I'm losing the story line here. Do you have a Win7 Product Key that came with the 32 bit disk?
If so then you can run either a Repair Install or Clean Reinstall using the 32 bit installer provided in either tutorial's blue link, or a Clean Reinstall with the 64 bit installer provided if you prefer that.
Yes I have the win 7 key, I found it in one of the files left on the laptop. I'm going to DL as you said and when I call Dell back I will see it they will walk me though this.
Again Dell gave me the choice Vista or xp I chose XP as I simply like it better. WHen I was on w/ the tech I had not discoveder the key that was saved on the laptop.
Why use Dell? This is the top tech support forums by all standards. Save Dell for hardware warranty RMA's.
If you follow the steps in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 you will end up with a perfect instal which you can then save as a backup image to use for future reinstall, even apply to different hardware if needed.
You will get and keep a perfect install to the exact extent you stick with the tools and methods in tutorial.
I am still not sure you have a valid Win7 Product Key. Is it 25 alphnumeric characters, does it refer to the licensed edition? Under the law you were required to get a COA sticker with any retail or OEM Win7 OS sale.
The key was saved on the laptop, as I mentoned I bough this used w/o any discs. Talking w/ Dell on the phone and have them helping remotly is about my level of knowledge so far. I will DL the file and give it at try as at this time it cant hurt.
I tend to believe that this is legit as the laptop is still under full warranty but who knows at this point.
This is something we can determine with certainty if we can get some information from you.
You've now revealed that the key was saved on laptop. Where? Did you audit it from HD using a Keyfinder program?
Now go to Control Panel>System and scroll down to Activation information. Is there an "OEM" in the Product ID string? If so then this is either retail Builder's OEM or and illegal copy if Win7 did not come preinstalled on the machine.
If there is no OEM in the string then it is a retail Full or Upgrade license and good for reinstaling with the key currently activated. To double-check you have the correct Product Key I would audit it with Belarc Advisor.
You can also call MS Customer Service to have them validate the Product Key which if they do and for any reason it will not activate, they will open a Support case to get it installed one way or another.
Yes it ays activate an yes there is a OEM in the string? Ran Belaark an saw this:
Windows 7 WorkstationUser-pc (in WORKGROUP),
user-pc.domain_not_set.invalid10.xxx.75.xxx Routercisco07415, Cisco / IGD v1.0
That I do not understand (bear with me "d" key sticky)
Windows key also shown, so it looks good??
Last edited by jjr; 21 Jan 2013 at 20:44.
That OEM will appear if it's preinstalled at factory in which case it would have a COA sticker on teh PC, or a retail OEM System Builder license which is normally bought by those who build PC's to sell, or if it's been illegally cracked by a BIOS emulation piracy method. It would not appear with a retail copy of Win7.
There are two ways now to determine if its a legal Product Key:
Run the MGADiag.exe, copy the results of it's report and post them back in the code box accessed by clicking on # in the toolbar in Reply box.
Call MS Customer Service to verify the Product Key against the Product ID.
At least you'll then know if you have a legal copy on board since if you Repair Install or Reinstall it will not reactivate using a bad Product key which has been used for cracktivation.
May I ask where you found the Product Key?
Key was on a document file on the laptop. Ran mag test does this look legit?
[ATTACH][/ATTACH]
Last edited by jjr; 22 Jan 2013 at 05:30.
If this is a good legit copy and I do burn the iso could I just try running it as a repair? My issue is w/ missing dll files I believe. If this would do it would I still have to screw with the serial numbers?
Many thanks!
If SFC /SCANNOW Command does not help, a Repair Install might. You'd have to reactivate at which time you can find out if the key is genuine if you don't want to know now using the steps I gave you earlier.
We can determine with certainty if its genuine when you post back the MGADiag.exe report in a code box.
If not genuine you can buy a new copy, follow these same steps to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7, or you can install the licensed OS if a COA sticker is on your PC with a readable Product Key.
Quote
