Windows 7 Offical release?

[DontFeedPhil]

Hey,
I have been using various builds of Windows 7 ever since microsoft released the first beta versions. I am in the market for a new laptop but wont consider buying one with Vista on it. So does anyone know when Windows 7 is supposed to be officially released?

 

[Marc]

Hey,
I have been using various builds of Windows 7 ever since microsoft released the first beta versions. I am in the market for a new laptop but wont consider buying one with Vista on it. So does anyone know when Windows 7 is supposed to be officially released?

from a slip from some Acer big wigs it's going to be October 23rd but whether the OEMs are ready roll at that point will depends on when Microsoft releases to manufacture (RTM) Windows 7 and how long it takes the OEMS to roll and test their builds.

 

[DontFeedPhil]

Aww man, I cant wait that long...I guess Ill just have to get an apple...

 

[ialfan]

I've heard an October release date thrown around lately meaning you can buy a laptop in September and get a free upgrade for Windows 7.

If you need to go ahead and get a laptop get one, put the Windows 7 RC on it which is good for an entire year and before that time's up by an OEM copy of Windows 7 for ~$100 and install it.

 

[Marc]

I've heard an October release date thrown around lately meaning you can buy a laptop in September and get a free upgrade for Windows 7.

If you need to go ahead and get a laptop get one, put the Windows 7 RC on it which is good for an entire year and before that time's up by an OEM copy of Windows 7 for ~$100 and install it.

Might cost you a bit more of the OEM version - it is supposed to be sold with new hardware such as memory, cpu, motherboard or hard disk.

That said the Release Candidate is now up avialable for download in the form of a 3GB ISO.

 

[Amaris]

Aww man, I cant wait that long...I guess Ill just have to get an apple...

Getting an Apple would be a good idea. OS X 10.5 (Leopard) has boot camp installed, which means you can install a 32 bit OS on a hard drive partition and dual boot OS X and Windows. I have successfully done this with Vista and XP. According to Gizmodo, you can install Windows 7 on Boot Camp too. Interesting link here.


J.

 

[ialfan]

Aww man, I cant wait that long...I guess Ill just have to get an apple...

Getting an Apple would be a good idea. OS X 10.5 (Leopard) has boot camp installed, which means you can install a 32 bit OS on a hard drive partition and dual boot OS X and Windows. I have successfully done this with Vista and XP. According to Gizmodo, you can install Windows 7 on Boot Camp too. Interesting link here.


J.

You can buy XP and Vista OEMs off amazon and newegg with no additional hardware so it's not an issue.

 

[Small White Car]

If you need to go ahead and get a laptop get one, put the Windows 7 RC on it which is good for an entire year and before that time's up by an OEM copy of Windows 7 for ~$100 and install it.

Yeah, but using an OEM like that could eventually get you into trouble if you change hardware at all and you use up using all your activations.

I burned out a Windows OEM once and couldn't get it re-activated because using it like this is technically against he rules, so MS won't help you fix it.

So yeah, it was cheaper, but now that particular copy of Windows is useless.

Which is, you know, probably something you should mention if you're giving this advice out to people.

 

[Amaris]

Aww man, I cant wait that long...I guess Ill just have to get an apple...

Getting an Apple would be a good idea. OS X 10.5 (Leopard) has boot camp installed, which means you can install a 32 bit OS on a hard drive partition and dual boot OS X and Windows. I have successfully done this with Vista and XP. According to Gizmodo, you can install Windows 7 on Boot Camp too. Interesting link here.


J.

You can buy XP and Vista OEMs off amazon and newegg with no additional hardware so it's not an issue.

Certainly, I've purchased OEMs before. However, he raised the idea of buying an Apple and I offered some advice. No issues here, either.

J.

 

[Hermiod]

Since Microsoft's definition of a component essential to the operation of a computer is a bit daft, some sites here in the UK sell OEM discs with a £1 mouse.

