Where can I buy a legit/valid Windows 7 key?

A

Ant

Hello.

I recently installed Windows 7 UE retail, but haven't activated it. I
like it so I want to buy a valid/legit key. Where can I buy one or do I
have to buy the whole package even though I already installed it from a
borrowed DVD?

Thank you in advance. :)
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R

R. C. White

Hi, Ant.

Disks are cheap. Licenses and Product Keys are expensive. (What is Win7
UE?)

Yes, you need to buy the retail package - either the full or the update
version.
You might want to start here:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/home

or:
http://www.bing.com/shopping/search?q=windows+7&FORM=HURE

Also, check out activation requirements at:
Get a new Windows 7 product key
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Get-a-new-Windows-7-product-key

Good luck!

RC
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San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP (2002-9/30/10)
Windows Live Mail Version 2011 (Build 15.4.3508.1109) in Win7 Ultimate x64
SP1 RC


"Ant" wrote in message

Hello.

I recently installed Windows 7 UE retail, but haven't activated it. I
like it so I want to buy a valid/legit key. Where can I buy one or do I
have to buy the whole package even though I already installed it from a
borrowed DVD?

Thank you in advance. :)
 
V

VanguardLH

Ant said:
Hello.

I recently installed Windows 7 UE retail, but haven't activated it. I
like it so I want to buy a valid/legit key. Where can I buy one or do I
have to buy the whole package even though I already installed it from a
borrowed DVD?

Thank you in advance. :)
Buy the retail or OEM package. Use the product key that it has to
validate your current install.
 
K

KernelDebugger

VanguardLH said:
Buy the retail or OEM package. Use the product key that it has to
validate your current install.
Will an OEM product code work to activate Win 7 Ultimate Edition?
 
C

choro

Hi, Ant.

Disks are cheap. Licenses and Product Keys are expensive. (What is Win7
UE?)

Yes, you need to buy the retail package - either the full or the update
version.
You might want to start here:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/home

or:
http://www.bing.com/shopping/search?q=windows+7&FORM=HURE

Also, check out activation requirements at:
Get a new Windows 7 product key
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Get-a-new-Windows-7-product-key

Good luck!

RC
Forget it. It is cheaper to buy a brand new computer with Win7 already
on it than buying the retail version of Win7.

Why this should be so beats me! I call this "fleecing" innocent
individuals! And forget that if you buy the retail version you can then
uninstall it and re-install it on a new computer. By the time you might
want to take advantage of this transferability, you will want to buy a
new OS anyway. Even OEM versions of the Windows OS come at an exorbitant
price.

It usually works out much cheaper to but a branded computer with the OS
already installed on it.

Unfortunately I am one of the suckers who take pride in building my own
desktops and hence being fleeced but at least I buy the OEM version
which, though still very expensive, much cheaper than the retail version.

I wonder whether MS will make a note of this fair complaint or just
laugh it off?!
 
C

choro

Buy the retail or OEM package. Use the product key that it has to
validate your current install.
You are not legally entitled to install an OEM version on a computer
that has not been built either by a computer manufacturer or by yourself
from components, though MS will probably not raise an objection to
someone who has dished out almost half the cost of a brand computer just
to buy the right to use the OS. You are not supposed to buy a WinXP PC
and install Win7 OS on it unless you buy the Retail or the Upgrade
version of Win7.
 
C

choro

Will an OEM product code work to activate Win 7 Ultimate Edition?

IF it is a Retail or an Upgrade version, I don't see why not. But not if
it is an OEM version, as far as I can tell. MS like to screw you better
with the Retail or the Upgrade version's stinging prices.,
 
F

FooAtari

Forget it. It is cheaper to buy a brand new computer with Win7 already
on it than buying the retail version of Win7.

Why this should be so beats me! I call this "fleecing" innocent
individuals! And forget that if you buy the retail version you can then
uninstall it and re-install it on a new computer. By the time you might
want to take advantage of this transferability, you will want to buy a
new OS anyway. Even OEM versions of the Windows OS come at an exorbitant
price.

It usually works out much cheaper to but a branded computer with the OS
already installed on it.

Unfortunately I am one of the suckers who take pride in building my own
desktops and hence being fleeced but at least I buy the OEM version
which, though still very expensive, much cheaper than the retail
version.

I wonder whether MS will make a note of this fair complaint or just
laugh it off?!
While the ultimate edition of Windows 7 isn't cheap, even when buying OEM
there is no chance you would get a new desktop/laptop for the same price.
At least not here in UK. You would need to spend roughly twice the cost
of Win 7 to get a new machine with it installed.
 
V

VanguardLH

choro said:
You are not legally entitled to install an OEM version on a computer
that has not been built either by a computer manufacturer or by yourself
from components, though MS will probably not raise an objection to
someone who has dished out almost half the cost of a brand computer just
to buy the right to use the OS. You are not supposed to buy a WinXP PC
and install Win7 OS on it unless you buy the Retail or the Upgrade
version of Win7.
System Builder licenses do not require you to build the computer.
Buying a whole computer and then installing the OS still defines you as
the OEM'er. You are the builder. Nothing legally prevents you from
subcontracting other services from other parties.
 
