Microsoft is pushing Apple-like deals with their Windows 7 OS to the student population. Seems they see the market value in building stronger relationships with the student population which is good for us. From now until Jan 3, 2010 you can download Windows 7 for 30 bucks. That’s a pretty big switch for Microsoft who will be charging the regular public $119.99 after October 22 when it’s due to release. FYI, you won’t be able to get a license key before Oct. 22 but you can download the OS now. To apply, to to Microsoft’s 741 site and you can sign up.
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5 Responses to “Special Student deal on Windows 7”
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Do you know if this is only for an upgrade or can I do a new install with this? Like if I’ve got my mac and want to put bootcamp on it, can I use this to install windows?
From what I’ve read from their FAQ page it’s called an “upgrade” because they are assuming that this is the audience. That said, when I read a little more into the FAQ it seemed to indicate that with this version you can do a clean install – so theoretically you could add a partition in bootcamp and install W7.
This is where I got this info;
https://windows7.digitalriver.com/servlet/ControllerServlet?Action=DisplayHelpPage&Locale=en_US&SiteID=mswpus
$30 bucks isn’t bad, but its still not free. How long will we allow these corporations (that Evergreeners claim to not like to support) to con our school into shamelessly promoting them?
http://gizmodo.com/5150284/7-things-we-hate-about-windows-7
The alternative you ask?
Why, Karmic Koala of course!
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KarmicKoala
oh, and its FREE.
This isnt Karmic Koala or Windows 7, but it is a good video for all to watch.
Vista vs. Ubuntu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xC5uEe5OzNQ
Yes you can install the “upgrade” as a clean install, but there is a trick to it. You do a clean install first, then upgrade. When you do the clean install, activation will fail because the activation code you receive through the student offer is only for upgrades. Just opt to activate windows at a later time, this will give you access to windows for a 30 day trial. The system will boot up normally. Now you can open the windows 7 install cd and run the setup utility and choose to upgrade the operating system to windows 7. Thats right, to get around the activation codes requirement for the new operating system to be an upgrade, you upgrade from windows 7 to windows 7. Apparently they haven’t written any version checks that would only allow upgrades to previous versions, or from versions that had already been activated. Now when it asks you for the activation code it will happily accept.
Note. I got this to work on my Mac using the newest version of VirtualBox and Snow Leopard. The biggest challenge here was finding a direct download of the windows 7 iso. Microsoft provides a download utility, but it is a windows application. You can find the iso through “alternate” sources or you can try to find the semi official links provided by Digital River. Digital River is Microsoft’s distribution partner for the student offer, and since many people were having problems with the download application they provided http access to the disk images.
You probably want this one, Professional x86:
http://msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent.net/msvista/pub/X15-65804/X15-65804.iso
Only for people who know they can run it, Professional x64:
http://msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent.net/msvista/pub/X15-65805/X15-65805.iso
Those are links to the professional version. Its the same cost as the Home Premium version, so you might as well get it.
Thanks and thanks to Stuart for the irtualBox and Snow Leopard heads up.