Retail disc into OEM disc

[UltraSoul]

My laptop came with windows 7 pre installed. And no windows disc in the pack..

I managed to get hold of a complete retail version of windows 7 x64 that doesn't have a License Key with it.. I chose one without a license key because i dont want to run a illegal cloned computer.

I read somewhere on the internet, that you can change the retail version installation disc into a OEM disc but i cant remember how exactly. I have a .iso of windows 7 and i am able to access the internal files of the .iso I know i had to create a oem folder and insert a certificate from my laptop "OEM.xrm-ms" but im uncertain of the other steps. I know i could have just made a backup, but there's something about wanting a windows 7 oem disc for my laptop, so i can install fresh. And in case the recovery partition goes wrong. I asked dell for one the said no.

can anyone point me in the right direction or explain the step to do this?

 

[gregrocker]

You can use a retail installer to clean reinstall Factory OEM since XP. You want to use the Product Key on COA sticker to change the activation to MS servers and protection.

Follow these steps to get it perfect: Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 - Windows 7 Forums

 

[UltraSoul]

If i use a retail installer to do a clean install, it would basicly be like the disc i currently have just abit more updated.. However i did find eventually what i was looking for. It was to create a directory ($oem$\$$\system32\oem\ then certificates go here) I could do this to the updated retail installer image too.

But the next step im looking for is activation. Because my laptop came pre-activated. if i input my oem license key offline will i still have to connect to the internet to activate my version of windows? Im looking to make a pre activated disc, If i were to make a answer file to input the key automatically would i still need to activate my version of windows? Is there a way i can make the disc pre-activated?

 

[gregrocker]

The Recovery Disks will auto-activate with Factory SLP offline activation. The method to back up OEM-SLP factory activation is not preferred by the Forum's Administrator.

Why would you not want to activate with Product Key on COA sticker? It protects you in MS Servers permanantly while removing you from the OEM's possibly careless Support which can often violate the Win7 EULA in various ways, like refusing to support 32-bit or clean reinstall.

 

[seavixen32]

You can use a Windows 7 retail disc along with a genuine Windows 7 OEM product key to perform a clean install.

The two versions of Windows must be the same e.g. Home Premium, and when it comes to activating the installation you will need to use the robocall activate by telephone method.

 

[jumanji]

My laptop came with windows 7 pre installed. And no windows disc in the pack..

I managed to get hold of a complete retail version of windows 7 x64 that doesn't have a License Key with it.. I chose one without a license key because i dont want to run a illegal cloned computer.

I read somewhere on the internet, that you can change the retail version installation disc into a OEM disc but i cant remember how exactly. I have a .iso of windows 7 and i am able to access the internal files of the .iso I know i had to create a oem folder and insert a certificate from my laptop "OEM.xrm-ms" but im uncertain of the other steps. I know i could have just made a backup, but there's something about wanting a windows 7 oem disc for my laptop, so i can install fresh. And in case the recovery partition goes wrong. I asked dell for one the said no.

can anyone point me in the right direction or explain the step to do this?

I am surprised to know that Dell refused to send you an OEM Reinstall Disk.

If you are living in USA and if your Dell Laptop is within warranty, you are entitled to get the Recovery Media and Dell will usually send you the OEM Reinstall Disk free. Just fill in the Media Request Form here Dell - Support and submit online and wait to see what happens.( Not a long wait. Within days you will know.) (Dell India sent me the OEM Reinstall Disk even though I specifically asked for the Recovery Disk)

 

[seavixen32]

Have a look at these links, which should help.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/85813-windows-7-universal-installation-disc-create.html

How to Choose Desired Windows 7 Edition / Version During Setup? - Tweaking with Vishal

I agree with jumanji in that I'm surprised Dell refused your request - unless of course they knew you were going to or had used a retail version of Windows. Doing that invalidates their warranty conditions, but obviously they wouldn't know unless they had been told.

