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2 Copies of Windows 7 Pro RTM for $27 USD - Students Only - Not for Commercial Use

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Join the IEEE if you are studying a course in some way related to computing / engineering / mathematics etc and get free access to Microsoft educational alliance software.

Membership in IEEE is open to individuals who by education or experience give evidence of competence in an IEEE designated field of interest. The designated fields are, in broad terms: Engineering, Computer Science and Information Technology, Physical Sciences, Biological and Medical Sciences, Mathematics, Technical Communications, Education, Management, Law, and Policy.

Windows 7 Pro (both 32 bit and 64 bit ) RELEASE TO MANUFACTURING versions (i.e. final versions) are available -
you get to download one of each, each with a unique serial number.

Downloads are ISO images

  1. You signup and buy the membership via shopping cart first, then 7-10 days LATER you get an email inviting you to their Software download site, which has another shopping cart. (might be sooner).

  2. The info asked at signup is very small, they require contact info, field of study, name of school and graduation date. There does not appear to be any requirement of a university email or other verification of student status so far.

Ripped from fatwallet.com

Mod - edited title and description.

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closed Comments

  • I already have MSDNAA subscription from QUT as I'm studying IT - if I join this can I get another??

  • +2

    Very good tip! Thanks OP!

    ~~~~~

    And while we're in a Windows 7 mood…

    Here's a little sweetie for the technically inclined.

    How to use any version of Window7 free for 120 days!

    http://windowssecrets.com/comp/090820

  • If I buy this version, does it work forever or does it expire after a certain time period?

  • works forever I'm pretty sure. ive been using winxp through MSDNAA from uni for years

  • So my friend who does not study at uni has to pay 15x as much as me just because im studying and he is not? There has to be a catch right? There's so many ways to abuse this which most people would considering the insane win7 prices.

    • +1

      Of course all the education edition software have the catch — they are hoping that you get used to the software to a point that you cannot live without it. So once when you graduate, you are not only going to buy the full retail version, but you'll also recommend others to use it as well.

    • All big software companies have cheaper academic prices, not only for the reason scotty mentioned, but also for the simple reason that students would usually find it more difficult to pay the full price. It's also fairer on students as they'd mostly be using it to learn, as opposed to a business that makes lots of money from the same software (hence the 'not for commercial use' thing).

  • So you pay the $27 to get all software in the list above? Or is the $27 only for Windows 7?

    And it is all full version software that does not expire?

    • Yes full versions for all of the above software including valid registration keys. There is likely a limit to the number of machines you can install any given OS/application on to.

      • +1

        To install all of these microsoft products, you would be looking at 16 x 8-cpu with 256GB of RAM hardware kit and a 6 ton air-conditioner to go with it!

        :)

  • I don't know about this - seems a bit too good to be true that you'd get lifetime access licences for a MASSIVE range of MS software simply for being a student IEEE member (cost $US27 or so).

    I just tried to sign up for membership and that seems easy enough….though obviously if you're NOT a student you have to put a lot of bogus info in there.

    SURELY you'd have to pay again for access to this software? So it'd be membership fee + whatever the cost of the software is?

    My concerns are:

    • non-students will be found out by some checkup that takes place in between the time you PAY to become a IEEE member and accessing the MS software download.

    • you have to pay significantly to actually access the MS software……I don't see any confirmation that access to all of these programs is FREE……

    Would think its a great deal IF SOMEONE CAN JOIN AND VERIFY. With only Windows 7 RC out I'm unsure how you get access to a proper version unless it just upgrades/alters later?

    Seems a lot of hope for the best type stuff! :-/

    • I do not think it is a lifetime access, the 29USD is for a 1 year membership. You would have to renew when that membership expires. I would imagine that you would no be able to renew if you graduate and stop studying.

    • Well, you could get it for $US27 although you are not a student, but you will be violating Microsoft's intellectual property rights as you are not licensed to use it (i.e. you do not qualify for a student's license) so in effect there's not much difference between pirating it and paying them $27 :)

      • agreed. If youre going to lie about your details then you may as well just pirate it anyway.

        It isn't "too good to be true". Its for engineers/developers. They lock people into coding for Windows at an early age in the hope you will use Windows as the platform of choice in later years. Basically all Unis will have an MSDNAA account where you get the same software for free….coincidently I believe it's offered only or usually only to engineering and IT like students who are likely to be developing for the platform.

