Windows 7: Lost your Windows discs? How to get replacement media, legally

You need to buy the recovery disks or do a clean install.

RE: Clean Install using the COA PID key
This article seems to be all about Factory recovery.

Can forum members still provide the link to "My Digital Life" to download the ISO for a Clean Install as was agreed at one stage??

That's my thinking. They could simply offer an .iso download directly from their site (and could even offer a <700mb bootable installer .iso that automatically downloads the files as needed. This way they can ensure that everyone that chooses to download Windows will at least get the official build, without any cracks or hidden viruses or anything (it could even include checksums that prevent installation if tampering with the installer is detected).

Yes, dispensed individually to OP's who have a working thread requiring Repair Install or Clean Reinstalling Windows 7.

We need to demonstrate caution so we don't lose the approval to do this, given here, following MS's lead in their own forums.

I was referring to the same thread here. Just checking if there had been a policy change since, accepting you reference the link when appropriate.

What do you do with an old beat up laptop where the OS is history and optical drive is toast as well? That required a usb install key for Vista Home Premium where the drivers for chipset as well as video and sound had to be downloaded separately once a fresh copy of Windows was on.

The product key was simply taken from the sticker attached on the under side for that portable. The Vista dvd used had to be a genuine disk however for making up the install key not anything found elsewhere and to pass the WGA!

You already mentioned part of the answer for that by locating the correct drivers at the manufacturer's support site. Once hidden recovery partition has been removed the device drivers and all prepackaged softwares are lost along with it including the OEM preactivation.

The option for recovery back to factory to include what came with it would require attaining an OEM disk direct from Toshiba likely through the dealer/vendor that sold the laptop itself. Often once the customer information is provided you will pay for shipping only.

One other to further point out is if the laptop or pc OEM comes with the 32bit Home Premium you cannot use a 64bit Home Premium disk. The OEM license only covers the 32bit Windows preinstalled.

A retail disk with a new license would be needed for seeing the 64bit flavor go on instead. The same applies in reverse for seeing the 32bit version of same go onto a machine that came with the 64bit.

Good to know.

Thanks Fabe

Yeah..I totally agree with you...but my question was; with out having to buy the disc from the vendor. Even though it's a greatly discounted price. Toshiba charges $29.95 plus shipping. HP charges $19.95 plus shipping and Dell the same if I can remember correctly. And some vendors only have the OS and not the other preloaded software. Hp and Dell are big for that. A small price to pay for the customers peace of mind.

I do not believe it is correct that you cannot clean reinstall 64-bit on an 32-bit preinstalled OEM system, or vice versa.

Under the EULA you are entitled to either 32-bit or 64-bit with each license but only one at a time.

No manufacturer can restrict the terms of the EULA even with Win7 factory OEM version - which you own, not them. They may not provide the desired bit-version drivers on their website but in my experience they can almost always be found using optional Updates, googling device model (if necessary using Hardware Identification) or as a last resort the excellent freeware DriverMax. Do not change drivers given by the installer or Updates unless performance dictates doing so - this is not XP.

When you reinstall factory OEM you should use the Product Key on the COA sticker which changes the activation from OEM-SLP mass-activation method used at factory to OEM-COA which is administered in MS Activation Servers. This removes activation entirely from the purview of the manufacturer and places it with MS which will always protect you under the terms of the EULA.

This often requires making the telephone robocall exchanging a series of numbers recording the hardware signature for the new OEM-COA in MS servers. It can then be reinstalled as often as you like with normal web reactivation as long as the hardware signature stays within bounds, e.g. no change of mobo.

This is also my understanding. As I commented in an old post there are some pros and cons in going from OEM-SLP to OEM-COA. With OEM-SLP your activation is totally self contained. When you move to OEM-COA MS control your activation and you may get the occasional issue requiring a reactivation. The gain you get is a "clean" install if that really matters to you.

That's what you end up with! When using a factory provided recovery disk, the utility often provided to create one, or the option on many systems to start the factory restore with a key combination as a boot option you end up back where the system was when first bought. The preactivation and device drivers tucked away on the recovery partition are restored at that time.

Once you take someone else's disk of the same you then enter the key on the sticker but are then starting off without the device drivers and are required to reactivate using the same key. Then you have to either find the updates at the support site or use a program like SIW to identify board make and model, chipset, and any expansion cards(video, sound) installed in order to locate the drivers, apps for each.

If you switch from 32bit preinstall to 64bit that's a different story since OEM disks whether branded or non branded for system builders are not retail but one license per disk. The retail package sees both a 32bit and 64bit dvd included. As for an MSDN or TechNET paid subscription download you would need to ask Brink or someone else whether or not you could download both and use one key or only be able to use the key provided along with each download from MS.

If you own a business on the other hand with many machines you would likely buy a volume license that would cover both without any problem using either or both since the license covers far more.