Upgrading Windows 7 OS from HOME PREMIUM to ULTIMATE

Page 3 of 5 FirstFirst 12345 LastLast

  1. Posts : 6,330
    Multi-Boot W7_Pro_x64 W8.1_Pro_x64 W10_Pro_x64 +Linux_VMs +Chromium_VM
       #21

    Are you sure you do not have a COA label somewhere on the desktop?
    It's my understanding the PC manufacturer MUST provide the COA with Windows.
    If they did not provide a COA, you may be able to contact HP and work with them to get one???

    Also, to be sure, you did not create the Recovery Disc set for these PCs, right?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 115
    windows 7 ultimate
    Thread Starter
       #22

    More details on COA


    The Laptop has stickers on the bottom but try to guess what happens to a sticker that is ink and printed after rubbing, sliding across tables, desks, dirt, etc for couple of years. to survive, they should have engraved in metal.

    Nothing on paper will survive this abuse, so why would anyone do something so stupid as expecting for a paper sticker to be readable after years of wear?
    Why not put it on INSIDE a drawer, under a cover, etc.
    Desktops SET on their bottoms and suffer not as bad abuse as Laptops but still suffer some.

    It is a dumb thing to do but I will turn that desktop upside down to see if some stupid person at the factory put it on the bottom.

    Can you tell me the FORMAT of what a COA looks like so I can look for it?

    Letters, numbers, dashes, etc?

    Thanks.

    Sorry about the frustration BUT dealing with not to smart corporations is frustrating as it sounds like a good opportunity for me to have to Pay twice as that is more profitable for them. Also justifies people to cheat.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 115
    windows 7 ultimate
    Thread Starter
       #23

    Let me recap


    Yes, both PC's have recovery partitions, and/or disks.

    BUT, if I recovery is reloaded, all I get is a PROD ID which is of no use to me to try to get rid of the HP bloatware.

    Correct?

    AND the legal license, I paid for is only on a paper sticker on the bottom of a used Laptop and is unreadable?

    And the Desktop COA is anyone's guess where they put that?

    is this correct?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 24,479
    Windows 7 Ultimate X64 SP1
       #24

    Here's a few examples.
    Windows COA - Google Search
      My Computer

  5.    #25

    You were repeatedly referred to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which has a picture of a COA sticker, so you'd already know what it looks like if you'd even bothered to look at the link. David even told you the exact step where to look:

    6. Write down the Product Key from COA sticker located on back or side of PC tower, bottom or under battery of notebook. Make sure you get the characters correct as this is a main cause of activation failure. You can input or Skip the key during install then afterwards activate at Control Panel>System, which may require a quick robocall. The COA sticker looks like this:
    I've also just explained that your only option if you can't read the key is to run Recovery and gave you special steps to take to try to force it to run. Did you just ignore that too? Why can't you interact with the illustrated steps we give you?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 115
    windows 7 ultimate
    Thread Starter
       #26

    You dont listen either.


    The STICKER for the COA is so badly damaged you can only see that it resembles a COA sticker because you can see a partial Hologram. .

    After couple of years of Tables, Laps, Desks and whatever you put a laptops on, PAPER GUMMED labels have no shelf life.

    ALL I CAN SEE somewhat clearly is one side of the label as the GUMMED stuff has turned the label brownish and and most of numbers/letters are GONE.

    Someone, assuming Microsoft, should not be so cheap and and use better material OR warn new owners of LAPTOPS to REMOVE the label from the case botton to protest such an important item and place it in a safe place. I WILL from now on and have advised my friends to do the same.

    Personally, I would never guess someone would put a cheap paper label on bottom of a device that rests on other surfaces that IS SO valuble. It is like putting it on the bottom of your SHOE for safe keeping.

    I personally would NEVER put a COA, proof of Purchase, License, etc, in such a poor place, NOR use such a degradable label like a cheap gummed label. I would have PLACED it inside the case, maybe in the battery compartment or some other inside place with access but protected from the environment. AND then put the cheap gummed label on the outside "stating the COA is located inside in the .......".
    Someone that works for HP or Microsoft might suggest that.

    But, all is not lost, HP advised me to use Magic Jellybean to try to recover the COA after a Recovery and use it for a rebuild.

    PS, mine does not look like this one but is close enough to get the general idea it IS a COA.

    Thanks for all your help.
      My Computer

  7.    #27

    Then you were given wrong information by HP because the key audited from factory preinstalled Win7 is an OEM-SLP key only used to activate a batch of machines at the factory, is completely different than the key on COA sticker, and will not activate a Clean Reinstall.

    There is a method to back up the OEM-SLP key from the factory preinstall so it can be reinstalled after Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 but it is not supported here by order of the Admin, so you'd have to research it for yourself.

    On more recent models HP has a Minimal Recovery which is very close to a Clean Reinstall except that the dodgy HP Wireless manager is reinstalled. You'll have to turn it off before uninstalling to default to Win7's superior wireless manager in the System Tray.

    You can also Clean Up Factory Bloatware
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 115
    windows 7 ultimate
    Thread Starter
       #28

    Wrapup of the reload


    Well today I took the plunge and loaded OEM Windows and had some difficulties with getting rid of the OLD HP load and had to try several options on the 'partition' list as FORMAT did not work so finally DELETED my old OS partition.
    It finally overwrote the old OS and must have FORMATTED it.

    Question: One think I miss in my HP STICKY NOTES. Tried some other free ones but don't like them.
    I thought You gave me a link to "recovering" some things from my HP disk/Recovery partition etc but I saved your links on desktop but forgot to save them from the desktop before the reload.

    Can I retrieve my Sticky Notes from HP disk/recovery partition, etc?
    Thanks for your help in a very frustrating experience and keeping your cool. Good Job.

    I retired from IBM at 73, several yeas ago and started as a computer operator at White Sands Missile Range in about 1962 as a student. But spent most of my time as VP/Manager of large Banking/Manufacturing Data Centers. At 76, I still love these things and picky about everything running right.. Was also a Sun Unix Sys Admin after Management at Mayo Client, Motorola, etc.

    Windows? Have some weaknesses and issues.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 115
    windows 7 ultimate
    Thread Starter
       #29

    And Thanks to DavidW7ncus, Britton30 and others

    GREAT FORUM with some nice people.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 17,322
    Win 10 Pro x64
       #30

    jagman55 said:
    Question: One think I miss in my HP STICKY NOTES. Tried some other free ones but don't like them.
    Are they different from the sticky notes that come with windows?

    Just go to the start menu, type sticky notes. Or just look in the accessories folder.
      My Computer


 
Page 3 of 5 FirstFirst 12345 LastLast

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:48.
Find Us