Caution on buying Win7 off web

[Maxxwire]

Appreciate the suggestion but I've been round and round with Dell. They refuse to provide any kind of disk saying they've completely discontinued that practice.

Can't you burn a set of recovery discs from the computer as HP does?

~Maxx~
.

 

[gregrocker]

As usual, excellent information and very timely, Greg. When I bought my laptop from Dell, it had 7 Pro installed. No install or recovery disk was included, just a recovery partition. I was looking around online and found several Microsoft Certified (or Gold Certified) Partners selling 7 Pro OEM disks. Most of the companies I looked at have been in business for at least 10 years. Considering that these vendors are Certified Partners and are registered with Microsoft, is it safe (and legal) to purchase OEM software from them?

How much did they want for the simple install disk without a key?

You know that you don't need to buy the Pro key again since it came with the laptop, right? You own it for life and are fully entitled to reinstall with a clean-copy Win7 Pro installer if you choose, even though manufacturers may say they don't support it in order to enforce the bloatware which now makes up most of their profit margin.

The Product Key on COA will activate after a quick robocall to MS which sorts the actual key from batch key on sticker.

MS requires makers to provide an installation DVD upon demand, so you can also call Dell to inquire. This is separate from their decision to finally quit providing Install disks, so if they refuse you can make it an issue in a thread here which MS may well see.

We aren't able to link to ISO downlloads as it encourages piracy, only suggest you borrow or find an installer of your version. Any version ISO can also be unlocked to create an all-versions installer. If you do download an ISO be sure to rightclick scan it with your AV and check its HASH and comments to make sure nothing was added.

 

[Layback Bear]

I must be lucky. I have a Intel Premier dealer a few blocks away and I get all my stuff from them. They have been there more years than I can count and wouldn't risk there reputation on tricks like that. As far as I know all Windows 7 system can make there own repair disc. My OEM W7 Home Premium 64 came built in.

 

[Fliplip]

I got three HP keys off ebay last Oct and all PCs are still working as they should, including all updates etc.

EDIT: Just to add i do have a legit copy of HP as well.

 

[stormy13]

Layback is this what you are referring too?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html

If so that won't do much good if you need to re-install Windows, all it allows is recovery options.

 

[Maxxwire]

I've restored my computer from a Windows System Image that I made and stored on a remote drive and it only took a little over 5 minutes. I was impressed because it was so much faster than recovering from disk plus I had all of my programs and settings in place.

~Maxx~

.

 

[marsmimar]

How much did they want for the simple install disk without a key?

You know that you don't need to buy the Pro key again since it came with the laptop, right? You own it for life and are fully entitled to reinstall with a clean-copy Win7 Pro installer if you choose, even though manufacturers may say they don't support it in order to enforce the bloatware which now makes up most of their profit margin.

The Product Key on COA will activate after a quick robocall to MS which sorts the actual key from batch key on sticker.

MS requires makers to provide an installation DVD upon demand, so you can also call Dell to inquire. This is separate from their decision to finally quit providing Install disks, so if they refuse you can make it an issue in a thread here which MS may well see.

We aren't able to link to ISO downlloads as it encourages piracy, only suggest you borrow or find an installer of your version. Any version ISO can also be unlocked to create an all-versions installer. If you do download an ISO be sure to rightclick scan it with your AV and check its HASH and comments to make sure nothing was added.

Thanks for the added info, Greg. When I bought my XP machine years ago Dell charged me about $20. for a plain install CD with no key. When I asked for the same thing for 7 Pro they said they no longer provided install disks for any price. Is there a MS website or KB article I could reference when I call Dell? Knowing how their support operates they'll just play dumb about having to provide a disk upon demand.

 

[Tews]

The solution for that is to image your system drive as soon as you do a clean install of your OS... Unless you like all the bloatware! ..

 

[zigzag3143]

Give me more bloatware. I will even pay extra for it Caveat Emptor

 

[Tews]

Give me more bloatware. I will even pay extra for it Caveat Emptor

Major credit/debit cards gladly accepted... :roflmao:

 

[Bill2]

MS requires makers to provide an installation DVD upon demand, so you can also call Dell to inquire.

OEM vendors are required by their agreement with Microsoft to give you a means of reinstalling. But they can do this in one of three ways:

1. An OEM copy of Windows
2. A restore CD
3. A hidden partition on your drive, with restore information.

They are not not giving 1 or 2, but they are giving 3.

 

[marsmimar]

The solution for that is to image your system drive as soon as you do a clean install of your OS... Unless you like all the bloatware! ..

That's part of my problem. I can't figure out how to do a clean install because the recovery partition includes all of the bloatware originally installed by Dell. I know I can use other tools like PC Decrapifier, Revo, etc. to get rid of a lot of that stuff and manually purge other items. But it sure would be nice to have an installation disk that has 7 (and only 7) on it.

 

[Bill2]

The solution for that is to image your system drive as soon as you do a clean install of your OS... Unless you like all the bloatware! ..

That's part of my problem. I can't figure out how to do a clean install because the recovery partition includes all of the bloatware originally installed by Dell. I know I can use other tools like PC Decrapifier, Revo, etc. to get rid of a lot of that stuff and manually purge other items. But it sure would be nice to have an installation disk that has 7 (and only 7) on it.

Be a little innovative. Dont you have any helpful friends/ neighbours? Borrow their disk, save it as an iso on your hdd, open in poweriso/ ultraiso/ magiciso (whatever), remove ei.cfg file in the "Sources" folder at the root of the iso, rebuild the iso and viola! you have a win7 universal disk ready.

Alternatively, look around on the web for a clean copy of a win7 disk. Remember they are all identical. As long as you can avoid malware and use your own, legally purchased key, you're fine.

 

[gregrocker]

Windows 7 Universal Installation Disc - Create

 

[Joan Archer]

I got my copy from Tesco when they did the launch last year, I pre ordered it in the June and received it on launch day 22nd October, the full Retail version, if I remember correctly it cost £44.97.

I didn't get any disc's with my machine when I got that, it came with Vista and had a recovery partition and a sheet of paper with instructions on how to set it back to factory condition, one good thing no bloatware just the OS.

 

[Maxxwire]

I didn't get any disc's with my machine when I got that, it came with Vista and had a recovery partition and a sheet of paper with instructions on how to set it back to factory condition.

It was the same with my Vista computer.

~Maxx~
.