        Certainly don't believe many Unis would offer MSDNAA to Arts students for example.

  • I just signed up. Lets see how it goeth…

    according to this thread at fatwallet http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/945817/?start=140 it seems to be absolutely free….minus the IEEE membership cost of course.

    Also, visit this page for a FAQ: http://msdn04.e-academy.com/elms/StorefrontSupport/MsdnaaFaq…

  • The welcome letter says

    "Welcome! You have been registered in your university/college ELMS for MSDNAA online software system. "

    "Your university/college is licensed under the MSDN Academic Alliance Program which enables eligible students and faculty members to access software available under the Program."

    that sounds like some sort of check is done…?

  • I can't see Windows 7 in the list? have they removed it?

    http://www.ieee.org/portal/cms_docs_iportals/iportals/member…

    • How did you find a link to that? it looks dated: 22-Apri-08

  • Don't forget that a lot of those program are already given to students for free (or next to free):

    http://itsnotcheating.com.au/
    http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=2&url…

    Dreamspark gives away free stuff will lifetime licences

    • True, but not Windows 7 specifically.

      Dreamspark has never included any Windows releases (other than Windows Server).
      And itsnotcheating may have Windows 7, sure. But I still don't think it'll be less than $30.

  • i can't use this if i don't study something related to IT, can i?

  • Where is windows 7? It's not listed there.

  • I signed up this morning as a student member and it cost $32.

    All I've got so far is an Order Confirmation. I know for the actual software I'll have to wait about a week but I can't help but think I did something wrong.

    The site was very hard to navigate. Should I have recieved anything else?

    • Nope. Wait a week and you will get the email from microsoft and you should be good to go. The deal is definitely legitimate. Windows 7 RTM is on the list. Check the fatwallet.com forum thread posted above for more details.

  • +2

    The avaliable software is in the drop down menu here; but seems you have to get email the registration information first after paying the $32 AUS for the membership.

    http://msdn04.e-academy.com/elms/Storefront/Storefront.aspx?…

    Took me 2min to work out. Little bit of research people helps :P

    Edit: Also has some help options and how it works on the side. Read that before posting a million questions!

  • Hmmmmm well congrats and thanks to those pioneering efforts to look into this matter - hopefully you have luck.

    While I don't think its entirely ethical to sign up for this if you're NOT a student, its clearly superior to pirating the product - for the end user anyway - as you SHOULD get a fully supported product eg Windows Update access.

    That said I don't think a lot of deals on this site are 100% ethical - so I don't want to play semantics.

    Well if you DO get to access a FULL COPY of Windows 7, then one can only assume that you'd have a fully functional version - not something that'd expire/nolonger be supported if you didn't renew your IEEE membership….as its not like MS and IEEE are going to swap data and see you're nolonger onboard so make your software lockup/not access MS Updates etc.

    Hmmmm anyway - will be following this thread with interest - I guess the RTM copy will be all but identical to the actual retail release. Interesting. :-)

  • What about the current student member of IEEE? Are they not eligible for this offer?

  • +1

    You can also sign up to ACM - $19USD for a student membership. AFAIK the processing time is a lot shorter than IEEE (2 days or so). I signed up Thursday afternoon , payment was approved this morning and now I'm just waiting on my login details.

    acm.org

    You're copy of Win 7 won't stop working once your membership expires - it's just an OEM key.

    There's a bunch more info in this thread - http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=318…

  • Any student member of IEEE has access to it.

    I'm fairly sure they do a check with a local IEEE branch to ensure you are actually a student. Bogus info will not work. Otherwise there wouldn't be a week's wait to get access.

    I had access to MSDN-AA through uni because I was doing a computer science unit. The next semester I wasn't doing any and my access was automatically revoked.

    If you are doing a Comp Science or IT course through TAFE or Uni, talk to the IT dept as you probably qualify for access to MSDN-AA (which is free).

    The $27USD is an IEEE membership fee. MSDN-AA is but one of the advantages of being a member.

    • well, I am IEEE student member, but I don't have access to it, or I don't know how to get it..

