I can no longer boot my Win 7 drive

Layback Bear · 26 Aug 2015

Their must be a legitimate retail store in Ontario some where.

Go to it and buy what ever Windows 7 you want. It will come with a DVD and the proper COA and it's sticker from Microsoft.

I doubt you will be able to find a Retail version. They are like hens teeth to find.

Going to some chopstick ding dong store online to get a maybe Windows 7 to save $10.00 is foolish in my opinion.

Hell a large StarBuck coffee can cost close to $10.00. Just skip a day on the StarBuck coffee and by a real, legal Windows 7.

ignatzatsonic · 27 Aug 2015

Goodgenie4u said:

Thanks again. I can use that knowledge to consider what to do.
Due to my limited resources, (as I was planning on a free Win 10 upgrade), I was wondering if I could get your advice on what the disadvantages are of "second hand" retail Win 7 or is that illegal and unusable?

I wonder if someone took the free upgrade from Win 7 to Win 10, would their Win 7 license be deactivated from further uses for Windows 7?

If it is still available for use, does the retail version allow me install a win 7 installation using the Product serial number that activates the install? Will it allow me to reinstall or repair or put it on a mini home theater pc and upgrade to Win 10

Thanks

Suppose Jones has a Win 7 PC and free upgrades it to Win 10 and then sells his Win 7 Product Key and installation disc to Smith.

I don't think Smith is going to get very far if he tries to install Win 7 on Smith's PC.

Retail or not.

Even if it activated, I would not trust that it would activate indefinitely into the future.

Goodgenie4u · 06 Sep 2015

OK, my understanding of how these licences work is improving. If I am wrong, give me hell. BTW @Layback Bear. You are comic relief with the Star Bucks analogy. Thanks. (BTW I cannot afford a Star Bucks Coffee) There are 3 of them within a 10 minute walk. I just breath in deeply to enjoy it, as I walk by! I do a lot of walking indoors and outdoors, about 20 km per week (diabetic staying off drugs for now!) At 70, that is not the only thing wearing me out! I cannot afford both cable tv and internet; so I use OTA antenna and mini HTPC and XBMC /Kodi. Setting up is a lot of confusing work (in progress).

A final technical /legal help matter that has financial consequences. Before I take your advice to buy what appears to be an OEM Windows 7 set of discs from a reputable place. (I have 3 within a 5 minute walk; Best Buy, NCIX, Canada Computers) Some questions.

The un-bootable Win 7 Pro drive is not the only problem. I have Microsoft Office 10, Adobe Acrobat 8. Some questions.

(1) S1nce I have none of the original licences or discs, for these either, I will loose these in a clean install. Right!
(2) The Win 7 Pro OEM is way more expensive than the Win 7 Home Premium. Will Premium offer Windows Media Center so that I can use it to watch OTA HDTV channels? (MS took away the TV Guide, I'll look for another)?
(3) Besides using Google docs or other cloud based MS Office compatible apps, are there free or cheap desktop based compatible apps? I have need for simple use for Word and Excel.

Thank you for educating me. If this resolution gets expensive, I will likely look for a mini ATX lower power solution that comes with win 7 OEM that I can back up or reinstall.It will need a PCI slot for myHauppauge 1600 TV tuner card. Now I can upgrade hardware from the dual core, 32 bit DDR2 to Icore 3 64 bit and a SATA boot drive of 60 Gig. My kids when they hear of this, might pitch in for my Christmas gift or a BD gift in Mar.

I am not sure if I will ever like Win 10. For my needs it is just not efficient, just clutters my desk top with tiles that I cannot arrange to suit me like on Win 7 start up. Is there a skin that will do that? In 2022 I'll be 77 and by then my needs and the world will change.
One other option is our Thinkpad X220 Laptop with Windows 7 Pro 64 bit. It will be all I need, if it survives. I need to find an old docking station for it to use with my Viewsonic 27" monitor. (I bought it on an Ebay auction 1 year ago for $400 coming off a corporate lease).

Thanks again for any advice on how I can make my Thinkpad X220 OS and Apps reusable in case the HD hits the dust. I have no discs or License info that can be used to repair or rebuild.

Layback Bear · 06 Sep 2015

1. Before you do a Clean Install you must locate and save all programs activation codes because they will be needed to install said programs after the Clean Install.

2. Windows 7 Media Player is included in Home Premium.

3. I don't know what is free or cheep to replace for Microsoft cloud apps. Other on the forum will.

P/S
I'm 69 years old with Social Security as my income. I do know what a tight budget is.
What I'm try to do is help so you don't waste money on Windows 7 bought from who know where that will not be correct or not activate properly.
The only time I get StarBucks is from a little shop in the V.A. hospital.
It's cheaper. I wish I could make coffee at home that good.

Goodgenie4u · 06 Sep 2015

@ ignatzatsonic

Will the solution as outlined in the link below allow me

(1) to repair my Win 7 Pro 32 bit HDD? Repairing will preserve all my installed apps.
(2) Can I do a fresh install on the other HDD that has Win 10 that asks for activation. I can use this drive strictly for Windows 7 Media Center,XBMC, OTA broadcast antenna TV
(3) I am assuming that hanging on to the Discs that come will allow me to do a fresh install on a SSD boot drive if necessary? Win 7 is good till 2022 and that is fine.

Please advice me. Thank you

Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 32 BIT Full Version With COA KEY 160GB Drive | eBay