Windows 7: Repair with Windows 7 disk (not mine)

Ok so this will become a run off of my previous thread.
http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-d...ml#post1254525

I am now trying to use another persons windows 7 home premium disk to reinstall my operating system because my computer only came with a partition devoted to windows 7 installation and has errors which must be the reason that my sfc /scannow has never worked. Now my question is this. This disk from a friend of mine is probably pirated as it is just a silver verbatim dvd that has windows 7 home premium written in blue highlighter. What I want to know is will this override my real version of windows that came with my pc. will it make it not genuine? or can I somehow find my key and reactivate it? Thanx in advance

Well, if that copy is from an official ISO, you won't have any problems. you can use your retail key without any hassle.

But, if the copy that your friend has is a cracked/modified one, i wouldn't install it. Those modified "Auto-activated" copies, no no.

Never trust any crack/keygen out there

You can determine if the DVD your friend loaned you is a pristine copy of Windows 7 Home Premium by running a HASH check against the official Home Premium ISO HASH.

Install Hashtab: http://beeblebrox.org/ Restart your computer.

Now extract ISO from DVD using ImgBUrn, rightclick on the ISO, on Properties box the HASH should be displayed on a tab. Compare it to the official Windows 7 HP HASH for your desired bit-version here: Windows 7 RTM SHA-1 hash / checksums

If they don't match, find a cleaner copy of the ISO which passes HASH to reinstall your OS using Product Key on your COA sticker.

Here are tips for getting a purrfect clean reinstall of factory OEM: re-install windows 7

Well it doesn't really come up as an iso it just has setup.exe, and other folders i use the hash thing but it doesn't match. So anyhow, I really, appreciate it, alot, this information was very helpful and will be for a long time. But whats next. All I am trying to do is repair my system files for windows 7 home premium because sfc /scannow cannot do its job, and my windows turn on and off applications is blank and now no programs will install correctly. Is there another way to repair or reinstall these important files, am i missing something

Is the DVD bootable? You need to extract the ISO from the DVD using ImgBurn.
ImgBurn - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com

Install ImgBurn, choose Create Image file from Disk, put it on your Desktop. Then run Hashtab on it to compare to official HASH.

If it matches, you can use it to run a Repair Install which will reinstall the OS while keeping all programs, files and settings in place. Read the tutorial in the blue link to understand fully how this is done.

Look over these tips too for getting a perfect clean reinstall: re-install windows 7

greg thanks alot for your help, unfortunantly the hases do not match. So I am stuck without this option. Asus does provide a backup of your operating system on disk for the "nominal fee" or 50 dollars. I dont want to pay that.

Well I can tell you broadly how to check (AFTER you've installed Windows 7).

1) Go to the Control Panel, click on System, scroll down the system properties page. Right at the bottom it should show the activation status- If that entire bottom part has vanished i.e. there is a blank space there, its a tell tale sign of a particular crack.

2) If after installing windows, it is automatically activated without entering a key, is likely using a crack. You can uninstall some cracks this way- boot to the windows DVD and select Repair PC. Navigate to the command prompt and type these one by one (hitting Enter after each).

bootsect.exe /nt60 all
bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /rebuildbcd

Reboot normally.

3) Validate windows online at MS's genuine website or run this tool mgadiag.

Run the tool, click on Copy button, paste into notepad, save as .txt file, upload file here.

go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012

Bottomline is as long as the disk is free of malware, other things can be handled. Just uninstall the illegal key with a slmgr command, run a sfc scan, then insert your genuine key and activate and validate.

THANKS! I will try this now!

Would be worth checking the hard drive first with the manufacturer's diagnostic tools.
Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.
HD Diagnostic