Bloatware removal on new laptop.

[mborner]

I'm going to purchase a new laptop soon and had a general question regarding the legality of W7 upgrade version. Basically, the second I get the new laptop home I will be formatting the HDD with the "clean all" command. Regardless of the OS already installed, can I "legally" install W7 upgrade on this PC using the registry and command line hack? I want a brand new laptop with a clean, fresh start, with 0 crapware. I am willing to purchase the laptop and new OS. Deleting bloatware on an already installed OS is not an option.

 

[Bill2]

You can legally clean install with an upgrade version provided you own a base, qualifying windows such as XP or Vista. The base license doesnt have to be installed, ownership is sufficient. 2 important things:

1) When you use the upgrade version of win7, the base license becomes obsoleted- that means it cannot be used on any computer. If later you decide to get rid of the win7 upgrade, you are free to return to the base version, provided you remove the upgrade.

2) This question gets raised sometimes so here goes. If the base license is an installed OEM copy, then since the OEM copy is immoveable, the upgraded win7 is not moveable in totality. That means you cant junk a PC on which oem windows was upgraded to win7, and then use the upgrade license on a new PC on the assumption that the oem license on the junked pc is the base. Thats because the oem license died with that PC.

3) The Upgrade license is retail and transferable- you can move it to a different computer provided you have a valid base license for the new computer.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

It's as legal as legal can get. MS deliberately made the "full" and "upgrade" versions effectively the same. The only thing you have to be careful about is that you get a legitimate retail upgrade version. You also need to at least own a qualifying earlier OS.

 

[mborner]

Thanks for the help. I just wanted to make sure.

 

[gregrocker]

You do not need to buy another copy of Win7, as you own the copy which comes with the machine for life and can clean reinstall it as often as you want. You would be throwing away $100+ of your brand new property.

You also do not need to do the registry workaround to install Upgrade version to a clean HD, as this is OEM-SLP activation changing to OEM-COA which is not an Upgrade version key.

Here are tips to getting a perfect install of factory OEM (my specialty): Reinstalling Windows 7

 

[mborner]

Thanks, greg. My new laptop will more than likely have W7HP installed. I will be installing W7 Pro on it. I have a W7 Pro upgrade disk but I'm betting I can't use that as it's currently activated on my desktop. Also, because it's a different version than what's on the laptop, I can't use the laptop's CD key. So, I have no disk and the new laptop won't come with one. Where does that leave me? I really have no choice but to buy a CD key. Fortunately, it's not a problem because I can pick up an academic copy from my Dad for around $25.
Not that it matter because I'm moving up to the Pro version, but how would I clean reinstall the OEM version that comes with the laptop without also installing all the bloatware?

 

[Bill2]

You can unlock all editions on the upgrade disk and clean install home premium with it. Since its an upgrade disk you'll need the registry workaround to activate.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/85813-windows-7-universal-installation-disc-create.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

Then activate with the sticker key.

 

[mborner]

You can unlock all editions on the upgrade disk and clean install home premium with it. Since its an upgrade disk you'll need the registry workaround to activate.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/85813-windows-7-universal-installation-disc-create.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

Then activate with the sticker key.

Thanks, Bill2, but herein lies my problem. I'll be upgrading the laptop from Home Premium to Pro. If I were to purchase a laptop with W7 Pro already on it, what would my options be? If the laptop came with, say, W7 Pro 64 and my upgrade disk is W7 Pro 32, could I still use the CD key on the laptop?

 

[Bill2]

Win7 keys are architecture neutral- that is the same key can be used for a 32 bit install or a 64 bit install as long as its the same win7 edition and of course you arent using a single key multiple times.

 

[mborner]

That's great news, thanks!

 

[mborner]

Just out of curiosity, there isn't a 64 bit version embedded in my 32 bit disk, is there?

 

[Bill2]

Just out of curiosity, there isn't a 64 bit version embedded in my 32 bit disk, is there?

NO. Readymade disks are either 32 bit or 64 bit, never both. Although one can make such a disk.

 

[KnowOne]

Have you ever checked out Soluto?

ttp://www.soluto.com/

 

[gregrocker]

Not that it matter because I'm moving up to the Pro version, but how would I clean reinstall the OEM version that comes with the laptop without also installing all the bloatware?

