Windows 7: Thread for sale, two previous owners, apply within...

LaCabra

Would VPNing to a computer on the company's network to access the activation server work?

RBach

Lord Jezo wrote: »

Fats wrote: »

Well I'll be damned, the $12 ebay key works and verifies fine. I love how Windows 7 takes like 10 minutes from format to completely installed.

Back during Vista there were special corporate keys that worked and installed and verified fine, you wouldn't know the difference. In the background they would try to contact the company's activation server, if they couldn't within 60 days they would lock the user our until it was put on the proper private network and put in contact with it's server.

I know 7 has something similar as we had to put a 7 activation server on our network, so lets hope your 12 dollar key isn't a stolen one like that.

Isn't that an Enterprise-only thing? He should be fine if it's 7 Professional or Ultimate, right?

Leonius

Just how lax is the student ordering? *wonders if he can get one cheap*

mts

really all you need is an email that ends in edu

xzzy

Right, the only checking they do is for those three lettes at the end of the email you supply.

Jragghen

Fine print says they have the right to demand proof that you're taking at least half a credit, presumably at time of download.

Fats

RBach wrote: »

Lord Jezo wrote: »

Fats wrote: »

Well I'll be damned, the $12 ebay key works and verifies fine. I love how Windows 7 takes like 10 minutes from format to completely installed.

Back during Vista there were special corporate keys that worked and installed and verified fine, you wouldn't know the difference. In the background they would try to contact the company's activation server, if they couldn't within 60 days they would lock the user our until it was put on the proper private network and put in contact with it's server.

I know 7 has something similar as we had to put a 7 activation server on our network, so lets hope your 12 dollar key isn't a stolen one like that.

Isn't that an Enterprise-only thing? He should be fine if it's 7 Professional or Ultimate, right?

I was under the impression that Enterprise required a special disc, this is plain old Professional. Guess we'll see (when I wake up one day and it doesn't work anymore)

RBach

Indeed, Enterprise is a separate disc AFAIK.

Professor Snugglesworth

Fats wrote: »

Well I'll be damned, the $12 ebay key works and verifies fine. I love how Windows 7 takes like 10 minutes from format to completely installed.

So you've installed 7 and put in the key? I'm wondering if I should do it now, or wait until launch day just to be safe.

Are you able to use all the features of Win 7 right now, even before the official launch?

Idoliside

I should imagine it will be fine now. If the RTMs work fine then the verfication servers for official one's will work too. And if not then you got 60 days before windows stop working, so with it coming out on the 22nd theres no problems.

Fats

Professor Snugglesworth wrote: »

Fats wrote: »

Well I'll be damned, the $12 ebay key works and verifies fine. I love how Windows 7 takes like 10 minutes from format to completely installed.

So you've installed 7 and put in the key? I'm wondering if I should do it now, or wait until launch day just to be safe.

Are you able to use all the features of Win 7 right now, even before the official launch?

Yep, it's 100% as far as I can tell.

darkenedwing

Only Windows 7 disc I have is the 7000 beta. If I bought one of these keys how would I go about getting an ISO of the correct disc? Would I have to grab a torrent, or is there another way for me to get it?

TrippyJing

Ok, folks. Me and my little brother are current college students. The problem lies in this line here:

Eligible students may purchase no more than one license of Microsoft® Windows 7 per valid e-mail address or billing address.

We both have the same billing address. Does that matter at all?

Professor Snugglesworth

The guy I ordered the copy from asked me if I wanted just one copy or more, so it should be okay.

What's not okay is that the key I was given isn't working with the installation. It says that the key doesn't match the SKU. He gave me a link to the Ultimate version of Windows 7, saying it would work. I contacted him about this, and hopefully get some clarification.

For the ones who got it to work, what version did you install. And could you Perhaps Maybe share that link with me?

Edit: He just e-mailed me back with a key that worked. Woo, got Ultimate installed on my laptop. More than I really needed, but heck for $12 you can't beat it.

So yeah, I can personally vouch for Corey. I'm sure the way he got these keys aren't exactly legal, but he's very quick and reliable, so you get well above your money's worth.

Professor Snugglesworth

So, what are some awesome/essential things I should be doing with Windows 7 right now? The more stuff I learn now, the better prepared I'll be when I install the "legit" version on my desktop come launch day.

Fats

Professor Snugglesworth wrote: »

The more stuff I learn now, the better prepared I'll be when I install the "legit" version on my desktop come launch day.

There's no difference between the version you have now and the copies released on the 22nd.

Professor Snugglesworth

I'm not talking about differences. I just want to muck around with the features (of which I know none), see what my preferences are, and use the similar settings when upgrading my other PC.

sir_pinch-a-loaf

Anyone interested in returning the 'Show Desktop' button to it's former spot might want to check out this link: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-7/add-the-quick-launch-bar-to-the-taskbar-in-windows-7/

Satsumomo

My W7 tends to get rid of the quick launch bar every few restarts.

I did some research and added an extra key to the registry which seemingly has fixed this problem for me. If anyone is getting this, just hit me up.

Professor Snugglesworth

I didn't know you could add a quick launch bar. Details?

