Windows 7 and Boot Camp

dr chris jones · 02-02-2013, 05:27 AM

I want to install Windows 7, but baulked at the cost of a licence (£130 here in the UK). However, I found what looked like a decent cheap alternative - £50 for a "refurbished" license.

If its too good to be true, it usually is, and this was no exception. When the discs arrived, I immediately noticed the "Intended for distribution with a refurbished PC" printed on the discs and the alarm bells rang as the penny dropped. Sure enough the disc wasn't recognised by my iMac, so seems like I just wasted £50.

However, is there any chance of reclaiming the situation? I've paid for a valid license, so I wonder if there is any way of extracting an ISO image of the disc that WILL boot on a Mac, and hence let me install it? Or alternatively, if I can find someone who has the installation discs from a full retail version, is it possible that the license I have will actually let me install from those?

Any suggestions welcome!

acme.mail.order · 02-02-2013, 06:36 AM

A lot of Windows licenses are maker-specific: A restore disc for a Dell only works on Dells (the grey Mac disks are the same, minus the serials and verification bits) so you are very likely out £50.

Lets turn the issue over - what do you need Windows for?

agentx · 02-02-2013, 07:55 AM

All i can suggest is that you download a retail disk image from below link.
I would go with Windows 7 Home or Pro x86 (32 bit) unless you need to use programs that requires loads of RAM and you have loads of RAM.

http://en.community.dell.com/support...tal-river.aspx

At least then you get bootcamp installed. You can try to Activate but likely that OEM serial will not work. So you will get 30 days of use before you choose to stump up for the licence ;-)

anthlover · 02-02-2013, 11:23 AM

I would go with Virtual box. Still need the Win 7 Lic. There is such a thing as a Refurb Lic it is for refurbed PCs.
I would go with 64 bit. Otherwise you can not address more then 3.5GB of Ram. You did not say what Mac you have. What aps do you want to run?

02-02-2013, 05:27 AM	#1
dr chris jones Triple-A Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: London, UK Posts: 147	Windows 7 and Boot Camp I want to install Windows 7, but baulked at the cost of a licence (£130 here in the UK). However, I found what looked like a decent cheap alternative - £50 for a "refurbished" license. If its too good to be true, it usually is, and this was no exception. When the discs arrived, I immediately noticed the "Intended for distribution with a refurbished PC" printed on the discs and the alarm bells rang as the penny dropped. Sure enough the disc wasn't recognised by my iMac, so seems like I just wasted £50. However, is there any chance of reclaiming the situation? I've paid for a valid license, so I wonder if there is any way of extracting an ISO image of the disc that WILL boot on a Mac, and hence let me install it? Or alternatively, if I can find someone who has the installation discs from a full retail version, is it possible that the license I have will actually let me install from those? Any suggestions welcome!

02-02-2013, 07:55 AM	#3
agentx Hall of Famer Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Brighton, UK Posts: 3,807	All i can suggest is that you download a retail disk image from below link. I would go with Windows 7 Home or Pro x86 (32 bit) unless you need to use programs that requires loads of RAM and you have loads of RAM. http://en.community.dell.com/support...tal-river.aspx At least then you get bootcamp installed. You can try to Activate but likely that OEM serial will not work. So you will get 30 days of use before you choose to stump up for the licence ;-) Last edited by agentx; 02-02-2013 at 07:59 AM.

02-02-2013, 11:23 AM	#4
anthlover Hall of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,667	I would go with Virtual box. Still need the Win 7 Lic. There is such a thing as a Refurb Lic it is for refurbed PCs. I would go with 64 bit. Otherwise you can not address more then 3.5GB of Ram. You did not say what Mac you have. What aps do you want to run? Last edited by anthlover; 02-02-2013 at 11:25 AM.

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02-02-2013, 06:36 AM	#2
acme.mail.order League Commissioner Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tokyo Posts: 6,045	A lot of Windows licenses are maker-specific: A restore disc for a Dell only works on Dells (the grey Mac disks are the same, minus the serials and verification bits) so you are very likely out £50. Lets turn the issue over - what do you need Windows for?