Win7 serial question
 

My laptop comes with Win7 and loads of bloatware installed but no rescue or install disk. The OS is genuine.

What I want to do is format the HD and just put 7 back on there and start from the ground up rather than have all the rubbish the manufacturer included.

If I obtained a copy of Win7 (obviously the same version as what is on the laptop) could I successfully use the laptop serial to install and run it?

Re: Win7 serial question
 

Win7 doesn't come in many versions like XP did, the key will unlock the version so yes you should be fine using another install disk. Just remember though that OEM keys are SLIK locked to hardware so for example a dell key will not work on an acer so as long as you're using it on the same laptop it should be fine.

Re: Win7 serial question
 

Depending on the laptop, the install disk that came with it may even be "vanilla" Windows 7 sans bloatware. Be aware that most W7 disks are one edition only, and it's uncommon to find (retail/OEM) disks which let you install *any* version like they did with Vista - though you can obtain them online or make them yourself.

Any key should work with any disk though, provided the key is for an edition contained on that disk.

---------- Post added at 00:48 ---------- Previous post was at 00:47 ----------

To be honest, it does. I've got 11 different versions on my "universal" install disk, though keys are interchangeable between 5 pairs of them.

Re: Win7 serial question
 

As long as the product key does not contain OEM then it is fine.
I remember installing Vista in its vanilla form, and it would not allow OEM to be entered within the product key.

What manufacturer is it?
You're best off uninstalling most of the crapware on it.

On my HP, you are safely able to remove their fancy version of Windows Update (HP Total Care) and the rest of their branded apps. I have personally not done it myself as when it comes to updating the graphics card, it requires a certain edition.

Re: Win7 serial question
 

Do as stated above regarding the key then find a build thats got the service pack within it already... it'll run like a charm and even better after you've tuned it up.

Re: Win7 serial question
 

Re: Win7 serial question
 

I hope its not a Dell laptop

I had this problem recently on my daughters laptop, i repaired the OS using a win 7 disk that i had, and it worked a treat until it wanted me to input the serial key

everytime i entered the key it said that i had mistyped it and to ring to activate, upon doin this it again said it couldn't activate.

i spoke to a microsoft rep, and he stated that although the key was a genuine, as it was a dell laptop, i needed a dell version of windows 7 or i coulnd't use the key that came with the laptop, he stated that del put somthing in the bias so only their version of windows 7 could be used. (not sure if this do this to the bias, but def couldn't activate windows!!)

So i found a dell version of windows7 on the tinternet, downloaded that and then used that to repair the OS, and hey presto, it worked a treat and didn't ask me for the windows key.

dont know if this will apply to u, as u want to replace the OS where i just repaired it.

JUliex

Re: Win7 serial question
 

It's an Acer - and from what I've been told it appears I don't need an Acer OEM copy, which is nice :)

Re: Win7 serial question
 

make sure you update your driver after a fresh install. use driver genius, it seems to be fairly good.

Re: Win7 serial question
 

@ Russ

just a quickie but not sure if it applies to ur laptop

i did this on an acer 5315 laptop, replaced the OS to get rid of all the crap acer put on it, and although it was working faster, it was over heating, not greatly but enough to cause some problems.

upon searching the tinternet i found that wen u take the acer empowerism out, the epower bit to be exact, this controls wen the fans kick in. Also if u allowed the laptop to hibernate, then upon wakin it up, the fans did not start at all and it shut down.

so i downloaded the epower bit from the acer website and it worked great after that. There is loads about this on the internet, but not sure if it will apply to ur laptop.

Juliex

Re: Win7 serial question
 

Hey thanks for that - I had no idea :tu: