Windows 7: Dbanning/wiping out HD, can I use windows 7 OEM or Windows 8 upgrade?

i havent opened the package yet. if i open it then that's 70 dollars i wasted on windows 8 upgrade. this is my problem.

@greg

it is an asus laptop, no windows cd given or included in the original package. everything was pre-installed.

If Windows 7 came preinstalled then there is a COA sticker on the laptop which looks like this:



With that you can either Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 or Clean Install with Windows 8 Upgrade

yeah like i said i plan on dbanning on the hard drive as i always do. im betting i cant use the windows 8 upgrade, right? after wiping out the partition and any trace of windows 7 will i be able to install windows 7 OEM product? the link i gave on amazon.

Yes, that OEM copy of Windows 7 will work on there.

You would need an existing Windows 7 license to install the Win8 Upgrade, which is what I was trying to find out all this time.

What was the licensed OS that came with the PC? We can help you reinstall it so that you and the buyer get the full value of the machine and it's $100+ OS license.

it is windows 7. but like i said the laptop didnt come with a recovery disk, asus includes AI recovery but it keeps giving me errors. it requires a bunch of CDs and i dont think it will work after a dban.

I've asked you now NINE times if Windows 7 came preinstalled on the PC, whether there is a COA sticker, even gave you a picture of one you also ignored.

The fact is Asus cannot legally sell you a PC with preinstalled Windows 7 without a COA sticker attached. It doesn't happen.

You do not need the Recovery partition or Disks to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 with the official installer for your licensed version provided in Step 1 and the Product Key on COA sticker. You own that copy of Windows 7 for life to reinstall whenever and however you please on that machine. It also qualifies you for Win8.

I cannot remember it ever being this difficult in four years and 32,000 posts to get a point across.

yes okay i believe there is a COA sticker. like i said, my computer includes programs to create recovery disks but it isn't working for me. IT is asus i shouldn't expect anything less than that LOL.

is this all i need to do?

Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool[2]=General%20Tips

and then i can dban before, reinstall windows 7 like that? or create a system image?

Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

the point is dban should wipe out the partition and ntfs. with my other computers id just boot with a recovery desk and everything is fine. is there an equivalent with windows 7?

It's called a Clean Reinstall, and its a vastly superior install to running Factory Recovery disks as any tech enthusiast will tell you.

Did you read Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 It provides everything you need including the installer and how to back up a System Image once its installed and set up.

how is it vastly superior? with recovery disks the process takes me five minutes and windows installs on its own. this just more work for the same thing.

Its a native installation without the OEM bloatware that slows sysyems, and in some cases causes BSOD's depending on the bloatware.

Regards,
Golden