Using my Win7 Disc with a bloated pre-installed license?

Westyfield2 · 8 Jan 2010 at 16:49

Hi guys, simple question really.

In their lovely'ness Dell laptops come with Windows 7 pre-installed and full of bloatware, and the "Media" disc they're supplied with just re-images the machine to it's out of the box position - still full of bloat. :rolleyes:

So, can I use the license key stuck to the bottom of the laptop with the a normal (same edition) Windows 7 Disc instead?

E.g. Dell laptop has bloated Windows 7 Professional installed and I have a Disc for Windows 7 Professional OEM lying around (bought from OcUK and used license key on one of my PCs).

Also, if that is possible, would it be possible to use my 64Bit disc with the Dell license key when the bloated install was of 32Bit? (Yes, they won't ship the laptop with a 64Bit OS despite it having 4GB RAM and a 64Bit Core 2 Duo :rolleyes:

).

Cheers

Memphis · 8 Jan 2010 at 16:53

You won't be able to use the provided key with your 'retail' OEM copy unfortunately.

Do Dell no longer provide software on the machine to burn a copy of the OS disk? I know they used to, and it literally was just the OS, none of the bloat.

PhillyDee · 8 Jan 2010 at 16:54

You might be able to.

Dell keys are strange keys which require a code to be present on the disc. Im pretty sure there is a way to do this by spoofing the disc with the files required. Cannot be bothered to google as im off out!

Only way to find out is to do it.

Westyfield2 · 8 Jan 2010 at 17:33

Hmmm thanks guys, I've just had a go on the Dell chat thing (yes, I am bored!).

Ed: Initial Question/Comment: Re-installing the OS, what is the "Media" that's included?
System: You are now being connected to an agent. Thank you for using Dell Chat
System: Connected with Ritam_Sengupta
Ritam_Sengupta: Thank you for contacting Dell Chat Sales. This is Ritam, your sales advisor for today.
Ritam_Sengupta: Hello Ed.
Ed: Hi
Ed: Is the "media" included with the 'English Genuine Windows® 7 Professional, 32bit , with Media' a pure Windows 7 disc? Or does it have all the extra software which some people would call 'Bloat' (Norton etc) on it?
Ritam_Sengupta: The OS would have its own re-installation disk
Ritam_Sengupta: The other softwares for DVD and office if chosen would come separately
Ed: Thanks, so the OS disc would *just* be Windows? Reason I ask is last laptop we purchased was an Acer and the re-install disc contained all their rubbish pre-included software on it - I just wanted Windows, no bloat!
Ritam_Sengupta: I see.
Ritam_Sengupta: Is there anything else I may assist you with
Ed: Nope, that's it thanks

Ritam_Sengupta: Thank you for your time on chat. Have a pleasant day ahead.
Ed: Cheers, you too.
System: The session has ended!

Bubo · 8 Jan 2010 at 20:12

Do you happen to know if you can use a retail windows 7 disc on Acer laptops, since you say you had an Acer? I'm the same, bloated Acer Inspire with a windows key sticker on the bottom, and a separate full retail windows 7 home premium disc, same version which is installed on the laptop. Basically I think I'm asking the same question as yourself.

Westyfield2 · 8 Jan 2010 at 20:28

Bubo said:
Do you happen to know if you can use a retail windows 7 disc on Acer laptops, since you say you had an Acer? I'm the same, bloated Acer Inspire with a windows key sticker on the bottom, and a separate full retail windows 7 home premium disc, same version which is installed on the laptop.

Sorry, I don't know. The Acer was back in Vista and I, ahem, used my OEM disc I'd bought from OcUK for my gaming PC and persuaded it not to bother with activation.

Bubo said:
Basically I think I'm asking the same question as yourself.

I'd much prefer it if a laptop came with a CD of the drivers and a normal OEM OS disc, none of this bloatware rubbish!

No-One · 8 Jan 2010 at 20:39

I got a windows 7 upgrade disc from dell for my studio 15. The disc itself didn't include any of the bloat that dell usually include. But it was only 32 bit (just like the original vista install). I used my purchased windows 7 64 bit retail disc along with the key provided on the dell upgrade disc to install and activate 7 64bit with no trouble.

mrgubby · 8 Jan 2010 at 23:01

Bubo said:
Do you happen to know if you can use a retail windows 7 disc on Acer laptops, since you say you had an Acer? I'm the same, bloated Acer Inspire with a windows key sticker on the bottom, and a separate full retail windows 7 home premium disc, same version which is installed on the laptop. Basically I think I'm asking the same question as yourself.

I've just wiped my Aspire 9300 & installed a clean copy of Vista using the OEM key from the back of the laptop

The only problem was tracking down all the drivers :mad:

Bubo · 9 Jan 2010 at 10:40

I have a 7539g. Which drivers are the most troublesome to find? And where did you end up getting them from?

lokkers · 9 Jan 2010 at 11:20

I reinstalled Vista HP x64 (from preinstalled bloated Dell Vista HP x86) on my Dell XPS using the key on the bottom and it worked fine. Don't see that W7 would be any different.