[WIN7] WIN7 MSDN version. Test on another guys pc?

[bojo]

Howdy guys.

I have a free MSDN version of win7 (yay) that i've been using.

Now i think win7 has a 30 day no cd-key trial period?.

I want to test to see if this older software/dongles/etc runs in win7 before i buy a copy for my friends pc. Mainly i'm curious as to whether i can just bung in the cd-key after i discover it works fine? (without having to reinstall the new copy).

Or do i have to nuke it all if im going from the MSDN version to an OEM version?.

Oh and what's the normal prices for win 7 home/pro (and xp).. from legit sources. Don't want to buy an illigitimate version!!!

[glenpinn]

Originally Posted by bojo

Howdy guys.

I have a free MSDN version of win7 (yay) that i've been using.

Now i think win7 has a 30 day no cd-key trial period?.

I want to test to see if this older software/dongles/etc runs in win7 before i buy a copy for my friends pc. Mainly i'm curious as to whether i can just bung in the cd-key after i discover it works fine? (without having to reinstall the new copy).

Or do i have to nuke it all if im going from the MSDN version to an OEM version?.

Oh and what's the normal prices for win 7 home/pro (and xp).. from legit sources. Don't want to buy an illigitimate version!!!

I wouldnt be jumping around with "joy" just because you have an MSDN windows 7 key, there is no such thing as MSDN version of windows 7, an MSDN key (if its what i think you have) is a retail key that is issued thru the MSDN channel (not thru the retail channel) and is only issued to those people who are legally allowed to use them for testing and evaluation purposes.

so you do realize that you cannot (legally) use or activate an MSDN retail key on your pc dont you ???

could i ask where you obtained your "free" msdn license key from.

also, if you install the retail OS (which you would NEED to use with the MSDN key) you cant use an oem key with it, so if your buying your friend an oem version of win 7, you need to do a fresh install from scratch using the oem key to activate it, as retail and oem are different and cant be used with each other.

[bojo]

Originally Posted by glenpinn

I wouldnt be jumping around with "joy" just because you have an MSDN windows 7 key, there is no such thing as MSDN version of windows 7, an MSDN key (if its what i think you have) is a retail key that is issued thru the MSDN channel (not thru the retail channel) and is only issued to those people who are legally allowed to use them for testing and evaluation purposes.

so you do realize that you cannot (legally) use or activate an MSDN retail key on your pc dont you ???

could i ask where you obtained your "free" msdn license key from.

also, if you install the retail OS (which you would NEED to use with the MSDN key) you cant use an oem key with it, so if your buying your friend an oem version of win 7, you need to do a fresh install from scratch using the oem key to activate it, as retail and oem are different and cant be used with each other.

Got the MSDN version from the MSDN software site, which i have a login for. It was yay because it was free. And is free for me only as long as i do not use it for commercial purposes. And as long as i have the login.. (funnily enough they say it's okay to use even after my login expires, just can't get the new things)

Mainly i wanted to know if i had to do a reinstall. Which it seems is the case. Though i would think the disc i downloaded from the MSDN site would be retail?. So as long as i got the retail cd keys i would be fine? (to enter after the 30 days of using the trail/nocdkey mode of win7).

[ozzycozz]

In my experience, a retail 7 disk (pretty much the same as your MSDN download right?) accepts OEM or retail keys (accepted as in, installed and activated fine). I've also had an OEM install which allowed me to change the product key over to a retail key, with no problems whatsoever; it just needed to activate immediately.

Given the above two points, I would say your scenario will be fine. Install without a key, and after you've tested/30 days are up, just punch in an OEM key.

[luke o]

MSDN versions of windows are actually different.. "Windows Ultimate N" for example contains no windows media player by default, amongst other minor changes.

I've never tried to change the activate type of an MSDN version of windows before, let me know how you go.

[bojo]

Originally Posted by luke o

MSDN versions of windows are actually different.. "Windows Ultimate N" for example contains no windows media player by default, amongst other minor changes.

Ah well i remember when i got these discs etc. (i may need to login in again actually, not sure if i still have the images). Highest up i was allowed to get was professional. Which is fine by me. But yeah i don't recall Ultimate being available.

Granted it's a uni thing, so yeah.

I was mainly curious as if it all works i'd rather just punch in a key, than you know, completely re-install windows.

Ill report back in a few weeks i geuss haha. Need to wait for the parts and then find a copy of win7 if sucessful. I'm probably going to aim for an OEM key, as well, his last pc is a pentium 4 (not a LGA775 one either). So he keeps them for awhile

[Tenoq]

Originally Posted by luke o

MSDN versions of windows are actually different.. "Windows Ultimate N" for example contains no windows media player by default, amongst other minor changes.

I've never tried to change the activate type of an MSDN version of windows before, let me know how you go.

True, but as long as you pick a standard version (ie, not N, K, etc) it will work with an OEM key. Microsoft has stopped locking product keys to certain CD/DVDs for Windows now, so there isn't any difference between a 'retail' DVD and an 'OEM' DVD.

As glenpinn pointed out though, make sure you're within the licensing restrictions of MSDN. The installation is only for use as a testing/evaluation platform.