reinstalling pre-installed windows

[roman05]

Sorry if this is a noob question but... I bought an ASUS laptop 4 months ago and it came with a pre-installed Win 7 Pro. Now something screwed up (details here http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-debugging/137340-problem-starting-my-computer.html) and I'll probably have to reinstall it.

But the problem is to get a new copy. I do have the product key which is written on the laptop, can I just borrow any Win 7 Pro installer copy and use the old product key?

 

[acurasd]

Yes! Ever Windows 7 disk either being x86 or x64 is the same files.. The only thing you are buying when you buy Windows 7 is the CD KEY....

Grantit they give you a copy of both versions of windows but that is irrelevant.

Just make sure that the Windows Versions: ie. Home Basic, Home Premium, ect. Matches with what you have at the bottom of the Computer.

If you attempt to activate the windows and it does not work. You can always call Microsoft (a pain as it is) and someone will activate it for you.

I am sure you are not the first person to do this...but please be aware, these guys read from a script so don't take it personal if they attempt to insult your intelligence. They do it to me all the time.

 

[roman05]

Thanks very much.

I thought this would be the case but you never know what MS will do...

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello roman05, welcome to Seven Forums!



Some of this has been answered but here's some other info I have and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

   Information

If you can find an exact Windows version that the PC shipped with you can do a clean install using the activation key on the COA sticker attached to the PC though it may require a robo-call to MS to sort the OEM batch-key.

How to Activate Windows 7 by Phone


If you can't find an exact same version, you could use the info in this tutorial to create an "all Versions" installer of any version Windows installer, to install using the same method I posted above and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

Windows 7 Universal Installation Disc - Create


Though if there's nothing on the PC you need to save, I'd do a complete wipe (secure erase) of the entire Hard Disk Drive first.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

 

[gregrocker]

Tips for getting a purrfect reinstall of factory preinstall: http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/125874-re-install-windows-7-a.html#post1086729

 

[Ztruker]

Are you sure the laptop DOES NOT have a Recovery Partition on the hard drive? Almost all newer computers do. You normally access it at boot time by pressing a FN key or some key combination. It usually tells you on the screen when it first starts booting.

Fill out the Specs for you computer, including the model number and we can check the online users manual to see what it says, or check yours if it came with one.

 

[roman05]

Are you sure the laptop DOES NOT have a Recovery Partition on the hard drive? Almost all newer computers do. You normally access it at boot time by pressing a FN key or some key combination. It usually tells you on the screen when it first starts booting.

The thing is, I don't even get to the screen where it tells me what buttons to press to access what... I can get to BIOS with F2 and windows boot manager with F5 (at least I think it's F5), that's it.

Through the boot manager I can get the memory diagnostic test which shows no problems. Then it runs the startup repair where it tells me that problems couldn't be fixed because "memory at 0x00000008 is unreadable".

I figure that even if the laptop does have a recovery partition, the Windows is screwed up so badly that it can't access it. I get the above mentioned error when I try system restore as well.

 

[theog]

If you did not make your Recovery disks,
You can Order Asus recovery disks from here:
ASUS eStore

 

[gregrocker]

Run memtest86 for 5-6 passes or overnight to stress test RAM. Swap RAM sticks or use one at a time to eliminate bad RAM. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105647-ram-test-memtest86.html

Next run the HD maker's diag/repair http://www.carrona.org/hddiag.html full CD scan followed by http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html run from DVD/Repair CD command line if necessary.

Since your laptop is only four months old, your hardware is covered for replacement and you have tech support to help determine this and replace bad hardware. I would call them.

If you're eager to clean reinstall then you can try using the steps I posted earlier. If you do this and then still need the included Tech Support I would not mention the clean reinstall as they likely won't support it.

 

[Ztruker]

You still haven't told us what the model number of the computer is.

You really should fill out the "My System Specs" information. Go to User CP then Edit System Spec.

 

[roman05]

Right, so I filled out the specs I could find online since I can't get them from the laptop.

I'm running chkdsk atm, says that files from 113928 onwards (it's on checking 113946 atm) are unreadable. Could that be a physical hard drive failure?

 

[theog]

Right, so I filled out the specs I could find online since I can't get them from the laptop.

I'm running chkdsk atm, says that files from 113928 onwards (it's on checking 113946 atm) are unreadable. Could that be a physical hard drive failure?

Looking that way.

Check the hard drive with the manufacturer's diagnostic tools.
Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.
HD Diagnostic