Fresh Installation of Windows 7 using ISO and OEM Key on Toshiba L450

[HDeem]

Hi I bought a Toshiba with Windows 7 on it five years ago - I want to install an SSD now. Can I use the Belarc website to get the OEM Windows Key which came installed on the Toshiba, download the Windows USB download device, get the ISO from digital river, use to the OEM Windows key when booting up, then install Windows fresh on the SSD?

 

[oscer1]

Hi
You should have a sticker on bottom of laptop for the key

 

[gregrocker]

Everything needed is here to get and keep a perfect install: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164

 

[HDeem]

I don't think I have a sticker - perhaps they stopped putting them on computers at some point? I have used Belarc, and have a 25 digit code. Is there any chance this might be the right key? Belarc has a note at the bottom of the screen saying it might be a generic SLP batch key:

'This may be the manufacturer's factory installed product key rather than yours'.

Is there an element of doubt here though, 'it may be'? Is there any way of checking.
If there is no sticker, then how else can you get the key?

I have a Windows USB stick now, having put the ISO on it after using Windows USB Downloader and adding Bootsect. But this is useless without a useable key, I guess?

Is it worth using the Toshiba back up disc instead, or will this cause alignment problems with the SSD?

The contents of the Windows USB stick looks similar to the contents of the Toshiba Recovery disc - I will keep the latter to revert to factory settings if need be. I want the best option to make the SSD run at maximum speed.

 

[AddRAM]

You can check the key with PID checker, if it shows the key as OEM SLP then it`s the mass factory key which you can`t use to do a clean install.

Online PIDChecker

You can always fix the alignment after using your Recovery Discs.

 

[DavidE]

Some laptops have the COA sticker inside the battery compartment.

 

[gregrocker]

If this is Win7 was preinstalled at factory and has not been reinstalled with the Product key on COA sticker, then the SLP key cannot be used to activate a Clean Reinstall. I'd look again for the COA sticker because Toshiba would not have sold Win7 on that PC without it.

Otherwise for reinstall you'll need to use Recovery disks and then afterward try to Clean Up Factory Bloatware to regain performance ruined by bloatware and especially the duplicate factory utilities that interfere with better versions built into Win7.

Another option if you're happy with the install you have then you can clone or image it over. Most of us here recommend Macrium Imaging - Windows 7 Help Forums.

You can ask for any specialized help in the tutorial's Comments section from its author who is expert on SSD's and imaging.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=Ihttp://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=I

 

[nevergiveup]

download MGAdiag tool and run.post your results. we can find what type of key you have.if your pc came with factory pre installed windows it will have oem slp,in that case you can use aomei partition assistance for os migration form hdd to ssd AOMEI Partition Manager Software: Partition Magic Alternative for Windows Desktop, Laptop, Workstation and Server

 

[HDeem]

That is really helpful - thank you. I will transfer to the clean install thread but for now, one thing
I've come across a lot of comments on this alignment thing - eg
How-to: copy HDD to SSD with correct 4k alignment | Hardware.Info United Kingdom

Is this really worrying over nothing, if it has worked for you to use the recovery image.
The HDD is 160, and new SSD is 128 -- I hear there are problems if the HDD is much bigger than the SSD.

 

[gregrocker]

You can easily check SSD Alignment - Windows 7 Forums.

In addition there are these SSD Tweaks and Optimizations in Windows 7.

Another method for SSD - Install and transfer the Operating System

The author can guide you from any of those tutorials.

But do you know why there is no COA sticker as Toshiba cannot under their EULA with MS resell Win7 without having it on there somewhere. I'd contact them to inquire and let us know what they say. You want that option to take control of your Win7 from Toshiba which is why MS provides your own personal reinstall Product Key for only that PC.

 

[DavidE]

That is really helpful - thank you. I will transfer to the clean install thread but for now, one thing
I've come across a lot of comments on this alignment thing - eg
How-to: copy HDD to SSD with correct 4k alignment | Hardware.Info United Kingdom

Is this really worrying over nothing, if it has worked for you to use the recovery image.
The HDD is 160, and new SSD is 128 -- I hear there are problems if the HDD is much bigger than the SSD.

I ran into the same issues transferring from a HD to an SSD for a smaller partition and alignment.
whs helped me and got everything fixed.
You can read about my experience here:
http://www.sevenforums.com/backup-r...m-restore-backup-image-smaller-partition.html

 

[gregrocker]

Not only will Macrium drag a partition to a smaller space as long as the data portion of the partition is not larger, once you drag it there you can adjust its size by clicking on the link for the partition's Properties below where you dragged it. So last night I dragged three images onto a hard drive I'd first deleted all partitions upon using the same Macrium app, adjusting each partitions size as I went so that all three were roughly equal.

You don't have to proceed with the cloning or reimaging, in fact, until you have each partition the size you want. These features make Macrium much easier, automated and amazingly free.

 

[HDeem]

Is this reliable:

Online PIDChecker Online PIDChecker

 

[HDeem]

I can post the results a bit later. What do i look for to know it's an SLP and no good?

 

[HDeem]

I haven't got my Toshiba near me right now, but I tried it on the HP with Windows 8.1 as a test. It says

Product ID Type 0 - unknown

What does that mean?

 

[doctore]

Is there a reason why you want to do a clean install, instead of simply cloning the disk to the SSD?

 

[HDeem]

I hear its cleaner and faster way to use a SSD and it avoid all alingnment problems. And I dont have a sata-usb cable.

 

[gregrocker]

Why would you need a SATA-USB cable?

I suggested you use the favorite free imaging suite we use here Macrium Imaging - Windows 7 Help Forums
to save a backup image, then using it's boot disk you create, apply the image to the SSD. This is never a problem and works fine.

But if you'd prefer to do the Clean Reinstall Windows 7 then stick with the steps in tutorial to get and keep a perfect install.

 

[doctore]

I hear its cleaner and faster way to use a SSD and it avoid all alingnment problems. And I dont have a sata-usb cable.

IMHO people tend to do clean installs a bit too much, but that's a different conversation.

If you don't have serious issues with windows, it's just a waste of time to do a clean install. I wouldn't worry much about alignment problems, 99.9% of the time the HDD will be bigger than the SSD, it's normal. I started cloning when the 32GB SSDs were considered expensive as hell and I never had a single problem.

Now, the SSD speed has nothing to do with whether Windows is cloned or clean-installed. It will depend mostly on the rest of the computer components. Quick look at L450 shows it to be on the low-end, so while you will see faster drive speeds, it's not going to make a gigantic difference in overall computing, so don't get your hopes up too high, you are running Core 2 Duo with 2GB of RAM... I personally would not be able to justify the SSD money for this particular laptop, but in the end the choice is yours.
Just make sure you go into bios and have the drive set to AHCI, and don't do any manual defragment.

 

[HDeem]

I just managed to check and realise the sticker is completely worn away. Thabks for the advice so far. Is it worth contacting toshiba directly to get it or better to plough on with recovery disc. The recovery usb I made last year has a folder called HDDprep- doesnt sound appropriate for SSD