Can't find a Windows 7 Family Pack (3 licenses) non-upgrade on Amazon?

Hello.

I have an Amazon.com gift card and would like to buy 64-bit Windows 7
with multiple licenses. Is it me or I can't find a non-upgrade 64-bit
Windows 7 family pack on Amazon? I only found its Home Premium on
http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Wind...dp/B002MV2MG0/
.... I assume I need the non-upgrade retail if I want to install cleanly
on computers (one for now, but will plan to install on other machines)
that didn't have previous Windows.

Thank you in advance.
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On 11/10/11 09:29 am, Ant wrote:
> Hello.
>
> I have an Amazon.com gift card and would like to buy 64-bit Windows 7
> with multiple licenses. Is it me or I can't find a non-upgrade 64-bit
> Windows 7 family pack on Amazon? I only found its Home Premium on
> http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Wind...dp/B002MV2MG0/
> ... I assume I need the non-upgrade retail if I want to install cleanly
> on computers (one for now, but will plan to install on other machines)
> that didn't have previous Windows.
>
> Thank you in advance.

http://www.winsupersite.com/article/...-upgrade-media

Perce

Ant wrote:
> Hello.
>
> I have an Amazon.com gift card and would like to buy 64-bit Windows 7
> with multiple licenses. Is it me or I can't find a non-upgrade 64-bit
> Windows 7 family pack on Amazon? I only found its Home Premium on
> http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Wind...dp/B002MV2MG0/
> ... I assume I need the non-upgrade retail if I want to install cleanly
> on computers (one for now, but will plan to install on other machines)
> that didn't have previous Windows.
>
> Thank you in advance.

That's what I see here as well though. The Family pack is for upgrade, not
original install.

http://www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/...mily-pack.aspx

"Family pack explained

Windows 7 Family Pack allows you to upgrade up to three PCs running
Windows XP or Windows Vista to Windows 7 Home Premium."

Paul

> > I have an Amazon.com gift card and would like to buy 64-bit Windows 7
> > with multiple licenses. Is it me or I can't find a non-upgrade 64-bit
> > Windows 7 family pack on Amazon? I only found its Home Premium on
> > http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Wind...dp/B002MV2MG0/
> > ... I assume I need the non-upgrade retail if I want to install cleanly
> > on computers (one for now, but will plan to install on other machines)
> > that didn't have previous Windows.
> >
> > Thank you in advance.

> http://www.winsupersite.com/article/...-upgrade-media

Hmm, this is confusing and long. If I do a clean install with 64-bit W7
HPE Family Pack upgrade DVD onto PCs that don't have older Windows
installed (PCs are custom built), I have to use the two installations
trick?
--
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> > I have an Amazon.com gift card and would like to buy 64-bit Windows 7
> > with multiple licenses. Is it me or I can't find a non-upgrade 64-bit
> > Windows 7 family pack on Amazon? I only found its Home Premium on
> > http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Wind...dp/B002MV2MG0/
> > ... I assume I need the non-upgrade retail if I want to install cleanly
> > on computers (one for now, but will plan to install on other machines)
> > that didn't have previous Windows.
> >
> > Thank you in advance.

> That's what I see here as well though. The Family pack is for upgrade, not
> original install.

> http://www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/...mily-pack.aspx

> "Family pack explained

> Windows 7 Family Pack allows you to upgrade up to three PCs running
> Windows XP or Windows Vista to Windows 7 Home Premium."

Dang, so I can't buy Family Pack for clean install one three PCs with
new/formatted HDDs (not going to upgrade over install old Windows).
Sheesh, MS made this complicated! It sounds like they want us to buy
individual copies of Windows for each PC. Ugh.
--
Quote of the Week: "Although you're a little ant, I won't bully you."
--Sai Yuk from The Legend of Fong Sai Yuk movie (English subtitles)
/\___/\ Ant @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org (Personal Web Site)
/ /\ /\ \ Ant's Quality Foraged Links: http://aqfl.net
| |o o| |
\ _ / Please nuke ANT if replying by e-mail. If crediting,
( ) then please kindly use Ant nickname and AQFL URL/link.

On Thu, 10 Nov 2011 13:12:28 -0600, Ant wrote:


> Sheesh, MS made this complicated! It sounds like they want us to buy
> individual copies of Windows for each PC. Ugh.

Do ya think!!!

On 11/10/2011 1:11 PM, Ant wrote:
>>> I have an Amazon.com gift card and would like to buy 64-bit Windows 7
>>> with multiple licenses. Is it me or I can't find a non-upgrade 64-bit
>>> Windows 7 family pack on Amazon? I only found its Home Premium on
>>> http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Wind...dp/B002MV2MG0/
>>> ... I assume I need the non-upgrade retail if I want to install cleanly
>>> on computers (one for now, but will plan to install on other machines)
>>> that didn't have previous Windows.
>>>
>>> Thank you in advance.
>
>> http://www.winsupersite.com/article/...-upgrade-media
>
> Hmm, this is confusing and long.

quite

> If I do a clean install with 64-bit W7
> HPE Family Pack upgrade DVD onto PCs that don't have older Windows
> installed (PCs are custom built), I have to use the two installations
> trick?

