Resintall Windows 7

[lmaoitsme]

Hey, I got a copy of Windows 7 x64 Professional from my university's MSDN website a while back. We only get one CD key for windows 7. And my windows 7 now crashed. I was wondering if I can do a clean install and use the same CD key again. or is that CD key done forever?

Thanks.

 

[richc46]

If an oem key (the letters oem will appear in the key number)
You must install on the same computer

If full retail or upgrade it can be used again. You can use it as many times as you like. But one computer at a time.

 

[DocBrown]

As long as it is the same version, you should be able to use it again. Have you tried a repair install first ? Any details on the crash that we may help with ?

 

[lmaoitsme]

So pretty much, I can just do a reinstall from scratch, and put in the same CD key again and it should accept it.

(My serial key does not have the characters 'oem' in it)

 

[richc46]

It should be done like this, if an upgrade DVD
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html?filter[2]=General Tips

 

[lmaoitsme]

As long as it is the same version, you should be able to use it again. Have you tried a repair install first ? Any details on the crash that we may help with ?

Well, one night i gave my laptop to my roomates to watch a movie, and in the morning it wouldn't start up. It just goes into the windows loading screen and then resets. Since I didn't want to lose my school files or try repair at the time (exam time), I just set up a dual boot with Ubuntu. And now that I'm out of school, I have backed up all my data to an external drive, and I'd like to go back to using Windows 7, so I figured I reinstall it from scratch, thus getting rid of Ubuntu. But if I can do a repair install, that would be fantastic. How would i approach that? Just boot from the Win 7 cd and follow instructions?

 

[lmaoitsme]

It should be done like this, if an upgrade DVD
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html?filter[2]=General Tips

The title says "Windows 7 Professional (x64) - DVD (English)", I'm not sure if that's an upgrade or a full install.

 

[DocBrown]

It is probably a full retail if from your student MSDNAA

 

[lmaoitsme]

It is probably a full retail if from your student MSDNAA

Thanks,

So I can just wipe my HDD and do a clean install? and it should accept the serial key?

 

[richc46]

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

 

[DocBrown]

Make sure you have you Key Code written down in a safe location.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello lmaoitsme, welcome to Seven Forums!






As you've had Linux on the PC I'd use the method in the tutorial at the link below to do a complete wipe of the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) it over-writes every sector (all the previous Windows / Linux code) on the HDD with zeroes and that makes the best possible space to install Windows to.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

 

[richc46]

I suggest that you follow that tutorial presented by BareFoot. It contains valuable information that can be easily overlooked.