Will this computer have the license key to Windows 7?

[mmcdonald1986]

I am strongly considering purchasing this computer. It comes with Windows 7 Professional installed, but it also ships with Windows 8.1 Pro License and recovery media, which I do not plan on using. But I want to do a clean install of Windows 7 when I get the computer. Will it have the license key to both Windows 7 AND Windows 8, or is the Windows 7 install just something they did at the factory? I'm not even sure if this question makes sense.
http://www.toshiba.com/us/computers/laptops/satellite/S50/S55-A5359

 

[AddRAM]

How are we to know ? You should ask the seller these questions.

But if 7 is installed, by law they have to affix a COA with the key. (license)

 

[richc46]

Once you install 8, Seven is history. It cannot be used in any fashion.

 

[mmcdonald1986]

Thanks for the reply. I am never planning on installing Windows 8. I guess my question was whether the Windows 7 that is preinstalled is a factory downgrade, or if it is a legitimate version of Windows 7 that I could clean install.

I don't have much knowledge of how the industry works and I thought that perhaps somebody on here would know the answer.

 

[AddRAM]

As long as it has the COA, you can reinstall 7 if you wish. If it comes with Windows 7 Professional installed, (which it does) you will be fine.

You`re gonna have to asked the seller if it comes with a Windows 7 license. (I`m sure it does)

 

[richc46]

The computers come with Seven with an option to use 8 as a sales incentive. You can keep either one, not both.

 

[gregrocker]

Since it ships with WIn7 it will have a COA (by law) as Brian says, so you can easily do a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

However if it has a UEFI BIOS there's a few extra steps which can be understood by also reading over UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Forums which mainly involve booting the WIn7 installation media (provided in tutorial Step 1) as a UEFI DVD or flash stick. Then delete all partitions to create and format new ones as you wish.

If it has a UEFI BIOS it will ship with UEFI install so there's no need to change from Legacy. However some users prefer Legacy installs, especially if UEFI gives them any trouble, so here is how to Bypass UEFI to Install WIn7.

Feel free to ask back any questions as you go. We specialize in these reinstalls and have helped tens of thousands of users get a perfect one.

 

[theog]

Since it ships with Windows 7 it will have a COA (by law)

If it has a UEFI BIOS it will ship with UEFI install so there's no need to change from Legacy. However some users prefer Legacy installs,

NO, As the Notebook comes with OEM downgrade rights for Windows 8/8.1 Pro, there will only be a COA for Windows 8/8.1, to clean install Windows 7 Pro Legacy or UEFI you will need to buy a Product Key.

Toshiba Satellite S55-A5359 Laptop

Laptop summary

Intel® Core™ i7-4700MQ Processor
Windows 7 Professional (Windows 8.1 Pro license and recovery media included)
8GB DDR3L 1600MHz memory
Intel® Integrated Graphics
1.0TB (5400 RPM, Serial ATA)
DVD-SuperMulti drive (+/-R double layer)

 

[mmcdonald1986]

Here is a quote from the seller on their webpage.

[Product Alert: This product comes pre-loaded with Windows 7 Professional as the operating system. It also comes with the Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro restore disk if you choose to upgrade from Windows 7 Professional to Windows 8.1 Pro. ]

This leads me to believe that it has actual Windows 7, and not some downgraded version, because you only get the Windows 8 stuff on the chance that you would want to upgrade it sometime down the line, which I don't.

 

[richc46]

If you upgrade, you lose Seven. I have seen these offers before. It is a sales promotion to get you to buy, before 8 is ready. There is no extra give aways.
It is the same as though you bought the upgrade DVD.

 

[mmcdonald1986]

I am definitely not ever upgrading. My only question is can I reinstall 7 clean at the moment I receive the computer?

 

[richc46]

Most likely the Windows 7 is an OEM, it can be used only on the one machine.
If you key is for 7, it will say OEM somewhere in the key number.

 

[theog]

I am definitely not ever upgrading. My only question is can I reinstall 7 clean at the moment I receive the computer?

Most likely the Windows 7 is an OEM, it can be used only on the one machine.
If you key is for 7, it will say OEM somewhere in the key number.

