Removing Windows 8 & Restoring Pre-Loaded Windows 7

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  1. joooklimnhs
    Posts : 21
    Windows 7
       New #1

    Removing Windows 8 & Restoring Pre-Loaded Windows 7


    I am trying to help a friend who purchased a 2nd-hand HP Pavilion DV5 {don't know model} laptop and it came Pre-Loaded with Windows 7 (I think Home Edition). Anyway, someone upgraded it to Win 8 Pro (Urg!) and we are trying to get it restored to the Factory Default but have no disc for either Win 7 or Win 8. Supposedly you should be able to press F11 or Fn-F11 and it will start system recovery but this is not the fact. Can anyone help me to help him get this laptop back to Windows 7/Factory Defaults. Any help would be MOST appreciated. I've been told so many things to try by both HP & Microsoft and nothing is working.
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  3. Kaktussoft
    Posts : 10,796
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bits 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       New #2

    win8 install did upgrade the disk MBR. The recovery partition is useless now (can't be booted useing F11).
    Do you have a COA sticker on laptop? Most of the time on back of laptop or under battery.
    https://www.google.nl/search?q=coa+s...w=1366&bih=600

    Is the license key readable and is it win7 home premium?
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  4. theog
    Posts : 11,408
    ME/XP/Vista/Win7
       New #3

    To clean install:
    1) Clean the HD Drive, using Step one in this tutorial:
    SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation
    than
    2a) clean install with the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disk.
    2b) Clean Install Windows 7
    2c) UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with


    You can order Microsoft official OEM Recovery disks from your OEM manufacturer's website.
    You can Order HP Recovery Disks from here:
    Country-language selector | HP® Support
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  6. Kaktussoft
    Posts : 10,796
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bits 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       New #4

    To make the win7 install DVD yourself (you need it anyways for troubleshooting):

    If you do not have a Windows 7 with SP1 installation DVD/USB, then you can download the latest official Windows 7 with SP1 ISO file here: Microsoft: Windows 7 Direct Download Links, and use Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool to create a bootable DVD or USB flash drive with the ISO to do the clean install with.
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  7. joooklimnhs
    Posts : 21
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    First, thanks to all for the comments.

    theog, the sticker on the bottom of the laptop is intact and able to be seen clearly. It has the Windows 7 key if that is what you are asking. Forgive my last of understanding but what is COA? If it's the laptops key/credentials, etc., than yes, all is there.

    kaktussoft, I am downloading the English versions of the x86 & x64 so I'll have them both and can burn the ISO files.

    Now, after I've done these things, what's next???

    Thanks again!
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  8. Kaktussoft
    Posts : 10,796
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bits 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       New #6

    jpherring said:
    First, thanks to all for the comments.

    theog, the sticker on the bottom of the laptop is intact and able to be seen clearly. It has the Windows 7 key if that is what you are asking. Forgive my last of understanding but what is COA? If it's the laptops key/credentials, etc., than yes, all is there.

    kaktussoft, I am downloading the English versions of the x86 & x64 so I'll have them both and can burn the ISO files.

    Now, after I've done these things, what's next???

    Thanks again!
    You have a 64bits cpu and 4GB or more memory? If so use x64 version instead of x86.
    What's on COA stick (don't post product key).... is it win7 home premium? if it is... are you downloading win7 home premium english ISO?

    Clean Install Windows 7 and delete all partitions in step 8!
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  10. joooklimnhs
    Posts : 21
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       New #7

    I don't have the laptop in front of me. It's at my friend's house I will see tonight. I will check the info on the COA sticker and get back with you. I am downloading the x86 & x64 and will use ImgBurn to burn a disc for each just so I'll have them.
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  11. Kaktussoft
    Posts : 10,796
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bits 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       New #8

    jpherring said:
    I don't have the laptop in front of me. It's at my friend's house I will see tonight. I will check the info on the COA sticker and get back with you. I am downloading the x86 & x64 and will use ImgBurn to burn a disc for each just so I'll have them.
    Be sure you're downaloding the correct ISO!! I assume he has a COA win7 home premium sticker
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  12. joooklimnhs
    Posts : 21
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       New #9

    I am downloading these two: Windows 7 Home Premium x86 SP1 U (media refresh) X17-58996.iso
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64 SP1 U (media refresh) X17-58997.iso. Are these correct?
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  13. Kaktussoft
    Posts : 10,796
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bits 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       New #10

    jpherring said:
    I am downloading these two: Windows 7 Home Premium x86 SP1 U (media refresh) X17-58996.iso
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64 SP1 U (media refresh) X17-58997.iso. Are these correct?
    If you have "Windows 7 Home Premium" or Windows 7 HP" or "Win7 HP" on COA sticker they are fine (if you want english win7).

    "The bootable disks can very easily be converted into universal installation media supporting all Windows 7 editions (except Enterprise). There's only a single file that needs to be removed on the DVD. The file named ei.cfg in the sources folder restricts the choice of Windows editions that can be installed with that particular DVD. To remove it, you can apply the ei.cfg Removal Utility very easily."
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