Cheap way to get Windows7?

womble12345

Whats the cheapest way to get a legal copy of Windows 7 for my desktop PC? I am happy with my PC's specs (dual core, enough ram, etc) but I fancy getting Windows 7, it currently runs Windows XP Pro.
I can buy Windows 7 for about £60 but I was wondering if I brought an old desktop/laptop from ebay that had Windows7 on it then I could use the laptop with Linux and use the Win7 license on my desktop (assuming there was a license sticker with the product key on the ebay PC). Assuming it came with a windows 7 CD then it would be simple to install it, but what if it didn’t come with a CD, is there a legitimate way I can get a CD?
Thanks,
Womble

USM

Depends what type of license the laptop comes with. If it was pre-installed as OEM then it's not transferable.

jamesperrett

Looks like the cheapest way will be to buy a Windows 8 upgrade when it comes out. Apparently they are going to be priced at £25. As I understand it, you can then downgrade to Windows 7.

James.

NiftyDigits

Make and model of PC?

womble12345

The PC is Dell Inspiron 530, dual core 1.8Ghz, 2GB ram.

That is interesting about Windows 8 being £25, that sounds very reasonable. You say that I could get Windows 8 and then downgrade to Windows 7, but wouldn’t I be better just staying on Windows 8? I think that you have given me a good reason to hold fire.

My main reason for thinking of an upgrade is because the PC has been slowing down recently so I was going to buy an SSD now they are cheap and re-install Windows and I wondered if it may be worth starting off with a new version of windows seeing as even my work PC is being upgraded to Win7 soon!

Thanks

NiftyDigits

Seems as good a solution as any. Any problems, let me know.

DevCoder

You'd want to downgrade to Windows 7 from 8 if you've used it for any period of time (I'd estimate about 1 hour to 5 days)

I absolutely loathe W8 and have been testing it since before RC1. It is just not cohesive enough with its "kiosk" front end and the need then to actually go to a full dekstop (I say desktop, even this just adds to the confusion with its limitations) for anything serious.

Yes, the average mail/brief internet (ie no shockwave/Flash content) may do with its kiosk frontend for some people, but not for me.

Notmyrealname

womble12345 wrote: »

The PC is Dell Inspiron 530, dual core 1.8Ghz, 2GB ram.

That is interesting about Windows 8 being £25, that sounds very reasonable. You say that I could get Windows 8 and then downgrade to Windows 7,

I doubt Win 8 would come with downgrade rights. Only the business versions of Win7 and Vista do.

Trinitrotoluene

A lot of people confused here. The £25 is for an upgrade from Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 to Windows 8. You will not be able to downgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 7 unless you purchase Windows 8 Pro or Windows 8 Enterprise. If you are getting Windows 7 for £60 it is likely an OEM edition which you are not legally allowed to install. You'd need the full version (known as retail) to be able to install it legally.

I don't quite like Windows 8 but your cheapest option (assuming it will let you jump from XP Pro to Windows 8 Pro) would be to upgrade when windows 8 is released then utilise downgrade rights.

Alias_Omega

Was windows 7 an option when you purchased your computer? Is your Product Key a dual product key?

If so, the OEM product key may work on your system without any activation.

You can download "Dell Windows 7" software from here - http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/software-os/w/microsoft_os/3316.2-1-microsoft-windows-7-official-iso-download-links-digital-river.aspx

Load it onto a USB stick and away you go with the installation.

You probably wont know if it will activate automatically without trying it.

womble12345

Thanks everyone. I think i bought the pc before Windows 7 came out so i doubt my product key will work but it may be worth a try.