The
Windows 7 launch seems to have gone off mostly roses and sunbeams, but we're hearing today that quite a few people have had issues installing the downloadable $29 student upgrade edition on 32-bit Vista -- apparently the file doesn't unpack to an ISO, but instead to an executable and two bundles that don't function properly, and eventually the process errors out with a 64-bit app trying to launch on 32-bit systems. It's possible to create an ISO using some hackery, but the install process seems to be 50/50 after that -- we've heard of both success and further crashes. For it's part, Microsoft says it's looking into things, so hopefully a newly repackaged download will be forthcoming --
every party has its ups and downs, right?
Update: Our friends at DownloadSquad have a
handy guide to making the ISO, in case you're interested -- and they say the installer does work in the end.
Update 2: We just got a tip that Microsoft is offering refunds to users who are having issues. [Thanks, Christopher]
[Thanks, Tom]
Read - Original thread
Read - Microsoft response
posted Oct 23rd 2009 2:37PM
Windows 7 will be in my next Desktop.
Does Windows 7 get rid of windows Movie Maker from Vista?
It's not included any more. You have to download the "Live" version!
Microsoft Malware. I haz yur crudit carzzzzzz! :)
Still no article on the MSFT results? We has a 'breaking news' and jizzing of pants for AAPL results.
Hope you enjoy the "Mojave Experience" in retail form.
Well, I got my email at 1 am for this on the 22nd, and it worked great. I did go from 64-bit Vista to 64-bit 7, but no complaints here.
does anyone who'd done this student upgrade know if there's a full version available. I no longer have vista on my computer anymore, and dont have anything to upgrade from. I tried emailing their customer service and they straight up said, "we are unable to assist you with this product inquiry at the online store."
So if i have a system w/ nothing on it, other than Win7 RC...is there anything i can buy through them to get up and running?
That explains all the trouble I had last night. I thought it was just the drinking...
@SimbaDogg Well I installed Windows 7 Professional Student Upgrade over my Win 7 RC install, and it worked fine. By the way does anybody know if its safe to delete the 'windows.old' directory.
Quick fix: If you (or anyone you know---ask around on fbook) has a Win7 64-bit beta or RC dvd, then first install that over your current 32-bit system via booting from disk in bios. Then redownload or otherwise transfer the files to your new desktop and launch the application from there. Sure, you cant use the upgrade option, but who does that anyways? :) Had to do this yesterday for a friend, works just fine.
for everyone in college/university, check and see if you have/can get access to your schools/departments MSDNAA account. i got 7 Pro for free that way; you can basically get as many serial codes as you want (well, technically limited to one per computer you own).
@SimbaDogg
If you are trying to get the $30 student version, call Microsoft Store directly at 1.877.696.7786 . They will give you the full version for $30. Also, with them, the Home Premium is same cost as Professional. The only reason to get Home premium would be to do a direct upgrade from Vista Home Premium. You can find more details here: http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1562761#
Umm to Mark and all the Windows Fanboys trying to deny this
I bought Windows 7 Pro. I downloaded the weird bundle of files. I FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS to create an iso. I burned it to a DVD and I installed it with no issues.
However my wireless is NOT WORKING. I've been trying for the last few hours to get it working.
SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH WINDOWS 7
bond, it's probably your drivers. hook up over ethernet and download wireless drivers from your manufacturers website.
my wireless worked great from the start, i dunno.
I did hook up via ethernet and download all the updates.
Then when that didn't work I went to HP's website to get the drivers. The problem (I think) is that I formatted the entire C: drive and did a "clean install". The recovery partition for Vista/HP is still there but I formatted/erased everything on the C: drive.
So I don't know if that resulted in the issue or not. Also when I try to redownload stuff from HP's website it says that I no longer have the software or hardware that allows me to download the drivers. This error occurs with ALL the drivers on HPs website for my computer. The error code number is 9998.
Anyways if I don't see any solution by the end of the day I'll just reinstall it. Hopefully it won't cause any issues the 2nd time.
Is it possible that there is something wrong with the ISO? I mean everything else seems to run flawlessly except for the wireless. And I KNOW I'm entering in the right passphrase.
Why do students spend money upgrading an OS? A browser is all people need to go
online and OS is becoming less relevant. Why not just get the latest browser and
avoid the upgrade headache!
Why do students spend money upgrading an OS? A browser is all people need to go
online and OS is becoming less relevant. Why not just get the latest browser and
avoid the upgrade headache!
Bond, if your wireless card is picking up signal why don't you just unrestrict your wireless internet and try to connect then? If it connects then no, you're not entering the right passphrase. :P I know I had forgotten my own after having Windows remember it for 4 years.
My install was less than flawless, but i did succeed. I had to do a quick search on how to make it an iso as i was upgrading from 32bit to 64bit, after some quick searching i found a very helpful forum, and after about 2 hours of fooling around with some command lines i finally succeeded and from there it has been beautiful :)
UK version is working fine..
Did you order your student edition direct from microsoft? I got mine fro Pugh and still dont have it yet, probably due to the postal strike
This bloody stupid upgrade edition doesn't let you do a clean install, it demands an existing Windows installation, so I torrented the RTM ISO, burnt to a disc, and used the license key I bought. This is the solution to everyone's problem.
Another thing is that Microsoft doesn't seem to allow an in-place upgrade from Windows Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 Professional. =/
Which they said, multiple times, and even made a nice chart relaying the message. Not their fault you didn't pay attention.
You're better off formatting and installing anyway. I've never upgraded a Windows installation - ever. Since 3.11.
no way!
Looks like I'm fortunate to have gotten the Host party version so I didn't have to worry about this mess. I don't think this would have worked on my copy of Vista Busiessnes anyway(which I also got for free back before the launch of that OS for some other silly promotion).
Shit, I have never seen a word so butchered. "Busiessnes"
Meh, it's been a long week. I'm pretty shocked I'm able to type cpmeplete sentances at all right now.
Why not just DL an ISO off any of the file-sharing site and use your license key?
pro tip: use firefox, it will spell for you.
So I have the Party disc too. Can you use it to install any version of 7? I have a professional code I need to use on another machine that had Vista Ultimate. VU==>7pro
But I thought Windows 7 was perfect!
Dear Troll, its a problem with the installer, not windows 7
If it was Mac OS having trouble with installation of an upgrade you would be saying the same thing.
Trust me, trust me, trust me......
Who said Windows 7 was perfect? They just said it was better.
Well as lonf as they stay out of there guest account they should be fine... oh wait wrong post 0_o.
Well as lonf as they stay out of there guest account they should be fine... oh wait wrong post 0_o.
Well as LONG as they stay out of THEIR guest account they should be fine...
Well I haven't even been able to get it to download fully. I've been stuck @ 68% on the download for the last 8 hours or so, the downloader seems to be constantly "pausing" itself, even when I tell it to resume.
This is the first real problem I've heard from Windows 7 since the beginning of the beta. I'm glad they're upfront with the problem though and finding a solution within the 24 hours.
That's more than what you can say for Apple
More like a workaround, not a solution.
I think these people just don't know what they were doing, mine worked fine.
Same here. The download took a little over an hour (average speed: 600KB/s) and the installation another hour or so for me. I wish they had done an ISO package so I could do a true clean install (at least with less effort than I cared to spend), but the custom install was close enough after I deleted my Windows.old folder. I've had no problems with the OS either. I'm not really a Vista hater, but 7 is pretty much better in every way that I've seen so far.
I think you didn't read the article before you posted.
Terry, I see you're an Apple fanboy who has seen the light and will never go back to Microsoft's "inferior products". We're having a fondue party at my house at 5. Starbucks is catering; why don't you come over and we'll talk about how awesome it is that we don't support big corporations.
Worked for me on 32-bit Vista. No ISO, but the folder extracted from the two compressed files can be made into a bootable disk.
An extra $12 for a DVD in the mail was a justifiable purchase for me, though, since I'm paranoid. Probably won't be needing it unless my hard drive unexpectedly fubars in the next minu
Did you run it on a 64-bit system? I am downloading it now and am installing on a MBP later tonight. Thanks!
Or the students just get the MSDNAA license...
You have to be in CS or an Engineering Major to have MSDNAA licenses. All my friends got it, not being in those majors I opted the 30 dollar upgrade.
you also have to go to a good college. I don't think my uni has msdn anything for anyone, which is bull.
And so begins the stories that will roll in over the next few months about Vista 2.0.
How typical.
If you were going from 32bit to 32bit it would work fine.
The problem is that everyone is trying to move to a 64-bit system. The program that un-compresses the files that are downloaded does not complete. You need access to a 64-bit box. Copy the files to that system and un-compress them there. It will work fine.
The next step is to make a Bootable DVD or Thumb Drive. To go from 32-64 bit you have to do a clean install. Once you create the bootable DVD/Thumb drive(and those forums are full of solutions to that problem), the install goes quick and smooth. I went through all this headache last night.
Hmm I actually accomplished it without needing a 64 bit machine. Just used that utility to make a bootable dvd from the files it unpacked in 32-bit windows and clean installed from that. Worked without a hitch.
I didn't even bother with the executables. I got an ISO for vista ultimate, and used it to create a bootable flash drive to install off of(there are guides online). Then I deleted the ei.cfg file in the sources folder so I could use the flash drive to install any version I want. Everything went off without a hitch.
