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Windows 7 Upgrade/Mothers Day Gift Question
5-9-10 | myself

Posted on 05/09/2010 5:26:33 AM PDT by FlJoePa

Apologize for the vanity, but the Microsoft Store phone help center is closed. I want to purchase a Windows 7 upgrade for my mother and help her install it (via phone) today.

Has anyone installed the upgrade? My main question is that while purchasing, if I enter HER e-mail into the e-mail box, will that be her trigger to download the upgrade? In other words, will she get a link in HER inbox that will lead her to the download?

Or does the purchase have to happen on HER laptop in PA, not my desktop in FL?

Any help is greatly appreciated.


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: windows7
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1 posted on 05/09/2010 5:26:33 AM PDT by FlJoePa
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To: FlJoePa
What operating system is she running? If it's XP and she knows very little about PC's she'd be better off having someone do it for her.

I don't really know the answer to your question but I believe that the download would come through a link supplied to the e-mail that purchased the product.

Also, a great number of people have had trouble with the downloaded upgrade file. You are better off paying the extra $ for the disc and you can send her that.

2 posted on 05/09/2010 5:31:50 AM PDT by raybbr (Someone who invades another country is NOT an immigrant - illegal or otherwise.)
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To: FlJoePa

Go to Wal-Mart, buy her some flowers and a card, and save the stressful tech stuff for tomorrow. Does she even want Windows 7?


3 posted on 05/09/2010 5:32:06 AM PDT by Mercat
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To: ShadowAce

PC help


4 posted on 05/09/2010 5:32:19 AM PDT by raybbr (Someone who invades another country is NOT an immigrant - illegal or otherwise.)
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To: raybbr

I wish she had XP. Its Vista and I just want it gone. I agree about the disc, but its Mothers Day and I sort of need to get something to her today.


5 posted on 05/09/2010 5:33:41 AM PDT by FlJoePa
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To: FlJoePa

Give her your credit card info and walk her through the purchase and the download and install. If the CC auto approval burps at her, then call your credit card bank and have them add her name and address to your account. Then the purchase won’t burp. (There might be a delay before the new name & address gets added.)


6 posted on 05/09/2010 5:33:45 AM PDT by savedbygrace (Rev 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord)
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To: FlJoePa
First, have you checked the Windows 7 upgrade matrix? Most upgrades require a wipe and reinstall.
7 posted on 05/09/2010 5:34:34 AM PDT by Gomez (killer of threads)
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To: FlJoePa
Not sure if you could simply e-mail her the link MS sends you. Could be worth a try.

Has she backed up all of her data?

I sense you being on the phone all day today. :)

8 posted on 05/09/2010 5:36:03 AM PDT by raybbr (Someone who invades another country is NOT an immigrant - illegal or otherwise.)
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To: FlJoePa

She really ought to have someone help her do it. Before doing the upgrade she’ll have to back up all her files and make sure she has the installation disks for her old applications. That’s because she’ll either have to reformat her hard drive before starting the installation, or Windows 7 will do it for her; I’m not sure which. Once she’s completed the installation, she’ll have to reinstall her old applications and then reinstall all of her old documents. All in all, it’s a pretty daunting job.


9 posted on 05/09/2010 5:37:24 AM PDT by libstripper
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To: FlJoePa
Has she run the program put out by microsoft to see if her computer can take the upgrade? Some software that was vista compatible is not being upgraded to be used by windows 7 (HP has a list of their computers on their website that contain some of these programs).

Using an upgrade disk, I did a clean install of windows 7 on my desktop, but I have put off upgrading my HP laptop from vista because there are things I don't want to lose (like my email via windows mail). I'm not sure how windows 7 upgrade handles that.

Send her a "gift" of an upgrade from amazon. They will send her an email telling her of the gift and at least she will get the disk.

