Where can I purchase Windows 7?

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Squash

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#141092 1-Mar-2014 08:31

Where can I purchase Windows 7? Preferably Ultimate.

My new laptop came with Windows 8, which I hated. I upgraded to 8.1 and I no longer hate it but still really don't like it so I would like to go back to 7.

Unfortunately Dicksmith took my old laptop when they gave me credit for the new one and the hard drive they sent back doesn't work so I can't pull the key from there either.

Is there any stores in Hamilton or Online? I checked TradeMe but could only find a disc with no key. I'd really like a clean install as well, I'm really tired of all the bloatware.

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#996836 1-Mar-2014 08:38

In terms of performance and reliability Windows 8 is a lot better than Windows 7.

I have a tablet which I run Windows 8 Modern UI apps only but on my laptop I use Windows 8.1 like I used to use Windows 7. If you are just looking for the "Windows 7 experience":

Install Start8 (booting to desktop option)
Uninstall all Modern UI apps
Use it like you would use Windows 7

That's pretty much it really.

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BoydHQ

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#996856 1-Mar-2014 09:11

I Agree Start8 makes Windows 8/8.1 completely usable so i would go for that option as well.

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#996862 1-Mar-2014 09:36

if not you can buy Windows 7 here

http://www.playtech.co.nz/afawcs0139235/CATID=113/ID=22629/SID=542620470/productdetails.html

Common sense is not as common as you think.

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#996867 1-Mar-2014 09:40

Yes, +1, agree, "This", etc.

Windows 8.1 plus Start8 is fine.

"ModernMix" is also nice, which runs "Metro" apps in a Window on the desktop.

surfisup1000

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#996871 1-Mar-2014 09:49

Squash: Where can I purchase Windows 7? Preferably Ultimate.

My new laptop came with Windows 8, which I hated. I upgraded to 8.1 and I no longer hate it but still really don't like it so I would like to go back to 7.

Unfortunately Dicksmith took my old laptop when they gave me credit for the new one and the hard drive they sent back doesn't work so I can't pull the key from there either.

Is there any stores in Hamilton or Online? I checked TradeMe but could only find a disc with no key. I'd really like a clean install as well, I'm really tired of all the bloatware.

I feel your pain. I asked if i could upgrade windows 8 to windows 7 if buying a new laptop but it seems unavailable. MS are making it harder to buy win7 otherwise no one would be buying win8 . So, I'd just have to install a pirate win7 in absence of an option for new laptops .

The best new feature of win8 is the copy file function (some MS employees praise fast startup but who reboots computers?). So, microsoft has spent a billion dollars developing a better file copy function and ruining existing functionality as far as I'm concerned.

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#996872 1-Mar-2014 09:50

jamesrt: Yes, +1, agree, "This", etc.

Windows 8.1 plus Start8 is fine.

"ModernMix" is also nice, which runs "Metro" apps in a Window on the desktop.

so windows 8 is fine for you if you install 3rd party bloatware to fix it?

I don't like this solution and i bet it doesn't fix the little annoyances that bug me during the day.

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#996874 1-Mar-2014 09:55

Start8 is not really "bloatware" in the usual sense. and I do shutdown my laptop every night, as I never trusted Sleep/Hibernate. With a SSD the start up process is only 10 seconds from pushing the button to the time I have it ready to use (i.e. responding to commands/clicks on desktop).

As for the UI, sure I don't like the square look but think of the Windows 8 Start screen as the BIG version of the Windows 7 Start Menu. It's all there, you can create groups and move things around. It just a different view. As I said I have my tablet 100% Modern UI and my laptop 100% classic style.

But behind the UI, Windows 8 is better in terms of speed, security, functionality, etc, etc...

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#996913 1-Mar-2014 10:38

freitasm: Start8 is not really "bloatware" in the usual sense. and I do shutdown my laptop every night, as I never trusted Sleep/Hibernate. With a SSD the start up process is only 10 seconds from pushing the button to the time I have it ready to use (i.e. responding to commands/clicks on desktop).

As for the UI, sure I don't like the square look but think of the Windows 8 Start screen as the BIG version of the Windows 7 Start Menu. It's all there, you can create groups and move things around. It just a different view. As I said I have my tablet 100% Modern UI and my laptop 100% classic style.

But behind the UI, Windows 8 is better in terms of speed, security, functionality, etc, etc...

Best solution I have read for Win 8 actually. Tailor make it to suit and get the benefits of the improved speed, etc as mentioned. And the Modernmix option stated above to keep the modern apps in a seperate window. Nice

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#996979 1-Mar-2014 13:08

I find the Windows 8.x "start" screen is a bit of pain to use with a mouse; it's ok on a touch screen.

However, it's pretty good search function means you can just start typing what you're looking for, and it'll pop up, press to run it; so, if I want MS Word, I type "word" or "excel", etc. Saves having to hunt for submenus and icons, etc, and generally speaking, my hands are on the keyboard rather than the mouse most of the time, and I find that "just works".

I use my Mac in much the same way these days, too; press "command-space" to open spotlight; and start typing the name of the program I want. Then select and press enter. It's actually pretty quick and convenient.

Stu

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#997017 1-Mar-2014 13:42

I've just installed Windows 8.1 on my old HP DC7900 CMT. I've installed it on a new hybrid 1TB drive and it is seriously like a new PC. Just under 20 seconds startup time from off.

I like 8.1 far more than 8, and so far I'm happy to leave it without any 3rd party mods. The more I use it the more it grows in me. Get to know keyboard shortcuts. Works fine on the triple non-touch monitors.

Squash

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#997018 1-Mar-2014 13:42

jamesrt: I find the Windows 8.x "start" screen is a bit of pain to use with a mouse; it's ok on a touch screen.

However, it's pretty good search function means you can just start typing what you're looking for, and it'll pop up, press to run it; so, if I want MS Word, I type "word" or "excel", etc. Saves having to hunt for submenus and icons, etc, and generally speaking, my hands are on the keyboard rather than the mouse most of the time, and I find that "just works".

I use my Mac in much the same way these days, too; press "command-space" to open spotlight; and start typing the name of the program I want. Then select and press enter. It's actually pretty quick and convenient.

Windows 7 did that? I just pressed the windows key and started typing, even easier.

Thanks for the replies everyone.

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freitasm

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#997042 1-Mar-2014 14:05

Squash:
jamesrt: I find the Windows 8.x "start" screen is a bit of pain to use with a mouse; it's ok on a touch screen.

However, it's pretty good search function means you can just start typing what you're looking for, and it'll pop up, press to run it; so, if I want MS Word, I type "word" or "excel", etc. Saves having to hunt for submenus and icons, etc, and generally speaking, my hands are on the keyboard rather than the mouse most of the time, and I find that "just works".

I use my Mac in much the same way these days, too; press "command-space" to open spotlight; and start typing the name of the program I want. Then select and press enter. It's actually pretty quick and convenient.

Windows 7 did that? I just pressed the windows key and started typing, even easier.

Thanks for the replies everyone.

The main different is that Windows XP|Vista|7 needed you to press Windows Key and start typing. Windows 8 you just need to start typing. Mac you need to press Command space (no, the "search for apps" is not an OS X innovation).

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OldGeek

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#997062 1-Mar-2014 14:24

Squash: Where can I purchase Windows 7? Preferably Ultimate.

My new laptop came with Windows 8, which I hated. I upgraded to 8.1 and I no longer hate it but still really don't like it so I would like to go back to 7.

Unfortunately Dicksmith took my old laptop when they gave me credit for the new one and the hard drive they sent back doesn't work so I can't pull the key from there either.

Is there any stores in Hamilton or Online? I checked TradeMe but could only find a disc with no key. I'd really like a clean install as well, I'm really tired of all the bloatware.

I was in the same position as you with a new laptop about a month ago. Rather than go back to Win 7 though I found that a combination of 8.1 booting to the desktop plus Reviversofts 'Start Menu Reviver' (http://www.reviversoft.com/start-menu-reviver/) allowed me to run Win 8 in much the same way as I do with Win 7 on other hardware I have. The reason I preferred the Win 7 start button was the fact that it popped up the ability to start an app that was not on the desktop or quickstart bar but was installed, by using a text box to search installed apps.

As others have advised - stay with Win 8.1 and make it work like Win 7 did. That's easier than reverting to Win 7 and a better long-term option.

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#997070 1-Mar-2014 14:37

I decided to get start 8.
Pleasantly surprised!

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#997074 1-Mar-2014 14:48

TimA: I decided to get start 8.
Pleasantly surprised!

LOL I just switched to a Mac! rMBP. still using windows on gaming rig though. I'm looking forward to OSX and my daughter loves Win 8 so all purpose household here!

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