I has Windows 7

[rattran]

That may be how they're treating it, but it's not how the license reads. OEM can only be installed on one machine, and is not transferrable. With Vista, I think the way it worked out was 3 hardware changes/reinstalls every 6 months before you had to call for a manual activation #. I had to call once, not very painful, but annoying to have to do.

[Salamok]

Seriously need to find a student. >_>

just find 2 other people and split the costco 3 pack.

[Sheepherder]

I had to call once, not very painful, but annoying to have to do.

For a company bent on hegemonic domination of the world they don't really seem to care how far you stretch or break their license.

[Trippy]

That's not true. The problem is their activation system screws over legit users more than it hinders the pirates. Hence when people go through the hassle of calling in they Microsoft just assumes it's their fault you can't activate.

As an example of how they do care how people abuse the license(s) here's what they wrote recently about people using the upgrade versions to do clean installs:

http://blogs.msdn.com/mssmallbiz/archive/2009/10/27/regardless-of-what-any-hack-says-a-windows-7-upgrade-is-an-upgrade-what-you-need-to-know.aspx

Edit: ambiguous they

[Sky]

Why the heck didn't everyone get that $50 retail promo that was running late spring/early summer? Newbs.

Even if 7 wasn't great until SP1 (but it is), you'd want a copy eventually.

[SnakeCharmer]

Hrm.  Since I use my home pc's to check in on work stuff during after hours, I need IE6.  After bouncing around to several of our customers websites, I'm having problems using them with IE8 (and Firefox).

IE7 does work with the sites, so that's an option.  But IE6, unfortunately, works better.

Is there any way have IE6 and IE8 on a W7 machine?

[Ookii]

If your processor supports visualization you can do Windows XP visualization.

[SnakeCharmer]

No idea what that means.  For whatever it's worth, it's a Q6600, AMD 5200+ dual core, and a couple Intel dual core laptops.  I haven't gone full W7 across the board yet, so I may as well just keep the XP rig as is.

[lac]

You can't have IE6, it has been determined to be the work of the devil.
Not much unites the internets these days yet the eradication of IE6 has united almost all.
Still, if you're inclined to entertain a horror like that I'd advice a virtual machine containing a virgin xp install and a tendency to get hurt.
Sure, it will be smooth at first but it will get messy fast and nobody know's where it will take you in the end.
Godspeed.

[fuser]

No idea what that means.  For whatever it's worth, it's a Q6600, AMD 5200+ dual core, and a couple Intel dual core laptops.  I haven't gone full W7 across the board yet, so I may as well just keep the XP rig as is.

If your just viewing the content for proofing give SuperPreview a whirl.

Windows 7 Professional's XP Mode is probably what your looking for. Your q6600 has the VT flag so your good to go. If you you don't have Pro your could always get a copy of VMware player and install (licensed) XP on it.

[Salamok]

Hrm.  Since I use my home pc's to check in on work stuff during after hours, I need IE6.  After bouncing around to several of our customers websites, I'm having problems using them with IE8 (and Firefox).

IE7 does work with the sites, so that's an option.  But IE6, unfortunately, works better.

Is there any way have IE6 and IE8 on a W7 machine?

Once you have w7 all set up, Install Virtual Box.  Once Virtual Box is installed you can install windows XP inside of it then just don't install any updates that take you beyond ie6.  Also be sure and install the guest addons for virtual box it makes it much nicer to use (mouse transitions better and supports more resolutions).  You don't need intel virtualization/VT flag for this to work, you should also be able to use the same XP license you used to upgrade to w7 for the virtual box XP install.

VMWare is great but pretty sure VMWare player doesn't let you create virtual machines just lets you load them.  To create VMWare virtual machines I think you need VMWare workstation and that costs $$.  Not 100% sure on this because a while back you were able to create VMs for like a 30 day period but I don't think they do that anymore.  Anyhoo, Virtual Box runs fine and doesn't cost non-commercial users anything.

w7 XP mode isn't going to help you run ie6.

[fuser]

You don't need intel virtualization/VT flag for this to work, you should also be able to use the same XP license you used to upgrade to w7 for the virtual box XP install.

Your going against the upgrade license by doing that.

VMWare is great but pretty sure VMWare player doesn't let you create virtual machines just lets you load them.  To create VMWare virtual machines I think you need VMWare workstation and that costs $$.  Not 100% sure on this because a while back you were able to create VMs for like a 30 day period but I don't think they do that anymore.  Anyhoo, Virtual Box runs fine and doesn't cost non-commercial users anything.

You can get around using workstation trial using EasyVMX to create a dummy disk to run.

w7 XP mode isn't going to help you run ie6.

Yes it will.

Here's how, make sure you have 7 Professional or higher that has XP Mode enabled, then download the two part install for Virtual PC and XP Mode. Install Virtual PC then XP Mode, during the install turn off automatic updates if you wish to prevent ie6 from getting upgraded and allow the virtual XP to start up. Then open the start menu with file explorer and copy the Internet Explorer shortcut from C:\Documents and Settings\XPMUser\Start Menu\Programs to c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu. Creating a shortcut under "All Users" will allow for the seamless application integration link right into your host PC. Close your virtual machine and under your Windows 7 Start -> All Programs -> Windows Virtual PC -> Windows XP Mode Applications will be an Internet Explorer link.

