Where To Buy Windows 7 Product Key

Updated November 25, 2015: One of the nearly popular posts I take ever published at ZDNet was this ane, originally titled 7 perfectly legal means to get Windows 7 cheap (or even free) . I wrote information technology in belatedly 2009, and posted a follow-up one year later If you had followed my advice, you could have saved hundreds of dollars on upgrades and special deals for students and IT pros.

Six years later, Windows 7 is in the rear-view mirror. Most of the deals listed in those original posts are no longer available. But it is indeed even so possible to discover great deals on PCs running Windows vii, if you know where to look. Information technology's too possible to tweak and melody newer Windows versions then that they are functionally equivalent to Windows 7.

In that spirit, I've completely reworked this postal service with information that reflects the current PC market. [Terminal updated Nov 25, 2015]

Windows 7 is officially middle-aged. Information technology was publicly released more than than six years agone, on October 22, 2009. With each passing day it is getting further and further from the midpoint of Microsoft's ten-twelvemonth support lifecycle for Windows releases.

In January 2015, Microsoft ended mainstream back up for Windows 7, and the v-yr extended support phase began. In January 2020, the Windows 7 support lifecycle volition officially end.

Merely four years is a long, long fourth dimension, and if you prefer the familiar surround of Windows 7 over its successors, you however have lots of options available.

If y'all navigate your style through the disruptive maze of Windows licensing rules, you'll find that the best deals go to PC manufacturers, which ways you'll observe the best new and refurbished PCs with Windows 7 preinstalled and fix to run.

If you but demand the software, you tin all the same buy Windows 7 software in shrink-wrapped retail and OEM packages, sometimes at prices that are literally too good to exist truthful. If you're an IT pro or developer who needs Windows vii for testing, you lot also take subscription options, although they're less of a bargain than they were six years ago. For students, the best options come with newer versions of Windows.

Most of the details I include in this post utilise to Windows customers in the The states, but you should be able to find similar offers in other countries.

My goal in this post is to point you to deals that customers legitimately authorize for. I am not trying to encourage attempts past anyone to get away with something you're not entitled to. If there are restrictions for a specific offer, I've noted them here.

Ready to go started? Pick a category and become...

Old software on new PCs

By far the all-time way to buy Windows 7 today, six years into its lifecycle, is to purchase it preinstalled on a new PC. You go a warranty and, more importantly, yous go the OEM'southward assurance that the hardware and software were designed to work together. This selection too spares you from the hurting of Windows setup, especially the hassles of hunting down essential drivers and system-specific updates when yous upgrade (or downgrade) a PC.

New brand-name PCs with Windows vii preinstalled

Yep, big-name PC makers can withal install Windows 7 on new PCs. At that place's a take hold of, though: Equally of October 31, 2014 , whatsoever new PCs they offer must include the more expensive Windows 7 Professional. Machines that were manufactured before that date with Windows vii Habitation Premium tin can still be sold.

Normally, the sales lifecycle for PCs with Windows 7 preinstalled would have ended long agone, just Microsoft extended that borderline in Feb 2014. PC manufacturers will no longer exist able to sell new PCs with Windows vii Pro as of October 31, 2016, (For details, run into "What the Windows 7 Pro sales lifecycle changes mean to consumers and business organization buyers.")

The play a joke on in shopping for these machines is to skip the front door and become straight for the business section. Amidst online merchants, for example, Dell offers filters to show all bachelor desktops and all-in-ones and laptops running Windows 7. HP has split up pages for business organisation desktops and laptops, only yous accept to look at each model to discover the models with Windows 7 available.

Big online retailers that serve business markets should have like selections roofing a wide range of brands and the full spectrum of prices.

Used and refurbished PCs with Windows 7 preinstalled

There are plenty of sites where y'all can find "factory reconditioned" PCs for sale at legitimately low prices. Amazon-owned Woot, for case, always has lots of choices in its Computers section, although you lot'll have to dig into the specs to confirm that the operating system yous're looking for is included.

Other online sellers with similarly extensive selections include the following:

Tiger Direct offers "off lease" Windows seven PCs for as lilliputian as $100.
Newegg has an enormous pick of refurbished PCs also. Many are too sometime to recommend except for diehard bargain hunters, but if you know what you're looking for you tin find perfectly skilful hardware that costs less than y'all'd pay for a retail re-create of the Windows 7 version it includes.
Staples has a similar selection in its online shop.

I don't recommend taking a chance with random sellers on eBay or Craigslist--not when in that location are and then many well-established merchants that offer proper warranties and render policies, besides as an assurance that the underlying Windows license is legitimate.

OEM Windows software for new or refurbished PCs

Nether Microsoft's arcane licensing rules, you tin can legitimately purchase OEM copies of Windows 7 (whatsoever edition). However, the license understanding with those copies explicitly prohibits yous from using that software on a PC you build or refurbish for your own personal utilise. Crazy, huh?

2015

The Year's Best Tech for Piece of work and Play

ZDNet takes a look dorsum at very all-time tech stories and features of 2015. From the year's tech turkeys to products and services that get business done, we circular upward top gadgets, deject highs, security lows -- and much more than.

Y'all can observe OEM Organization Builder software from dozens of online merchants. The current price for OEM Windows 7 Professional at Newegg, for case, is $140. When I checked a few minutes ago, Amazon was offering OEM Windows 7 Professional packages from multiple sellers at prices ranging from $101 to $150. When I checked just at present, a packet specifically intended for refurbished PCs toll simply $50 for a 64-bit copy.

At that place are no technical limitations to prevent you from using OEM software on your own PC, although this software will piece of work merely for a clean installation and not for an upgrade. In the by, Microsoft has been remarkably inconsistent in its advice to customers nearly whether this practice is allowed. (Meet "Is it OK to use OEM Windows on your ain PC? Don't ask Microsoft.")