    • leiiv: https://msdn04.e-academy.com/elms/Security/Login.aspx?campus… Choose forgotten password and enter whatever email address you signed up to IEEE with.

      Oh and so nobody is confused by my post, you can get access to MSDN-AA through IEEE regardless of what you are doing at Uni (doesn't have to be IT/Comp Sci)

      • I've tried that, but its not working :(
        (Username: The value you entered is invalid)

  • Hmmm seems to me that once you have a login sent to you by the MSDNAA - that you then can only use this through the software access portal of your respective academic institution eg Uni of Syd: http://msdn70.e-academy.com/elms/Storefront/Home.aspx?campus…

    So, I'd imagine if you were NOT a legit academic student this is where you'll run into problems.

    I don't know if ACM is different in that you can access all the software through a generic download portal after becoming a member?

    As you can be a high school student and access everything through them - so I can't imagine that authentication is going to be a big issue if thats the case - but the Australian domestic stuff seems to have some protection measures in place as far as I can see to stop non-students accessing. :-/

    • the IEEE has its own "StoreFront" as does each Uni or School that is a member of MSDN-AA.

      Your login will only work with the correct storefront.

      The one I had access to through the University of Western Australia even had the files hosted on the local Uni servers :)

      ACM StoreFront - http://msdn01.e-academy.com/elms/Storefront/Storefront.aspx?…

  • just for comparison, Retail prices for Windows 7 in Australia:

    Home Premium will be $A299, Professional will be $A449, and Ultimate $A469

  • Sorry - To have access to MSDN through ACM, you have to sign up for a student membership. I'm an engineering student, and so far it hasn't required any verification, nor have I heard of anyone else requiring it either.

    • Sounds like the ACM route is the only way to 'circumvent' the storefront system if you're a non-student.

      Appreciate the reply.

      :-)

  • this hasnt asked me for the uni i attend but im at the checkout screen and its asking for the money?

    im actually a uni student - honest - but i didnt see anywhere where i HAD TO put my uni down, just what degree im doing and whether its post or undergrad.

    am i doing somethihng wrong?

    • +1

      Are you at the checkout for the MSDN thing? or ACM?

      e: I just got my login details for MSDN from ACM - about 2 days from signing up. (Thurs afternoon - Friday night)

      • score! I just signed up myself. I figured US$19 is cheap enough to take a gamble with!

  • +1

    by the way i just installed the msdnaa copy of this (not off this site but from my uni) and used the x86 key to activate x64 - so you can get 2 copies of x64, not just 1 of each!

    • Actually the keys are interchangeable, so we are given 1 key for both versions.

      • You're given a key for the x64 version as well as the x86.
        They are interchangeable though.

  • thanks! my uni sent out emails to IT/comp science students, they have already created accounts for us.

  • I am no longer a student but somehow I've been able to renew as a student. There's only 2 reasons why I renewed my membership: MSDNAA and this -

    http://www.acm.org/news/featured/element-k

    They used to use Skillport/Skillsoft which is what Seek Learning use for their $4950 multiple certs training "course" but now ACM is with Element K. The quality of the material seems to have improved too..

  • Check if your uni faculty/school appears here first:

    http://www.msdnaa.net/search/SchoolSearchIntl.aspx

    If it does, you can get the software for free from your school without paying anything.

    IEEE currently offers three keys for Windows 7 RTM, not two (x86,x64,French x64).
    ACM offers two (x86 and x64). But the software available changes regularly on both.

  • Just wondering, it says
    " Students can obtain this software including updates to the latest versions as long as they are active IEEE Student members"

    Guess we cannot keep this software if we quit as IEEE student members?

    • i think it means you can only obtain the software and updates as long as you're members… i.e. you are only able to download the software and updates (e.g. vista sp2 ISOs vs sp1) as long as you're a member.

      You can keep it after you finish being a student - that's how retail student editions work anyway.

      • Say, If I download vista sp1. Can I still update my vista to sp2 by download directly from microsoft updates?

        • Yup that'll work fine. You just can't download "updates" in the "vista SP1 ISO" and "vista SP2 ISO" or "Office 2007 —> Office 2010" sense, because your login won't work anymore.

  • Cannot believe Melbourne University isn't part of MSDNAA.

    • Yeah I was shocked at that too.

  • For IEEE, do we need to join the computer society to get access to the MSDN, which is another $25?

    I tried my log in to the IEEE computer society website, but I couldn't log in!!!

    https://msdn04.e-academy.com/elms/Security/Login.aspx?campus…

    Cheers

  • Just found out extra information about the access

    The IEEE, in conjunction with Microsoft, is pleased to offer a wide selection of development software to IEEE Student members. Previously this offer was available exclusively to IEEE Computer Society Student members. We are pleased to announce that in cooperation with the IEEE Computer Society, IEEE can now make this great offer available to IEEE Student members worldwide.

    These are the steps:

    1. Renew 2009 IEEE Student membership now online (USD $30 for students in the US and Canada and USD$25 for all other students).
    2. For new students, you can join IEEE online now and click on Join IEEE as a Student member (undergraduate or graduate students are eligible).
    3. To qualify, students must have a graduation date of 2009 and beyond.
      Within approximately 8 days of your renewal and payment being processed or your new application being processed and accepted, a separate e-mail with user account and login information to access your free software will be sent to the e-mail address on your IEEE record. Please make sure you provide your e-mail address because that is the only way you will receive information about the offer.
    4. A sample of the e-mail you will receive about the offer is below.
    5. Your account information will be sent from <[email protected]>.
    6. Use the login information you receive in the e-mail mentioned in #4 above. You will then be able to download your FREE Microsoft software. Please note that the groups will be activated weekly starting end of June.
    7. Send us any questions and please be sure to include your name and IEEE member number.
  • Any of the folks that tried the ACM route have any luck? Particularly those who aren't using a legit academic address & are not a student? IEEE looks a no-go but ACM seems like its viable.

    Wlecome feedback from anyone thats gone via ACM. :-)

  • Ok, signed up to this deal last week and got my invite this morning. Downloading windows 7 pro now, serial saved :) Paid the $27 USD and waited, was stoked to see the invite to MSDNAA this morning. Not sure where the limit of 2 comes from, I am grabbing one copy now and might wait for a pro version of office 2010.

    • Eazycompany, curious did you go through IEEE or ACM?

      Use a legit student details or not?

      Thx in advance. :-)

    • IEEE's storefront has the MS Office suite?

      • No Office Suite unfortunately, they have limited office products like project professional, visio, sharepoint designer. No Suite unfortunately.

  • IEEE, made up student details. My partner studies and we were going to use her details but I thought I would check if there was any kind of validation, obviously there is not. I prefer my MS Action Pack subscription as it has much more stuff but it was worth the small cost for a few copies of 7, glad to move up from RC to RTM :)

  • signed up for IEEE today… let see what happens.

  • Wow that really surprises me that you were able to make it through the IEEE validation process…….I thought that;d be a dead end for sure. Hmmm thanks for the reply, very interesting - still think Murphy's Law would see me caught so maybe better to go with ACM. Thanks again.

  • Yep, I signed up on the day it was posted and got the invite this morning :)

    Also downloading Windows 7 as we speak.

  • Does anyone know if this copy is bootable or just an upgrade?

    I don't want to upgrade from my current vista but instead want a fresh install on my new drive.

  • +1

    Its an iso image, I will be installing (clean) tonight so you can be sure its a full bootable copy of any OS you download there, like any of the trial or RC iso's microsoft have released.

    • You can even copy the files from the ISO to a specially-prepared USB stick or external hard drive and do the install from there. Handy for netbooks with no built-in optical drive.

  • HELP, I'm confused….upon getting the Windows 7 Professional x64 downalod underway you're asked:

    To continue with the unpacking and installing of this product please select a drive with enough disk space.

    Space required to unpack: 16000 MB

    Does that mean you MUST install it immediately on the PC you download it on? Surely it offers an option to hold off the install till later or similar????

    I thought it was meant to be an ISO image that you downloaded?

    I can't imagine MS would be so stupid as to force you to install on the spot.

    • As others have said before, it's an ISO image.

      16GB could just be a generic thing to avoid any
      space problems with the other downloads. With today's $105 1TB drives, 16GB is a drop in the ocean anyway.

  • ISO images afaik. That can be installed/activated at any time.

