reinstalling windows on a laptop that came preinstalled

Slinkie

Slinkie

Slinkie

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Hi all,

I have a laptop that is a couple of years old. I want to put and ssd into it and reinstall windows 7.

I have a copy of windows 7 oem on my desktop so have the disk. What I need to know is how I can find the product code that the current windows install has used so I can use it again to reinstall windows on the laptop.

How do I go about doing this? How will I find out if the code will work with the oem version I am installing?

The laptop has a sticker on the bottom of it saying it is a genuine version of windows.

Thanks all
 
magic jelly bean?

if you mean there is no sticker try looking under the battery...

I htink that even if you extract the serial number if its a OEM install that used the re-activated certificate thinkgs to install the serial number you extract is no good...
 
(im pretty sure) If the windows install in question was on the machine when purchesed the serial number you can extract using magicjelly bean is no good.
Click to expand...

You can use that key but you will have to inject the matching oem certificate into the windows install to get it activated.

Or you can use the key from the COA but you will probably have to phone activate (its no biggie really).
 
Just install using the serial key on the sticker (Called the COA, certificate of authenticity) dont bother with the hassle of recovering the key via Jelly Bean as it'll be a generic, manufacturer-specific mass activation code. The serial key on your laptop is your very own unique serial key.
 
Meatball said:
Just install using the serial key on the sticker (Called the COA, certificate of authenticity) dont bother with the hassle of recovering the key via Jelly Bean as it'll be a generic, manufacturer-specific mass activation code. The serial key on your laptop is your very own unique serial key.
Click to expand...

Does this mean I need to call microsoft for them to give me a serial key for the install? Or do I input this COA somewhere.

Also, how do I know what version of windows 7 the COA is for. I am pretty sure it's windows 7 home oem (which I have the disk for). I am at work at the moment but can check for sure when I get it. I just wanted to know what I needed to do in advance.

Thanks
 
Slinkie said:
Also, how do I know what version of windows 7 the COA is for. I am pretty sure it's windows 7 home oem (which I have the disk for). I am at work at the moment but can check for sure when I get it. I just wanted to know what I needed to do in advance.
Click to expand...
It'll be on the CoA certificate along with the product key, assuming it hasn't been rubbed off to the point of non-legibility (a not uncommon occurance with laptops). If your Home disc doesn't match the version on the laptop, no problem: create an ISO, modify the ei.cfg file (or delete it entirely), and burn it back to another disc: http://code.kliu.org/misc/winisoutils/ . Or you could just download whichever ISO you need from Digital River.

If you do need to call MS to activate the installation (possible but not inevitable), it's all pretty painless, you just speak to a robot which will walk you through it, unless there's some unforeseen problem.
 
Hi all,

Here's a picture of my laptop sticker. It says it's a Windows Home Prem OA. Not sure what version of windows it needs and if my windows home premium oem.

windows.jpg


Also note that my laptop doesn't have a cd drive so I will need to install from a usb stick (I have this set up already to install on my desktop pc as it is quicker than installed from the dvd)
 
I don't understand what you are struggling with? You have the means to get the OS install files on there, and you have the product key on your sticker. What do you think you are missing?
 
Because I wanted to check that the cd key provided on my laptop would work with the install disk I had. I didn't want to install windows and find the key was only for specific types of windows 7. I thought that was obvious from my opening post.

Does that answer your question clever clogs?
 
Windows 7 keys work with any media of the correct version, you have a Home Premium COA and a Home Premium install disk. Golden :)
 
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