Perfectly legal ways you can still get Windows 7 cheap (or even free)Updated November 2. One of the most popular posts I have ever published at ZDNet was this one, originally titled Seven perfectly legal ways to get Windows 7 cheap (or even free). I wrote it in late 2. If you had followed my advice, you could have saved hundreds of dollars on upgrades and special deals for students and IT pros. Six years later, Windows 7 is in the rear- view mirror. Most of the deals listed in those original posts are no longer available. But it is indeed still possible to find great deals on PCs running Windows 7, if you know where to look. It's also possible to tweak and tune newer Windows versions so that they are functionally equivalent to Windows 7. In that spirit, I've completely reworked this post with information that reflects the current PC market. It was publicly released more than six years ago, on October 2. With each passing day it is getting further and further from the midpoint of Microsoft's 1. Windows releases. In January 2. 02. Instead of actually buying it, people could upgrade for free. It was monetized with a combination of advertising, analytics, and subscription services Windows 10. Microsoft's Windows 10 event is just getting started, and it sounds like the company is eager to make it as easy and cheap as possible for those running. Volunteers, not Amateurs. 8 January 2013: Apache OpenOffice is developed 100% by volunteers. Apache does not pay for developers, for translators, for QA, for. Cara Upgrade Windows 7 ke Windows 10, Cara Upgrade Windows 8 ke Windows 10, Uprgade Windows 7 ke Windows 10, Uprgade Windows 8 ke Windows 10, Cara Upgrade Windows. Was very excited to upgrade to Windows 10, the free upgrade from Microsoft. But turned out to be a nightmare installing it. First, at 50%, my screen went. Free Partition Magic alternative - EaseUS Partition Master Free Edition is a free Partition Manager Software for Windows XP/Vista/Windows 7/Windows 8/Windows 10. I am aware that Windows 7 and 8.1 users get Windows 10 legally for free. However, when Windows 10 RTM comes out, I want to dual boot it with my Windows 7. Worried about the future of your old or pirated Windows copy? Now is the time to snatch a cheap Windows 7 or 8 license to secure yourself that free upgrade to Windows 10. Windows 7 support lifecycle will officially end. If you're an IT pro or developer who needs Windows 7 for testing, you also have subscription options, although they're less of a deal than they were six years ago. For students, the best options come with newer versions of Windows. I am not trying to encourage attempts by anyone to get away with something you're not entitled to. If there are restrictions for a specific offer, I've noted them here. Pick a category and go.. Old software on new PCs By far the best way to buy Windows 7 today, six years into its lifecycle, is to purchase it preinstalled on a new PC. You get a warranty and, more importantly, you get the OEM's assurance that the hardware and software were designed to work together. This option also spares you from the pain of Windows setup, especially the hassles of hunting down essential drivers and system- specific updates when you upgrade (or downgrade) a PC. New brand- name PCs with Windows 7 preinstalled Yes, big- name PC makers can still install Windows 7 on new PCs. There's a catch, though: As of October 3. PCs they offer must include the more expensive Windows 7 Professional. Machines that were manufactured before that date with Windows 7 Home Premium can still be sold. PC manufacturers will no longer be able to sell new PCs with Windows 7 Pro as of October 3. For details, see . Among online merchants, for example, Dell offers filters to show all available desktops and all- in- ones and laptops running Windows 7. HP has separate pages for business desktops and laptops, but you have to look at each model to find the models with Windows 7 available. Amazon- owned Woot, for example, always has lots of choices in its Computers section, although you'll have to dig into the specs to confirm that the operating system you're looking for is included. Many are too old to recommend except for diehard bargain hunters, but if you know what you're looking for you can find perfectly good hardware that costs less than you'd pay for a retail copy of the Windows 7 version it includes. Staples has a similar selection in its online store. However, the license agreement with those copies explicitly prohibits you from using that software on a PC you build or refurbish for your own personal use. Crazy, huh? 2. 01. The Year's Best Tech for Work and Play. ZDNet takes a look back at very best tech stories and features of 2. From the year's tech turkeys to products and services that get business done, we round up top gadgets, cloud highs, security lows - - and much more. The current price for OEM Windows 7 Professional at Newegg, for example, is $1. When I checked a few minutes ago, Amazon was offering OEM Windows 7 Professional packages from multiple sellers at prices ranging from $1. When I checked just now, a package specifically intended for refurbished PCs cost only $5. In the past, Microsoft has been remarkably inconsistent in its advice to customers about whether this practice is allowed. That change lasted exactly one year: with the launch of Windows 8. Microsoft restored the old licensing terms. Yes, you can install an OEM copy of Windows 7 on a PC for your own personal use; I recommend that you avoid doing so for your business, however, especially if you have a licensing agreement with Microsoft. Upgrade (and downgrade) options Most of the readily available options for new PCs include the latest version of Windows- -that's Windows 1. Windows 8. 