Bionic Monkey

The task bar is the quick launch bar now though. Why get redundant?

Fats

Professor Snugglesworth wrote: »

I'm not talking about differences. I just want to muck around with the features (of which I know none), see what my preferences are, and use the similar settings when upgrading my other PC.

Ah, I thought you were talking about reinstalling when you got your actual copy.

sir_pinch-a-loaf

Professor Snugglesworth wrote: »

I didn't know you could add a quick launch bar. Details?

For the Vista-style quick launch, check the link I posted: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-7/add-the-quick-launch-bar-to-the-taskbar-in-windows-7/

UEAKCrash

I was just about to post that. I've been slowly making my Windows 7 look more and more like old school windows.

I found a classic start menu program, but it's like 20 bucks, and fuck that.

edit: Actually the way I did it was different:

1. Right-click on the taskbar and choose Toolbars > New Toolbar
2. The new dialogue box will ask you to select a folder to be the new toolbar. You create a new folder (in the Libraries area, or on your C: drive root) and name it Quicklaunch.
3. Change the setting like the Geek says (remove text etc)
4. For any programs you want in the Quicklaunch bar, create shortcuts to those programs in your new Quicklaunch folder (wherever you created it) and they will appear in your Quicklunch toolbar.

bigwah

But why? You people boggle my mind. Do you want to revert to Windows 98 start menu too?

sir_pinch-a-loaf

As someone who frequently uses the 'show desktop' button, I like having it where it used to be. I can't get used to having to go to the far right corner, where I rarely do anything. also, the pinned shortcuts waste a shitload of space on the left and right of the icon.

Professor Snugglesworth

What he said. There's nothing wrong with wanting the best of both worlds.

Dehumanized

I can understand the quicklaunch stuff, though I don't feel the same way. But classic-style start menu? Really?

ArcSyn

I had to add a toolbar for quick launch style icons because the taskbar does not accept network location pins. Since the remote management software I use at work runs from the server, I can't pin it, yet I want it in a nice, easy to access spot like the taskbar. So I have a small toolbar icon for it.

What I don't like is "small icons" are half the size of the standard taskbar icons, but large icons is larger than normal, making the taskbar taller than normal and it doesn't look right since the regular icons don't scale with it.

syndalis

winkey-D.

Winkey-D.

That's the show desktop, and its easy as shit to use.

hacksword

I hate the new Windows 7 menu and the "classic" menu. I also hate the stupid Start button. Does anyone know how to restore the Program Manager on Windows 7?

LaCabra

Will someone please edit the thread title and remove that disgraceful apostrophe

Professor Snugglesworth

So I managed to bring back the quick launch toolbar. But how the heck do I add icons to it? Dragging or copying doesn't seem to work.

Recoil42

LaCabra wrote: »

Will someone please edit the thread title and remove that disgraceful apostrophe

Seriously.

I'm about to pull a gun out and start shooting.

Zxerol

Shit, you guy's would probably go mental if you ever visit apostropheabuse.com

TekDragon

Stupid question, but whatever.

I have XP. I know i need to do a format and fresh install of Windows 7.

How do I do that if I get the digital download version of Professional? Burn the image on a disk?

Seeks

Yup.

If you don't know how to burn an iso, get cdburnerxp or something.

Burn image onto disc, put it into the drive, restart computer. Bam.

UEAKCrash

I use imgburn. Free, easy, all that jazz.

As for my Classicness, I hate with a passion the way Microsoft started making their products look starting with XP. It's bubbly and cartoony. I don't need my computer to be pretty with round edges and colors, I need to to be an interface for what I want to do on it. To me, if I wanted pretty interfaces, I'd use a Mac. I understand they are trying to make it more accessible to a broader audience, but they already got me using it, and I liked how it looked.

First thing I do on a machine is set it back to the classic (98) theme.

Granted, I'm stubborn and resistant to change. It took me ages to upgrade from 98 to XP, and I completely skipped Vista. But, Win 7 lured me in, and this is the first time I've upgraded at/ before launch. So, good job Microsoft. I just want my classic start menu back, and I'll be good to go.

Fats

TekDragon wrote: »

Stupid question, but whatever.

I have XP. I know i need to do a format and fresh install of Windows 7.

How do I do that if I get the digital download version of Professional? Burn the image on a disk?

The bitchin' way is to install it off a USB drive, but I suppose a DVD will do.

I don't need my computer to be pretty with round edges and colors, I need to to be an interface for what I want to do on it.

The new start menu has some pretty nice features, like the text box launcher thingy. I don't even go through the menu anymore, I just type in whatever I want to run.

Zxerol

For some people, all the money and time Microsoft put into actually progressing a UI they've been stagnating on for fifteen years is just a waste. On one hand, I can empathize with making your system work as you want it. But on the other... fifteen years, man. It's like those diehards that still use twm on their X11 system, unhinged people.

Frankly, I'm of the opinion that Microsoft is a few years late on updating the Windows GUI in any meaningful way, and Win7 (and Vista to a lesser extent, if only for the new Start menu) is a much-needed step in the right direction.