Building a Desktop Someday, Win 7 Question

Planning ahead here. I would like to build my first desktop within the next year or so. With the recently announced pre-order Windows 7 upgrade I was wondering what my best/cheapest solution would be as far as acquiring and installing Win 7 on this future desktop. Right now I only have an OEM Win XP disk that came with my Asus laptop.

So as far as I know I can't use my OEM XP disk to verify a previous XP install (since it won't actually ever install on the desktop) and I need a previous XP install to apply the upgrade.

What would you do? Go ahead and buy the upgrade in the hopes of finding XP/Vista cheap in a year or so (more work but probably significantly cheaper)? Or should I just wait and buy a copy (probably OEM) of Win 7 when the time comes? Should I let the promotion pass me by?

Is there another solution I am neglecting?

 

You can get on the pre-order bandwagon and get Windows 7 Professional for $99 (the Ultimate version is still about $299 if memory serves). You can do a full install using the upgrade disc, using the same technique that works in Vista. No previous version is required.

 

Whoa, thanks. That would be great. I suppose one can't be sure that this work-around will still actually work for Win 7, but you think it will?

 

It's already been confirmed by people like Paul Thurrott.

 

I agree, thats the way to go!!!

 

I may have to do this as well. Either that or look for some student discount.

 

Understand though that much of what you learn here, today, will be useless in a year.

 

Care to elaborate on your statement?

 

new chips, OS, OS patches, diferent mobos, memory configs, drive capabilities, etc, etc.

Nothing we're doing here is rocket science, brain surgery, or particle physics. But the base knowledge of the hardware and software tech changes at least twice a year if not three times.

 

But he was asking specifically about an OS: it's pricing and availability. We are in possession of that information.

 

Are you a college student? You could join IEEE as a student for $30 and have access to a variety of Microsoft OS's. Then you could buy the W7 upgrade and use it on that.
Info: http://www.ieee.org/web/membership/students/branchresources/microsoftofferstudents.html#Selection
Qualification to join IEEE: http://www.ieee.org/web/membership/qualifications/qualifications.html

 

The ability to use a Windows 7 upgrade disc for a full install is not tied to any timeframe.

 

That rather depends on msft never changing a policy once annouced, doesn't it? Naw, that's never, ever happened before.

 

Well, it's really hard for a policy change to alter how an installation disc works, now isn't it? Perhaps some sort of beaming technology that will actually change the physical properties of the Windows Vista/Windows 7 DVDs, thus preventing the "upgrade the upgrade to get a full install" trick.

 

amen!!!

and it you can afford about $300, get a MS Technet subscription and you'll be able to get all the retail serials needed for home testing/evaluating/running for Win 7, Vista, XP, Office 2007, 2010, etc. It's a nice way to go

 

Yes I am. Thanks Crash, I'll have to look into it. I'm a grad student and I doubt I'm in one of the "designated fields" but Its worth checking. Previously I was only aware of the "ultimate steal" and all they offered was the Vista upgrade. If I get access to full OS's that would be awesome.

 

Well my application was processed despite not being in a "designated field." I guess I'll know when I get my member card in a couple weeks whether or not I am accepted. Also, it was nice that memberships were half off this month. If I can get a full OS for $15 that won't be bad at all .

 

So if I pre-order Win 7 upgrade, should I be able to do this, or will it probably change before the official release? Thanks!

 

No one knows for sure yet. It wouldn't make much sense for Microsoft to allow users the ability to double install again. But the preventative measures being thrown about seem real cumbersome so we'll see. See page 2 of this discussion: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=393709

 

If by "double install" you mean performing an upgrade on the upgrade, then the answer is yes - Microsoft has already stated publicly that this will work the exact same way as in Vista.