 

[USS Triumphant]

This might be of interest: Vista to Win 7 upgrades free after July 1st.

 

[ialfan]

Getting an Apple would be a good idea. OS X 10.5 (Leopard) has boot camp installed, which means you can install a 32 bit OS on a hard drive partition and dual boot OS X and Windows. I have successfully done this with Vista and XP. According to Gizmodo, you can install Windows 7 on Boot Camp too. Interesting link here.


J.

You can buy XP and Vista OEMs off amazon and newegg with no additional hardware so it's not an issue.

Certainly, I've purchased OEMs before. However, he raised the idea of buying an Apple and I offered some advice. No issues here, either.

J.

Aha sorry I meant to reply to someone else.

 

[bigdaddy]

It's coming out this year?! I thought it wasn't coming out until next summer. The sooner the better and Bill Gates even said Vista was garbage in an interview. Well he said nothing and to come talk to him after Vista is dead so he can really say what he wants.

 

[Marc]

This might be of interest: Vista to Win 7 upgrades free after July 1st.

yep pretty much the standard approach for Microsoft.

 

[FPAlpha]

I recently bought a new Laptop with Vista Home Premium and a few weeks later Vista begins to act up which got me mad as hell.

I was thinking of doing a clean install but then i didn't get a Vista Setup CD for my Acer Notebook but could only burn a Recovery CD to reset Vista into "factory mode". Here's the kicker though: Acer has its own proprietary program for power management, Audio settings etc which should include this Recovery program but that's not available for Vista systems!

So i looked around the net to get just a Vista CD without a Key since i already have a legit Key but no dice.. Microsoft itself had a loophole apparently where you could order such a CD when upgrading to a higher level of Vista but that has been closed apparently.

Acer themselves would only send you their Recovery CD but that costs 50 Euro!! No way in hell would i pay that,

So i got Vista through "alternative" methods and will be doing a clean install without all the Acer crap i don't use.

Anyway.. if Windows 7 is really that good i may buy it but i won't shell out the 200 Euro+ it would cost for the retail. Anyone know how soon OEMs will be for sale after the general release?

 

[Hermiod]

^I would be surprised if there was any delay in the shipping of the OEM release. In fact, I'd imagine that OEMs will want Windows 7 earlier so they can test it first.

As for "recovery discs" as long as you have a sticker on the computer with your serial number then you have a licence to use Windows Vista on that particular computer. I see no reason why you shouldn't use a copy obtained through "alternative" means as you say but then rather than using any dodgy means of avoiding the activation process, just use the serial number on the sticker.

You are correct in thinking that the OEM licence does not mean that you can't reinstall the OS on the same machine.

 

[Marc]

^I would be surprised if there was any delay in the shipping of the OEM release. In fact, I'd imagine that OEMs will want Windows 7 earlier so they can test it first.

From comments as Vista was nearing release, the OEMs take 2 - 3 months to build and test the images they ship with their computers. If Microsoft is going to release Win7 in October then it's going to have to RTM by mid June at the latest.

As for "recovery discs" as long as you have a sticker on the computer with your serial number then you have a licence to use Windows Vista on that particular computer. I see no reason why you shouldn't use a copy obtained through "alternative" means as you say but then rather than using any dodgy means of avoiding the activation process, just use the serial number on the sticker.

You are correct in thinking that the OEM licence does not mean that you can't reinstall the OS on the same machine.

Yep - combine the ID sticker and certificate of authenticity which woujld of been with the laptop when you bought and you're legally licenced for Vista.

Microsoft should be damned to hell for prevent OEMs shipping full media with their product - it's a major major pain when your only recovery is a complete wipe of the drive.

and the makers should be damned to hell for binding their drivers up in those recovery images.

One trick for future reference often there is a second partition on the drive that contains the recovery partition (and I have seen this on an Acer as well as Sony and Toshiba laptops). this partition is often bootable and is generally triggered by pressing the F8 or F12 key as the system starts up and it will then give you and option to choose you boot device.