As others have stated, you DO NOT need a 64-bit system. The file extraction utility does display an error at the end when it attempts to run the installer executable, but everything you need to build the ISO is still there. Follow the guide on sevenforums (http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/30470-make-bootable-iso-student-d-l.html) to download oscdimg utility, create the bootable iso and burn to a DVD, reboot the system and ensure it boots off the DVD and choose custom install.
I did this from a 32 bit XP machine, upgrading to Win 7 Professional 64bit yesterday and did not have any issues installing. Just follow the syntax carefully for the oscdimg utility (there is no space between the -b option and the path to the etfsboot.com file) and you will be fine.
I had the same problems with the Ultimate Steal $59 Vista Ultimate almost 2 years ago. Couldn't run the 64-bit executable on XP 32-bit.
The solution was to download a Vista Ultimate image from somewhere less than reputable and install with no key. Then copy the .exe / setup files to a dir on the disk and run the upgrade that way.
I would recommend this to others, or borrow a win7 retail disk for the first install.
Kind of short sighted thinking from digital river / MS...giving a 64-bit .exe for upgrades.
Hmm, mine installed without issues.
Honestly there hasn't been a problem with 7 since the early stages of beta and atleast they gave a response within 24 hours.
How long would it take for apple to get the ball rolling if something like this happened with OSX?
Let's count the weeks....
Students have more time than money. The people I've been talking to seem to agree that $30 is a convenience fee for the cost of a legitimate version of Win7 compared to pirating it. If it's a pita to install, that will probably tip the decision in the favor of a pirated copy.
Already rocking Windows 7 from my download.
64-bit is really where it's at.
Yeah it failed for me when u tried to install 64bit from the 32bit RC - had to torrent the 64bit RC, install it then run this installer - working fine now but took ages!
excuses excuses excuses.
I got the hard copy student upgrade (32 bit) at a price of $14... and that was a week before the official launch as well. Easy install, and it's been working perfectly.
If I recall correctly, you cant buy windows 7 without 64-bit function-ability.
I was working on that problem for about 5 hours last night. I have the party pack which included the Ultimate. I also ordered Home Premium and I have the Pro student version for my son. I installed Ultimate over 3 weeks ago with no problems. I have not installed Home Premium but I tried installing Pro which was $29.99 and it does not work. Digital River does not give you the option to download an ISO version and the .exe file does not work.
Ditto. I was pissed that after waiting so long to download, what I ended up with wasn't an iso. I ordered the "backup" disc anyway but who knows when that will show up. I hope they wise up soon.
Follow the steps in the read link(make sure everything is typed out exactly as those steps show) to make a bootable .iso file which you can burn to a dvd or make a bootable thumb drive(depending what's easier/more convenient for you). You have to start up your computer booting from that dvd or drive and proceed with the installation(splash screen takes a good amount of time, so be patient!)
What's the limit on the keys you can get with the student program? I really need 2 licenses.
You are two students?
No, but I have two separate computers which I actively use. One being a Desktop, the other being a notebook. I don't have time for any of that "This is a non-genuine copy" business popping up or potentially locking me out.
The win741 page states one license per student.
I ordered the x64 version but was offered the x86 version. It is possible I ordered the wrong one, but I doubt it. When I downloaded it (unawares it was the x86 version) it downloaded as a .BOX file, which I have never heard of and couldnt find any information on online. I never installed it as I didnt want to disqualify myself from being eligible to exchange it for the x64 version. The FAQ for the process states that if you contact support they can take care of a situation like this.
I also asked them how to burn it to DVD as an .ISO or .EXE like the Office Ultimate 2007 student offer was done. Hopefully they get back to me on these issues. Ill post what info I get.
Another method for a big USB stick via hardforum:
Originally Posted by riot8ap on HardForum here: http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1462172&page=4
--------------------------------------------------------
I can vouch and say this is the FULL version. I made the iso and realized I had a brain fart. A far easier me and faster method is to put the files onto a USB stick!
1. I formatted my 8gb USB stick FAT32 (since my laptop doesn't like ntfs boot).
2. From elevated command prompt, go into the BOOT directory of the expandedsetup directory and type:
bootsect /nt60 G:
(Where g is your usb stick)
3. Copy the contents of the expandedsetup directory onto the usb stick and restart!
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Once unpacked, the two files create an extra directory with the content of what it should be the installation DVD. Therefore, I burned is to a DVD and try to install it in a new HD, but the system didn't recognize the operation system as valid. So I had to first install W7 RC and then upgrade with the new DVD, such a pain in the ass! Microsoft could have prepare an ISO file to burn to a DVD directly...
