Buying Windows 7

[hungrybat]

It turns out the free academic version of Windows 7 I was counting on is 32-bit.

That leaves me with 2 questions:
1) Is this the right version to buy as a replacement? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER
2) Is it OK to use the 32-bit version for a few days until I get the 64-bit version? I know it will be a clean install that will wipe everything I load. I just don't want to miss the Guild Wars 2 early start. I also know performance will be diminished because it's only using 3.5 of my installed 8 GB RAM, but my concern is will I harm the RAM or create problems for the SSD by doing this?

[schwarzkopf]

It turns out the free academic version of Windows 7 I was counting on is 32-bit.

You will need to do a full reinstall from scratch to move from 32 to 64 bit either way.

My suggestion - get a week or two of GW2 under your belt, then start again from scratch

[TommiTMX]

It turns out the free academic version of Windows 7 I was counting on is 32-bit.

That leaves me with 2 questions:
1) Is this the right version to buy as a replacement? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER
2) Is it OK to use the 32-bit version for a few days until I get the 64-bit version? I know it will be a clean install that will wipe everything I load. I just don't want to miss the Guild Wars 2 early start. I also know performance will be diminished because it's only using 3.5 of my installed 8 GB RAM, but my concern is will I harm the RAM or create problems for the SSD by doing this?

Sorry, I didn't follow the link to check but someone will! 32bit Windows will do no harm to your computer. Install and play away. The good thing about a lot of games is they don't integrate too heavily with Windows and if you backed it up to a data drive you could install the new 64 bit when it arrives and be back on Guild Wars in an hour :-)

[chaud]

The key for a 32 bit copy works fine for a 64 bit copy.

[hungrybat]

Hmm, well I have the valid key, I just don't have the 64-bit disc. Is there anywhere to download a safe and legit version of Win 7 Pro 64-bit and just apply my key?

[TommiTMX]

The key for a 32 bit copy works fine for a 64 bit copy.

Oh and this, I completely forgot about this.

[chaud]

Hmm, well I have the valid key, I just don't have the 64-bit disc. Is there anywhere to download a safe and legit version of Win 7 Pro 64-bit and just apply my key?

http://www.mydigitallife.info/offici...digital-river/

[BicycleMafioso]

http://www.mydigitallife.info/offici...digital-river/

Yea, this works really well. You can either burn it to a DVD or use a USB thumbstick (with some preparation), as long as the thumbstick has more than 4GB space (you will lose anything else on it due to formatting).

[hungrybat]

Thanks, Chaud. I'm downloading it right now.

May I ask which version that links to? Their page for Win 7 Pro 64 lists a different number: X17-24281.iso. I ask because the key I have is for the Pro version, so I'm not sure if it'll work for Home Premium, plus I'd like to get the Pro in any case .

[chaud]

The latest version of Windows 7 DVD image available is of media refresh version, which commonly known as Windows 7 SP1-U (Media Refresh). Microsoft released the media refresh version of Windows 7 DVD media to fix a rare bug related to invalid computer name when small set of computer names returned error when used to install Windows 7. Otherwise, the Windows 7 with SP1 and Windows 7 with SP1-U (Media Refresh) is completely the same.

Almost the same.