    • Yes, thats what I thought…..hence I found it very weird that the "Downloader for Windows xxx" program (that you have to use to get the data down, started off by asking for a directory with 16gb of space and has 4 steps one of which is installation!

      Apparently - I've just been told by another person that this is just the dodgy downloader that MS makes you use - you should get an ISO file that you can use as you see fit at a later point.

      Makes far more sense than making you install immediately over a working OS! :-)

      Thanks for the fast reply.

      • The "dodgy downloader" is a distribution tool. From MSDN:

        Products not included in Rapid Setup must first use e-academy’s Secure Delivery
        Client (SDC) Wizard to prepare each MSDNAA software application for secure
        distribution via HTTP download. The SDC Wizard places an encrypted container
        (wrapper) around all of the files in any given MSDNAA software application thereby
        creating a single, encrypted file (with .sdc as the extension). The SDC wrapper is
        located on the Product configuration page once you select a product for “Secure
        Internet Download”.

        e-academy’s SDC technology provides three basic forms of security:

        1) It places an encryption container around the entire software application which
        prevents unauthorized redistribution;

        2) It prevents the student from seeing the hosting location of the SDC files on
        campus or at e-academy; and

        3) It restricts the number of times a student can download each software
        application.

        Point 1) seems silly as you can just unwrap it and distribute it, but 2 and 3 are ok i suppose.

  • I was a little thrown by this also, I took a copy of the folder which already had the iso file in it then clicked the install button at which point it basically just opened the folder and displayed the iso anyway. Typing this on my fresh 7 pro install on my dell latitude e6500, install was fast and only needed a few drivers extra, working a treat. 64bit FTW

  • Yep, i had the distribution tool also… If i ever have the need to to reformat and my subscription expires how would i do this? There is no ISO for me…

    • +1

      the distribution tool produces an ISO for you, in the folder you specified during the download. You don't actually see the .sdc file that the SDC client downloads.

  • Signing up through IEEE, you dont actually need anything sent to you in the post do you?

    Do they email you online account/login details at some point? 7-10 days?

  • Nothing posted, email sent by MS IEEE in about 1 week.

    • its been about a week :( paranoid ill get missed for some reason :)

  • Been 12 days and havnt recieved my MSDN details…

    I might give them a ring lol

  • +1

    Yeah I signed up on the 27th…nothing yet

  • Did you go via IEEE or ACM?

  • IEEE

  • I also signed up via IEEE on Aug 27 and as yet haven't received anything.

  • +1

    I signed up with ACM on the 1st and got my MSDNAA deets on the 4th. I didn't realise I had to opt-in to the MSDNAA program initially, if I had of done it from the get go I would've got my account a bit sooner. So I'm inclined to agree that ACM does have a faster turnaround, plus it's cheaper to join :)

  • +2

    I emailed IEEE and asked where my MS offer login details were and got them sent within 24hrs.

    Dont wait just email and ask for your details

    if the above post is true then the ACM way is much quicker.

  • +2

    I emailed [email protected] @ 7:45am their time and in under two hours got the msdnaa login details. If you've waited at least the 8 days (some places said 10) then won't hurt to ask.

  • I just emailed them now, I will write back here when I receive a reply.

    • Got it about 30 minutes ago.

      Be sure to check your junk mail as it might end up there, mine did!

  • What are you guys putting in the email ti IEEE, you account details for the signup you used?

  • btw, ACM now asks for your student number and faculty advisor. They must have wised up!

  • Win7 has been temporarily removed from the IEEE MSDN-AA server for now…

    • Beat me to it by 4 minutes!

  • Before anyone signs up, Windows 7 has now been removed from the student development program and will not return.

    " Because of the recent concerns that non-technical students were taking advantage of the ACM’s MSDN AA memberships, Microsoft has decided to discontinue the availability of all Windows 7 products through the this particular subscription. I have been in contact with Microsoft on almost a daily basis and I know it was a hard debate and decision for them to make given the fact that many true computer students are ACM members who would like to take advantage of this offer. "

    More: http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/945817/?start=560

  • Windows 7 pro snuck back onto IEEE, I do check regularly out of interest. PRO X86 and 64 only. No ultimate etc.

    Actually, now I check again, its just the physical media. I had previously downloaded x64 and cannot get a key for x86

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