply:

 

Windows 7 Student Offer Install Question

 

"In order to install the upgrade version of Windows 7, you must have a qualifying Windows operating system installed and activated. You cannot install an upgrade version of Windows 7 on a blank hard drive. The installation procedure does not ask you to insert a Windows disc in the drive for verification, the actual qualifying operating system must be installed. If you do not have a qualifying Windows operating system installed with a genuine license activated, then you cannot use

the upgrade version of Windows 7 - you would need a "full version" Windows 7 license.

 

In summary:

 

1. A qualifying Windows operating system must be installed.

2. The qualifying Windows operating system must have a genuine license (product key) and it must be activated.

3. To upgrade, boot to the qualifying Windows desktop, insert the Windows 7 Upgrade disc in the DVD drive.

4. When the setup menu appears, select Custom (advanced) to initiate a clean install procedure."

[shrimply]

I'm pretty sure this is only an upgrade version, I'd love to be told wrong and will definitely get one.

 

To be honest though microsoft offering an upgrade "to save students money" is a joke. Because if you already have a working computer then most students would never bother to spend the normal amount of money to upgrade so by offering this cheaper microsoft will actually get more money out of students.

 

On the other hand students are exactly the type of people who are likely to build they're own computers, or buy second hand computers which need a new OS installed in order to save money. And therefore would really benefit from getting a full OS cheaper. And it would of course also benefit those who wish to upgrade.

 

I personally have been running Windows 7 on my netbook which came with linux, I'd have jumped at the chance to get the full version for £30, but after March next year, I'll probably go back to linux.

[RandyL]

To be honest I'm confused too shrimply.

 

If I click on the FAQ's link on this page they seem to be talking about an upgrade as has been noted.

 

But in the FAQ's it says if you have Vista you can just upgrade. However this is a partial quote from the FAQ.

 

"If you decide to install Windows 7 on a PC running Windows XP you'll need to do a custom installation. This is sometimes called a "clean install" because it will erase your hard drive and set up your PC from scratch"

 

But at no point did I see anything in the FAQ's that said you could install to a blank hard drive.

 

So I'm thinking that either way you look at it this is just an upgrade no matter the way you choose to install it.

 

And everyone please read the FAQ's if you currently have Vista.

 

On a similar note I know why Microsoft offers studends the chance to get the Office Suite for free or cheaper if they are enrolled in a University. They do so because they want the students to get used to and prefer it. This will benefit their economics in the long run.

 

But as for Windows 7 I'm inclined to agree with shrimply that this might be just an upgrade.

[dharma24]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm going to wait until after the Windows 7 release date, and check a few forums to see if is possible to perform a clean install on a blank hard-drive.

[Plastic Nev]

OK, I have found something that may help, and as far as I can see, although Microsoft may not like it, it appears to be a legal way forward. At least it seems that way to me.

Have a look here at what Paul Thurott says.

Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows: Clean Install Windows 7 with Upgrade Media