Neowin.net

http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/win7_skus_compare.asp

Here is your list

I ordered 2 copies of Home Premium for my machine and my wifes. I can't justify the Ultimate price and you really can't beat $50 for a new OS. Especially given what Paul T. said about clean installs with upgrade media.

I ordered one of each, professional for my main. Home Premium can't host remote desktop and I do use that through my windows home server. The laptop in my house can have Home Premium just fine and includes more than enough for the average (and even pro ) user. I would of just done home premium if I didn't have a specific need for professional.

Nope, they won't. There are no Ultimate Extras this time.

Since they're all including the previous edition's feature set this time, Windows 7 Professional should be enough for most IMHO. It has both the pro features and home features of Windows Vista Ultimate, with a few exceptions, with BitLocker lacking perhaps the major feature missing. However, TrueCrypt is both better and free.

Awesome. No hacking to do the in-place clean install.

7 Home Premium for $50. Amazing.

If you are doing a fresh install, you don't need your Vista key. You need to install 7, then upgrade 7 to 7 to use the upgrade key.

I would like to know about this as well.

I forget where I read this (but it was a reputable source if I remember correctly), you can only do an upgrade to a higher or equally-the-same version of Windows 7 as Windows Vista. For example, Ultimate can only be upgraded to W7 Ultimate, but Vista Home Basic could be upgraded to anything but Starter.

Supposedly, this is because the installer cannot uninstall Vista features when upgrading, so an Vista Ultimate can't be upgraded to a W7 Home Basic because then it would have issues with the Remote Desktop (server) feature because Home Basic doesn't have that.

What worked in Vista (at least before SP2, I do not know if it works on an SP2 integrated disc) was to install the Vista version you have without a CD key (it says you can enter it in later) and once you get to your desktop, upgrade that install. Don't know if it works in Vista SP2 discs or if it will work in Windows 7 discs.

That does seem suspicious, along with the fact you can't sign in. Weird.

ALERT: The Live ID Login page does not show up as a secure page. This could be totally fake.

Oh crap, don't tell me i just got scammed.

I don't know, but on the actual store.microsoft.com the Live ID page is secure.

The -ppe is there to signify that the site is a test domain from Microsoft. This site is real and signed by Microsoft.

Just get it from Amazon.com ... even Newegg has it now (or they just posted a Facebook link about it) ...

Since the -ppe is there making it a test site, the orders may not be real. Only tests.

Oh thank God! Kevin take the link down before we can confirm it is legit. Jimmy did you get a confirmation email for your order? Mine went through but I called MS to double check if they had it in their system and nothing yet...

I got a conformation email, yes.

According to microsoft the -ppe is for a pre-production environment. It's 100% microsoft. I just want to know if we get our orders.

Last edited by Jimmy422 on 26 Jun 2009 - 05:19

The confirmation number according to MS guy I talked to does not match their format so the PPE generated fake confirmations to test the site or demand before it went live. Our orders did not go through. Mystery solved. Just placed one on Amazon instead. Hey Kevin if you could replace the link above would help any future people coming here. Sorry for the mix up guys! Just relieved we are ok Jimmy.

Ya but what about the link listed in the article? Some of us tried it and it worked...but what is the ppe in the link to the store above? Some of us are worried this is a phising site. Does anyone know what is going on or if some of us should be worried?

I did a WHOIS lookup on it. It's registered to microsoft, the connection was secure when I ordered, and searching microsoft for PPE brings up a article on PPE being for pre-production testing for live stuff.

Edited: Nevermind

Oh thank God! So does that mean we need to resubmit our orders then? We got confirmations but when I called MS they said that the order number was not the usual format for a confirmation and they said my order did not show up yet.

I'd wait another day before I do anything. My debit card isn't showing any purchases anyways.

According to their pre order policy, they do not charge anything until the order date. nothing to worry i guess

The link above is a test site and not valid. Do not use that one as it will send a confirmation but not working and no order will be placed. Weird they would give public access to a test site. We have one at work for an open account procedure (my company is a financial company) but strange someone got a link to it.

Good luck to that. We all tested it and I am sure the majority submitted at least one bug a person...

Good question, I'm wondering if in any moment the offer will be finished

The pre-order special is supposed to run from June 26 to July 11 or "while supplies last."

Preorder Windows 7 cheaply
In select markets, Microsoft is offering its customers the ability to preorder Windows 7 upgrade versions at a significantly reduced price. This is easily the most aggressive pricing Microsoft has ever offered for Windows. The low preorder price will vary per country:

US: Windows 7 Home Premium ($49.99) and Windows 7 Professional ($99.99)
Canada: Windows 7 Home Premium ($64.99) and Windows 7 Professional ($124.99)
Japan: Windows 7 Home Premium (¥7,407) and Windows 7 Professional (¥14,073)
UK: Windows 7 Home Premium (£49.99) and Windows 7 Professional (£99.99)
France and Germany: Windows 7 Home Premium (€49.99) and Windows 7 Professional (€109.99)
The deal includes select retail partners, such as Best Buy and Amazon, as well as the online Microsoft Store. This program begins Friday, June 26 in the US, Canada, and Japan. It goes on while supplies last or until July 11 in the US and Canada, and until July 5 in Japan. For the UK, France, and Germany, the preorder starts July 15 and runs while supplies last or until August 14. Microsoft was not willing to discuss the limits of the supplies, but a spokesperson did confirm to Ars that the reduced prices for the European countries will simply apply to the full version (as noted above), as upgrade versions will not exist in Europe. In short, these preorders will allow those in the UK, Germany, and France to purchase full versions of Home Premium or Professional, except without IE8, for a very low price.