NO, As the Notebook comes with OEM downgrade rights for Windows 8/8.1 Pro, there will only be a COA for Windows 8/8.1, to clean install Windows 7 Pro Legacy or UEFI you will need to buy a Product Key.

The Notebook is a downgrade from Windows 8/8.1, not a upgrade from Windows 7.

 

[mmcdonald1986]

So you're saying that the factory downgraded the OS before listing it for sale?

 

[AddRAM]

Here is a quote from the seller on their webpage.

[Product Alert: This product comes pre-loaded with Windows 7 Professional as the operating system. It also comes with the Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro restore disk if you choose to upgrade from Windows 7 Professional to Windows 8.1 Pro. ]

This leads me to believe that it has actual Windows 7, and not some downgraded version, because you only get the Windows 8 stuff on the chance that you would want to upgrade it sometime down the line, which I don't.

And yes it should have a windows 7 COA on it.

 

[matts6887]

Once you install 8, Seven is history. It cannot be used in any fashion.

wait; why couldnt you do a dual boot system with 7 on one side and 8 on the other? I would think that would be able to be done somehow?

 

[AddRAM]

I am definitely not ever upgrading. My only question is can I reinstall 7 clean at the moment I receive the computer?

Yes, you can, as long as it has the Windows 7 COA with a readable key. I think I`ve already said this.
And of course you need the windows 7 install dvd.

 

[theog]

Can I downgrade the software?
Instead of using the Windows 8 Pro software, you may use one of the following earlier versions: Windows 7 Professional or Windows Vista Business.

This agreement applies to your use of the earlier versions. If the earlier version includes different components, any terms for those components in the agreement that come with the earlier version apply to your use of such components. Neither the manufacturer or installer, nor Microsoft, is obligated to supply earlier versions to you. You must obtain the earlier version separately. At any time, you may replace an earlier version with Windows 8 Pro. To enable downgrade on this computer to Windows 7, you must change the settings to boot into legacy BIOS mode. If the BIOS setting is not changed back to native UEFI mode boot prior to installing Windows 8 Pro, Windows 8 Pro will install; however, the following Windows 8 Pro functionalities will not work as they rely on UEFI mode boot:

You can not use the factory OEM-SLP activation method Product Key that Belarc, may/may not find to reinstall Windows.
System Locked Pre-installation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

THERTE IS NO COA FOR WINDOWS 7 x64 Pro, only a COA for Windows 8/8.1 Pro.

The Windows 7 install is using factory OEM-SLP activation method Product Key.

 

[gregrocker]

Ray I don't think Win7 would be sold by a legit seller without a COA sticker, nor is it legal. Preinstalled Factory OEM must be backed up by a license represented by COA sticker with Product Key.

Auditing the Product Key has not been discussed here that I've seen, but the preinstalled Product Key cannot be used for reinstall as its merely a batch key.

 

[AddRAM]

Can I downgrade the software?
Instead of using the Windows 8 Pro software, you may use one of the following earlier versions: Windows 7 Professional or Windows Vista Business.

This agreement applies to your use of the earlier versions. If the earlier version includes different components, any terms for those components in the agreement that come with the earlier version apply to your use of such components. Neither the manufacturer or installer, nor Microsoft, is obligated to supply earlier versions to you. You must obtain the earlier version separately. At any time, you may replace an earlier version with Windows 8 Pro. To enable downgrade on this computer to Windows 7, you must change the settings to boot into legacy BIOS mode. If the BIOS setting is not changed back to native UEFI mode boot prior to installing Windows 8 Pro, Windows 8 Pro will install; however, the following Windows 8 Pro functionalities will not work as they rely on UEFI mode boot:

You can not use the factory OEM-SLP activation method Product Key that Belarc, may/may not find to reinstall Windows.
System Locked Pre-installation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

THERTE IS NO COA FOR WINDOWS 7 x64 Pro, only a COA for Windows 8/8.1 Pro.

The Windows 7 install is using factory OEM-SLP activation method Product Key.

How do you know there is no Windows 7 COA ?