Can I install windows 7 on a laptop with a broken CD drive?

[digiman2372]

Hello all, I have a laptop that came with windows 10 preinstalled. The issue is that this laptop is painfully slow, so I would like to transfer windows 10 from this laptop to another laptop that I have which only has abuntu installed on it. Is this possible? If it is not, I was thinking of buying windows 7 for the laptop that has abuntu installed on it, but the CD drive does not work. would there be a way to install windows 7 on it if the CD drive does not work? thank you in advance!

 

[SIW2]

usb stick.

Your ubuntu laptop might already have win7 or win10 license in bios. You didnt mention the make and model so we will get out the crystal ball.

 

[Megahertz07]

If the laptop that has Ubuntu didn't came with Win 10 you can't transfer windows 10 to it. You have to buy a Win 10 license to it.
Win 7 isn't for sale anymore.

 

[digiman2372]

the laptop is an HP pavillion dv6. it came with windows 7 home premium but the bios was deleted when I installed ubuntu. I was thinking of buying a windows 7 installation CD on ebay.com, but then how would I install it it onto the laptop with the broken CD drive? is there any way to get it onto the USB drive?

 

[SIW2]

The bios is firmware on the motherboard. You cant have deleted it by installing ubuntu.

You dont need to buy a license, you only need the installation media.

Somebody can link you to an iso file, if you dont already have win7 installation media.

extract the installation iso file to usb stick using this: View attachment Usb7ice.zip

Then boot from the usb stick you just made and the process is exactly the same as installing from dvd.

If you have to coa key on a sticker on the laptop, you can use that. If you dont have it/cant read it, then skip entering the key during installation and use slp activation afterwards.

 

[Megahertz07]

M$ links to download Win 7 SP1

Win7_HomePrem_SP1_English_x32.iso

Win7_HomePrem_SP1_English_x64.iso

Links expire: 7/17/2021 8:36:33 PM UTC

To make a USB boot able drive:

Open a CMD window as administrator and type:

diskpart
list disk (it will list all drives. Identify the USB drive number)
select disk n (replace n by the USB drive number obtained with list disk)
clean
convert mbr
create part primary
select part 1
format fs=fat32 quick
assign
active
exit (to exit diskpart)

Use 7Zip to extract all files and folders from the Win 7 iso file to the USB drive

To make it UEFI boot able you must add the \efi\boot folder

 

[torchwood]

On the painfully slow W10 laptop, you will NOT be able to have a W7 GENUINE install, as you do not have a license for it
try this
Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade | Tutorials

on the dv6, re-install w7 as per Mega's instructions then
once you have installed W7 you can then use the MCT tool from this link, to get to W10
it was still free todo as of 3 months ago

Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free | Tutorials

 

[digiman2372]

awespme guys, thank you. if I have any other questions i will let you know