Win 7 crashed- No boot disk

[shrekdb]

Hi,
My laptop used to run on Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit, but the OS crashed and just wouldn't boot. I tried using my laptop's recovery disc, but that had some problem and doesn't help me restore my laptop. I hope to format my hard-drive and do a fresh install of Windows 7. But for that I don't have an installation disc, I have a registered key for Windows 7 at the bottom of my laptop though.

My question is, could I install Windows 7 from someone else's installation disc or an ISO image and register it with my key? Would it be a genuine installation or will I have activation problems later on?

 

[richnrockville]

Welcome skhrekdb.

The key that is on the bottom of your laptop is for a OEM copy of windows 7 home for your own laptop.
If you would go to your laptop manufacturers site, you should be able to buy/get a set of recovery disks
for your computer. That is one good reason that they recommend creating your recovery disks and boot disk
when you first get your new laptop.
And, NO you can't use someone else's recovery disks or an .ISO.
There is the possiblilty that you can boot a real copy of windows 7 and go to the recovery console and
do a system restore.

Another good reason to create the system restore disks and boot cdrom.

Rich

 

[theog]

If you have a mate with a Retail Windows 7 HP DVD, YES you can use it to reinstall.

If you have a External HD, you could copy & paste your data, with your mate's DVD.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93347-copy-paste-windows-recovery-console.html

For more help, Can you post your specs.
http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/22550-filling-out-system-specs.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/hardware-devices/6936-dont-know-what-hardware-you-have.html
VistaForums SysInfo Tool - Vista Forums

 

[shrekdb]

@richnrockville,
Well, I do have a recovery disk. Just ONE disk. When I try to run it, its asking to insert 2nd disk... I have no 2nd second disk. Nor do I have Win 7 installation disk. I tried your option of contacting the manufacturers, they have download options only for the drivers and utility. So I am stuck.

@theog
I don't have access to a Retail copy of Windows 7, just an .ISO image file. Could I run it from that?

 

[cyclic]

Burn the ISO to a disk and see how it goes.

 

[theog]

@richnrockville,
Well, I do have a recovery disk. Just ONE disk. When I try to run it, its asking to insert 2nd disk... I have no 2nd second disk. Nor do I have Win 7 installation disk. I tried your option of contacting the manufacturers, they have download options only for the drivers and utility. So I am stuck.

@theog
I don't have access to a Retail copy of Windows 7, just an .ISO image file. Could I run it from that?

Can you take a look at the last part of post 3?

 

[gregrocker]

What version is the Win7 ISO file you have? It needs to be for your licensed version in order for the Product key on the COA sticker to work.

If it's for a different version you can run this tool in it from an Elevated Command Prompt to unlock all versions before burning it to DVD using ImgBurn at 4x speed.:
Ei.cfg Removal Utility Lets You Use Any Product Key With Your Windows 7 Disc
Elevated Command Prompt - Windows 7 Forums

Tips for getting a perfect reinstall of factory OEM: Reinstalling Windows 7 - Windows 7 Forums

 

[theog]

Try pressing F3 at startup, to start the Recovery partition.

You can order Recovery disks from:
MSI Online Customer Service