1 PCs still on retail and online shelves). You have four choices available. Exercise your downgrade rights (free) If you purchase a new PC with a business version of Windows 8, Windows 8. Windows 1. 0 already installed by the manufacturer, the license agreement gives you the right to downgrade to Windows 7 Professional. So if your PC originally came with Windows 8/8. Pro, you can replace the installed operating system with Windows 7 Professional at no cost. Likewise, OEM System Builder copies of Windows 8. During installation, don't enter a product key. After completing installation, you'll need to activate your newly installed copy of Windows 7 by using the telephone activation option and explaining that you are using downgrade rights. Transfer a license (no cost) Did you purchase a retail copy of Windows 7 any time in the past six years? Any full or upgrade license purchased through the retail channel or directly from Microsoft can legally be transferred to another PC. That includes any of the deeply discounted upgrade offers that Microsoft made available when Windows 7 was new, including the three- license Family Packs of Windows 7 Home Premium. You might be required to activate over the phone; when asked, be sure to specify (truthfully) that your copy of Windows 7 is installed on only one PC. You don't need to reinstall the old operating system; if you want to perform a clean install using upgrade media, you can use the workaround I describe in this post: Boot from the upgrade media and do an installation without entering a product key. Then use the same media to . Follow the instructions in this post. Buy a full retail license The most expensive option is to purchase a full retail license for Windows 7. It's guaranteed to work with any PC, with no installation or licensing complications. The problem is finding this software, which Microsoft stopped selling years ago. Most online merchants today offer only OEM copies of Windows 7. Subscriptions for Windows and more All the options I described earlier apply to PCs you plan to use in the home or office. But if you're a developer, an IT pro, or a student, you might have a completely different set of needs, including a desire to have one or more PCs running Windows 7 for testing purposes. But there are still useful options available to anyone who needs Windows 7 in a lab or virtual machine. Windows 7 evaluation versions are also no longer available. Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN)MSDN subscriptions are specifically intended for professional software developers. An annual subscription gives you access to a wide range of professional developer tools and pre- release products. You can choose from different levels of MSDN subscriptions. The cheapest is the MSDN Operating Systems subscription, which costs $6. It offers full access to every client and server version of Windows (going as far back as Windows 3. For a full list of available packages, see this chart. There's an excellent summary of your rights as a subscriber here. This paragraph is especially noteworthy: Many MSDN subscribers use a computer for mixed use- -both design, development, testing, and demonstration of your programs (the use allowed under the MSDN Subscription license) and some other use. If you just want cheap access to Windows 7, you have better options. Microsoft Dream. Spark (free) If you are enrolled in a science, technology, engineering, or math department at an educational institution that subscribes to Microsoft Dream. Spark Premium, you can get free software for use in your studies. It includes server software and development tools but does not include Windows client software.) To check your eligibility through these programs, register here using a school- issued email address or a code supplied by an academic institution. Windows 1. 0 will be a free upgrade for Windows 7 and 8. Microsoft's Windows 1. Windows to upgrade. Terry Myerson just announced on stage that, for the first year after Windows 1. Windows 7, Windows 8. Windows Phone 8. 1 will be able to upgrade to the latest version of MIcrosoft's OS — for free. How exactly this program will work isn't clear just yet — it'll certainly be subject to some hardware requirements, particularly for older machines running Windows 7. But a simplified upgrade path will likely do a lot to help Windows 1. Windows and different upgrade costs, most consumers will simply take this free update and enjoy running Microsoft's latest. Beyond this, Myerson shared Microsoft's vision for Windows as a service, not just an operating system. A big part of that is Microsoft's new commitment to keep devices consistently updated throughout the . Myerson noted that this will let developer.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
December 2016
Categories |