I have a Sony VAIO PCG-71312L. Before it was given to me, Windows was uninstalled and replaced with Ubuntu. I do not have the recovery or install disc that originally came with the laptop. All I have is the product key on a label on the back of the laptop. Can I purchase a recovery disc from anywhere and use that product key? If not, how do I go about this? I need to get Windows reinstalled so it is useable.
Welcome to the Forum
If you have a COA key on the COA stiker, you can use it to reinstall win 7.
The link is valid for 24 hours. Download it NOW
https://software-download.microsoft....38a596ed6eeb6b
Burn the iso to a DVD or make a USB boot able USB flash disk.
Windows USB/DVD Download Tool - Microsoft Store
Do a Clean install Clean Install Windows 7 - Windows 7 Help Forums
For the drivers Solved: I need drivers sony vaio pcg-71312L for Win 7 - the Community
For Windows update MS releases SP2 for Windows 7 - Windows 7 Help Forums
Windows USB/DVD Download Tool - Microsoft Store
So the product key that is on the back of the laptop is the COA and can be used with the download you just sent me? I will have to put it onto a flash drive to boot from.
I am not able to download the file you sent. Im at work and I cannot do that on the company computer. I would feel more comfortable purchasing a recovery disc. Is this possible? How do I know I am getting the right one? Sorry - I am not tech savvy, apparently.
I don't think it will be possible to buy a recovery disc. Anyway, it will be expensive.
It may be that the HDD still have the recovery partition.
Did you try to launch the Factory recover from BIOS?
I don't think it is possible? The only way I can get into what I think is the BIOS menu is by pressing f2 as the VAIO logo shows up. If it can be done there, I don't know how to. If I let it go passed this part, it takes me to Ubuntu and I am not able to get passed that bc it's password protected. It says Please unlock disk sda5_crypt. I don't have access to this password. From what I can tell Windows was taken completely off this laptop. I have a Windows 8 disc, bu no product key. I was able to get the computer to boot into windows last night with this disc, but it's useless bc no product key.
Thank you for baring with me here. I am not good with this stuff and since the laptop was given to me, I don't know the ins and outs of it.
On BIOS you normally has an option to launch the Factory Recover. Of course it will only work if the disk wasn't completely erased and you still have the Recover partition.
As I think it will be difficult to obtain the recovery disc, the best option would be to install Win 7 with a MS disk and activate with the COA key.
Don't you have anyone who can download the ISO file for you?
Not in the next 24 hours. If the link works longer, I can have it done this weekend.
If it it doesn't work, write asking for an update link. If I'm not online, there are others at the Forum that can give you a link.
Quote