If you are a college student who purchased Windows 7 for $29, you should have received your download link for Windows 7 in your e-mail. I received mine, and like many other people I got an Unloading the box error message: We are unable to create or save new files in the folder in which this application was downloaded. Microsoft and Digital River are both aware of this problem and are working on fixing this.

This error message only appears for those people who are trying to update from a 32-bit Windows operating system to a 64-bit. You cannot upgrade from a 32-bit system to a 64-bit system, according to Microsoft’s FAQ page. I would recommend just saving all your data to an external hard drive and then doing a clean install of Windows 7. If you still want to upgrade you can, but it’s not going to be easy. You’ll need to do a custom install, and follow the steps here.

Today Microsoft has officially released Windows 7. If you are not sure whether or not your system supports it, you can download the  free Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor software to check if it does.  The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor checks your PC to see if it’s ready to run Windows 7. When it’s finished, you’ll see which upgrade options are available and get guidance on fixing the system program, and device issues the Advisor found before you install Window 7.

Note: Before you install the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, it is recommended that you plug in and power on any USB devices or other devices like printers, scanners, or hard drives.

It only takes some minutes for the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to check for compatibility. The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor shows two reports: One 32-bit report and one 64-bit report. This will show you whether or not you will be able to update to 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7. The reports are also divided in to three sections:

• System
• Devices
• Programs

If your system supports Windows 7, the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor will display the following message: “Your computer can run Windows 7“. If it does not support Windows 7, then the Advisor will tell you what issues it found and how you can fix them.

Download Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor (Windows7UpgradeAdvisorSetup.exe, 8.3 MB)

Microsoft is officially releasing Windows 7 tomorrow, and I’m sure there are people here that are planning on buying it. If you’re a college student and have a .EDU e-mail address then you are in luck! Microsoft is holding a promotion where you can get Windows 7 for only $29.99. You can chooser between the following Windows 7  editions:

• Windows 7 Home Premium (32-bit/64-bit)
• Windows 7 Professional (32-bit/64-bit)

Don’t know which one to choose? Let me make it easy for you. Windows 7 Home Premium provides a great media experience and is intended for home use, while Windows 7 Professional edition is intended for Office use and has additional features like Windows XP Mode and Domain Join. If your university requires you to Domain Join, then you must get the Windows 7 Professional edition.

If you qualify to purchase Windows 7 for $29.99, you can purchase it from Win741.com.

On September 15, Microsoft finally released the Zune HD MP3 Player. I ordered a 16 GB Zune HD which is Black and retails at $219.99. The 32 GB Zune HD retails at $289.99 and is platinum but can be customized with either a red, green, or blue color at ZuneStore.net. Pictured above is the Zune HD box, and eveything that came inside it.

Here is what the Zune HD Box includes:

• The Zune HD (of course!)
• Headphones
• A pair of orange, red, and black covers for your headphones.
• USB Cable
• A Zune Product Guide
• Pamphlet

A review of the Zune HD will be posted on ZuneHD.me soon. Stay tuned!

Microsoft recently released their new Zune 4.0 software update in preparation for the new Zune HD launch today. If you get a Zune HD you’ll need to download this software in order to use it. Microsoft does not ship the Zune HD with any software installed on it.

Zune 4.0 requirements:

PC only! This won’t work on a Mac OS. You can download Zune 4.0 for Windows 7, Vista, or XP (32-bit version and 64-bit version) from the Zune.net website. I’ve added a link to the download page below.

Download Zune HD 4.0 software (filename: zunesetuppkg.exe filesize: 131 MB)

Note: The Zune HD 4.0 update does have an Apps for Zune HD section which will bring up an unavailable message. The Music section also brings this up (as of this posting).

Microsoft recently released the new Zune 4.0 update for the Zune HD. It will have Apps! A section in the new Zune 4.0 software says apps for Zune HD. Unfortunately no apps appear to be available. I’m getting the following message: “Item isn’t available. Try again.”. Microsoft will most likely be opening this up some time later today. Their site at Zune.net still appears to be down. The music page also has this message.

