Stupid Question: Where to Buy Windows 7 Ultimate for Cheap and How to Install?

[SiskoKid]

Hey, guys!

So I'm expecting my iMac hopefully within the next few weeks. I'd like to game on it, and I usually do that in Windows, but I now want to buy Windows 7 and get fully updated with my new machine.

There are a couple questions here. I sometimes find Windows 7 for cheap as "OEM", but I don't know what that means and if it's safe. I'm also not sure why they're so much cheaper. Could you recommend me the cheapest place to buy Windows 7 Ultimate?

Also, on my buddy's Mac Pro, he installed Windows 7, but it takes FOREVER to start up. Like it actually hangs on what looks like a DOS Prompt flashing cursor for a long time and then after 3-4 minutes finally boots into Windows. I was wondering if there's a way to smooth out that launch process so that once I boot into windows it starts up like the Mac OS and doesn't take forever.

Thanks for your help, guys!

Edit: OH! Also forgot to ask. Should I install the 32bit or 64bit version? Will boot camp drives work correctly if I install the 64 bit version?

 

[Hellhammer]

OEM is meant for system builders and the serial only works once and you get no support. I have always bought OEM Windows as it is so much cheaper. IMO there is no reason pay extra for retail version.

If you are just gaming, then Home Premium should be fine.

 

[Kendo]

OEM is meant for system builders and the serial only works once and you get no support. I have always bought OEM Windows as it is so much cheaper. IMO there is no reason pay extra for retail version.

If you are just gaming, then Home Premium should be fine.

What if your HDD fails and you need to reinstall? How does the serial work?

 

[phlydude]

yeah, OEM will be fine for the one computer you are installing the software on - you get no support from MS (but how many times have you called MS for help with Windows?)

I would go 64 bit for Win 7 to recognize more than 3GB of RAM, especially if you upgrade RAM amount

As far as your buddy's c:> prompt, sounds like he didn't configure his set-up correctly and it wants to look at a drive that is not a boot drive (or one that is no longer there) - I made the mistake of leaving an IDE drive connected on a SATA machine I built and it asked me at every boot to verify the IDE drive even though my SATA drive was the master.
Could never get the BIOS or the bootloader to ignore that drive on boot

 

[phlydude]

What if your HDD fails and you need to reinstall? How does the serial work?

You should have no issue with re-installing on the same machine - how many times have you done that with the version of Windows that came with a HP or a Dell?

 

[archer75]

What if your HDD fails and you need to reinstall? How does the serial work?

Works fine. OEM copies are tied to the motherboard. And even should your motherboard die and you ever have to replace it people have still managed to get microsoft to give them a new key.

 

[SiskoKid]

yeah, OEM will be fine for the one computer you are installing the software on - you get no support from MS (but how many times have you called MS for help with Windows?)

I would go 64 bit for Win 7 to recognize more than 3GB of RAM, especially if you upgrade RAM amount

As far as your buddy's c:> prompt, sounds like he didn't configure his set-up correctly and it wants to look at a drive that is not a boot drive (or one that is no longer there) - I made the mistake of leaving an IDE drive connected on a SATA machine I built and it asked me at every boot to verify the IDE drive even though my SATA drive was the master.
Could never get the BIOS or the bootloader to ignore that drive on boot

The iMac I'm getting will have 2 drives in it. Will that mean I may brush up against this same issue?

 

[phlydude]

If you use bootcamp setup and install it on the correct partition (assuming you are getting a SSD when you say you will have 2 drives), you should have no issues.

If you are getting the SSD, I'd sugget installing Win 7 on the SSD along with OS X...putting Win on a HDD drive wouldn't fully utilize that SSD option and the $$$ you pay for it.

As far as where you get it from, I got mine from newegg in a bundle with Parellels 6 for $145

 

[tsboy69]

Bought my 32bit OEM Windows 7 at Fry's for $96.