Windows 7 Professional 64 bit vs Windows 8

[Fromlostdays]

I wouldn't mind a real discussion on the pros and cons of this, but what I really want is for someone smarter than me to tell me what to do.

The story is I recently bought this pretty awesome by my standards computer off craigslist, it came stock with Windows 7 Professional 64 bit. It should be mentioned that though I've read up on this I only have a vague idea about what "professional" and even "64bit" really mean except that I get 64 bit versions of emulators where applicable. Anyway, the previous owner was apparently quite the adventurous one, and had somehow screwed up the registry so much that the Windows Installer didn't work. The windows copy however, was genuine, or so the certificate said. So I used a third party program to find the windows key, wrote it down, and did a fresh install. Everything worked perfectly. Solved all my problems. Until last night when my computer started berating me because my windows copy isn't genuine. I tried inputting the key again, and I got this weird error saying something about the licensing of my bios... I read everything I could on the subject, didn't really understand it, updated bios, followed directions and deleted some weird file in some weird folder, no joy. Now I'm in a pickle because I think the cheapest I can get another key (for professional) is about 150 bucks, meanwhile a copy of windows 8.1 looks like its about 100. Is professional worth it? Should I just get windows 8? Should I try and find a non professional version of 7? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, and I guess it should be noted that yes I do indeed want a legit copy of windows. One forum lead me to a program called Windows Loader and I'm glad I was suspicious enough of malware or some kind of scam to read about it before I ran it because otherwise I'd probably never know what I did.

Thanks,

[Deadly]

You simply need to look at the actual differences and decide what YOU really need. http://www.neowin.net/news/windows-7-whats-the-difference-between-the-editions

Lastly, Windows 8 (8.1 actually) is incredible. Extremely beneficial for DX11 use. Either way you go Win7 or Win8 X64 will make you happy.

[pucpuc]

Using Win 8.1 on my system - still "classic start menu" is must have for me.

64 bit is essential if you wat to use more than 3GB RAM - only 32 bit versions support analog CD audio (needed for epsxe cd sound).

DX11 is cool for new pc games - on the other hand setting up some Taito Taito Type X only work on win7.

I will not downgrade because of this 2 reasons

[dark13]

Did you try to get in touch with microsoft's customer service? If the key is genuine it MUST work. Windows licences are generally OEM, it means they are tied to the hardware. When you activate a copy of windows on your pc that key will be forever bound to that hardware. If you change your pc you must buy another copy of window; there are even "retail" copies you can install on every computer you want unless it's installed on one computer at once but they costs lots of money.

Actually the only "licence" is the serial key. Copies of windows in digital or physic form are actually legal (it may vary with country's laws) if they don't have any illegal activator. I use 2 modded iso downloaded from digital river (MS partner) to have all x86-x64 versions in one disc so I can easily reinstall OS to people using the original serial key they already have.

Serial key MAY be flagged as "non-genuine" if that serial has been used by someone else in another computer (original pc's owner or trojan issue) but if you can prove your windows is original microsoft will give you another serial. There's only one problem: the licence, as I said, is tied to hardware. Changing something may results in your serial key to be invalidated. If you can prove your window is original (physical disc or label on your pc) try to contact microsoft's assistance. Even if it's not strictly following MS's policy sometimes they will give you another serial number even if you changed some pieces of your hardware.

About the OS... well, 8.1 is a great operative system, better than seven in many ways. If you can stand that messed up catastrophe GUI called "metro" or if you totally get rid of it, obviously . If you does have a linux partition DEACTIVATE hybernation. By default W8 goes into hybernation, it does not shutdown, When w8 is hybernated linux can't mount ntfs partitions used in w8.

X64 is better. Dolphin x64 and mame x64, nuff said Software written specifically with x64 in mind is 20%-30% than its x86 counterpart.

[Fromlostdays]

Thanks guys. I reinstalled via downloaded iso and have no proof that my copy is genuine, and no idea if it ever really was now that I know that can be faked. The PC was custom built, and I don't know the guy who built it, but I do know there was some cracked software on the storage drive (and a bunch of terrible music) when I got it. I reformatted that drive with gusto. So, it looks like I will just have bite the bullet and get in on some of that windows 8. I'm not too savvy but I do understand that many emulators that I use are discontinued and have been for a while, so I guess my last question is: is there no way to run a program from windows 8 in windows 7 (or other) compatibility mode?

Thanks again for all the info, you guys are the best, and the community here continues to match hyperspin in awesomeness.