Bingo!

On 11/10/11 02:11 pm, Ant wrote:

>>> I have an Amazon.com gift card and would like to buy 64-bit Windows 7
>>> with multiple licenses. Is it me or I can't find a non-upgrade 64-bit
>>> Windows 7 family pack on Amazon? I only found its Home Premium on
>>> http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Wind...dp/B002MV2MG0/
>>> ... I assume I need the non-upgrade retail if I want to install cleanly
>>> on computers (one for now, but will plan to install on other machines)
>>> that didn't have previous Windows.
>>>
>>> Thank you in advance.
>
>> http://www.winsupersite.com/article/...-upgrade-media
>
> Hmm, this is confusing and long. If I do a clean install with 64-bit W7
> HPE Family Pack upgrade DVD onto PCs that don't have older Windows
> installed (PCs are custom built), I have to use the two installations
> trick?


Scroll down to method #2: only one install needed, then edit the
registry and enter your activation code. It's much quicker and worked
for me.

Perce

Ant wrote:
>>> I have an Amazon.com gift card and would like to buy 64-bit Windows 7
>>> with multiple licenses. Is it me or I can't find a non-upgrade 64-bit
>>> Windows 7 family pack on Amazon? I only found its Home Premium on
>>> http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Wind...dp/B002MV2MG0/
>>> ... I assume I need the non-upgrade retail if I want to install cleanly
>>> on computers (one for now, but will plan to install on other machines)
>>> that didn't have previous Windows.
>>>
>>> Thank you in advance.
>
>> That's what I see here as well though. The Family pack is for upgrade, not
>> original install.
>
>> http://www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/...mily-pack.aspx
>
>> "Family pack explained
>
>> Windows 7 Family Pack allows you to upgrade up to three PCs running
>> Windows XP or Windows Vista to Windows 7 Home Premium."
>
> Dang, so I can't buy Family Pack for clean install one three PCs with
> new/formatted HDDs (not going to upgrade over install old Windows).
> Sheesh, MS made this complicated! It sounds like they want us to buy
> individual copies of Windows for each PC. Ugh.

Well, I didn't find an MS page with that option offered.

I don't really know the history of "family packs", to know
what they offered in the past, and whether the scheme was
any different at one time.

And it sounds like the answers from the other people in the
thread, have this covered anyway. As long as those methods continue
to work, then no problem. If you buy a "pack" today, it's likely
to have SP1 in it (so do some Googling to see if the tricks still
work at the SP1 level). I expect they do, but find a review of the
product, to see if it's still true.

OK, I found another option, but it's not nearly as cheap. It
doesn't have the word "Family" in it. OEM products stay with
the PC they're installed on. There would be no need to prove
WinXP or Vista was previously on the machine, as these are for
install on a bare computer.

"Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - 3 Pack - OEM" $288

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116987

That is the equivalent of three of these at $100 a piece. So $12 cheaper.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116986

Might as well stick with your Family Pack and the install trick.
At least, as long as it works the same on SP1.

*******

When I look at Amazon, I don't see the Family Pack offered for an SP1
version of OS. So perhaps in a sense, it's a promotional offer ?

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Wind...0965988&sr=8-2

"It seems that a lot of upgraders have been complaining about
the upgrade process, especially from XP. Most of us expected
to be able to format our hard disks and be prompted for either
the XP disc or product key. Alas, this is not the case. The
upgrade is much more complicated than it should be and some
workarounds have been discovered

Method A (simplest)

If you already have an older version of Windows on the hard drive,
finish the Custom Install, without entering the product key. After
installation, go to your System Properties and click the link to
activate Windows. Enter your product key and it should activate.
This has worked for me twice.

Method B (hardest)

If Method A doesn't work, try the registry hack.

1. Finish the custom install without entering the product key
then click Start and type regedit.exe into the "Search programs
and files" box.
2. In the registry, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/
Windows/CurrentVersion/Setup/OOBE/. In the pane on the right, you'll
see an entry for MediaBootInstall. Double-click on it and change the
value from "1" to "0" and click OK.
3. Close regedit and go to Start -> All Programs -> Accessories then
right-click on Command Prompt and select "Run as administrator."
You'll get a UAC alert, click Yes.
4. At the command prompt, type: slmgr /rearm and hit Enter. Reboot.
5. Now try to activate. If it fails, make sure there are no pending
Windows Updates to install. If there is, install them, reboot and start
over from Step 4.

