Microsoft Disks

Ryan111 · 14 Oct 2009 at 18:35

Heyy, Is there any way i can get a disk so i can re-install the operating system on my computer?

My laptop has the COA stick with product key on the bottom and I just need the windows disk.

The Operating system is Vista Home Basic btw, I have the OEM disk with Home Premium on but i dont think you can use that.

Any help would be great

Daegan · 14 Oct 2009 at 19:24

Try the Vista disk you have, it may give you the option to choose the edition to install.

Brian Stuart · 14 Oct 2009 at 19:37

The product key you enter will determine what the disk installs so you can use your HP disk to install basic.

Ryan111 · 14 Oct 2009 at 20:16

So if i install vista home premium and use the home basic product key it will work?

Im confused

Brian Stuart · 14 Oct 2009 at 20:24

Ryan111 said:
So if i install vista home premium and use the home basic product key it will work?

Im confused

All versions are on the same DVD and whatever product key you enter determines what version is installed.

Aod · 14 Oct 2009 at 20:25

Brian Stuart said:
The product key you enter will determine what the disk installs so you can use your HP disk to install basic.

no. ei.cfg determines what the disk installs. if you used a Vista HP disk, it'll get all the way through to the end of the installation and then ask you for a Vista HP key. if you enter a HB key, it won't just go "okay, let me just disable some features", it'll say "Invalid Product Key"

Brian Stuart · 14 Oct 2009 at 20:26

It never has for me and it asks for the product key at the beginning of the install process.

Ryan111 · 14 Oct 2009 at 20:31

It asked for the product key at the end of the install when i used the HP disk last...

Brian Stuart · 14 Oct 2009 at 20:35

It asks for the Product key before it asks where you wish to install the OS and it gives you the option not to enter a product key at that time. If you choose that option it will ask you to select the version of Vista that you want to install. Select basic and when installation is complete, activate manually and enter your product key when requested.

Ryan111 · 14 Oct 2009 at 20:37

I bought "Microsoft Vista Home Premium SP1 32bit OEM edition"

It does not ask for the product key first.

alex24 · 14 Oct 2009 at 20:39

It asks for the product key then if you don't it asks for the version you want to install I think, or both on the same page. It's definitely before the main installation.

Just wondering if anyone can answer this - is it the same case with the Windows 7 disks?

Brian Stuart · 14 Oct 2009 at 20:41

I have the 90 day Enerprise version of 7 and it does not request a product key at all but I would be suprised if the install process has changed from Vista to 7

Ryan111 · 14 Oct 2009 at 20:48

Im sure it asked for the Product key at the end...

I would try it but i have no spare HDDs atm and the laptop in question isn't mine and if i mess it up the owner wont be happy.

Brian Stuart · 14 Oct 2009 at 20:54

No it asks for the key before the installation proper begins. Trust me, I do it about 5 times a day

Ryan111 · 14 Oct 2009 at 21:00

Okay, so i can use my HP disk to install HB then?

Brian Stuart · 14 Oct 2009 at 21:02

Ryan111 · 14 Oct 2009 at 21:10

Because it is on a laptop with a pre-bought copy of basic doesn't make a difference does it?

Brian Stuart · 14 Oct 2009 at 21:21

No as long as the HP disk is OEM

Ryan111 · 14 Oct 2009 at 21:30

Im sure it is, it says "OEM System Builder Pack, Intended for system builders only" on the top of it.

Brian Stuart · 14 Oct 2009 at 21:37

Go for it, from the time this thread was started the install would be finished