WIN 7, Which Version?

[roto41]

In May/April I received a massive amount of advice from this and another forum.

Because of it I was able to put together 3 new PC builds for myself and friends.

I was the only one however to embrace and install the new Win 7 Ultimate evaluation OS, 7100, 64 bit.

It was a hell of a jump, from XP Home 32 bit, despite the warnings of software and hardware not working but I went for it, thanks to these forums.

From almost day 1, The XP mode in Win 7 was to unstable for me and I've done without it.

Remarkably even some of my older 32 bit applications work superbly in Win 7.

I use Outlook and IE and will stick with them, It took my ages to to get Outlook to how I wanted it.

So I'm comfortably chugging away with the new OS and I keep forgetting soon I am going to have to buy a 64 bit version of Win 7 but I'm very confused now.

I'm based in the UK, I buy my weekly computer magazine but I don't understand the advise given.

I have the free 64bit Ultimate version of Win 7, do I need it? I know I don't want an upgrade version.

Could someone point me to a link that tells me the difference between the versions.

If I don't go for Ultimate but go for Win 7 Home Premium will I be able to install that over Ultimate, will I be able to save my existing settings?

I back up all my data to an external drive, would Home Premium be able to read this data?

What is this E prefix I keep reading about and do I need to ensure my version of Win 7 has this?

I have friends in the USA, would I be better getting them to send me a a copy of Win 7, what ever from there, would it load on to my PC or can I still get a decent discount in the UK and where or have I left it to late?

I'm really sorry about all the questions, I'm a little befuddled by all the different advise and versions, I wish to stick to Win 7 64 bit.

[kalniel]

Nope, forget anything you ever heard about E - it's gone.

Here's the Microsoft comparison table: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...mpare-editions

You won't be able to install any version over your current release candidate.

You should be able to restore from external hard drive on any version.

Tescos are selling Home Premium for £50 still, but you have missed the pre-order offer from most places.

[joel_spencer]

Ultimate really only has one more feature than business and it isn't one that most people use, Business has the XP mode but if you don't need it and have found your important programs work then get the home premium.
Windows 7 will come with both 32bit and 64bit versions of Windows so you can use whichever you want, if you still have the valid xp cd key you can get an upgrade version of whichever Windows 7 is appropriate (Windows XP Home = Windows 7 Home Premium) but in the pre-order stage the retail version is usually cheaper than the upgrade anyway.
You could possibly get one from America but the £65 price range of home premium is apparently better than the American price and there might be issues with some software.

[roto41]

Nope, forget anything you ever heard about E - it's gone.

Here's the Microsoft comparison table: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...mpare-editions

You won't be able to install any version over your current release candidate.

You should be able to restore from external hard drive on any version.

Tescos are selling Home Premium for £50 still, but you have missed the pre-order offer from most places.

Hello Kalniel and thanks.

OK everything about E is forgotten.

I'm still a little confused perhaps I'm not understanding you or reading you wrong.

You say I can't install any version over current release candidate, how am I'm to install Windows 7 64 bit of any version then on to my PC or are you saying I have to buy the Ultimate version since I'm using Ultimate.

[roto41]

Ultimate really only has one more feature than business and it isn't one that most people use, Business has the XP mode but if you don't need it and have found your important programs work then get the home premium.
Windows 7 will come with both 32bit and 64bit versions of Windows so you can use whichever you want, if you still have the valid xp cd key you can get an upgrade version of whichever Windows 7 is appropriate (Windows XP Home = Windows 7 Home Premium) but in the pre-order stage the retail version is usually cheaper than the upgrade anyway.
You could possibly get one from America but the £65 price range of home premium is apparently better than the American price and there might be issues with some software.

Thank you Joel,

Once I've looked at the link I will have a better idea, I know I don't want an upgrade version.

If the retail version is only £50 from Tescos or £65 for that matter, I will get if from there if it suits my requirements.

I have got use to Ultimate however I thought the retail version would be cheaper from the States the the UK but clearly if there is going to be an issue with software,----not such a good idea.

I have just looked at Kalniel's link, I keep seeing the word Upgrade, what is meant by this, when XP home first came out in the UK you could purchase the full version or an upgrade, is this the same thing in the link?

[Jasp]

Ill try and sort it out for ya, basically the "E" versions have been scrapped as M$ decided to bundle internet explorer with it again, currently their are 3 versions availble for mainstream use in england :

Windows 7 Home Premium
Windows 7 Professional
Windows 7 Ultimate

Their are "N" versions but i won't get in to them.

All 3 versions at this moment in time are full retail copys, this means you can install them on a PC without any other version of windows present, you can't install any of the 3 above versions over the RC candidate as they required a "fresh" install, this means a backup of your data and a wipe of the HD then install.