Method C (most time consuming)

Perform the Custom Install and skip the product key. Once completed,
run the upgrade again from within Windows 7 but this time, enter the
Windows 7 upgrade key and then activate Windows.

That's from one of the reviews for that product. But it's not SP1. And
I can't seem to find something that combines "SP1" and "Upgrade" as a
product offering, that has reviews.

Paul

Hi, Paul.

> That's from one of the reviews for that product. But it's not SP1. And I
> can't seem to find something that combines "SP1" and Upgrade" as a product
> offering, that has reviews.

No, the Family Pack "limited time offer" was ended 2 years ago, soon after
Win7 debuted and long before Win7 SP1 became available in February 2011.
See this Computerworld story from December 2009:
http://www.computerworld.com/s/artic...mily_Pack_deal

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX

Microsoft Windows MVP (2002-2010)
Windows Live Mail 2011 (Build 15.4.3538.0513) in Win7 Ultimate x64 SP1


"Paul" wrote in message news:j9hlvl$2eb$...

Ant wrote:
>>> I have an Amazon.com gift card and would like to buy 64-bit Windows 7
>>> with multiple licenses. Is it me or I can't find a non-upgrade 64-bit
>>> Windows 7 family pack on Amazon? I only found its Home Premium on
>>> http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Wind...dp/B002MV2MG0/
>>> ... I assume I need the non-upgrade retail if I want to install cleanly
>>> on computers (one for now, but will plan to install on other machines)
>>> that didn't have previous Windows.
>>>
>>> Thank you in advance.
>
>> That's what I see here as well though. The Family pack is for upgrade,
>> not
>> original install.
>
>> http://www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/...mily-pack.aspx
>
>> "Family pack explained
>
>> Windows 7 Family Pack allows you to upgrade up to three PCs running
>> Windows XP or Windows Vista to Windows 7 Home Premium."
>
> Dang, so I can't buy Family Pack for clean install one three PCs with
> new/formatted HDDs (not going to upgrade over install old Windows).
> Sheesh, MS made this complicated! It sounds like they want us to buy
> individual copies of Windows for each PC. Ugh.

Well, I didn't find an MS page with that option offered.

I don't really know the history of "family packs", to know
what they offered in the past, and whether the scheme was
any different at one time.

And it sounds like the answers from the other people in the
thread, have this covered anyway. As long as those methods continue
to work, then no problem. If you buy a "pack" today, it's likely
to have SP1 in it (so do some Googling to see if the tricks still
work at the SP1 level). I expect they do, but find a review of the
product, to see if it's still true.

OK, I found another option, but it's not nearly as cheap. It
doesn't have the word "Family" in it. OEM products stay with
the PC they're installed on. There would be no need to prove
WinXP or Vista was previously on the machine, as these are for
install on a bare computer.

"Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - 3 Pack - OEM" $288

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116987

That is the equivalent of three of these at $100 a piece. So $12 cheaper.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116986

Might as well stick with your Family Pack and the install trick.
At least, as long as it works the same on SP1.

*******

When I look at Amazon, I don't see the Family Pack offered for an SP1
version of OS. So perhaps in a sense, it's a promotional offer ?

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Wind...0965988&sr=8-2

"It seems that a lot of upgraders have been complaining about
the upgrade process, especially from XP. Most of us expected
to be able to format our hard disks and be prompted for either
the XP disc or product key. Alas, this is not the case. The
upgrade is much more complicated than it should be and some
workarounds have been discovered

Method A (simplest)

If you already have an older version of Windows on the hard drive,
finish the Custom Install, without entering the product key. After
installation, go to your System Properties and click the link to
activate Windows. Enter your product key and it should activate.
This has worked for me twice.

Method B (hardest)

If Method A doesn't work, try the registry hack.

1. Finish the custom install without entering the product key
then click Start and type regedit.exe into the "Search programs
and files" box.
2. In the registry, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/
Windows/CurrentVersion/Setup/OOBE/. In the pane on the right, you'll
see an entry for MediaBootInstall. Double-click on it and change the
value from "1" to "0" and click OK.
3. Close regedit and go to Start -> All Programs -> Accessories then
right-click on Command Prompt and select "Run as administrator."
You'll get a UAC alert, click Yes.
4. At the command prompt, type: slmgr /rearm and hit Enter. Reboot.
5. Now try to activate. If it fails, make sure there are no pending
Windows Updates to install. If there is, install them, reboot and
start
over from Step 4.

Method C (most time consuming)

Perform the Custom Install and skip the product key. Once completed,
run the upgrade again from within Windows 7 but this time, enter the
Windows 7 upgrade key and then activate Windows.

That's from one of the reviews for that product. But it's not SP1. And
I can't seem to find something that combines "SP1" and "Upgrade" as a
product offering, that has reviews.

Paul