Lost your Windows discs? How to get replacement media, legally

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  1. Posts : 774
    Vista Ultimate X64/ Windows 7 Dual-boot
       #10

    This should be a sticky as the question comes up so frequently...
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  2. Posts : 8,375
    W7 Ultimate x64/W10 Pro x64/W11 Pro Triple Boot - Main PC W7 Remote PC Micro ATX W7 Pro x64/W11 Pro
       #11

    Good point! patio It makes a good reference for sure!
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  3. Posts : 302
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Retail
       #12

    Aren't I glad I got technet...
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  4. Posts : 8,375
    W7 Ultimate x64/W10 Pro x64/W11 Pro Triple Boot - Main PC W7 Remote PC Micro ATX W7 Pro x64/W11 Pro
       #13

    That's great! But for those who buy laptops, desktops without recovery disks and end up needing a new drive or Windows gets trashed they often ask how to see Windows installed fresh! The article explains the legit ways to go about things.
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  5. Posts : 302
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Retail
       #14

    It IS a common habit to not give customer any kind of CD/disk Then again.. the average PC user wouldn't know how to install Windows withoiut the help of someone who does know
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  6. Posts : 8,375
    W7 Ultimate x64/W10 Pro x64/W11 Pro Triple Boot - Main PC W7 Remote PC Micro ATX W7 Pro x64/W11 Pro
       #15

    New machines, note the operative words, "USED TO" provide recovery disks with both laptops and desktops coming with Windows already preinstalled. Then within the last few years less and less models would see any. Instead the manufacturer either prepackaged or posted up on their support site a utility you would use to create them from the hidden recovery partition containing the software options along with all the drivers.

    For the novice or for someone simply lacking any the use of another person's installation disk but still using the same product key from the sticker will work allowing you to borrow a disk as long as the disk itself was genuine since the product key on the sticker is the actual OEM license for that one machine only.

    The article here proves continually to be useful since many a novice user will ask other questions where I simply end up pointing to the article! Fortunately for most with an OEM pc they can usually acquire a recovery disk for shipping costs only when providing the manufacturer or dealer with customer information to order if not use the utlity to create a disk.
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  7. Posts : 427
    Windows 7/64 HPremium.
       #16

    WolfSoul said:
    It IS a common habit to not give customer any kind of CD/disk Then again.. the average PC user wouldn't know how to install Windows withoiut the help of someone who does know
    .... No such animal as an "average" PC user. Perhaps you mean a NOVICE PC user?
    I don't mean to be rude, far from it, but computer usage is such a broad church. The intelligence, ability and personality of each individual ensures that.

    Most people even reading the instructions on the outside of a Windows disc box, will be capable of figuring out what to do with the disc. A novice will almost certainly be installing into a new PC or laptop. The instructions upon the screen are easy enough to follow.

    I was a new user, once. So was every person reading and contributing to this forum.
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  8. Posts : 186
    Windows Seven, Ubuntu
       #17

    I don't understand Microsofts problem here. They can't be activated without a valid product key anyway.
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  9. Posts : 427
    Windows 7/64 HPremium.
       #18

    Brink said:
    By Ed Bott | January 5, 2012, 3:48pm PST

    Did your most recent Windows PC come with reinstallation media? Many do, some don’t. But contrary to what you might have read, creating replacement Windows discs is easy, and every major PC maker will supply backup discs, sometimes for free. I have details.
    Read more at:
    Lost your Windows discs? How to get replacement media, legally | ZDNet
    Some time ago, I needed to remove all the useless, space-wasting factory crud from my HP lappy and make a fresh install of Win7/64. On the UK "Micromart" magazine forum, I received good advice from a techie working in a large international PC outlet. I used his advice and I pass it on here:

    Backup all the stuff you intend to keep.
    Your original Win7 Product Key is needed. On lappies, it is on the base. For a PC 'Big Box', it should have been a sticker in your original Windows disc case. If not, it may be stuck to the inside of the PC case.Write it down.
    Borrow a genuine Win7 disc, OEM or Full. (Luckily, I had a full copy from my PC.) The disc MUST be same O/S as original: Win7/64, 32, Home Premium/Utimate/Professional/whatever.
    Install the disc and follow the instructions for a complete new Installation. This will remove everything and prepare it for the new installation.
    At activation, when asked for the Product Key, type in the one you wrote down, from your original O/S.
    Follow the instructions on screen, for a shiny, spanking new installation.
    Reinstall your backup stuff.
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  10. Posts : 2,240
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit
       #19

    My question is; what do you do when the recovery software and hidden OS partition has been deleted. How do you recover to factory condition with out those two options. I'm working with a client right now that has a Toshiba laptop with just this problem. There has to be a way to recover to factory condition with out ordering the recovery disc's, mind you, that only comes with the OS and no drivers, which you have to download separately.
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