Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 32bit (OEM) System Builder DVD 1 Pack [Old Packaging]

I bought this system builder to install on my ten year old Gateway computer running XP. I have performed two full XP installs on my desktop and one install on a laptop in the past. I have read that experts suggest that you always do a full install to avoid bringing along any problems that your old version had. Microsoft clearly states in their Upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7 information that you must perform a full custom install, you can only choose the upgrade option if upgrading from Vista. An article from cnettv.cnet.com by Tom Merritt clearly states " Choose Custom install. With XP, if you choose upgrade, the installation will fail." and this I believe is where most people are having problems with this system builder install.I installed a Inateck usb 3.0 expansion card prior to installing Windows 7 and moved my 97.17 GB of files in 47:37 min., please see my review of this expansion card.Installing Windows 7 on my computer. It took me 15 min. to read the EULA, and then started the full custom install. About halfway into the process it will ask you to read the EULA and install Windows again. This is a normal part of the process. Total time for Windows 7 install was 50 minutes, and then the update process started. This is where a glitch occurred in the process. I was not connected to the internet because I have a D-Link Gigabit Router which connects to a usb 2.0 Gigabit Ethernet adapter which connects to my computer. I installed the drivers for the adapter and Windows 7 began the update process. The first two updates were for my Radeon HD 6450 graphics card and my computer then froze up after the updates installed. I had to turn off the power strip to shut down the computer. I powered up again and Windows informed me that an abnormal shut down had occurred and do you wish to reboot. I answered yes and Windows opened normally and my graphics card made adjustments to my 1080p monitor and everything was good. I connected to Windows update and began the hours of updating. Windows 7 made it easy for me regarding driver updates for my hardware and programs, I just sat back and watched it do it's thing.I am a firm believer that " If it ain't broke, don't fix it ", I used XP for ten years, a third of the world is still using XP, why change, except to put more money in Microsoft pockets.How much money do you need? Enough of my rant. I am adjusting to the new operating system and probably will really like it after a short period of time. My son ( 18 years old ) has used Windows 7 and now has a Windows 8 laptop, and totally hates Windows 8. He plans to ditch Windows 8 and buy the new OS which is due late 2014 or early 2015. Take note Microsoft, if an 18 year old, hates your operating system, then it is a piece of crap. Stop producing good, bad, good operating systems before the world dumps you for good! Installing this system builder was not difficult, but not as easy as an XP install.

This disc will perform a clean install of Windows 7, which means you must backup all of your files in Windows XP before installing Windows 7, and you must also re-install all of your programs when the Windows 7 installation is complete.The only agreement I encountered with this system builder disc was the standard Windows license, which is the same one you would encounter if you were turning on a new computer for the first time.The installation itself is very straightforward. After you backup your files from Windows XP, and you have gathered all of the installation discs you need to re-install stuff (or are confident you can download everything you need to re-install), put the Windows 7 CD in and restart your computer. When it first boots up, there will be a message that flashes very briefly that says Press F(something) for boot options. Press that button quickly and select the CD/DVD drive to boot from the disc. When the installation starts simply follow the prompts. If you are doing a standard install, the prompts are self-explanatory. If you want to work with (delete, format, etc.) a partition, click the Custom option and when it shows the list of partitions, select the one you want to work with along with the appropriate choice. The installation takes about 30 minutes to complete. Once it's done, re-install all of your programs, put your files back and run Windows Update to get all of the security patches. Windows Update will take a bit of time and involve restarting multiple times. Windows Update can be found in the Control Panel (Start --> Control Panel --> System and Security --> Windows Update --> Check for updates).During the installation you will be prompted for the Product Key. This is the 25 character key that appears on the case in an extremely small font and in part on a blue background, which makes it very difficult to read. The simple solution is to take a picture of the code with your phone and zoom in on the picture. You can also use a magnifying glass, but the camera on your phone will likely be more accessible. The disc and code come in a sealed envelope to prevent tampering. Windows 7 will automatically attempt to activate after 3 days if you don't do anything. If you want to activate it prior to that, to ensure you entered the correct product key, do so via the Control Panel (Start --> Control Panel --> System and Security --> System --> scroll down to the bottom and select the option to activate windows). When it's activated, you will see the genuine Microsoft symbol to the right.Good luck

Needed to upgrade from Windows Vista and decided I would do a clean install of Windows 7. I didn't know that this was a programme for installation by computer-builders and almost gave up when I received it. Delivery was prompt.I emailed the seller regarding my ability to install (65 year old, female, non-tech person). What I received was a friendly email stating that it was easy to do, don't forget to update drivers etc., and good luck. I spent Easter weekend doing the install - with little or no difficulty, and replaced all my own programmes to be up and running fully in just a couple of days.Have had no problems with Windows 7. Pleased that I did it myself.

Much easier to do than I first thought. I did purchase a new larger hard drive as I struggled to get the 16GB of free space on my old one. Upgrade to Windows 7 instructions were clear, first did check as suggested on Microsoft website. I decided to put it as a clean install on a larger HD and leave the XP drive in case of problems (none so far) so did a clean installation, really worth the little extra and Windows 7 is a great improvement, and my XP software and drivers are working without a problem. The product code was very small so I wrote it down with any variations that might occur to facilitate entry. Be aware that there will be LOADS of software updates to be done. Would do the same again.

Fantastic! Had to do a clean install after another, reputable manufacture's software had caused a completely unrecoverable crash; reputable hah, hah, hah!I was a bit sceptical at first because I wasn't sure if it would try to go on line and cause some sort of hang up over registration. It didn't, and the whole thing was up and running in about 20 mins. It also recognises existing partitions so whatever you've got stored on D: is still there afterwards, as it only wipes out C: So why 4 star and not 5?Well, this appears to be only a very basic version of Windows 7, lacking some of the features of later versions, such as Office Starter, which one finds on new machines pre-loaded with Win. 7. Perhaps there is another Service Pack or something which one can download but, since I am currently having some problems with wireless connection, I can't do that at the moment.Having said that, it represents a very good, value for money, buy.

I ordered with some trepidation, wondering if I'd get something that worked! No worries, as it turned out. Make sure you have run the Microsoft checks (free on their website) first to ensure you know where any problems are likely to occur, and print off their check-list as if you DO have problems you may not be able to look on-line! Actually I had no problems at all doing a clean install over XP and getting it up and running. One problem only - nothing to do with what is supplied - was that I found the on-board speakers wouldn't work afterwards. It seems Windows 7 (and probably Windows 8) hasn't got the required drivers fro many IBM computers. I wouldn't bother trawling internet forums, there doesn't seem to be a guaranteed and risk free solution out there. Plug in a set of headphones or use free-standing speakers as the output jack still works fine; better sound quality anyway. I've no connection with this supplier other than as a satisfied customer, and I'd recommend them for rapid and reliable service with a disc that works fine.

Probably the best Microsoft operating system ever made. This is without a shadow of a doubt the very best best Microsoft operating system since XP Pro. Vista was okish but XP Pro was so much better but Windows 7 is so much better than that travesty that Microsoft have the nerve to call an upgrade, Windows 8.Avoid Windows 8 at all cost because my next operating system will be Linux and will most probably be Linux Mint, (which I already use on a HP laptop and a PC), or maybe Ubuntu. To be honest, I am astounded that Microsoft have the nerve to charge for their product when you can use Linux for free.Anyway, back to the plot, as a Microsoft product, Windows 7 is probably the best ever, hence the 5 star rating.