Re: Windows 7 Review: You Can Quit Complaining Now

**jmaker** · 10-23-2009, 08:17 PM

I received my copy of Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade today that I had pre-ordered a couple months back for $50 when they had that deal going on.

I know a lot of us were wondering if it was possible to do a clean install instead of just upgrading. Well I can confirm that it is indeed possible to perform a clean installation. I reformatted my laptop and installed this version from scratch.

So I just wanted to share that with anyone who had an 'Upgrade' version instead of a retail version.

**Melee** · 10-23-2009, 09:46 PM

I pre-ordered for $50 too, and paid for the release day delivery with Amazon. Well, they dropped the ball and I am scheduled to get it today, but they have already credited my card for the shipping and thrown in a $10 credit as an apology. Cool...I don't even have the hardware yet.

**Bamboo** · 10-23-2009, 10:40 PM

Just posted on Gizmodo

Helpful Hint: How To Do a Clean Windows 7 Install Using Upgrade Discs

Windows 7: All You Can Eat - A roundup of all the stuff from Win7

**jmaker** · 10-23-2009, 10:59 PM

You know what, I didn't even activate my copy that I installed. My upgrade edition let me perform a clean install. I thought it wouldn't even let you do that. That's why I thought it worked.

So thanks for that link Bamboo. I guess I'll have to do a little registry editing.

**Acreo Aeneas** · 10-23-2009, 11:39 PM

You know what I found disappointing with Windows 7?

Some of those nifty "bling bling" features that people were raving about during Beta and Alpha like: Dreamscapes and Logon Wallpaper customization. Neither of those two really made into the final product.

Oh sure, I can regedit the Logon, but I have to do multiple registry entry edits and even have to create them from scratch. Then I'm limited to a wallpaper filesize of 256 KBs or less. I'd also have to do some regedit work and use a hack in order to get Dreamscape to work.

Those two are the biggest bummers when I finally got RTM installed and decided to go looking for them.

**Bamboo** · 10-24-2009, 10:24 PM

Just posted on Lifehacker:

Top 10 Windows 7 Booster Apps

Really good stuff, including adding Hulu to Media player.

**jmaker** · 10-24-2009, 11:17 PM

Acreo, look at number 4 on that list. I think that's what you were looking for awhile back, where you could have multiple folders in just one icon on the taskbar.

**Reaperassault** · 10-24-2009, 11:18 PM

another helpful tip with the upgrade versions

Save $80 on your Windows 7 purchase - the Upgrade does full installs, too

**Acreo Aeneas** · 10-25-2009, 01:34 AM

Originally Posted by jmaker

Acreo, look at number 4 on that list. I think that's what you were looking for awhile back, where you could have multiple folders in just one icon on the taskbar.

Yeah, I've been using 7stacks for a while now. I'm going to look into StandaloneStack. I just wish these apps were easier to find through a search engine.

**whistler** · 10-25-2009, 02:07 AM

I just took advantage of the $30 student upgrade offer which I basically found in the Windows 7 wiki article and Charity Case made reference to. You just can't beat that.

**Acreo Aeneas** · 10-25-2009, 02:47 AM

Does the $30 upgrade still work even if we already got a copy of Win7 through MSDNAA?

**whistler** · 10-25-2009, 01:13 PM

I'm not very tech-saavy, Acreo. What do you mean?

**Acreo Aeneas** · 10-25-2009, 05:36 PM

Okay, let me explain more in detail...

My school (DePaul) has a MSDNAA subscription that it offers to technology students (that in turn is paid for by our "tech fees"). Through our DePaul MSDNAA I already have downloaded Windows 7 Pro x64 and x86 (one key for each). I have x64 installed on my gaming rig here and the x86 copy is just sitting around for a good excuse.

Now I also have a .edu email through DePaul. Since I already have Windows 7 Pro through my school's MSDNAA, would I still be eligible in getting another upgrade copy through the Windows741 $30 offer?

MSDNAA = Microsoft Software Developer Network Academic Alliance. Allows schools and students to download various MS products along with keys (all full version).

**Reaperassault** · 10-25-2009, 09:46 PM

I dont see why not, no harm in submitting your email for approval

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