10 posted on 05/09/2010 5:40:26 AM PDT by Abby4116
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To: Abby4116

Thanks Abby...that’s a great idea (Amazon). That way I can install it for her when I visit in July. Plus I won’t be on the phone for 8 hours today! Perfect solution!!!


11 posted on 05/09/2010 5:45:38 AM PDT by FlJoePa
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To: FlJoePa

Have her take it somewhere to upgrade it. I do tech support over the phone. Something as complex as this CANNOT be done over the phone. There is too great a possibility of mis-communication, particularly with a non-technical person to do this over the phone.

It will be a nightmare. I guarantee it.


12 posted on 05/09/2010 5:48:06 AM PDT by GreenLanternCorps ("Barack Obama" is Swahili for "Jimmy Carter".)
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To: FlJoePa
Make sure you uninstall her (Norton/McAfee/Or whatever she uses) to protect her computer first. If you do not, then you are going to have MAJOR problems. Then after that install the CD. This takes at least 2 hours. I would actually do it on another day, or send a computer tech to do it for her. You do not want to stress her out today.
13 posted on 05/09/2010 5:55:46 AM PDT by Sprite518
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To: FlJoePa
Make sure you uninstall her (Norton/McAfee/Or whatever she uses) to protect her computer first. If you do not, then you are going to have MAJOR problems. Then after that install the CD. This takes at least 2 hours. I would actually do it on another day, or send a computer tech to do it for her. You do not want to stress her out today.
14 posted on 05/09/2010 5:55:47 AM PDT by Sprite518
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To: FlJoePa
Funny. I just am backing up my files in preparation for upgrading my computer from Vista Ultimate 64-bit to Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit.

I have had the software for several months, but wanted to wait until after tax-time to upgrade.

This morning is the morning!

15 posted on 05/09/2010 5:56:05 AM PDT by Redleg Duke (RAT Hunting Season started the evening of March 21st, 2010!)
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To: Redleg Duke

man vista gets such a bad rep, i had no issues with it, I even used it on my home theater pc, the only glitch it had was sometimes it would display subtitles, sometimes not, when it didnt I just restarted media center. UAC can be disabled folks :p


16 posted on 05/09/2010 6:03:09 AM PDT by 09Patriot (why take chances when you can stay in the middle?---The Fountainhead)
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To: 09Patriot

Boy, you are so right. Probably the gift to give her for mother’s day is disable UAC. That might handle most of the issues for her before July.

I run Windows 7 on probably 5 PCs (including 64-bit), XP on one, and Windows Server 2008 R2 on 3. Toss Windows Home Server into the mix as well. UAC was a disaster but not all of Vista. It was fine once the driver issues caught up to it.

I have upgraded from Vista to Windows 7 multiple times with no significant issues on drivers. That said, I wouldn’t have my mom do something like that.

Finally, absolutely make sure you do the right version. 32-bit to 64-bit requires a clean wipe and vice-versa.


17 posted on 05/09/2010 6:15:42 AM PDT by wireplay
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To: FlJoePa
Considering the potential hassle for the upgrade, you might consider staying with Vista. I have Vista on my latest cats'-meow laptop and it works just fine.

There are subtle nuances that make it a little different from XP, but I have had zero problems....other than the possible fact that Norton AV seems to run terribly on Vista- no big deal, I got rid of Norton and all is well (I can't verify this- just a hunch).

18 posted on 05/09/2010 6:23:11 AM PDT by Victor (If an expert says it can't be done, get another expert." -David Ben-Gurion, the first Prime Minister)
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To: 09Patriot
"....UAC can be disabled folks....."

What is UAC?

19 posted on 05/09/2010 6:25:29 AM PDT by Victor (If an expert says it can't be done, get another expert." -David Ben-Gurion, the first Prime Minister)
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To: Victor

Maybe buy your mom a new vacuum cleaner as well. :)

Send her the Windows 7 Program on DVD disk and it will be easy for her.


20 posted on 05/09/2010 6:27:11 AM PDT by AlanD
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