WinXP->Win7 for DX10/11?

[TheJTrain]

Yeah, the firewall was hiding the good stuff. I entered my @alumni.x.edu address and it took! Got the email and hit the link, $65, sure enough. Question though, for anyone who got their Win7 this way, from TheUltimateSteal/Student Store. Is the download in some kind of burnable format like an ISO or something? There's nothing on the page that indicates anything either way. I mean, it's gotta be, right? Wouldn't make any sense to just send an executable that you have to run from an existing Windows install, right? So is the optional $13 "backup disc" option just for those who can't (or don't want to) take the download and burn it into a bootable disc? 'Cause I'll save that $13 if I can just burn the downloaded files.

 

[TheJTrain]

I did some lookin' and I think I found something, a semi-supported workaround that enables the somewhat technically-literate user to burn a backup ISO without paying extra for it:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/30470-make-bootable-iso-student-d-l.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/windows-7-iso-download-bootable,8946.html
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/how_burn_your_student_copy_windows_7_dvd

Can anyone confirm that they did something like this and ended up with a good archive DVD (or is it still just CD-size?) from the digital download?

 

[gramboh]

I did some lookin' and I think I found something, a semi-supported workaround that enables the somewhat technically-literate user to burn a backup ISO without paying extra for it:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/30470-make-bootable-iso-student-d-l.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/windows-7-iso-download-bootable,8946.html
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/how_burn_your_student_copy_windows_7_dvd

Can anyone confirm that they did something like this and ended up with a good archive DVD (or is it still just CD-size?) from the digital download?

These work, I purchased a Win 7 Pro license via the Student deal ($40CDN I think) and was able to make an ISO and burn it to a DVD. I haven't had time to format and install it, but I tested it and it boots to the installer.

I think you will be happy making the switch. I installed Vista x64 about 2 years ago and have not had any issues with it. Reasons to switch to 7 (and a lesser extent Vista, although no reason to install Vista over 7):

1) Security (already mentioned) - HUGE improvements, especially with UAC (I don't understand why people turn it off)
2) Stability (especially memory)
3) Better 64 bit implementation
4) Driver support
5) MS support (more patches)
6) Interface

 

[TheJTrain]

Thanks gramboh, on your assurance I pulled the trigger and bought w/out the physical discs. Turns out Microsoft/Digital River have smoothed things out and provided a direct first-party bootable .ISO for Win7 Pro 64. So it's completely unnecessary to follow the procedure in those links I posted. Woulda been nice to know that going in, but then I guess, hardly anyone would spend that extra $13, would they?