Screenshot of the new Zune 4.0 software:

I still have yet to get my new Zune HD. QuickPWN.com will have a full review up once we get our Zune HD! Stay tuned.

Microsoft has put their Zune.net site down for many hours because of the new Zune 4.0 software update. Some stores like Walmart already have the Zune HD, but unfortunately people can’t use it yet because they need to download the Zune 4.0 software to use it. A friend of mine got the Zune HD but he can’t even use it because Microsoft did not load the Zune 4.0 software on it.

If you already have Zune 3.1, I’ll explain how to update to Zune 4.0 software. For those that want to download Zune 4.0 I’ll post the download links once the download links are actually out. Here is how to update:

1. Launch the Zune application

2. Click the Settings button on the top right.

3. Click the General button on the left column.

4. Click Check for Updates.  Happy updating!

Tomorrow Microsoft will finally release the new Zune HD with 16 GB/32 GB MP3 player. In preparation for the new Zune HD and Zune 4.0 software launch, Zune.net has been down since 11:00 AM PDT. Microsoft had already notified Zune owners of this downtime in advance, but for some reason their e-mail ended up getting in my spam box on Hotmail.

No features of the Zune 4.0 software update will be announced until it’s actually released. There have been leaked videos on Buy.com showing that the Zune HD will have games, and there has also been a video revealing that the Zune HD will have Apps and an SDK.

Some time on September 15 Microsoft will bring Zune.net back up along with the new Zune 4.0 update. QuickPWN.com will be doing a Zune HD review and a Zune HD vs iPod Touch 3rd generation comparison once it’s out. Stay tuned!

So Apple has finally released their new iPod Touch 3rd generation today. I’ll do a Zune HD vs new iPod Touch 3rd generation comparison once I get my Zune HD. For now here are some specs.

Zune HD

Display: 3.3 inch touchscreen, OLED
Software: Zune Firmware 3.0
Memory: 16 GB/32GB
Colors: Black, Platinum, Blue, Lime green, and red
Price: $219.99/$289.99
Music Store: Zune Marketplace
Applications Store: Not yet, but there has been strong evidence that Microsoft may be starting one.
WiFi: Yes
Touchscreen keyboard and accelerometor
HD Video Radio: Yes
HD out: Yes

iPod Touch 3rd Generation
Display: 3.5 inch touchscreen, no OLED
Software: iPhone OS 3.1
Memory: 8GB/32 GB/64 GB
Colors: Black
Price: $199/$299/$399
Music Store: iTunes
Applications Store: Yes
WiFi: Yes
Touchscreen keyboard and accelerometer
HD Radio: No
HD Video out:No

Once my Zune HD arrives, I’ll be comparing the two. Of course the iPhone/iPod Touch software beats the Zune HD, because of the App Store and all the interesting applications it offers. The Zune HD is not intended to compete with that, it’s trying to be one of the best music players and  I think that the Zune HD will be do better than the iPod Touch as a music player. What do you think?

Good news for Zune fans. According to a Microsoft rep the Zune HD will have Apps and there will be an SDK. Microsoft has kept very quiet about this and haven’t even advertised it anywhere.

As you can see on the screenshot in the left, there is an option titled “APPS” in the Marketplace menu. A video of this can be seen here (skip to 00:15). Matthew Arkins, a Microsoft Partner recorded this video. When he tapped the Apps section, a WiFi network menu came up. WiFi was not available so he was unable to check what Apps, if any, were available in Microsoft’s Apps Store.

Knowing that the Zune HD will have Apps, and an App Store will definitely make iPod Touch users reconsider buying a Zune HD. The Zune HD will be available on September 15, a week after the day Apple is rumored to be announcing a new product . I’m convinced that Apple will be launching a new iPod Touch 3rd Generation, so I’ll just wait and see what Apple has in store for us before even considering the Zune HD. What about you?

[Via Zunited, and @microsoft_cares, ]