Windows 7 ultimate 64 bit upgrade

jayme1

Jamie_Cortez wrote: »

My win 7 box is this one (without the Upgrade in the corner)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-10295759-64.html

looks like you've got a retail version then as it's the retail versions that come in that type of box

prowla

If the key works then Microsoft have granted you the ability to use it.

TakeThis

jayme1 wrote: »

yeah, they may have also changed what's included since you bought yours and I bought mine, mine came in a box like this, with only one disc containing the 64bit version.

cheeky using both versions with one product key though as it's against the license terms

It's against the licence terms to buy an Windows 7 OEM for your personal use.

It certainly is not against the Retail licence terms to use either the 32bit or 64 bit versions. As long as you uninstall one before installing the other if it's meant for only one machine.

Jamie_Cortez

TakeThis wrote: »

It's against the licence terms to buy an Windows 7 OEM for your personal use.

Completely true, but M$ will never complain or seek action against those that do not sell to 3rd parties there are simply too many, and M$ have nothing in place to prevent this (not even sure they can).

The only way for that to not happen is to remove the OEM package completely from sale...but that would cause serious issues in the actual OEM Manufacturer world.

Richie-from-the-Boro

The full retail pack will disappear anyway with Win8, its a more than radical departure from their previous business model but Microsoft do not intend offering anything other than OEM and upgrade.

Microsoft did say earlier this year that a £70 retail package of the upgrade on a DVD disk would be available, I have seen others state that is a retail version that is now axed - I note that those who made that claim forgot to mention that it was an upgrade retail pack not a full retail pack.

I'm not sure how long the upgrade offer will last for. As a business model considerably reduce costs making the sales cheaper and I suppose encourage more to go legit with what is after all a very attractive pricing structure. I assume with a no box set retail product the 90 day phone & email support will also disappear thus offering further savings to Microsoft.

All product, any product from sausages to computers is margin over volume ~ or volume over margin, it looks this time like Microsoft are so desperate to get a common locked down O/S across all platforms they have gone for the latter.