How can I recover the original OS on my laptop after it crashed?

Hello!

I am new to this website and I have spent sometime looking over past threads to see if some would help me with my problem. But my biggest obstacle is that I am just a layperson with very little knowledge of computer lingo. So I am hoping that someone could help me here and go through the steps with me in plain non-technical language. LOL

My HP touchsmart tm2 crashed a few weeks ago after I tried making a recovery disk using drive D on the laptop (which wasn't the smartest thing I could've done!). After a 4 hours, I got the error message that I did not have enough space. But when I tried to undo it by doing a restore point prior to the recovery disk making, it did not work and i ended up with zero memory left on my computer which led to the computer crashing. When I tried a factory reset, it did not work and i ended up with a computer that does not boot... some error i could not recall anymore. Bottomline, I had my computer sent to a "technician" here in my city who said there was no way to boot my computer except to replace the OS.... which he did by putting a Windows 7 Ultimate operating system into my computer. It now works fine... EXCEPT for the fact that this is a pirated software. He warned me not to do updates on it as it will detect the illegal software and freeze my laptop. I cannot live with the fact that I am now using an "illegal" software when by rights, I still should be able to use the original "legal" one which came with my laptop when I purchased it.

My other problem is that I did not create a recovery disk way back when i first got this laptop, so I couldn't do it from there. I have the product key to my windows 7 OS but i am not sure which version of windows 7 came with my laptop originally, i only know that my laptop has a windows 7 sticker on it plus the product key sticker in the back. I remember I used to have to choose between 32-bit or 64-bit OS...

Any help? Please????

PS: i don't care about my lost data, I've cried rivers over that last week, my primary concern now is how to revert back to my original, legal version on windows 7, if it's at all possible without having to buy an expensive version again. Thanks a lot!!!

The shop is engaging in criminal activity by charging money for pirated software. This was completely unnecessary because the HP comes preinstalled with an OS which you own for the life of the machine to reinstall as often as you want.

What is the licensed OS which came preinstalled on the HP? It should be listed on the COA sticker on bottom along with a Product Key which if readable will allow you to reinstall and activate the licensed version.

Everything you need is here to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 including the latest official Win7 installer for your licensed version.

If the original OS is Vista then follow the same steps but first compile the installer using Vista ISO download.