End result is this.. spoiler for the largish desktop

[Salamok]

Sorry, I was mistakenly under the impression that when it says XP Mode gives you a Win XP SP 3 license that the VM would already be upgraded to SP3 with ie7.  Using my XP license with Virtual Box has had no detrimental effect that I can see but then again I do have 2 copies of Win XP Pro and I am not entirely certain that they key I used for my VM is the same as the one used for my Win XP install that w7 overwrote. 

Any idea if it possible to have a Linux VM using using Microsoft's Virtual PC? 

[SnakeCharmer]

More trouble than it's worth.  I'll just keep the oldest laptop with XP and be done with it.  Thanks for the advice though.

[ghost]

Post deleted to remove trolly bullshit.

[Kitsune]

IE6 is godawful bullshit.  I hate it so much.  I remade my company website last week using CSS to exorcise the demons of table formatting from it for good.  It worked like a charm in Firefox, Opera, IE7, IE8, IE8 in compatibility mode, Chrome, and Safari.  Which is the winner that fucked up the alignment all to hell and made the page look like ass?  Our boy IE6.  I had to take extra time and effort tracking down one error in one browser and insert additional code into the stylesheet just so IE6 would stop being retarded.  Too many people are still using it for me to be able to ignore it.

[SnakeCharmer]

I hate using it.  I hate it that we haven't and aren't going to be upgrading our machines at work from XP Pro to W7 for a while, cost aside (we never made the Vista move).  But unfortunately, for now, 9 out of 10 sites we have to use says 'optimized for IE6'.  While most work ok with IE7 or above, the rest flake out with IE6 on data entry.  I blame Indians, Norwegians, and Greeks.  UPDATE YOUR SITES, ASSHOLES.

[Kitsune]

Yeah, several of my customers use websites for their business that will shit the bed if they don't use IE6.  I can't conceive of someone being so fucking sloppy as to not update their crap when the new stuff has been around for three years.  Same for assholes who put out XP-only programs.  Usually these programs cost shittons of money, too, because they're 'custom'.

[Yegolev]

I can't conceive of someone being so fucking sloppy as to not update their crap when the new stuff has been around for three years.

[bhodi]

 

[Mosesandstick]

From MSoft's piracy webpage:

Myths of Product Activation

Activation is difficult to complete.
Product Activation is actually very simple to complete. It requires just a few mouse clicks for those with Internet connectivity. For those who must activate over the telephone, the process with a customer service representative can be completed in just a couple of minutes. Most users' response is "that's it?"

Funnily enough I can't get it to work. New computer, clean installation, got an XP cd key (disused computer) and a windows 7 upgraded (student, whoo). Not working. Tech support is useless too.

[Sky]

It's easy unless it's not.

[01101010]

It's easy unless it's not.

or

It's easy if it works the way we said it will. 

[schild]

Alumni Email addresses worked for Windows 7 & the Office Ultimate deal.

Huzzah.

Edit: Link to sites that already got ISO addresses from Digital River. Full Retail for $30 indeed.

[Reg]

Hah, my alumni email address works too and it even says "alumni" right in it. Damn that's a good deal. Maybe I can even stop using Office 2000 now.

[Hawkbit]

My only single complaint right now is that I'm getting an error I'm not finding concrete information on.  , I'll get a 'Windows Explorer has encountered a problem" message and it will reset the desktop to where it was at bootup, but the only time it's occurring is when I right click on icons after the PC has either been powered on for awhile or many applications have been opened and closed. 

Any guesses?

[schild]

Windows 7 is fuckawesome.

[Viin]

My only single complaint right now is that I'm getting an error I'm not finding concrete information on.  , I'll get a 'Windows Explorer has encountered a problem" message and it will reset the desktop to where it was at bootup, but the only time it's occurring is when I right click on icons after the PC has either been powered on for awhile or many applications have been opened and closed. 

Any guesses?

Hum, maybe do a scan of your hard drive for errors?

[Sheepherder]

My only single complaint right now is that I'm getting an error I'm not finding concrete information on.  , I'll get a 'Windows Explorer has encountered a problem" message and it will reset the desktop to where it was at bootup, but the only time it's occurring is when I right click on icons after the PC has either been powered on for awhile or many applications have been opened and closed. 

Any guesses?

You should drop a full stack trace and DxDiag in this thread, for the lulz.

[Yegolev]

Windows 7 is fuckawesome.

Where you been?

I'm teetering on the brink of doing the install or upgrade or whatever happens when I put the disc in.  If you don't hear from me for a while, call the cops.

[schild]

Windows 7 is fuckawesome.

Where you been?

I'm teetering on the brink of doing the install or upgrade or whatever happens when I put the disc in.  If you don't hear from me for a while, call the cops.

Might I recommend picking up a Caviar Black 1TB (or 2TB) drive if you haven't replaced your HDD in a while. I picked up two of the 1TB and it's insanely fast.

[Viin]

I have a RAID 0 SATA2 (3/Gbs) main drive, but it doesn't seem very fast. I would expect it to be a *little* faster than a plain ol' single SATA drive, but maybe my perspective is off.

[Sky]

My install was onto a fresh caviar black, they are nice drives. I got a deal on a 500GB a while back, because I don't have schild money.

[Trippy]

I have a RAID 0 SATA2 (3/Gbs) main drive, but it doesn't seem very fast. I would expect it to be a *little* faster than a plain ol' single SATA drive, but maybe my perspective is off.

RAID 0 is great on synthetic benchmarks. In real world applications RAID 0 does very little:

http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=2969&p=8

[tgr]

I'm thinking going for SSD disks for my win7 install at some point, 80 or 120GB should suffice and give a nice speed boost which is actually noticeable in the real world.