Windows 7 Professional (Students Only)

It's a pain, but some people have found ways to produce disks from the download that allow a clean install, but it is really designed to upgrade an existing Vista system. Instructions are all over the net.

However, whenever they've run this promotion in the past, The Microsoft Store (877-696-7786) has matched the deal with the physical media for the same price with free shipping. You get both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions whereas the download must match your 32/64-bit version of Vista, so you can't switch system architecture.

It is never advertised on www.microsoftstore.com, you have to call them and ask for student pricing and provide a .edu E-mail address. One copy per E-mail address. They also have very low student pricing on Office, but only as a download.

BTW, The Microsoft Store lets you choose Home Premium or Professional and Upgrade or Full version all for the same $29.99 price.

fluffy, i just called microsoft and digital river and they said that they only sell the upgrade version with a student discount.

Feel free to confirm:
microsoft 1-800-642-7676
digital river 877 244 8653

but he said "at this time..." implying that at other times they do offer the full version with a student discount as well???

nevermind, found the answer to my question:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/compare

looks like i'm staying with ultimate

Old farts do qualify! You just have to be an old STUDENT fart!

lol