ubuntu no longer works, how do I get windows back without the code?

[digiman2372]

Hello everyone, I installed ubuntu on my laptop ,and in the process, it asked me if I wanted to keep the windows 7 operating system or delete it and all the data I had on there. Unfortunately, I had to delete it because it oddly didn’t give me the option to keep windows 7 even though that’s what it was asking. Long story short, I messed up the booting code for ubuntu and now it won’t boot up. I just want windows 7 back. I know I can redownload the windows 7 OS onto a flash drive and boot it, but won’t it ask me for the activation key? What do I do then? Also, is it possible to get all my data back after I do?


sorry if i'm posting this in the wrong spot, redirect this thread as needed.

 

[Snick]

Hi igiman2372,

Your specs say desktop & laptop, your activation key (25 character key) on the bottom of the laptop or in the battery compartment if that is the computer you are referring to? If the desktop, the key should be on the side of the case? It would be in those places if it is Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) install.

Data back from what Ubuntu or your removed Windows 7. If you formatted the drive when installing Ubuntu, which you most likely did, nope, data is gone unless you had it on a separate partition or another drive.

Where can you download Widows 7 OS from? If you have an OEM install Microsoft's website won't let you because it asks for a retail key. We can help you with that!

Snick

 

[SIW2]

You don't need a key to install windows 7. After installation you can input the key which should be on your laptop - on a sticker often in the battery compartment. If you cant read the sticker just use hp slp activation.

According to the specs it came with win7 Home Premium x64.
HP Pavilion dv6-6c50us Notebook PC Product Specifications | HP(R) Customer Support

 

[SIW2]

is it possible to get all my data back after I do?

Rule 1. If you want to recover data STOP using that disk immediately.

It depends what happened here:

Unfortunately, I had to delete it

There might parts of the disk that were not overwritten so a data recovery program might find something if you are lucky.

 

[file3456]

To recover your data you're gonna have to detach the hard drive and use a SATA to USB adapter to plug in the drive to another computer and run something like this program

Or if you just want to run Linux Mint or something, just boot the Linux Mint CD or USB image and format/write over thew whole disk and it should work.

What happened here is that you messed up Ubuntu's boot code somehow, thus you couldn't boot Ubuntu. You could try to repair grub. How to Repair GRUB2 When Ubuntu Won’t Boot

 

[digiman2372]

sorry for my late response everyone. first I want to thank all of you for taking the time to reply!! thank you so much! Now as far as finding the product key goes, the sticker on the bottom of the laptop is all faded away. However, there are some more numbers located where the battery is. this includes the serial number, product number, the PCID and the REV. would any of these work?

 

[SIW2]

the sticker on the bottom of the laptop is all faded away.

If windows 7 came preinstalled by HP, you don't need it. Skip entering the key when installing win7.

After you get to the desktop, run 7oeminstaller

It is the third program on that link.

Do you have win7 installation media ?

 

[SIW2]

Are you asleep? Always a good idea to respond before I get bored.

 

[digiman2372]

SiW2, i'm sorry, I wasnt asleep.I just wasnt expecting anyone to respond as fast as you did, thank you. I will be checking more often now. I do not have the windows installation media, but I can easily get it from the microsoft website right? my laptop did have windows 7 preinstalled, but that was my initial concerned is that I erased it for good when I installed ubuntu. anyhow, thank you so much for your suggestion, I will try this out tomorrow morning!

 

[digiman2372]

it turns out microsoft wants me to verify that I have a product key for the windows 7 download. I have been having a hard time finding a trustworthy product key. Snick, You said this situation can be helped,what shall I do now?

 

[SIW2]

what is the edition , bit version and language?

According to the specs it came with win7 Home Premium x64.

Is that what you had? Is it en-US?

 

[digiman2372]

yes you or correct, windows 7 home premium 64x english. although, now that i think about it, worst case scenario I can install ubuntu again. If there are no last chances of me getting windows 7 again i'll just get ubuntu and mark this thread as solved.

 

[SIW2]

Of course you can.

You need the win7 x64 home premium installation media, which is easy to find

Either

X17-58997.iso

Or

en_windows_7_home_premium_with_sp1_x64_dvd_u_676549.iso

They are the same iso file with different names



and license.

You should have the license key on a sticker on the machine somewhere. If you can't read it, you can use slp activation.

 

[Snick]

You can borrow a copy
Win7.ISO
Snick

 

[andreimoldovan]

You can borrow a copy
Win7.ISO
Snick

Hey, sorry for bumping this up, do you also have a x32 version ?

 

[userandaname]

Here is a download link for Windows 7 x86 or 32bit: https://dl.malwarewatch.org/windows/Windows 7.iso

Hope this helps!

 

[Snick]

Hey, sorry for bumping this up, do you also have a x32 version ?

Not a problem, & yes, I do Win7x32 SP1 All In One.zip

Snick

 

[Snick]

Link I provided is to my OneDrive, ISO from now defunct Digital River which was the outlet for Microsoft 's Win7 a while back. I'm 100% sure my ISO is clean!

Cannot find Digital River download site - Microsoft Community

Snick