Reinstalling Windows 7 with product key sticker


  1. Posts : 3
    Windows 7
       #1

    Reinstalling Windows 7 with product key sticker


    So I got a laptop around a year ago or so, maybe a bit longer, and replaced Windows 7 with Ubuntu fairly quickly. Well now the lack of video game support for Ubuntu has made me regret it, so I plan on reinstalling Windows 7 and simply giving it a tiny partition of the HDD. My question is how to use the product key I found on a sticker on the bottom of the laptop. I don't have any sort of recovery CD or anything for Windows 7 that I could use, and obviously every trace of it has been wiped from the drive. I considered grabbing one of the cracked versions off of a torrent site and using my recovery key, as it would still be fully legal then seeing as I merely need the install, but I figured it would be better to ask around here and see if there were a way to get a clean install of it simply less the product key. I really haven't found any way to get an install disc unless I buy a new copy outright.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 8,398
    ultimate 64 sp1
       #2

    hi Neoncamouflage, and welcome to sevenforums,

    you can download a legitimate iso from here.

    as a side point, you say you're interested in playing games, and are going to give win 7 a 'tiny portion of the HDD'.

    be aware that many modern video games contain a lot of multimedia data, and install sizes of 10 gigs or more per game are not uncommon.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 3
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thank you very much for your help, and yes, I know they can take up a good bit of space. I only have two games at the moment I really dislike not being able to play, so around the 50g partition I'm giving it should do well enough.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 8,398
    ultimate 64 sp1
       #4

    okey doke - have fun!
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 7,730
    Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-Bit
       #5

    This tutorial will help, should you need it: Clean Install : Factory COA Activation Key
      My Computer

  6.    #6

    Additional tips to get a perfect clean reinstall of factory OEM: Reinstalling Windows 7
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 11,408
    ME/XP/Vista/Win7
       #7

       Information
    We always assume you have made your Recovery Disks using the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Media Creator app the first day you had your new PC.
    & made the Startup Repair CD.
    startup repair disc-create


    Did you make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 3
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #8

    theog said:
       Information
    We always assume you have made your Recovery Disks using the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Media Creator app the first day you had your new PC.
    & made the Startup Repair CD.
    startup repair disc-create


    Did you make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?

    Um....no. I was never really concerned with getting Windows back were it ever to fail, as I always planned on changing over to Ubuntu anyway. Would this cause a problem when I'm trying to install Windows from the .iso link given earlier?
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 11,408
    ME/XP/Vista/Win7
       #9

    Try Cleaning the HD Drive, using the CLEAN ALL command in Step One in this tutorial:
    SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation
    Than clean install with the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disk.
    or
    Clean Install : Factory COA Activation Key
      My Computer


 

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