Cheapest way to get Windows 7 or 8 legally?

Media999

Does anyone know of the cheapest way to get windows 7 or 8 installed?

Like the look of windows 8 myself so dont mind having it.

Ive ordered a custom laptop with no OS and was planning on putting W8 on it.

Torqay

Well, you can grab Windows 8 from MS Technet right now and use it for the next three months. For free and all very legal. By October 24th (or even earlier) we'll know official prices.

Media999

I have 3 broken laptops here with product keys.

Are they any use? I think MS are selling a windows upgrade cheap so if i can get an official Vista maybe i can get a cheap upgrade.

GreenWolfe

Media999 wrote: »

I have 3 broken laptops here with product keys.

Are they any use? I think MS are selling a windows upgrade cheap so if i can get an official Vista maybe i can get a cheap upgrade.

Nope. OEM software is tied to the hardware it's sold with.

areyawell

Vista is buggy and very very slow. If you know a student they can purchase windows 7 half price

senordingdong

areyawell wrote: »

Vista is buggy and very very slow. If you know a student they can purchase windows 7 half price

How?

GarIT

areyawell wrote: »

Vista is buggy and very very slow. If you know a student they can purchase windows 7 half price

He said legally, only a student can legally use a copy bought for a student, there are even questions about wether a student can legally keep using a computer purchased with a licence made for a student after they finish college.

It would work, and microsoft wouldn't notice but its not legal.

kippy

GarIT wrote: »

There are even questions about wether a student can legally keep using a computer purchased with a licence made for a student after they finish college.

Are there?
Wouldn't that precedent, if acted upon, actually effect a hell of a lot of stuff?

GarIT

kippy wrote: »

Are there?
Wouldn't that precedent, if acted upon, actually effect a hell of a lot of stuff?

Not really, its in the licencing agreement and not a law.

When you buy a student licence you have to agree to something saying that you are a student, you are buying the licence for yourself, only you will use the licence and you will only use the computer for college purposes.

Some people seem to think its ok, but its just as bad as stealing, if you get a student to buy it for you, you are stealing just like anyone who uses windows for free.

kippy

GarIT wrote: »

Not really, its in the licencing agreement and not a law.

When you buy a student licence you have to agree to something saying that you are a student, you are buying the licence for yourself, only you will use the licence and you will only use the computer for college purposes.

Some people seem to think its ok, but its just as bad as stealing, if you get a student to buy it for you, you are stealing just like anyone who uses windows for free.

I'm not advocating anyone getting a student to buy anything for them.
Just wondering why there are questions around the validity of the license once you're student days have "lapsed".

For the record, I believe a licensing agreement is in fact a legal-esque (if not a legal) document/contract.

GarIT

kippy wrote: »

I'm not advocating anyone getting a student to buy anything for them.
Just wondering why there are questions around the validity of the license once you're student days have "lapsed".

For the record, I believe a licensing agreement is in fact a legal-esque (if not a legal) document/contract.

The licence says you are only allowed use it for college, obviously after college you cant use it for college, so on paper the licence isn't valid when you leave college but it stays working and I don't think Microsoft actually care.

It is a legal contract but couldn't set a precedent for anything else unless other things also have the same clause.

GreenWolfe

GarIT wrote: »

The licence says you are only allowed use it for college, obviously after college you cant use it for college, so on paper the licence isn't valid when you leave college but it stays working and I don't think Microsoft actually care.

It is a legal contract but couldn't set a precedent for anything else unless other things also have the same clause.

http://www.software4students.ie/faq

Will my software still belong to me when I leave school or college?
Yes, the license offered to you by Microsoft is a perpetual license and does not expire when you cease to be a student. You can still use the products after you graduate or leave college.

Looks fine to me, as long as you fulfill their conditions at time of purchase.

Media999

Calm down lads. I am a student!!

How do i get a student discount?

Media999

areyawell wrote: »

Vista is buggy and very very slow. If you know a student they can purchase windows 7 half price

Well aware just have a product key sticker on a a couple of laptops.

I am a student so how do i get it half price?

Cheers

areyawell

Go to department of computing in your college and might be able to help. Is there a shop in the college that orders stuff for students? Theres plenty of sites online that a quick google will find for you or alternatively ring microsoft helpline

GreenWolfe

The cheapest way would probably be the Windows 8 System Builder edition. There's no pricing on that as yet.

Even if software4students were selling Windows (which they aren't at the moment) they're usually upgrade editions only.

Does your college participate in Dreamspark Premium/MSDN AA? If you're a STEM student (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) student you might be able to get Windows through your college.

Media999 wrote: »

Well aware just have a product key sticker on a a couple of laptops.

I am a student so how do i get it half price?

Cheers

More than likely the OSes on those laptops are OEM, check the labels. The OEM software and any upgrades are tied to that hardware only.

Media999

Strange thing here.

http://software4students.ie says out of stock
http://software4students.co.uk says out of stock

But when i login to http://software4students.co.uk it gives me windows 7 for £49

Some serious savings there.

Edit - Does the upgrade disk not let you do a fresh install?

GreenWolfe

Media999 wrote: »

Strange thing here.

http://software4students.ie says out of stock
http://software4students.co.uk says out of stock

But when i login to http://software4students.co.uk it gives me windows 7 for £49

Some serious savings there.

Edit - Does the upgrade disk not let you do a fresh install?

If the computer doesn't have a previously installed version of Windows, then it has not been licensed properly.

http://news.cnet.com/windows-7-upgrade-dos-and-don-ts

Media999

Ah right so not possible.

What if i installed windows vista with no product key then ran the upgrade disk?

Anyone any ideas if that would work?

if anyone has a solution that they dont want to mention here just drop us a PM cheers.

jamescd

Media999 wrote: »

Strange thing here.

http://software4students.ie says out of stock
http://software4students.co.uk says out of stock

But when i login to http://software4students.co.uk it gives me windows 7 for £49

Some serious savings there.

Edit - Does the upgrade disk not let you do a fresh install?

That's what I did for my sister's PC. Bought an Upgrade version from software4students.ie. To do a fresh install, you need to install it twice. I did this and it's working perfectly.

If you want to order from the UK site, use Parcel Motel. Have it delivered to their Northern Ireland address and they'll forward it on to your chosen motel. You get two free deliveries when you sign up so it won't cost you anything.

https://www.parcelmotel.com/how-it-works/

Media999

jamescd wrote: »

That's what I did for my sister's PC. Bought an Upgrade version from software4students.ie. To do a fresh install, you need to install it twice. I did this and it's working perfectly.

If you want to order from the UK site, use Parcel Motel. Have it delivered to their Northern Ireland address and they'll forward it on to your chosen motel. You get two free deliveries when you sign up so it won't cost you anything.

https://www.parcelmotel.com/how-it-works/

Will a digital download work?

Could download it in an hour easily if it did.

jamescd

Media999 wrote: »

Will a digital download work?

Could download it in an hour easily if it did.

Yeah that would work too. Thought you wanted the disk posted

Media999

jamescd wrote: »

Yeah that would work too. Thought you wanted the disk posted

Nah makes no odds.

A product key is all that matters.

Think this is the route ill go so.