Can I get a 'vanilla' copy of W7 using credentials from my Packard Bell OEM?

Pete.Dakota

Pete.Dakota

Pete.Dakota

Associate
Joined
31 Aug 2009
Posts
1,015
Location
Surrey, UK
I bought a Packard Bell mini tower a few years back, cannibalised pretty much all of it by now; however I still use the version of 64bit W7 which came embedded on its hard drive.

The Packard Bell OEM version is awful: it uses a backup creator designed for Acer laptops and can only burn onto CDRs, taking up 3 discs; it comes with 100s of MBs worth of forceware and about twenty 3rd party games all of which, as I'm a purist, I just uninstall.

I'm building a new rig soon and would like a fresh, 'vanilla' install of W7 with no Packard Bell rubbish. However I'd rather not pay the £80 for a new version of what I essentially already have. Is it possible to use serial numbers or credentials within the Packard Bell version to request/download a vanilla W7 direct from Microsoft?
 
Pete.Dakota said:
I'm not really comfortable downloading it for free from a random forum.
Click to expand...

Its actually a popular tech-talk website.

I've downloaded the ISO from there before, it's a direct download, no torrents, and if you are really that worried scan it before you download it.
 
Jordan97 said:
Its actually a popular tech-talk website.

I've downloaded the ISO from there before, it's a direct download, no torrents, and if you are really that worried scan it before you download it.
Click to expand...

Do you download the ISO and then after installing have to validate using a serial code? So it's still 'legit'?
 
I always thought OEM died with the original hardware and was not transferable - have things changed?
(From a technical licensing point of view of course)
 
JayMax said:
I always thought OEM died with the original hardware and was not transferable - have things changed?
(From a technical licensing point of view of course)
Click to expand...

You're correct.

OP:

The Windows 7 licence that came with your Packard Bell desktop is OEM, meaning it dies with the computer (Defined as the motherboard.) Therefore you will need to buy a new OEM or Retail Windows 7 :).

If you're building a new rig surely you can afford to pay £80 for the most important part, the software that operates it?

:confused:
 
Meatball said:
You're correct.

OP:

The Windows 7 licence that came with your Packard Bell desktop is OEM, meaning it dies with the computer (Defined as the motherboard.) Therefore you will need to buy a new OEM or Retail Windows 7 :).

If you're building a new rig surely you can afford to pay £80 for the most important part, the software that operates it?

:confused:
Click to expand...

Well of course. My point though was that I'd rather not pay if I don't have to.

I've changed the mobo since buying the Packard Bell and the OS swapped over fine, didn't need to reactivate or anything. I want to do a fresh install with the new rig (I'm actually keep the HDD this install is on), I just don't want the Packard Bell forceware.

For the sake of purity I may just buy a retail copy of W7. At least that way I'm sorted forever.
 
A retail copy is a good investment :).

FYI I've reformatted loads of branded laptops with "vanilla" OS disks and never had a problem activating the installs using the keys on the COA :).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom