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| Windows 7 |
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Windows 7
Installation Media
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| There appears to be
quite a bit of confusion about the different types
of media that can be used to install Windows 7. I'm
not talking about the different versions like Home
Premium, Professional, or Ultimate but the actual,
physical media such as a DVD, .iso file, or a USB
stick. This is just a little rundown of what is
available to try and eliminate some of the
confusion. |
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| CD
Media - As far as I know, Windows 7 isn't
available on a set of CD's. I remember that Vista
was available for download via TechNet on five (5)
CD's, but I never bothered to download it or try it
out. It may have been the case the entire download
was split into five CD's for downloading ease and
then had to be assembled into a DVD or .iso file for
actual use, but I really don't know for sure. |
| DVD
Media - Far and away, DVD is the most
readily available way Windows 7 is delivered. This
what you get when you purchase Windows 7 through a
brick and mortar store or online retailer. There are
two versions that are widely available; Upgrade and
Full versions. |
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Windows 7 Upgrade Version Media - There is
a label on the box [Fig. 01] that specifically
states "This version of Windows 7 is designed as an
upgrade for Windows Vista." It goes
on to talk about what needs to be done if you're
upgrading from Windows XP. This is the product
designed for systems that have either XP or Vista
currently installed. If bought through the retail
channel (brick and mortar or online) both 32 and 64
bit DVD's are included in the package. |
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Windows 7 Full Version Media - The full
version of Windows 7 is designed for systems that
have no previous version of Windows installed. That
said, you 'can' use a full version to upgrade from
XP or Vista to Windows 7, but it would be a waste of
a full version license. There are no restrictions on
what has to be present in advance of doing a full
installation, other than meeting the minimum system
hardware requirements. If bought through the retail
channel (brick and mortar or online) both 32 and 64
bit DVD's are included in the package. |
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Windows 7 OEM/System Builder Media - OEM
System Builder software is subject to the terms of
the Microsoft OEM System Builder License. This
software is intended for pre-installation on a new
personal computer for resale. OEM System Builder
software requires the individual/company assembling
the system to provide end user support for the
Windows software installed. OEM software cannot be
transferred to another computer once it's installed
and activated. OEM media isn't nearly as widely
available in retail stores, but there are many
online retailers that sell it to anybody whether
they are a system builder or not. The thing to
remember, if you choose to go this route, is there
is no support from Microsoft for the product. |
| ISO
Files Media - Basically, an ISO file is a
true digital copy of a CD or DVD, stored in an
uncompressed format and given an .iso file
extension. Quite often software that is downloaded
from online retailers or sources is made available
in .iso format, especially in the case of large
applications like operating systems. Almost
everything you download from TechNet or MSDN
mentioned below will be in .iso format. It's easy to
burn a CD or DVD directly from an .iso file and some
applications allow you to install Windows 7 directly
from an .iso file with no DVD needed, VMware
Workstation being just one example. |
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TechNet
Subscription Media - Microsoft's TechNet
offers a number of different subscriptions that
include access to a variety of licensed Microsoft
products. This software is intended for evaluation
and testing purposes. Does it all end up in testing
and evaluation scenarios rather than being used in
production situations? I have my doubts, but let
your conscience be your guide. More information is
available at
www.technet.com. |
| Quoted from the
TechNet site; "If you are only working with Desktop
environments in your job, then you may want to
consider Microsoft TechNet Subscription Standard.
TechNet Subscription Standard will provide you
access to the entire stack of Desktop software from
Microsoft, which you can use for evaluation and
testing purposes to help you stay current and
recreate customer issues. TechNet Standard does not
include some enterprise editions of Microsoft
software." |
| "If you are working
with Enterprise environments in your job, then you
may want to consider Microsoft TechNet Subscription
Professional. TechNet Subscription Professional will
provide you with the entire stack of Microsoft
infrastructure products, including Desktop and
Enterprise versions, for evaluation and testing
purposes. In addition to the software, TechNet
Professional comes with the downloadable Microsoft
Technical Library and knowledge base with an offline
viewer, a variety of online support tools, and 12
E-Learning courses per year." |
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MSDN Subscription Media - Basically the
same as TechNet as far as available software,
Microsoft Developer Network is geared more to
developers than TechNet which is more focused on
those providing technical support for Windows and
other Microsoft Products. More information is
available at
www.msdn.com. |
| USB
Key/Stick Media - I'm not aware of any
retailers where you can actually buy Windows 7
already set up for installation from a USB
key/stick, but many users create a stick containing
the operating system that can be booted from to
begin the installation. Installation is much quicker
from a stick and they are certainly easier to store
with no worries about them getting scratched up and
unusable as is the case with DVD's. |
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Anytime Upgrade Media - Be careful with the
Anytime Upgrade because this isn't actual media like
a DVD. This is an activation key that allows you to
activate one installed version of Windows 7. Just be
aware no physical DVD is included in the package. |
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| A
Quick Warning |
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The counterfeit software industry is alive
and well, or judging by the number of
solicitations and sites I see masquerading
as legitimate sellers, it isn't just doing
well, it's thriving. It doesn't take much
research to find out what legitimate Windows
7 versions are retailing for and the old
adage applies; if the deal sounds too good
to be true - beware. It's likely somebody
trying to fleece you out of your money.
Auction sites and spam e-mails promoting
sites and companies you've never heard of
are not reliable sources for software. |
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- Important Information -
The Elder Geek sites contain many articles and suggestions for
modifying the Windows operating system. I've tried these
tweaks and tips on many systems. Sometimes they work,
sometimes not. The point is, ensure you have a current,
tested backup of all system and data files and understand
how to restore the system in case something goes very wrong.
You can still yell at me, but I assume no responsibility for
your actions and use of the information and disclaim any
legal responsibility for any consequences of such actions. |
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