Their are also upgrade versions in the works that will be priced cheaper then the full price "full" editions but will not work with the RC.

Home premium should be fine for basic gaming + office use, it doesn't include XP mode and has a memory cap of 16gb, personally i have 2 copys of Home Premium on order as i don't require the features of professional or ultimate but thats a choice you will have to make.

Currently Tesco are offering the pre order of Home Premium for £50 http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.206-3928.aspx

[roto41]

Ill try and sort it out for ya, basically the "E" versions have been scrapped as M$ decided to bundle internet explorer with it again, currently their are 3 versions availble for mainstream use in england :

Windows 7 Home Premium
Windows 7 Professional
Windows 7 Ultimate

Their are "N" versions but i won't get in to them.

All 3 versions at this moment in time are full retail copys, this means you can install them on a PC without any other version of windows present, you can't install any of the 3 above versions over the RC candidate as they required a "fresh" install, this means a backup of your data and a wipe of the HD then install.

Home premium should be fine for basic gaming + office use, it doesn't include XP mode and has a memory cap of 16gb, personally i have 2 copys of Home Premium on order as i don't require the features of professional or ultimate but thats a choice you will have to make.

Currently Tesco are offering the pre order of Home Premium for £50 http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.206-3928.aspx

Thank you Jasp,

It's the way I have worded it.

I can install 7 Home Premium on my PC but it would be a fresh install, all settings from the Ultimate candidate would be lost, it would be a complete fresh install, is that right, is that what you are saying ?

I read somewhere a version of Win 7 was to be available that had three licenses, will this be available in the UK or should I buy simply buy 2 copies of Win 7 what ever, as I actually want two PC.

[Jasp]

I can install 7 Home Premium on my PC but it would be a fresh install, all settings from the Ultimate candidate would be lost, it would be a complete fresh install, is that right, is that what you are saying ?

Pretty much, i believe you can save certain settings by copying folders across from the users folder but i normally just like to start a fresh so don't bother, in other words i don't know lol.

I read somewhere a version of Win 7 was to be available that had three licenses, will this be available in the UK or should I buy simply buy 2 copies of Win 7 what ever, as I actually want two PC.

This is called the windows 7 family pack, basically i contains 3 home premium licenses and should be priced at £150, the catch is M$ has said it would be available "in limited quantities" plus ive not seen it advertised on any websites yet...

[roto41]

Pretty much, i believe you can save certain settings by copying folders across from the users folder but i normally just like to start a fresh so don't bother, in other words i don't know lol.

This is called the windows 7 family pack, basically i contains 3 home premium licenses and should be priced at £150, the catch is M$ has said it would be available "in limited quantities" plus ive not seen it advertised on any websites yet...

Thank you Jasp and thanks for the link btw.

Things are much clearer now.

A fresh install it will be then, I'm not to worried about being able to transfer data from the Ex HD, it won't be a problem.

Does Out Look Express come with HP or is that a separate upload like IE will be.

I assume the HP version from Tescos is the full retail version, not an upgrade?

[Jasp]

States full version in brackets at the top of the page on tesco so thats what you should get. IE8 will be bundled with HP as they are doing a "ballot" type screen, as for outlook express i don't know.

[roto41]

States full version in brackets at the top of the page on tesco so thats what you should get. IE8 will be bundled with HP as they are doing a "ballot" type screen, as for outlook express i don't know.

Good Night Jasp and thank you for all your advice and help.

[beanbandit]

Does Out Look Express come with HP or is that a separate upload like IE will be.

Outlook Express was killed off some time ago and replaced with Windows mail, then Windows Mail Live. It was included with Vista so will probably come with Win7.

[watercooled]

Or, hopefully, not included by default but downloadable with Live Essentials like in the RC.

[pop80_uk]

Windows 7 Professional go for that it offers the Windows XP virtual application which will be worth the extra alone

[tfboy]

Currently Tesco are offering the pre order of Home Premium for £50 http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.206-3928.aspx

Bummer, too slow. Gone now

[roto41]

Bummer, too slow. Gone now

With in 12 hours of Jasp's link they had sold out, I should have jumped then.

Amazon has Win 7 HP 32/ 64 bit versions for £65-00 with free P&P up to last night, Novatech at £75.

What with the local London postal strikes, I think people who have pre-ordered are going to be a little disappointed with their deliveries but we shall see.

However I think I will wait now and see what retail outlets sell them for, It might be worth the extra to make sure I get it.

I've got so use to using Win 7 Ultimate and Amazon are knocking that out at £160-00, I am wondering if I should chance the postal deliveries and order?