Microsoft is offering Windows 7 to students for $30 for a limited time. HOWEVER.
As far as I can tell from social.technet, Microsoft and Digital River messed up the OS packaging. Customers who are currently running XP or Vista 32 bit will be unable to successfully extract and run the Win7 64 download download, even if they intend to format a partition and install. Note: You do NOT get an ISO with this purchase. Customers running a 64 bit OS should have no problem.
There is a workaround to create an iso file that I'll be attempting shortly (from social.answers.microsoft.com):
* * SOLUTION * * There is a way to create an image file dispite recieving this error we seem to be all recieving.
1. You will need to use an additional Microsoft command-line tool, called Oscdimg.
Details
here Download
here Download the .zip file and extract it. Then cut and paste the Oscdimg.exe file into your
C:\Windows\System32 directory
2. You now need to start up your command prompt, which can be done by
Start->Run then enter 'cmd' into the prompt. (Run as administrator if in Vista!)
3. You should now have the command prompt open, now you need to use the Oscdimg tool to create the image, by entering the following:
Oscdimg.exe -u2 -bC:\<YOUR DIR> \expandedSetup\boot\etfsboot.com -h C:\<YOUR DIR> \expandedSetup C:\<YOUR DIR> \Win7.iso For example:
Oscdimg.exe -u2 -bC:\Users\James\Downloads\expandedSetup\boot\etfsboot.com -h C:\ Users\James\Downloads \expandedSetup C:\ Users\James\Downloads \Win7.iso
It will now scan the source tree then begin creating the image.
PLEASE note: you must replace '
<YOUR DIR> ' appropriatly as to where you have downloaded the files.
4. You should now have an image file, called Win7.iso, in the same directory.
5. You can now burn this .iso file to a blank DVD using appropriate software. I personally use
PowerISO (You dont need the paid version to burn the image)
6. Viola! You have your not so shiney Windows 7 disk. Restart your computer and install away!
- I take no acknowledgment for this, I dug about and found the info at: http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/30470-make-bootable-iso-student-d-l.html
Thanks SIW2
- Edited byNixonInnes 18 hours 40 minutes agotypo's
- Edited byNixonInnes 18 hours 32 minutes ago
- Marked As Answer byKevin HauMSFT, Moderator9 hours 0 minutes ago
- Edited byKevin HauMSFT, Moderator5 hours 42 minutes agostep to run CMD as admin
So fair warning to anyone purchasing from this source. You do so at your own risk. There is little to no support available. I consider the money I spent today as good as burned.