Fresh Install of Windows w/o disk

Hello bjp106.



Have a look at this tutorial at the link below to see a way to create an 'all versions' installer that can be used to install Windows, then you would use the product key on the COA sticker attached to the PC though you may have to make a robo-call to MS to sort the activation batch key.


Windows 7 Universal Installation Disc - Create

Activate Windows 7 by Phone

You should have a recovery partition (usually D) from which you can burn your own installation DVDs (you can do that only once). And if you keep the recovery partition around, you can install directly from there - which is the most convenient way.

I can't speak for legality but I can say what I have done before. I have made a Windows 7 Universal install disc for working on Win7 PCs, but I haven't used it on any computer besides my own yet. For XP I have a XP SP2 install disc that I use and the key on the side/back/bottom of the computer I was working on have always worked.

bjp106 said:

Thanks.

-What would, in fact, be legal in this similar situation while doing consulting?
-What have others done in consulting situations for both XP and Win7?
-What do small businesses do for people coming in that need fresh installs?

These "consulting situations" could be anything that would need a fresh install of the Windows OS. For ex - like, boot errors, corrupt system files, viruses/malware. Basically anything that would be better off with a fresh install.

From a legal standpoint calling MS with COD in hand to beg from activate code is probably the official MS approved method. Unofficial method on a working system would be to extract the key code, certificate if a OEM computer and re-import.
Small businesses usually use Volume licensing.

I'd suggest you visit some local shops, or better yet contact MS directly if you are entering into a business doing such.

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