C

choro

While the ultimate edition of Windows 7 isn't cheap, even when buying OEM
there is no chance you would get a new desktop/laptop for the same price.
At least not here in UK. You would need to spend roughly twice the cost
of Win 7 to get a new machine with it installed.
But that way you at least get a brand new machine with from 1 to 3
years' warranty should anything go wrong. If you buy just the OS, you
have not such guarantees and you might even end up with your computer
not being fully compatible with the new OS.
 
C

choro

System Builder licenses do not require you to build the computer.
Buying a whole computer and then installing the OS still defines you as
the OEM'er. You are the builder. Nothing legally prevents you from
subcontracting other services from other parties.
OK. Point taken. But you seem to forget that you have at least to buy
some hardware to qualify to buy the OEM version. Though I agree this may
be only some sort of legal technicality.

But this does NOT stop the buyer of the OS whether the retail version,
the upgrade version OR the OEM version being fleeced. How much do you
think MS charge say DELL for the OS as opposed to the individual buying
1 copy of the OS?

There is no way you can get out of this one! IF you are honest that is
and admit it!
 
P

Peter Taylor

OK. Point taken. But you seem to forget that you have at least to buy
some hardware to qualify to buy the OEM version. Though I agree this may
be only some sort of legal technicality.

But this does NOT stop the buyer of the OS whether the retail version,
the upgrade version OR the OEM version being fleeced. How much do you
think MS charge say DELL for the OS as opposed to the individual buying
1 copy of the OS?

There is no way you can get out of this one! IF you are honest that is
and admit it!
Wal-Mart gets a better deal due to buying in bulk than a mom and pop
store. The same holds true for Dell, HP, Acer, etc.
 
K

Ken Blake

Forget it. It is cheaper to buy a brand new computer with Win7 already
on it than buying the retail version of Win7.

I just checked on Amazon.com A retail Upgrade version of Windows 7
Home Premium is $109.99 US. And since the retail upgrade is exactly
the same as the Full version, and anybody who owns Windows XP or Vista
can use the Upgrade version, $109.99 is all you have to pay.

Where can you buy "a brand new computer with Win7 already on it" for
less than $109.99?

And even if you wanted to buy the Full retail version of Windows 7
Home Premium (which I don't recommend) it's only $179.99 at
Amazon.com. Where can you buy "a brand new computer with Win7 already
on it" for less than $179.99?

Although buying "a brand new computer with Win7 already on it" might
be a good deal, it's certainly not less expensive than buying just
Windows 7. And bear in mind that you would get an OEM version of
Windows 7, with a license that ties it permanently to the first
computer it's installed on. It can never legally be moved to another
computer, sold, or given away (except with the original computer). If
the computer dies or is stolen, your license dies with it.
 
L

Lewis

In message said:
I just checked on Amazon.com A retail Upgrade version of Windows 7
Home Premium is $109.99 US. And since the retail upgrade is exactly
the same as the Full version, and anybody who owns Windows XP or Vista
can use the Upgrade version, $109.99 is all you have to pay.
Isn't Home still crippled to single core use? Single processor?
 
C

Char Jackson

Isn't Home still crippled to single core use? Single processor?
Still? Was it ever crippled in such a way? That's news to me.

Anyway, my Samsung laptop uses all 3 cores just fine, so multiple
cores aren't an issue. (Win 7 Home Premium 64) I don't have any
multi-CPU computers available.
 
L

Lewis

In message said:
On Fri, 11 Feb 2011 18:10:23 +0000 (UTC), Lewis
Still? Was it ever crippled in such a way? That's news to me.
Yes, it certainly was, as was XP and Vista.

<http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?p=4092430>

and

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_7_editions#Comparison_chart>

Maximum CPUs for all Home versions is 1.

--
Not that I condone fascism, or any -ism for that matter. -Ism's in my
opinion are not good. A person should not believe in an -ism, he should
believe in himself. I quote John Lennon, "I don't believe in The
Beatles, I just believe in me." Good point there. After all, he was The
Walrus. I could be The Walrus and I'd still have to bum rides off of
people.
 
C

Char Jackson

Yes, it certainly was, as was XP and Vista.

<http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?p=4092430>

and

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_7_editions#Comparison_chart>

Maximum CPUs for all Home versions is 1.
Let me take your questions one at a time then.

1. Isn't Home still crippled to single core use? No, it's not, and
never has been.

2. Single processor? Apparently yes, but multi-CPU motherboards are
nearly as rare as hen's teeth unless you get into the server space, so
this shouldn't be a problem.
 
K

Ken Blake

Yes, it certainly was, as was XP and Vista.

Not correct. XP Home and Vista Home would use only a single processor
if you had more than one installed. But both would use a multi-core
CPU without a problem.

And Windows 7 Home Premium can use two CPUs.

Maximum CPUs for all Home versions is 1.

Not true of Windows 7. And for Windows XP and Vista, you are mixing up
number of processors and number of cores in a single processor.
 

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