American Greetings Creatacard Gold version 3

[SWALynn]

Hi,

I read a thread about a problem someone was having with this program but it didn't exactly pertain to what my experience is, so that is why I'm posting this. I have run this program since Win98 & finally on Win XP home with no problem (I assume this is a 32 bit program).

I bought a new pc with Win7 JUST to run this card program however WIn7 is 64 bit and tells me I need to contact the software manufacturer because it won't install. (I assume it's because it is 64 bit?)

I am now the proud owner of a new Mac and want to switch over entirely to my Mac but still be able to run a few WIndows programs that I need for work and this A.G. CreataCard program, too.

I am going to buy Vmware Fusion to enable me to do this on my Mac. I NOW need to buy WIndows to put on the Mac.

I was told the following by Apple: It needs to be a FULL copy (not upgrade) that hasn't been registered-if Win XP, then SP2 or SP3.....NOT OEM. I talked to VMware Fusion person who explained what OEM was and that I could use it but only once and that was OK until I possibly needed it if I had to replace my Mac...he then said he would probably buy the full version, not OEM. Unless I could get the OEM full version at a really low price (which I can)

He also told me I could download Win 7-32 bit version UPGRADE because it does NOT need to be on the Mac already so WIN 7 is the only M/S operating system that works in this way without having to install over a previous version. He also said to make sure when I download it, that it has .ISO files and NOT .exe files. (I'm very confused about this since I'm sure if I had a disk and needed to install on a MAC, that I wouldn't have the choice of files...but I'm not sure...just my thought)

He suggested I contact American Greetings to find out IF my program would work with Win 7-32 bit version......however, after exhaustive searching, I can find no "contact us" to actually email or talk to someone at American Greetings about this.

Is there ANYONE here who possibly KNOWS if this version of my program will run on 32-bit Win 7?

If not, I will most probably just get Win-XP oem (as cheap as I can find it since it will be one time use) and it's not supported anymore.

Any additional help that anyone can give or any suggestions would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!

Thanks so much,

Lynn

[WoodyZ]

I am going to buy Vmware Fusion to enable me to do this on my Mac.

I'd suggest you download VMware Fusion and get the free 30 day trial serial number and make sure it works for you before you purchase it

I was told the following by Apple: It needs to be a FULL copy (not upgrade) that hasn't been registered-if Win XP, then SP2 or SP3.....NOT OEM. I talked to VMware Fusion person who explained what OEM was and that I could use it but only once and that was OK until I possibly needed it if I had to replace my Mac...he then said he would probably buy the full version, not OEM. Unless I could get the OEM full version at a really low price (which I can)

If you not an OEM or System Builder as defined by the OEM EULA then you're not entitled to be installing and using a Windows OEM version and furthermore as a legitimate OEM or System Builder you are then required to distribute the installed product to a third party which means not installing it yourself and using it yourself as an ordinary user. Now that doesn't stop you from purchasing and installing an OEM version of Windows and using it for yourself however if you do it keep in mind that your violating the EULA and you will not receive support from Microsoft.

He also told me I could download Win 7-32 bit version UPGRADE because it does NOT need to be on the Mac already so WIN 7 is the only M/S operating system that works in this way without having to install over a previous version.

You can use a Windows 7 Upgrade Disc if you have a previous Retail version of Windows that you no longer intend to run on the hardware it's presently running on however if the previous version of Windows is an OEM then it can only be installed on the system the qualifying previous version is installed on. Again this is by EULA and doesn't stop you from doing it but if it's OEM then it's not legal to use the Upgrade in a Virtual Machine if the qualifying previous version is installed on a Physical Machine.

Also Windows 7 is not the only Microsoft OS that works this way as far as being able to install without the previous version installed and if that's what you were told then the person you were talking to doesn't know what he/she is talking about.

He also said to make sure when I download it, that it has .ISO files and NOT .exe files. (I'm very confused about this since I'm sure if I had a disk and needed to install on a MAC, that I wouldn't have the choice of files...but I'm not sure...just my thought)

If you have a choice of .ISO vs. .EXE the .ISO is the easiest way to go as it ready to install either by assigning the .ISO to the CD/DVD or burning it to CD/DVD however burning is not necessary to install in a Virtual Machine. The .EXE needs to be executed on a Windows System and can be directly installed then or an ISO can be created from the extracted files. Hence why starting with an .ISO is easiest to begin with.

He suggested I contact American Greetings to find out IF my program would work with Win 7-32 bit version......however, after exhaustive searching, I can find no "contact us" to actually email or talk to someone at American Greetings about this.

Is there ANYONE here who possibly KNOWS if this version of my program will run on 32-bit Win 7?

I did a little searching and from what I've read I'd say it's not going to work under Windows 7 however you can always download the Windows 7 trial from Microsoft and see it it's going to work. That way you haven't spent any money yet by using trials and testing before you purchase.

If not, I will most probably just get Win-XP oem (as cheap as I can find it since it will be one time use) and it's not supported anymore.

You are not an OEM or System Builder as defined by the EULA and are not entitled to purchase, install and use OEM versions for yourself.

[SWALynn]

Woody Z,

YOU ROCK! You have explained soooo much to me and I will NOT buy OEM now that I totally understand what that means....I will NOT do anything to incur Microsoft's Wrath AND you are right....he does sound like he doesn't know everything like he made it sound. I am too much a follow the rules gal who has been computing since '80, Loved DOS and went kicking and screaming into the Windows world!

My new plan NOW that you've explained in such detail is to go buy the FULL version of XP (I know it works on that) NOT OEM and not an upgrade.....

However, having said that...I talked with Microsoft and THEY told me that Win 7 Pro has an XP feature that will "probably" allow me to install my OLD software in question. You also brought up something I didn't know and that is you can download Windows trial for 30 days. I could do that (full install Win 7 pro) and then I think my problem would be solved. I think it's $299 & I'd hate to bite that bullet but from everything I've read, I think I'm going to love what Fusion has to offer. AND I will try Fusion's 30 day trial also. I guess I should download that first and then the trial Windows, right? ....and if all else fails, I will stop this non-sense and learn to use a new card program for Mac:-)

Thank you again, so much!

Lynn Huff

[WoodyZ · Accepted solution]

You need at least Windows 7 Professional for XP Mode and I'm not sure if you'll be able to use XP Mode under VMware Fusion however to test your program in Windows 7 you can download the Windows 7 Enterprise 90-day Trial even though it says it is designed specifically for IT Professionals nonetheless you can download it and test it out under Fusion.

As far as XP Mode is concerned this is running XP as a Virtual Machine and in a case like this it would be a nestled Virtual Machine, in other words a Virtual Machine running on a Virtual Machine, and this while this is technically doable in some cases nonetheless it's not something I'd say was practical for the general user. That said, your other option is to install Windows 7 natively in Boot Camp and then run XP Mode and this would yield much better performance although the draw back is you don't also have OS X running concurrently to use both simultaneously.

Either way, you have some options and can utilize the free trials to determine which is going to be the best path to take when committing to purchasing what's necessary to meet your needs/wants.

Message was edited by: WoodyZ

When I said "I'm not sure if you'll be able to use XP Mode under VMware Fusion" I should have said I believe it can be done by using VMware Player running under the VMware Fusion Windows 7 Virtual Machine but not using Microsoft Virtual PC, as it's intended to be run normally, under the VMware Fusion Windows 7 Virtual Machine. Again though this gets back to running nestled Virtual Machines and the performance hit that will be taken as a result and why Boot Camp would be better if you had to use XP Mode if the program will not directly run under Windows 7. Hope this all makes sense.