/uses sign language

No sale for the full version of Win7.

disappointing though that you have to go into the physical store to get the discount coupon. don't live near their stores

Crap, i ordered one from the -ppe and one from the regular because I thought the -ppe wouldn't work. Are you positive it's legit?

yea, this happened to me too. fortunately, i was able to order from amazon.

all are 32 bit, catch is if you want 64 bit then you have to buy the microsoft download option, then you can choose the 64 bit version, very sneaky

yea I had the same question and with some searching on the web I found the answer...choose the download option from the MS store and when Win 7 becomes available download the the 64-bit version, burn to disc and then install is my understanding on how to go about getting a 64-bit upgrade

Great question! I just ordered my copy from bestbuy Canada and it didn't state wether it was the 32 or 64bit upgrade. I really want the 64 bit. I just emailed bestbuy hopefully they can clarify.

I don't think Canadian customers can order from the Microsoft Store, You need to order from bestbuy or futureshop.

I bought 3 x Home Premium upgrades from Amazon.ca; seems to be best deal for Canadians, what with free shipping.

Someday MS will recognize Canada as a legitimate market for Windows!

No. You can only upgrade from Vista/XP.

Pre-ordering anything from Best Buy makes me nervous. When you pre-order from GameStop, they hold a copy for you. Best Buy has always put everything on the shelf, meaning it could be sold out when you went to pick up your pre-ordered item. At least that is the case with the Best Buy near me... is it different elsewhere?

When I placed my Order on bestbuy it was a delivery option only. No Pick up option was available.

yup, no 64 bit, all 32 bit

thats the answer I found here:

http://community.winsupersite.com/blogs/pa...4-upgrades.aspx

"The second most common questions regards "upgrading" from Windows Vista or XP (32-bit) to a 64-bit version of Windows 7. (You cannot do an in-place upgrade between 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows.)

Yes, it's possible. The key is to purchase the Windows 7 Upgrade version electronically (preferably through the presale and directly from Microsoft). If you do so, you're given the choice to download the x64 bits. So if you qualify for a Windows 7 upgrade--i.e. you own Windows XP or Vista--you can buy the Windows 7 Upgrade version of your choice, download the x64 version, burn it to disc, and do a clean install.

Well this is terrible, what if you are not in the US? I'm in Canada and I can't order from the MS Store. I really want all 64bit copies. I might be cancelling my order from Bestbuy now. This is rediculous!!

yup, thats what I was reading as well, I don't think many people realize this

I went to the Staples Canada site and look at what it says:

Product includes both the 32bit and 64bit versions of Windows 7

http://www.staples.ca/ENG/Static/static_pa...p?pagename=win7

Well thats good news. Still better deal to oder from MS though and get DL on release day. Prolly won't work out that way though since servers will be hammered.

Only if you chose "Release date delivery". And you will be charged for shipping using this option. ($5.98 for me). No tax.

Its free shipping if you chose "Super Saver" but will get it way after the release date.

Yes, you can.

even though my OEM Vista is 32-bit?

Sony kind of sucks about drivers. Make sure they offer 64 bit drivers.

Yes, Trevin Chow (Head dev of the Microsoft Store) said you will recieve both in the package.

Thanks. Off to order. (Y)

You can clean install even without the CD with upgrade.

There is no direct upgrade to Win7 from XP. Backup your data or use the migration tool and you'll be a doing a clean install essentially.

but will i need to run the installer within winXP or can i boot off win7 disc and perform a clean install on a fresh hdd...

Hey Trevin, thanks again for helping me with the -ppe mess.

What if we have to re-format our computers? Can we do a clean install with no previous version of windows on there with the upgrade versions? Like, say i format my drive to reinstall Windows 7. Can I pop the disc in and reinstall without having problems with activation and whatnot?

Last edited by Jimmy422 on 26 Jun 2009 - 20:11

Trevin, Can owners of previous OS (XP/Vista) use the Upgrade media to clean install even if that OS isn't installed on the machine anymore? I've ditched my Vista Home Premium install when i moved to Win7 Beta/RC.

Would i have to install my licensed copy of VHP and THEN upgrade?

What works in Vista and should work in 7 is you install the version you have without a serial and then run the setup from within that install. A bit of a pain but how often do you format?

In order to use the Upgrade to do a "clean install" the previous qualifying OS must be present on the system.

In order to do a clean install with upgrade media, the qualifying OS must be present on the machine.

EDIT--
I've never used any home edition windows I'm specifically looking into things like advanced user acccount management and file permission controls. For instance, gpedit.msc, lusrmgr.msc... etc.

I'm looking into the feature comparisons too... I think this wikipedia article answers your question:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_7_editions

why would you even ask that when has microsoft ever let you install a Retail OS on more then one PC ?

power together vista will upgrade it is same sku as business

Win7 Starter - (JUNK)

Windows 7 - Home Basic just like is says.. basic

Windows 7 - Premium - Recommend for most people

Windows Windows Prof = experienced people that are going to use the extras.

Windows Ultimate = a waste of time if you are just doing hope computing. if you REALLY think your going to use the Virtual Harddisk then Giver on the Ultimate. But in my experience with windows. you wont need anything more than Professional.