Which version of Windows 7 do I need?

Question

Which version of Windows 7 do I need?

OK, so I didn't ask this in the Boot Camp forum because I'm not using Boot Camp. I'm currently running Windows XP running as a VM under Parallels Desktop 8. I want - and need - to upgrade to Windows 7 (preferably Home Premium) but in scouring Amazon I'm a bit confused as to which 'flavor' of Windows 7 Home Premium that I need to upgrade - packages, and prices, are all over the place.

I've this version tucked away in my Amazon Wishlist, but $163 seems a bit much to pay when there are 'other' Win7 Home Premium packages going for as low as $93 - such as this one.

I use Windows daily - but not for very processor intensive tasks. Primarily run only Office 2010, Adobe Acrobat XI and Adobe LiveCycle Designer. Parallels VM of XP works for my current needs, but I really need to get to Win7 to access some of the functionality of newer Adobe products.

Can anyone lend a hand? Would the $93 version 'work' to upgrade or do I need the $163 package? Or, can someone suggest alternatives (hopefully at Amazon - or if I can download the iso image from another source for less, that would be great, too).

Thanks,

Clinton

MacBook Pro (15-inch Late 2011), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2), 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD, ATD

Posted on Jan 25, 2013 12:46 AM

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Answer 1

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,102 points

Jan 25, 2013 1:32 AM in response to clintonfrombirmingham

Hi Clinton,

I do not know Livecycle designer, but the other Adobe apps run on any W7 afaik.

You did not say what computer you run W8 on, a windows PC or do you run Windows in a virtual machine on your mac?

The Adobe apps (maybe not LivecycleDesigner?) you can run directly in OSX (the mac version ofcourse) and in the place of MSOffice 2010 you can run 2011 on the Mac directly. I run NeoOffice now (instead of 2008 in Windows VM), but practically the same as 2010 are OpenOffice, LibreOffice, NeoOffice.

Lex

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Answer 2

Jan 25, 2013 1:39 AM in response to Lexiepex

I'm running Win XP using Parallels 8... LiveCycle Designer is WIndows only and Acrobat XI will only import hyperlinks correctly from Windows versions of Office - which is why I use Office on both the Mac and Windows side, as well as Acrobat XI on both platforms. You can't use the Office plug-ins for Office using LibreOffice (or even Office 2011 for Mac) hence the need to open docs in Word on the Windows side instead of the Mac side.

What I'm confused by is the pricing difference between the packages - I guessing that the $163 package is the 'full retail' and not an OEM or anything - but I don't know if an OEM would even work under a VM with Parallels...

So I may end up with the full retail version, although I'd like to save the $70 difference if I can!

Thanks,

Clinton

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Answer 3

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,102 points

Jan 25, 2013 1:59 AM in response to clintonfrombirmingham

So I gather that you use Parallels? the v8 version of Parallels stopped support for W7. Bootcamp asks W7 Pro, I think.

I stopped using W7 (ulimate) because of compatibilty and because I run remote XP technical installations, that will never be upgraded to W7 or W8 (instead these applications are now in Unix). So I only use XP (pro): XP will be supported by MS for a long time to come, because worldwide there are so many technical installatioons that run under XP.

In your situation I would go for the W7 Ultimate, or ask a Mac distributor whether he has a copy of the W7 OEM disc they used to install W7 on a new mac sold. They gave me a XP Pro OEM disc when I bought two MBP's.

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Answer 4

Jan 25, 2013 3:00 AM in response to clintonfrombirmingham

Any version of Windows, except a branded version made specifically for a new Windows PC like Dell, HP, etc., will run in Parallels.

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Answer 5

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,102 points

Jan 25, 2013 7:00 AM in response to BobTheFisherman

Hi Bob: yes, the retail version, OR as I said maybe a friendly Apple dealer has a spare OEM disc.

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Answer 6

Jan 25, 2013 8:22 AM in response to Lexiepex

Or he can buy an OEM (System Builder) disk from many places including Amazon for about $100..

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Answer 7

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,102 points

Jan 25, 2013 8:38 AM in response to BobTheFisherman

Yes, ofcourse, buying always possible; I got mine as a "gift" 🙂

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Answer 8

Jan 25, 2013 7:39 PM in response to Lexiepex

LexSchellings wrote:

So I gather that you use Parallels? the v8 version of Parallels stopped support for W7. Bootcamp asks W7 Pro, I think.

...

I'm not so sure about this part. I'm running Parallels 8 Desktop on my current MacBook Pro (Late 2011). I have two different virtual machines installed, Win 7 Pro (for work support), and Win 7 Ultimate (for personal stuff). Both of these are "supported" by Parallels with no issues, but I will be honest, I'm not running Boot Camp and I'm only running 32 Bit Windows as none of my installations need more than 4GB RAM, and this way I can run both VMs at the same time and still only use half of my system's 16GB RAM, leaving the other half for OSX.

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Answer 9

Lexiepex

Level 6

14,102 points

Jan 25, 2013 11:48 PM in response to GeekBoy.from.Illinois

Of course W7 works in Parallels. But Parallels stopped support for W7 last summer... Read their site.

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