new hard drive with window 7 installed

[cds11]

i recently bought a new hard drive with windows 7 home premium 32 bit installed. when i tried to install it in my pc it would not boot up, im assuming its because everything is new to it. i bought a windows 7 recovery disc but it has not helped. i did not get an install disc with the new hard drive. is there any hope for my problem? thanks, chris

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I'm curious----where can you buy a hard disk with Windows already installed on it?

 

[Hipster Doofus]

Sounds like you have been ripped off. Hard drives do not come preinstalled with windows. Time to get your money back.

 

[Sedril]

Only hope you would have would be if you got the product key.

It's always best to do a fresh install on any migration of hardware, never try to replace large pieces, ie motherboard, and keep the same windows install, always reinstall fresh...

I'd try to get my money back, or if you got the product key, just download the win 7 disk and reinstall...

 

[whs]

It dies because it lacks drivers from your system. But even if you fixed that, you could probably not activate it. Bottom line - get your money back.

 

[gregrocker]

When you clarify if you actually bought a HD with WIn7 preinstalled, we can better help you.

There are ways to start Win7 on new hardware but as suggested you also need a way to activate it on different hardware.

So please explain what exactly you bought and if it includes Win7 how it is to be activated.

 

[cds11]

i bought the hard drive off ebay. it was listed as having a new windows 7 os that was never used. i didnt get an install disc or key. i have sent the ebay seller an email of what you guys are telling me. i also asked him for the install disc and key. the seller does not have any negative feedback so hopefully he will help me out. but he does have it listed as no returns.

 

[whs]

but he does have it listed as no returns.

He probably knew why. Let's hope you get the disc and the key. Then you would be in business. In the meantime I would try to read what is on the disk - maybe stick it into an external enclosure or into a desktop. If you discover any manufacturer name like HP, Dell, Gateway or whatever on it, then it is an OEM system with which you can really do nothing - and the seller will not have a disc or key.

it is possible that the seller is a nincompoop and did not even know that the disc is of no use to someone else.

 

[cds11]

but he does have it listed as no returns.

He probably knew why. Let's hope you get the disc and the key. Then you would be in business. In the meantime I would try to read what is on the disk - maybe stick it into an external enclosure or into a desktop. If you discover any manufacturer name like HP, Dell, Gateway or whatever on it, then it is an OEM system with which you can really do nothing - and the seller will not have a disc or key.

it is possible that the seller is a nincompoop and did not even know that the disc is of no use to someone else.

right now i have it installed as a slave drive in my pc and i can see everything that is on the drive. where do i need to look to find that info?

 

[pebbly]

I recently bought a hdd off ebay 320gb complete with win7 installed. The seller had upgraded his laptop to a 500gb made no difference to me as I wiped it as soon as I received it, so the OPs hdd may also be legitimate

 

[whs]

but he does have it listed as no returns.

He probably knew why. Let's hope you get the disc and the key. Then you would be in business. In the meantime I would try to read what is on the disk - maybe stick it into an external enclosure or into a desktop. If you discover any manufacturer name like HP, Dell, Gateway or whatever on it, then it is an OEM system with which you can really do nothing - and the seller will not have a disc or key.

it is possible that the seller is a nincompoop and did not even know that the disc is of no use to someone else.

right now i have it installed as a slave drive in my pc and i can see everything that is on the drive. where do i need to look to find that info?

Open the disk and look in Program files - also x86 program files if it is a 64bit system. There you may find OEM products installed - if any.

Also, how much did you pay for the disk and how big is it (in GBs). Maybe it was a good deal after all just as a HDD because with the flooding in Thailand, the disks got very expensive lately.

 

[cds11]

He probably knew why. Let's hope you get the disc and the key. Then you would be in business. In the meantime I would try to read what is on the disk - maybe stick it into an external enclosure or into a desktop. If you discover any manufacturer name like HP, Dell, Gateway or whatever on it, then it is an OEM system with which you can really do nothing - and the seller will not have a disc or key.

it is possible that the seller is a nincompoop and did not even know that the disc is of no use to someone else.

right now i have it installed as a slave drive in my pc and i can see everything that is on the drive. where do i need to look to find that info?

Open the disk and look in Program files - also x86 program files if it is a 64bit system. There you may find OEM products installed - if any.

Also, how much did you pay for the disk and how big is it (in GBs). Maybe it was a good deal after all just as a HDD because with the flooding in Thailand, the disks got very expensive lately.

the only thing in progam files that is oem product is an apple software update file. the hard drive is a seagate pipeline 160 gig. i paid 45.00 shipped. you can find 160 gig hd on ebay for 20 bucks shipped.

 

[whs]

Hmm, this is not a clear picture. The Apple update does not count - Apple products are on most systems. 160GB is really small and $45 is OK if you were to buy it from Newegg. There they cost more: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&N=-1&isNodeId=1&Description=160gb+sata+3.5%22&x=0&y=0

 

[gregrocker]

See if it will boot when you set the HD to boot first in BIOS setup, or try triggering it with one-time BIOS BOot Menu key.

If it does immediately look at activation status at Control Panel>System. Does it have OEM in the Product ID?

Then quickly run a Belarc Advisor scan to audit the installed Product Key if it's there. If so, and you have a legit installation which can migrate, you might be able to use the key to reactivate - which will be required soon enough on all new hardware.

Unfortunately all other methods to prepare the HD to boot on new hardware will likely remove the activation and thus the ability to scan the Product Key.

The seller has done something illegal by advertising and selling Windows on a HD without providing a Product Key. You should email him including a link to this thread and ask him to provide at least the Product Key, as we can help you find the installer as long as you have the key.

 

[cds11]

See if it will boot when you set the HD to boot first in BIOS setup, or try triggering it with one-time BIOS BOot Menu key.

If it does immediately look at activation status at Control Panel>System. Does it have OEM in the Product ID?

Then quickly run a Belarc Advisor scan to audit the installed Product Key if it's there. If so, and you have a legit installation which can migrate, you might be able to use the key to reactivate - which will be required soon enough on all new hardware.

Unfortunately all other methods to prepare the HD to boot on new hardware will likely remove the activation and thus the ability to scan the Product Key.

The seller has done something illegal by advertising and selling Windows on a HD without providing a Product Key. You should email him including a link to this thread and ask him to provide at least the Product Key, as we can help you find the installer as long as you have the key.

when i set the hd to boot first it tries to boot but only gets to a black screen where it says windows and three little colored balls start to appear then it stops and reboots and goes to the screen where you can choose safe boot. it does the same thing after choosing any of the options listed. where is the activation status at Control Panel>System? is there any way to locate it when its installed as a slave drive? btw, i havnt heard back from the ebay seller yet.

 

[gregrocker]

Having the startup animation stall means that drivers cannot load because of differences with the new hardware. This is solved by Sysprepping the HD first on the old hardware, or running Paragon Adaptive Restore CD on the new hardware. But both remove activation to prepare OS for new hardware. Without activation you cannot audit the Product Key.

There is no way to audit the Product Key that I know of unless the OS is running as it is a heavily encrypted file while offline. But others may have more ideas.

I would open a case with eBay support. We would like to know how they handle this as we have scores of complaints here about bad keys bought on eBay with little or no resolution reported thus far. Let them know we are watching closely.

 

[whs]

Let them know we are watching closely.

Good point Greg. We should not let these buggers get away with those scams.

 

[gregrocker]

It infuriates me that the EBay CEO ran for California Governor on her huge fortune during a period that site was the leading dispenser of bootleg Technet Win7 keys which were later deactivated with no replacement or refunds reported.

 

[whs]

Apparently they do not care how they make their money. No morals when money rules. But as long as there are no strict rules for those people, nothing is going to change - like in the finance sector.

 

[AddRAM]

Since you have the drive installed just wipe it. Then you will have to get your hands on an install dvd and a key. They are sold at BestBuy.