format win7 hard drive and reinstall win7 Home Premium.

gregrocker said:

That is the official Win7 ISO download from Digital River which is the MS fulfiller of Student Upgrade special.

I provided it so you wouldn't have to get one from a torrent or other sketchy source.

This is the top tech forum on the web with some of the tightest standards on piracy of all. We waited longer than MS's own tech forums before being allowed to link to the official Win7 downloads.

If you have a license and you need to reinstall Win7 then what would be illegal about it?

That's ok, mate. I just needed that reassurance that's all. Like I said, it was only my local independent computer repairer who told me that despite my having a legit serial number on my PC and offering to show them they would only install Windows themselves, they could not give/sell me a disc.

If I was in the market for a new computer and was given to understand I wouldn't be getting either a recovrery disc or a Windows disc the company concerned would not be getting my businesss.

Please follow Greg's advice. He is one of our top contributors to this forum and his advice is always pertinent and good.

Were we to provide you with links to pirated software we would be banned quicker than you could put the disc in your computer.

seavixen32 said:

Please follow Greg's advice. He is one of our top contributors to this forum and his advice is always pertinent and good.

Were we to provide you with links to pirated software we would be banned quicker than you could put the disc in your computer.

lol okay fair enough -ISO downloading now... Under an hour not too bad compared to the aforementioned 6 hours someone was stating.

How many computers does a single W7 serial number allow you to install to?

and

Although I have a Win7 Home Premium serial, I think it is for 32bit version. Will a 64bit version still work with the serial or not?

That's ok, mate. I just needed that reassurance that's all. Like I said, it was only my local independent computer repairer who told me that despite my having a legit serial number on my PC and offering to show them they would only install Windows themselves, they could not give/sell me a disc.

Incorrect, they can order OEM manufacturer's disks for you. (May be a fee)

I have a Dell Laptop which came with XP,

You can Order Dell recovery disks from here: (Win XP only)
Dell - Support


For the MSI in your spec's
You can order Recovery disks from:
MSI Online Customer Service

How many computers does a single Windows 7 serial number allow you to install to?

One PC only.

Although I have a Windows 7 Home Premium serial, I think it is for 32bit version. Will a 64bit version still work with the serial or not?

Key is for 32 bit or 64 bit.

gregrocker said:

You might want to try asking a question or two if you're confused, instead of just complaining.

I apologize for what sounded like complaining. What I should have said was that I was so confused I had no idea what questions to ask. I will admit that after attempting to follow your post I was totally lost because I have no training and what sounds logical to you is really gibberish to me!

theog said:

How many computers does a single Windows 7 serial number allow you to install to?

One PC only.

Although I have a Windows 7 Home Premium serial, I think it is for 32bit version. Will a 64bit version still work with the serial or not?

Key is for 32 bit or 64 bit.

Oops, d/loaded wrong version! One computer, okay well I think I will still download it for my laptop woth the recovery drive and no disc, in case the HDD gets messed up, which is what happened to my girlfriend's laptop. Thanks!

Be sure to use the Product Key on laptop COA sticker, so you don't waste a retail license when you own one for life on that machine.

nodsirrah said:

gregrocker said:

You might want to try asking a question or two if you're confused, instead of just complaining.

I apologize for what sounded like complaining. What I should have said was that I was so confused I had no idea what questions to ask. I will admit that after attempting to follow your post I was totally lost because I have no training and what sounds logical to you is really gibberish to me!

The steps are written for novices and thousands of novices have completed them successfully, especially if able to interact with questions necessary to get them done. Each step has an illustrated tutorial in the blue links just like a picture-book.

gregrocker said:

Be sure to use the Product Key on laptop COA sticker, so you don't waste a retail license when you own one for life on that machine.

Are you saying that the number on a laptop is not actually in use?

No, just that it sounds like you may have more than one Win7 there Key available there. If you have another retail license you do not need to use it here but should use the Key on COA sticker.