Format harddrive with pre-installed O/S and no recovery disc


  1. Posts : 3
    Windows Home Premium 64bit
       #1

    Format harddrive with pre-installed O/S and no recovery disc


    Hey all :)
    I bought a HP Laptop with Windows 7 Home Premium pre-installed. I got rid of any bloatware and as I'm typing this, Macrium is imaging my C drive to a network drive. Now my question is, would I be able to completely format the computer, set up my own partitions and install Windows on one of them? Preferably a fresh and clean version but I wouldn't mind the bloatware one either. Things to consider, I don't have a disk-drive so it'd have to be done with a thumbdrive; I have not been able to find the actual O/S product key, if someone could tell me where to locate it...
    Sorry for the noobishness
    and thanks for any help !
    Lukas
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 414
    win7 ultimate 32bit
       #2

    see this link:

    KeyFinder | Magical Jelly Bean


    left column of page has download link for 'free' version
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 3
    Windows Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    hey tman,
    thanks for the link, Jelly Bean found the key.
    So if boot a Windows 7 iso, downloaded from DigitalRiver, and install it. Would the product key work, as there is no COA sticker on the actual laptop?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #4

    lukaskaspar said:
    hey tman,
    thanks for the link, Jelly Bean found the key.
    So if boot a Windows 7 iso, downloaded from DigitalRiver, and install it. Would the product key work, as there is no COA sticker on the actual laptop?
    Yes, if the Product Key is valid and authentic. The key is unique, but the key doesn't have eyes to see if your COA sticker is still there or was ever there.

    All you can do is try it and see if you can validate. If you cannot, your Product Key is bogus. The fact that Jelly Bean found the key does not mean it is a valid key.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 3
    Windows Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    I gave it a shot and it all worked out fine, the key was accepted and the bloatware is gone
    Thanks for your help !
    Lukas :)
      My Computer


 

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