Recovery discs and W7 download quesions
 

I created one when I purchased my Vaio. However, If I create a new one now - after years of updates - will those updates be in the newer backup disc?


In a similar vein:


If I download W7 and apply the key that I have on my existing but rather old OS discs, will the download be more up to date and obviate the need for so many updates?

1) no

2) possibly: MS do supply service packed versions of software to download. I've certainly been able to download Server 2008 R2 SP1 via Select. I don't know if it is the same with consumer versions of software, or if the key will be valid.

SD

the key should work, but the image may be missing Sony optimised drivers one source of downloads are these, but the updates will not be included


http://msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-58996.iso Win7 Home Premium x86

http://msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-58997.iso Win7 Home Premium x64

http://msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-59183.iso Win 7 Pro x86

http://msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-59186.iso Win 7 Pro x64

http://msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-59463.iso Win7 Ultimate x86

http://msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-59465.iso Win7 Utimate x64

Technet has updated versions of the disks available, but you have to be a subscriber to get those
I suspect there are newer download on both the Digital River and Amazon fulfillment sites, but I've yet to find them

I would strongly caution against looking anywhere other than the official sources.

Agreed
However the Amazon and Digital River fulfillment sites are both "official" sources. I'm not aware of any others

For home users the search does indeed end there.

For Microsoft partners and business customers, there are various resources hosted by Microsoft.

But I can tell you they are not much more exciting, because all you will see are the RTM / GA releases .... all software updates still need to be applied as normal.

Its just the way Microsoft does things. For business users its not such a big deal because they'll be running an update server on their local network, so pulling a few GB of updates doesn't take long. Admittedly its a little bit more of a pain for the home user... but given the much smaller scale of a home deployment and the speed of a broadband connection its not too much of a big deal either.

Thanks for the replies, and indeed the links.



This all came about when this morning I went to start Word 2007 in Vista. It said something for an instant - I think it was about another copy, not sure.

Anyway, it started installing Office again! I stopped it sharpish.

I can only think the installation of Office 2010 in D drive under W7 boot, somehow affected the installation. But I had assumed the boots were totally isolated OS entities.

So, that or coincidental failure. One never ceases to be perplexed.

I think I shall strip the partitions and only use W7. Word 2007 was the only reason I was keeping it on and the key is in London somewhere. Oh, it was nice to boot in Vista to help my UK pal. Imagine me giving advice to a computer user.:rolleyes: