Solved Which Windows 7 Media To Clean Install On A Win 8.1 Pro Dell Laptop?

[Merry Prankster]

Hi everyone!

I have a Dell laptop that is currently running Windows 7 Professional x64 (downgraded from 8.1 Pro). I would like to do a clean install of Windows 7 myself, but have been advised that my Digital River ISO (X17-59186) would not not be activated automatically by the laptop. I think I can get my hands on a Dell OEM Windows 7 Professional x64 disk; will doing a clean install with this ensure automatic activation? Will any Dell OEM Windows 7 Professional x64 work, i.e. are they all the same?

Thanks for any help in advance!

 

[AddRAM]

If the laptop originally came with 8.1 then it should only auto activate when you install 8.1 using the correct OEM media. You would need a legal key to activate 7 if you reinstall.

 

[gregrocker]

You'll need to ask Dell how they handle the Downgrade from 8 to 7 Pro. Unless there is a COA sticker with readable Product Key that ISO may not be useful. I would imagine they handle it with the vaunted Dell Reinstallation DVD. This contains a logo and self-activation but otherwise is a clean copy of Win7. Once you obtain it follow the same step in Clean Reinstall Windows 7 to assure you get and keep a perfect install.

 

[AddRAM]

Agreed, talk to Dell, they should be able to answer all your questions.

Hopefully the disk Greg is talking about is cheap.

 

[Merry Prankster]

Cheers for the replies everyone.

There's no COA now, activation is done entirely through the BIOS. Apparently the DELL Windows 7 Reinstallation DVD will automatically activate. I was thinking about buying one but one thing concerns me: my Digital River W7 Pro SP1 ISO is just over 3GB; I've seen untouched DELL Reinstallation ISOs online that are close to 5.5GB.

I was also under the impression that the only difference was the logo and activation; could the difference in size between the two simply be that the DELL Reinstallation disk has more updates?

Cheers for you help.

 

[AddRAM]

It might have 32 and 64 bit on it, which would explain the size difference.

Dell will know why.

 

[Merry Prankster]

Ok, cheers for that.

 

[gregrocker]

If you bought a PC with Windows 8 Pro version then that qualifies for a free Downgrade to Windows 7. Dell and all other manufacturers should have a way for you to do this without cost - perhaps a small shipping fee for the disk is all that it should cost. If not then I'd ask them why since MS requires free downgrades to 7 on 8 Pro. This is not an optional program. It is required of the manufacturers.