Did you see this?

Here are tips to getting a perfect install of factory OEM (my specialty): Reinstalling Windows 7

If you want to keep the preinstalled programs on the laptop, just insert the Pro Upgrade key in Anytime Upgrade to unlock the extra features.

Otherwise you can clean reinstall with the Pro Upgrade version following the tips in my link above - you needn't do the upgrade workaround if you don't wipe the HD. I would keep the Recovery partition and make the disks so you have two methods to revert back to factory installation if needed.

Are you sure you need the few extra features in Pro version? For what?

 

[mborner]

If you want to keep the preinstalled programs on the laptop, just insert the Pro Upgrade key in Anytime Upgrade to unlock the extra features.

I don't want to keep preinstalled features. My goal is to remove W7 HP and install W7 Pro, clean install, no bloatware.

Otherwise you can clean reinstall with the Pro Upgrade version following the tips in my link above - you needn't do the upgrade workaround if you don't wipe the HD. I would keep the Recovery partition and make the disks so you have two methods to revert back to factory installation if needed.

This is confusing me a bit. I have a W7 Pro upgrade disk that is currently activated on another machine. What CD key would I use if I went this route? I can't use the CD key off the laptop as it would be a different version. So, you see, I'm still left with no disk and no CD key. I would have to purchase another disk/cd key

Are you sure you need the few extra features in Pro version? For what?

Yes, I need the pro version. I need XP mode for some legacy software that I run.

 

[richyrichuk]

when u get your new laptop DONT FORMAT, get jelly bean key finder find your OS key as most computers are shipped with a corp license and therefor activated forever, but more important the key installed with your laptop generally wont match what is on the bottom, then you have a ligit windows key that wont expire.

 

[gregrocker]

Since you don't want the factory bloatware but do want Pro version, you'll need to Clean reinstall the OS which comes with the machine, using the Product Key on COA sticker, then buy an Anytime Upgrade key to unlock Pro features in the clean install.

Use the key on the COA sticker not the key audited from the HD using a keyfinder.

You can unlock all versions in any Win7 installer using this method: Unlock any version eicfg removal too.

Otherwise Buy full version Win7 Professional if you don't have on hand a retail copy of XP or Vista to qualify for Upgrade version on that machine, as a Win7 lesser version only qualifies for Anytime Upgrade under the EULA.

Finally, if XP legacy programs won't run when installed in Compatibility Mode, you can virtualize XP in lesser Win7 versions using freeware like VMWare, Virtual Box or Virtual Player.

 

[mborner]

Since you don't want the factory bloatware but do want Pro version, you'll need to Clean reinstall the OS which comes with the machine,.

Where do I find this OS? The machine won't ship with one. I can order the laptop with the recovery disks for a small fee but the OS will be riddled with HP bloatware. Last I heard, HP doesn't separate the OS disk from the bloatware disk.
I think I may just end up buying a W7 pro laptop and doing a clean install of the upgrade version that I aready have.

 

[stormy13]

Where do I find this OS? I can order the laptop with the recovery disks for a small fee

Recovery partition, most like set to hidden in Windows Explorer. There should also be a shortcut in the start menu for creating the recovery disks (last HP I worked on it took 3 DVD's for it) which will save whatever it is they charge for them, but as you said will still have all the HP bloat in it.

 

[gregrocker]

Since you don't want the factory bloatware but do want Pro version, you'll need to Clean reinstall the OS which comes with the machine,.

Where do I find this OS? The machine won't ship with one. I can order the laptop with the recovery disks for a small fee but the OS will be riddled with HP bloatware. Last I heard, HP doesn't separate the OS disk from the bloatware disk.
I think I may just end up buying a W7 pro laptop and doing a clean install of the upgrade version that I aready have.

I explained it in the same post:

You can unlock all versions in any Win7 installer using this method: Unlock any version eicfg removal too.

Extract the ISO from your Win7 Pro DVD using ImgBurn, run the ei.cfg removal tool on it, then burn an all-versions DVD to install the licensed version with Product Key on your COA sticker.

The $25 Pro Upgrade student deal might be the better option depending on how much more they want for a Pro-preinstalled machine.