 

[UltraSoul]

I asked dell for recovery media but they told me i have a recovery partition and i can make my own recovery media from dell software, or use windows backup and restore. So they wouldn't send me a oem disc for a fresh install. And im in UK not USA or india

I used Macrium Reflect to make a image of all my partitions including the recovery partition so i can easily repair my computer. But if the image on one of the disc become corrupted or scratched i wanted a win7 oem disc specifically for my laptop which i could just insert and run unattended to re install my laptop fresh.

I have no intention of trying to install another version of windows, im happy with home premium so im not looking to unlock a disc to give me other version. As for the license key, when i use a program to find the key it shows that i have 2 keys for windows 7. Windows Product Key & Windows Default Product Key there both different so im not sure what one to use. Only one of the keys are the same as the sticker, and if i use that one and i re install, there's a chance il lose the other one, thats why im looking to make a pre activated oem disc rather then install a retail version.

 

[seavixen32]

I must confess that I am surprised at Dell.

I'd be inclined to contact them again and tell them that you tried to create your recovery media, but that it wouldn't complete and they might relent and ship you a recovery disc.

In terms of the product keys, the one you need to use is the one on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) sticker. The other product key is locked into the system and is the OEM key used by system builders to pre-activate Windows before the computer is sent to the buyer and is not one you should concern yourself with or worry about losing.

Have a look at this excellent tutorial by Gregrocker.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164

 

[UltraSoul]

I found this article that partly explains what im trying to archive.

How to Backup and Restore Windows 7 OEM Activation License(Activate Offline On Reinstall)

To activate my laptop offline with the OEM license.

With a windows 7 .iso i have, i made the $oem$ folder and have added my laptops certificates, I now want to make it pre activated offline and automated.
If i follow the instructions set out in the article but so the files move to the directory during installation would this then make my disc pre activated during the first use so i would not have to move the files manually? Or activate online or by phone.

Since dell wouldn't send me out a oem disc for my laptop im trying to make a pre-activated oem disc of my own for my laptop, that is automated, just insert and go.

 

[gregrocker]

As stated earlier the Administrator of the forums does not wish this method to be discussed here.

You still haven't explained why you cannot clean reinstall using the Product Key on COA sticker. I explained that there are advantages to this: MS will protect your license for the life of the computer without interference from your OEM, most of which do not support clean reinstalls or support change of bit-version even though this violates their EULA.

 

[UltraSoul]

To be honest, im starting to think it is more hassle then what its worth. Sorry if im infringing on forum rules, I thought that since my laptop is from dell if anything was to go wrong i i needed to send it back to them if there was a OS different from the one they installed it may void any help from them, thats the only reason i want to keep it exactly the same. But hey it's probably easier to go with a method that is most common to everyone.

If i download the latest official Win7 installer ISO with SP1 can i make that automated by adding the answer file or would it just be easier to keep it as it is and burn straight to dvd?

 

[seavixen32]

For the third time of asking, using this method really is your best solution.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164

Why the reluctance to do otherwise?

 

[gregrocker]

If you want an installer which auto-activates run built-in Factory Recovery or boot the Factory Recovery Disk(s). Make your Recovery Disks now so you retain that option.

Otherwise you can save externally a Win7 backup image of what you have now which will in most cases hold activation when re-imaged, taking about 20 minutes.

 

[UltraSoul]

@seavixen32
I was reluctant because i thought if there was a hardware failure and i had to send the laptop back to dell for repairs, and they noticed that it wasn't exactly the one they gave to me, they might decline repairs or charge me. So other then a image of my system i wanted a re installation disc for a clean install but still keeping it exactly how they sent it to me. Thats really it. thats what all the fuss was about. If i used the coa key rather then the oem key i thought they might say i tampered with it and voided the license agreement with them and would charge for repairs.

but i appreciate all the help everyone has provided

 

[gregrocker]

Then you should have asked us since we are the top forums on the web for clean reinstalls of factory OEM and have handled thousands of these cases.

No, they cannot void your hardware warranty. Sometimes they will require you restore to factory condition if you are able to do so before shipping it back under warranty. This is why we advise to always make your Recovery Disks or save an image of factory install.

But courts have ruled clearly that they cannot refuse hardware warranty due to a clean reinstall, only tech support, and none will even try that I've heard.

