Win7 h-prem 3-pac $99 @ frys

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
22,377
7
81
Dang, I wish I didn't pass on the Tiger Direct deal a few months back. I don't want to drive a 130 mile round trip to Fry's.
 

Perknose

Forum Director & Omnipotent Overlord
Forum Director
Oct 9, 1999
46,894
10,721
147
Wow. Stuck on the East Coast here. :(
 

OR-G

Junior Member
Jan 8, 2011
13
0
0
Amazon has on sale for $105

This is cheaper than fry's since you have to factor in the additional tax (as long as you aren't charged tax by amazon). Fairly standard pricing. Microsoft is pretty much giving Windows 7 away. I think its cause a lot of people don't want to let go of WinXP (I know I didn't), since really WinXP worked so well.

BTW not sure how people don't know about these deals. Then again, I have a button on my bookmark bar to open up a bunch of deal sites.
 
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Eyeless Blond

Member
Dec 22, 2005
74
0
0
Amazon has on sale for $105

This is cheaper than fry's since you have to factor in the additional tax (as long as you aren't charged tax by amazon). Fairly standard pricing. Microsoft is pretty much giving Windows 7 away. I think its cause a lot of people don't want to let go of WinXP (I know I didn't), since really WinXP worked so well.

BTW not sure how people don't know about these deals. Then again, I have a button on my bookmark bar to open up a bunch of deal sites.

Well, they're also trying to push Windows 8 out the door next year, so maybe people are just waiting for the next version (and after that Windows 9 will be out in 2014, so may as well wait for that, and...)
 

OR-G

Junior Member
Jan 8, 2011
13
0
0
Well, they're also trying to push Windows 8 out the door next year, so maybe people are just waiting for the next version (and after that Windows 9 will be out in 2014, so may as well wait for that, and...)

Not sure how that has anything to do with what I said. I never said anyone should wait or that anyone should upgrade. I did state they are practically giving them away, first time I've seen the prices this low. Full version $30 for students and $100 for 3 pack upgrade.
 

ponyo

Lifer
Feb 14, 2002
19,688
2,811
126
Can this be used for completely new build or do you need to already have previous Windows version installed?
 

OR-G

Junior Member
Jan 8, 2011
13
0
0
Can this be used for completely new build or do you need to already have previous Windows version installed?

What they don't want you to know, yeah you can use it for a completely new build. You first install windows 7 with no cereals. Then you install again with serial. Not sure why it works, but it works.

Technically you're supposed to have WinXP or Vista installed first, which you can do too considering everyone probably already has a few licenses. I have 7.
 

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
22,377
7
81
What they don't want you to know, yeah you can use it for a completely new build. You first install windows 7 with no cereals. Then you install again with serial. Not sure why it works, but it works.

It works because you can install any version of Windows 7 without a key. Just leave it blank during the install and it will continue w/o problem (I always uncheck "activate when online" too). It will then go on a timer, allowing you to use it for a while (maybe month?) before starting to bug you about it. Eventually it will degrade the user experience if you still don't enter a key and activate it.

I always install Windows 7 w/o the key, so that I can get all drivers/updates installed and test overclocks (if any). This way if something crashes Windows and I need to reinstall, I won't (potentially) have any problems re-activating. Then, once everything is good to go, I enter the key and activate.

Why the reinstall works is when you reinstall, you are "upgrading" the previous Windows (even though it was the same).
 

manimal

Lifer
Mar 30, 2007
13,559
8
0
It works because you can install any version of Windows 7 without a key. Just leave it blank during the install and it will continue w/o problem (I always uncheck "activate when online" too). It will then go on a timer, allowing you to use it for a while (maybe month?) before starting to bug you about it. Eventually it will degrade the user experience if you still don't enter a key and activate it.

I always install Windows 7 w/o the key, so that I can get all drivers/updates installed and test overclocks (if any). This way if something crashes Windows and I need to reinstall, I won't (potentially) have any problems re-activating. Then, once everything is good to go, I enter the key and activate.

Why the reinstall works is when you reinstall, you are "upgrading" the previous Windows (even though it was the same).

buy this man a cigar!


great advice, I have been doing this since vista.
 

gamefreakgcb

Platinum Member
Sep 2, 2004
2,354
0
76
It works because you can install any version of Windows 7 without a key. Just leave it blank during the install and it will continue w/o problem (I always uncheck "activate when online" too). It will then go on a timer, allowing you to use it for a while (maybe month?) before starting to bug you about it. Eventually it will degrade the user experience if you still don't enter a key and activate it.

I always install Windows 7 w/o the key, so that I can get all drivers/updates installed and test overclocks (if any). This way if something crashes Windows and I need to reinstall, I won't (potentially) have any problems re-activating. Then, once everything is good to go, I enter the key and activate.

Why the reinstall works is when you reinstall, you are "upgrading" the previous Windows (even though it was the same).

It won't let me go past the KEY window without a key. How are you doing this?
 

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
22,377
7
81
It won't let me go past the KEY window without a key. How are you doing this?

I uncheck the "activate automatically when online" and click Next. Seems to work for me. :hmm:

BTW this would be on a blank hard drive, fresh install.
 

CallMeJoe

Diamond Member
Jul 30, 2004
6,938
5
81
I uncheck the "activate automatically when online" and click Next. Seems to work for me. :hmm:
BTW this would be on a blank hard drive, fresh install.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

This is how I installed.
FWIW, I got the 3-license family pack from Amazon a couple of months back for $99.
 

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
22,377
7
81
I got two of them early on, for probably $125 or $130 per. That was after every place ran out, then just got them back. Ah well, that's the way it goes with Hot Deals. I still may buy one more. My netbooks still run XP.
 

dbcooper1

Senior member
May 22, 2008
594
0
76
Has anyone had problems activating these three packs online? I read here some time ago about the second and third failing and having to call; is that still the case?
 

CallMeJoe

Diamond Member
Jul 30, 2004
6,938
5
81
Hold on so these can be used for a new build?
Per the license agreement they are upgrades and you must have a qualified OS in order to use them.
As a practical matter, you can do a clean installation on a fresh HDD using the method detailed above.
 

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
22,377
7
81
Per the license agreement they are upgrades and you must have a qualified OS in order to use them.
As a practical matter, you can do a clean installation on a fresh HDD using the method detailed above.

This.

I have a stack of WinXP and Vista in the garage which qualifies me for several of these packs. :D
 

BadThad

Lifer
Feb 22, 2000
12,100
49
91
Just keeps getting cheaper, these are a good deal. I'm holding out for $89 on the next one. LOL