Format harddrive with pre-installed O/S and no recovery disc

[lukaskaspar]

Hey all
I bought a HP Laptop with Windows 7 Home Premium pre-installed. I got rid of any bloatware and as I'm typing this, Macrium is imaging my C drive to a network drive. Now my question is, would I be able to completely format the computer, set up my own partitions and install Windows on one of them? Preferably a fresh and clean version but I wouldn't mind the bloatware one either. Things to consider, I don't have a disk-drive so it'd have to be done with a thumbdrive; I have not been able to find the actual O/S product key, if someone could tell me where to locate it...
Sorry for the noobishness
and thanks for any help !
Lukas

 

[tman69]

see this link:

KeyFinder | Magical Jelly Bean


left column of page has download link for 'free' version

 

[lukaskaspar]

hey tman,
thanks for the link, Jelly Bean found the key.
So if boot a Windows 7 iso, downloaded from DigitalRiver, and install it. Would the product key work, as there is no COA sticker on the actual laptop?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

hey tman,
thanks for the link, Jelly Bean found the key.
So if boot a Windows 7 iso, downloaded from DigitalRiver, and install it. Would the product key work, as there is no COA sticker on the actual laptop?

Yes, if the Product Key is valid and authentic. The key is unique, but the key doesn't have eyes to see if your COA sticker is still there or was ever there.

All you can do is try it and see if you can validate. If you cannot, your Product Key is bogus. The fact that Jelly Bean found the key does not mean it is a valid key.

 

[lukaskaspar]

I gave it a shot and it all worked out fine, the key was accepted and the bloatware is gone
Thanks for your help !
Lukas