To make the subject area fifty-fifty more confusing, Microsoft briefly inverse its licensing rules with Windows eight, calculation a Personal Use Rights clause that allowed individuals to buy OEM Windows and install it on personal PCs. That alter lasted exactly one twelvemonth: with the launch of Windows 8.1, Microsoft restored the old licensing terms.

The lesser line? Aye, you can install an OEM copy of Windows 7 on a PC for your own personal utilise; I recommend that you avoid doing and then for your business, yet, especially if you take a licensing agreement with Microsoft.

Upgrade (and downgrade) options

Most of the readily available options for new PCs include the latest version of Windows--that'southward Windows ten today (with many Windows 8.1 PCs nevertheless on retail and online shelves).

If y'all beloved a particular piece of hardware and your preferred version of Windows 7 isn't available on the build-to-order options list, don't despair. You take iv choices available.

Exercise your downgrade rights (gratuitous)

If you buy a new PC with a business version of Windows 8, Windows 8.1, or Windows ten already installed by the manufacturer, the license agreement gives yous the right to downgrade to Windows 7 Professional. Then if your PC originally came with Windows viii/viii.1/10 Pro, you can supercede the installed operating arrangement with Windows 7 Professional person at no price.

Note that downgrade rights are not included on systems that transport with the core version of Windows 8, 8.one, or x. Too, OEM System Builder copies of Windows 8.x and later do non include downgrade rights.

To practice downgrade rights, you can employ media for Windows seven Professional that you lot learn from any source. During installation, don't enter a production fundamental. After completing installation, y'all'll demand to activate your newly installed copy of Windows seven past using the telephone activation option and explaining that you are using downgrade rights.

Transfer a license (no cost)

Did you purchase a retail copy of Windows 7 any time in the past half-dozen years? Any full or upgrade license purchased through the retail channel or directly from Microsoft tin can legally be transferred to another PC. That includes whatever of the securely discounted upgrade offers that Microsoft made available when Windows 7 was new, including the three-license Family Packs of Windows vii Home Premium.

If you take the original Windows 7 installation media and product fundamental and have removed the operating system from the PC on which it was originally installed, you lot tin can reuse that key on any PC. You might be required to activate over the phone; when asked, exist sure to specify (truthfully) that your copy of Windows 7 is installed on only i PC.

Notation that OEM copies of Windows 7 that were installed on PCs by the manufacturer are locked to that device and cannot be transferred.

Buy an upgrade license

If the PC on which yous want to install Windows 7 originally included a license for any version of Windows, you tin buy a Windows 7 upgrade license from whatsoever vendor that has the software in stock and install that upgrade on your PC. You lot don't need to reinstall the old operating system; if you want to perform a clean install using upgrade media, you can utilise the workaround I draw in this mail: Kicking from the upgrade media and practice an installation without inbound a product key. Then apply the aforementioned media to "upgrade" your make-new installation.

Note that if you have a PC with Windows seven Abode Premium installed, you tin use the Someday Upgrade option to upgrade it to Windows vii Professional person for $90. Follow the instructions in this post.

Buy a full retail license

The nigh expensive choice is to buy a full retail license for Windows seven. It's guaranteed to piece of work with any PC, with no installation or licensing complications. The problem is finding this software, which Microsoft stopped selling years ago. About online merchants today offer only OEM copies of Windows seven.

Subscriptions for Windows and more

All the options I described earlier apply to PCs you plan to apply in the home or office. Simply if y'all're a programmer, an It pro, or a student, yous might take a completely different set of needs, including a desire to have one or more PCs running Windows 7 for testing purposes.

Sadly, Microsoft concluded the TechNet subscription service in 2013. Only there are still useful options bachelor to anyone who needs Windows 7 in a lab or virtual motorcar. Windows 7 evaluation versions are also no longer bachelor.

Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN)

MSDN subscriptions are specifically intended for professional software developers. An annual subscription gives you admission to a broad range of professional developer tools and pre-release products.

Every MSDN subscription includes access to the latest version of Windows with multiple activations. Y'all can cull from different levels of MSDN subscriptions. The cheapest is the MSDN Operating Systems subscription, which costs $699 for the first year and $499 for renewals. It offers full admission to every client and server version of Windows (going as far back as Windows 3.1).

Prices become up for other editions, with different MSDN subscription levels including access to other Microsoft software, toolkits, and SDKs as well as credit for Microsoft Azure. For a total list of available packages, see this chart.

The MSDN license agreement is detailed and worth reading in total. There's an excellent summary of your rights every bit a subscriber here. This paragraph is specially noteworthy:

Many MSDN subscribers use a computer for mixed use--both design, development, testing, and sit-in of your programs (the apply allowed under the MSDN Subscription license) and some other use. Using the software in whatever other style, such every bit for doing e-mail, playing games, or editing a document is another use and is not covered by the MSDN Subscription license. When this happens, the underlying operating organisation must besides be licensed normally by purchasing a regular copy of Windows such as the ane that came with a new OEM PC.

If you're a professional developer or designer who uses Microsoft products, MSDN subscriptions can be a bargain. If you only desire cheap access to Windows 7, you have better options.

Microsoft DreamSpark (free)

If you are enrolled in a science, technology, engineering, or math department at an educational establishment that subscribes to Microsoft DreamSpark Premium, you lot can go gratis software for use in your studies.

(The DreamSpark Standard program is available to individuals for $99 a year or $199 for three years. It includes server software and development tools but does not include Windows customer software.)

To check your eligibility through these programs, register here using a school-issued e-mail address or a code supplied by an academic institution.