For this reason I do not tell them that I've clean reinstalled if for some reason I need to call OEM Tech Support. However there is rarely a reason to call them since most OEM tech support is grossly inferior to the help you can find here, or even Google.

 

[jumanji]

........I used Macrium Reflect to make a image of all my partitions including the recovery partition so i can easily repair my computer. But if the image on one of the disc become corrupted or scratched i wanted a win7 oem disc specifically for my laptop which i could just insert and run unattended to re install my laptop fresh......

I appreciate the fact that you have imaged your complete system so that you can restore it to the factory condition, even if your Recovery partition and/or Recovery Disks fail to restore, which more so often happens.

I am just curious to know whether you have at anytime tried to restore using 1. the recovery partition. and 2. the Recovery Disks you had created. If not check now but before that image your system drive and keep it so that you can restore it back after this exercise.

As for as activating by phone using the COA-SLP Key after a clean install, IMO, Microsoft has not revealed its policy on such activation a) whether future activations too will require a phone activation b) whether there is a limit to the number of such activations and whether the frequency of reactivations have a bearing on that ( Well some may want to do a clean install every month. Why not?). Different people say what they "think" on COA-SLP Key activation but there is no authentic source. I have been looking out for actual user experiences but could not find any. It still remains a grey area. In the circumstances I will consider it only as a last option when all else fails.

My two cents will therefore be on preserving the OEM activation in tact.

 

[seavixen32]

@seavixen32
I was reluctant because i thought if there was a hardware failure and i had to send the laptop back to dell for repairs, and they noticed that it wasn't exactly the one they gave to me, they might decline repairs or charge me. So other then a image of my system i wanted a re installation disc for a clean install but still keeping it exactly how they sent it to me. Thats really it. thats what all the fuss was about. If i used the coa key rather then the oem key i thought they might say i tampered with it and voided the license agreement with them and would charge for repairs.

but i appreciate all the help everyone has provided

If the hardware failure happened to be the hard drive then there would be no way to re-image your system before you send the computer back to Dell anyway, so your argument is self-defeating.

Please, trust gregrocker on this one. He is our top expert on this particular subject and when he says you'll get far superior support here than you will from Dell he is 100% correct - and you get it free of charge.

Carry out a COA install and let us help you.

For the record, whenever I've had problems with a Dell I've always offered to self-repair if they send the parts, and while the computer was under warranty they've always agreed as it's cheaper for them.

 

[UltraSoul]

@jumanji At one point evrything was fine, then one day i had problems with my laptop so used the recovery patition and it gave me a error code and i was unable to recover. Luckily i had the recovery media dell told me to create... But that to gave me a problem with a corrupted image. So that was 2 down. But just in case of that situation i used windows 7 to make a image of my derive with its own in built utility. Luckily that restored it and everything was fine. Since then i don't want to take any chances. I made a factory image of when i just brought the PC with Macruim Reflect, And i made another image with Marcium reflect after i installed all my programs. Then i keep a current backup with windows 7 in built backup utility. So i have 3 back ups

I have checked them and made sure they work. So youd think im safe with the 3 back ups. Problem is they are all on 1 external HD if i were to burn the images to disc i would need from 4-10 disc's. Depending on the size of the image.

Thats why i have been obsessing a bit about having a windows 7 OEM disc. So that i have 1 disc that will restore it to how the manufacture sent the laptop to me. Just i case my external HD decides to corrupt the images i have made. And it's that 1 disc i have been trying to make and was asking all the questions about. Just in case the worst happens, my images fail to work, and i re install with the COA key, have to send the laptop to dell and they refuse to help because its not how they sent it to me with the OEM key. Thats my reason for trying to make a OEM disc. but since im having so much trouble i will just have to use the method that has been suggested to me.

Thanks to all those that offered advice

 

[gregrocker]

Let's also not miss the point normally made that the Clean Reinstall is a much superior install without the throttling bloatware and useless factory utilities which have better versions built into Win7.

I admire the thoroughness of your backups as they show a level of expertise that normally also prefers clean reinstalling factory OEM for ultimate performance.