Help with registry/restoring factory image?

whs · 10 Mar 2015

If this is an original Windows 7 system, there must be a product key on the COA sticker which looks like thsi:

chedge05 · 10 Mar 2015

whs said:

If this is an original Windows 7 system, there must be a product key on the COA sticker which looks like thsi:

The product key is different than the key I looked up in the registry. And that is the number that came up when I used the Belarc Utility as well. My product keys aren't matching up?

derekimo · 10 Mar 2015

You want to use the one on the sticker.

I removed that picture for your safety, you don't want to post your product key to the public. :)

whs · 10 Mar 2015

The Key of the COA sticker is the one which goes with the system and is unique. The key you found with Belarc, etc. is the key the OEM used to activate the system at the factory. That same key is on thousands of systems and useless for you.

chedge05 · 10 Mar 2015

whs said:

The Key of the COA sticker is the one which goes with the system and is unique. The key you found with Belarc, etc. is the key the OEM used to activate the system at the factory. That same key is on thousands of systems and useless for you.

Ahh I see, thanks. I tried the recovery with that key, and this is what I get...

derekimo · 10 Mar 2015

That looks like you are trying to download the ISO from Microsoft. Correct?

whs · 10 Mar 2015

This Microsoft site supports only retail copies of Windows. For OEM you have to turn to the OEM company.

chedge05 · 10 Mar 2015

derekimo said:

That looks like you are trying to download the ISO from Microsoft. Correct?

Yes, it's my only option it seems. There's no Recovery Image on my hard drive to restore to factory. I would love for it to be that easy :)

chedge05 · 10 Mar 2015

whs said:

This Microsoft site supports only retail copies of Windows. For OEM you have to turn to the OEM company.

I see, thank you for that information. Where would I look for that?

ignatzatsonic · 10 Mar 2015

chedge05 said:

whs said:

This Microsoft site supports only retail copies of Windows. For OEM you have to turn to the OEM company.

I see, thank you for that information. Where would I look for that?

Throw yourself on the mercy of Dell Incorporated, Round Rock, Texas.

They may supply disks for a fee. Maybe not. I think they did at one time.

If you like to live dangerously, you could fish around on the dreaded Internet and take your chances with whatever download you could find---possibly legit, possibly laced with unknown horrors.