Need to reinstall Window 7

[rosawoodsii]

My desktop computer crashed, wiping out the MBR for Windows 7. I have lost the installation disk but have the OEM serial number. The guy who built my computer died a couple of years ago, so I can't get another dopy from him, however, I do have the ISO on my backup drive. I entered my serial number on the Digital River website and they told me to seek support from the original OEM manufacturer. Not possible, obviously. I have (had?) a dual boot system with XP, but XP no longer lets me do much. I can't even move a file from one place to another, so there's no way to copy it to a flash drive using Windows XP. So here's my question.

Is there a way to copy a large file like an ISO from one drive (a backup partition on the same computer) to a flash drive without entering either XP or Windows 7 (which can't be booted anyway)?

Failing that, is there a safe place to buy and download Windows 7 without paying through the nose?

 

[UsernameIssues]

Getting to the ISO file on your backup drive might depend on how you backed up the file. If it is inside an image file, that might be a bit harder. If it is a simple copy of the original ISO file, then (using another computer) you can download an operating system that is small enough to fit on a CD or DVD - then boot the non-working computer to that CD/DVD and copy most any file that you want.

If you want a full operating system, you can download something like Linux Mint. I would opt for the 32 bit version because it will load quicker from the DVD.

If you do not want a full operating system, you can download any of the "rescue disks" from antivirus companies.

Hopefully, the info above answers your question about getting to the ISO file. However, other forum members might be able to walk you thru repairing the MBR without the ISO file.

 

[torchwood]

As you have an Iso, copy it to a USB (min 16GB) devise and your good to go

You need to go into your Bios options and select USB as your primary boot option.
THEN

SHUTDOWN >PLUG in your USB > Restart> it should then use your external media as a new installation version.

Your Validation key which you should NOT have told anybody should be either on the side of your comp or on the box from which your "guy" set up your comp.
If you do not have either of the above then you will have to use a key finder programme.
IT IS NOT the one shown on your system details am i activated screen.
>>>>>> do this first or you will not ba able to activate your install <<<<<<<<<<<

Roy

 

[torchwood]

Your comp does not really have enough ram for W7, you need at least 3gb.
Certainly not enough for XP and W7, which is why it probably crashed.

You could try Acer support they might send you a >>32bit<< copy of W7 for a nominal fee.

Roy

 

[rosawoodsii]

Your comp does not really have enough ram for W7, you need at least 3gb.
Certainly not enough for XP and W7, which is why it probably crashed.

You could try Acer support they might send you a >>32bit<< copy of W7 for a nominal fee.

Roy

My desktop is not an Acer; the computer is custom built, and I have 3 hard drives, one of them a terabyte, and I have plent of RAM as well, 4 GBs.

How do I copy the ISO onto a flash drive without using either XP or W7, i.e. safe mode with command line? I can then bring it to my laptop and burn it to CD.

 

[torchwood]

Got the Acer info from YOUR system specs, can you update them.

Easiest way to t/f the data is to hook it up to any other computer and download it from there.

Roy

 

[rosawoodsii]

I've updated the specs to my desktop, but I also have a Toshiba laptop. I'm not sure how to go about hooking it up to the desktop.

 

[Ztruker]

You don't copy the ISO, you use it as input to a program like Rufus to create a bootable flash drive you can use to install Windows 7 with.

Create the MBR for BIOS partition scheme.

 

[rosawoodsii]

My thought was if I could copy it, I could then take it to my laptop and then burn it to disk or make a bootable flash drive.

 

[Ztruker]

Do it before you take it to the other machine? If not, then copy will work.

 

[rosawoodsii]

Create the MBR for BIOS partition scheme.

How do I do this?

 

[Ztruker]

Run Rufus and you'll understand. It's a selection in one of the drop down fields near the top.