Thread: use windows ? read this asap..

If you've still got the Easy Transfer files it might be worthwhile opening them in W7 and looking to see if the Outlook files are there. It may be possible to install them manually.

Updating BIOS isn't nearly as difficult as it used to be The major players now have Windows based updating which makes it a hell of a lot easier but the risks are still there so it's best to avoid multi tasking and pray for no power glitch when updating.

Deano

I've searched the Easy Transfer file but the PST file isn't there. The MoBo is a Gigabyte board with QuickFlash built in. Gigabyte do warn about doing a reflash and that's what's stopped me.

If it screws up I have this motherboard in a box just waiting to be used:

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/computers/...t-do-i-do.html

The two Gigabyte boards I've just re-flashed were older socket 775 boards. gigabytes @bios utility works a treat. Its instructions are here

www.gigabyte.com/webpage/20/images/utiltiy_atbios_uefi.pdf

The latest version I downloaded from here

Free Downloads Encyclopedia - Softpedia › Windows › System › System Miscellaneous

Whilst it was simple and painless to do so it's not for the faint hearted.
Downloading the bios is simple and the program does a CRC check on the downloaded file to ensure it's not corrupted before you commit to the update. The whole exercise only takes a couple of minutes with the critical period being the actual 'flash' process which takes (typically) less than half a minute. On newer boards which can have bios files >2 meg it can take a little longer. Some of the later Gigabyte boards have 'dual bios' so that if one fails the other can take over. In theory this should save a crashed bios update, but I've not had to find out.

Re your 'backup' Asus board. If you are using an OEM version of W7 and you have already activated it you will NOT be able to transfer the W7 license to the other board, or any other board for that matter.
When installing W7 three days are given before activation is mandatory. It is a good idea to leave activation till the last minute as if any problems arise that could mean motherboard replacement, even with an identical motherboard, the W7 license is NOT transferable.

Deano

My MoBo is a Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 — also a 775 socket board.

Interesting that one can't move W7. One could on earlier releases of Windows even if one had to re-register, even with, sometimes, a phone call to MS to read out the number around the centre of the CD/DVD.

you can do it by phone if your board was legitimately replaced due to failure etc etc

Windows 7 Home Premium is Microsofts OS designed specifically for home use by the average punter. There is also W7 Professional and W7 Ultimate.
They each come in two basic distributions, RETAIL and OEM.

W7 RETAIL, as the name suggests, is for retail customers to purchase and take home and install themselves on an existing PC. It is transferable between PC's but can only exist on one computer at a time. W7 Home Premium Retail comes in a pretty hard plastic case and costs around $200.

W7 OEM, also as the name suggests, is for OEM system builders and is supposed to be for installation on a new PC ONLY. It is NOT transferable between PC's and can exist on one machine only.
With an OEM install the criteria is that anything can be upgraded EXCEPT the motherboard. ie. it's the motherboard that defines the PC. So memory, hard drive, video, processor can all be changed but if you change the motherboard it becomes a 'new' PC, even if you use the original processor, memory etc.

An OEM builder can be someone huge like Dell, HP, Toshiba etc, your local PC shop or muggins building his own PC.
If you buy a PC from one of the 'biggies' it's warranty will cover motherboard replacement and in this case if an identical motherboard is used then the license will remain with the PC.

This is where it gets a bit murky. If your local PC shop vendor changes your motherboard for an identical new one under warranty it should also be covered. If it is swapped for a different motherboard or 'upgraded' to a newer motherboard it should not be. But a sweet talking system builder can sometimes 'persuade' the poorly paid and harassed call centre operator in some third world country to part with the magic numbers to transfer the license to a different machine.

For your average muggins OEM naive to the corporate machinations of the Microsoft juggernaut an identical motherboard change may be possible but an upgrade to a different motherboard will not be allowed.
W7 Home Premium OEM comes in a soft DVD case in a plain cardboard sleeve and costs around $100.

So the bottom line is the OEM version costs half the retail price and isn't supposed to be used for upgrades but everyone does as it's $100 cheaper. The downside is that its 'life' is that of the motherboard.


Deano

Originally Posted by DeanoH

But a sweet talking system builder can sometimes 'persuade' the poorly paid and harassed call centre operator in some third world country to part with the magic numbers to transfer the license to a different machine.

it is not murky at all and rarely any sweet talking involved.

if you need to replace hardware due to a fault you use the activate by phone option, dial the number, put your current code in and answer two questions on an automated telephone setup and away you go.. no human other than your good self involved and the computer at the other end gives you a new code... if you answered the 2 questions correctly.

if microsoft suspect you are having a shot them it will pass you on to a human, who in most cases isn't that dumb but i have had to ask for a supervisor on a couple of occasions in the last few years.

full version or oem that is how you do it.

your mileage may vary..... depending on your level of clue.

Mine is the Win 7 Professional Upgrade.