Changing bit version of factory pre-installed DELL OEM Win 7 Pro


  1. GokAy
    Posts : 5,656
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
       New #1

    Changing bit version of factory pre-installed DELL OEM Win 7 Pro


    Hey all,

    In my new job we are facing an issue with our production PCs. I have to install 32-bit W7 Pro on several of my PCs (OptiPlex 3020). These PCs officially have Windows 8 Pro licenses (no COA sticker, embedded in BIOS) which are factory downgraded to Windows 7 Pro 64-bit. OOBE installation is W7 Pro (with 4 language option). Recovery etc media is all for Windows 8.

    From my limited research, I read that I would need a DELL branded OEM installation media (which can read license from BIOS). I talked to local DELL support and they told me they don't provide any installation media and asked me to download from MS. They are not even aware Digital River was taken down.

    If any of you have such an experience, how should I proceed? Would any OEM installation media work (as in read the embedded license)? I could perhaps remove ei.cfg if I can find a Turkish OEM media.

    The other option I have is order 32-bit PCs but that takes 6 weeks I am told and production will start in 4 weeks.

    Thanks! :)
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  3. ThrashZone
    Posts : 20,583
    Win-7-Pro64bit 7-H-Prem-64bit
       New #2

    Hi,
    It doesn't happen often but this thread does have a couple torrent downloads for 7
    ISO image

    Without a sticker with the Dell slp key on it :/
    Solved no licence key on windows 8 laptops
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  4. alphanumeric
    Posts : 4,466
    Windows 10 Education 64 bit
       New #3

    No stock Windows 7 install media will not read the SLIC table, only custom OEM branded media will. The custom OEM install media will have an extra $OEM$ folder in the sources folder with the required files and scripts to do the OEM-SLP activation. If you don't have a Windows 7 COA sticker with a product code on it your between a rock and a hard place. That code is what you would use to install with stock install media. That's what they were originally used for. Regular Windows 7 ISO's are hard to find never mind the OEM ones. Also the OEM-SLP product code is no good with stock install media. You can install with it but it will never activate. Those keys are permanently blocked from online activation. OEM-SLP install do not activate online. I do believe there are utilities out there to backup and restore OEM activation. I don't know if it would work when switching from 64 bit to 32 bit though. I've never used one and have no idea where you'd find one. The sites you'd find them on are likely less than reputable so I don't want to post a link that would get me in trouble with the modes. It should be legal to back up your OEM activation and restore it in this case though. Your not switching the version of windows.
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  6. GokAy
    Posts : 5,656
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
    Thread Starter
       New #4

    Thanks for the responses guys.

    In the end, we decided to just get more PCs with 32-bit Windows 7 and now we will be getting FreeDos ones and OEM 7 Pro licenses separately.
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