Used the Beta Version, 7137 (ultimate)... paid for the pro version student upgrade... worked flawlessly in VMware ... will redo the machine this afternoon!
Cheap upgrade!
they should be. i did this (i am a student) and spent >6 hours trying to make an iso out of this junk and it still didn't work. i have a friend who did this and it worked fine for him, but not for me. so I sure hope they get this fixed soon so we get our money's worth.
to further this, i am clean install-upgrading my vista ultimate 32bit to 7 pro 32 bit. what error i get is that when I click on setup.exe it launches, but when I click install windows it says cannot create the proper installation folders. if then send out an iso though, it shouldn't matter i'll redownload it and burn it to a DVD. although if anyone knows how to fix my problem feel free to tell. :)
Windows 7 is amazing. The student upgrade installer doesn't work. At least it doesn't delete your data when you create a guest account...heyooo!
I have become a victim of comment system fail.
I had this problem with my MSDNAA copy a month or so ago. The .exe is quite a bit smaller than the .iso. However, if you are low on disk space, the autoextraction of the .exe creates an incomplete .iso file, and you can't burn the dvd properly. I used both of my opportunities to download the installer unsuccessfully, and ended up grabbing the .iso from torrents. Anyway, the point is, make sure you have at least 6 or 7 GB free before trying use the downloader.
Doesn't necessarily apply, but I installed the 64-bit Student from the exe and had no problems at all. Everything went great (granted, a little slow).
This doesn't apply to just a few people. Microsoft made a MAJOR error in this digital river distribution. According to the official upgrade chart you should be able to move from xp/vista 32 bit to 6 64 bit with this upgrade. However, they distributed it with a 64bit executable file. You CANNOT run a 64bit executable on a 32bit OS.. that is the problem. A quick fix would be releasing a bootable ISO. This is an insane oversight.
Glad I haven't attempted this yet. Still rolling with the RC for the time being.
My problem is that i can't burn this files to DVD.
After downloading and unpacking, my first idea was to burn a DVD and run the installation from it, but no luck... I manege to install 64bit Win7 right from the folder on the desktop. But still can't burn this folder to DVD.
No issues here. I downloaded, burned, and already installed my student copy with no issues. The system is also working wonderfully, a computer that with vista was known to be a low-end system, just meeting the system requirements, with 7 it feels like a midrange computer.
in my opinion, they should check system compatibility first before upgrading..looks like they need to reinstall back to Vista if Win 7 upgrades does not work.
This same thing has happened to me! Does anyone know who to call or what to do?
@Platinum_Skeet
Almost immediately, and users had a fix within hours.
Phil Schiller (again!!!): I said It is Windows.
Sounds a lot like it could be user error from the extremely limited details provided. Leave it up to good ol' Engadget to be Johnny-on-the-spot with any and every report of a failure with Windows 7.
My upgrade worked flawlessly. One thread != many, it equals SOME. Stop trying to blow shit out of proportion as usual.
Did you see how long that "one thread was" And it was happening to EVERYONE who has 32 bit and decided to get the 64 bit version, so it's not blown out of proportion at all, you are just not understanding things.
Also microsoft has been busy merging all threads into one to organize the issue, so this is not just one thread.
It's a bit of both really. This problem is fixable from the user side, but it was an oversight on the part of either microsoft or (more likely, since the binary has their signature) digital river. It only happens when going from 32-bit Windows whatever to 64-bit Windows 7. Basically, the .exe that unpacks the OS installer gives an error at the end which really doesn't matter(it seems to think it doesn't have permissions but it actually just seems to crap out when trying to launch the installer). You then are left with a complete installer folder which you unfortunately can't run because it needs 64-bit windows but is on a 32 bit machine. Normally, that would be solved by booting the computer with the dvd in but in this case there's no dvd. So, you end up having to create a boot dvd(I was able to find a tutorial on how to do this within 30 seconds of doing a google search) using the files the .exe unpacked and then do as you normally would for the move from 32 bit to 64 bit.
No issues here. Downloaded my student copy just fine and installed with no issues. Running Windows 7 now on my desktop.
I had a problem installing Windows7 that seems to be very common.
Wouldn't let me install on my Raid0 Partition (Vista does) if I have any other Hard drives plugged in out with the Raid0 drives....bit random but annoying and took me a while to find out what the solution was.
Unplug all my other Hard Drives and then install!
Wow, interesting point there, I actually unplugged everything but the drive I'm installing to, which was raid0 and I'm glad I did that now that I've read your comment, good job on figuring that one out!
Doesn't work for me either. Its make your own ISO day wooo.
no issues here, manually made a bootable iso